With a quickened pace unknown in earlier times, university students now connect with gay youth groups in various parts of the nation, come out, plunge into activism - and early Friday many flew into San Francisco for last weekend's second Young, Loud and Proud conference for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people younger than 25.

One, interning at Microsoft, told reporters that he knew there were resources out there, but didn't go to them. He admitted to being afraid. Like the hundreds of young people at the West Coast conference, sponsored by San Francisco's LYRIC (Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center), the young intern could hardly wait to learn ways to shore up gay teens back home - something he and conference organizers say young gays are uniquely equipped to do.

Older gay men and lesbians know what young people are going through, how a lot of youths feel they don't have anywhere to go. But because of unwarranted fundamentalist charges of pedophilia, older gays fear being of help, fear being falsely accused. Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center's conference finds young people remedying this situation, helping other young people. Self-empowerment is their watchword.

Some conference attendees have saved money all year to get their plane tickets to San Francisco. Almost half of those at the conference arrived from other states and Canada, says LYRIC's program director Oren Slozberg.

Gay youth were set to learn effective strategies for fighting homophobia in their schools, for coming out and handling prejudiced reactions, for developing as leaders in gay communities from coast to coast.

Sixty workshops were scheduled Saturday and Sunday at Everett Middle School - everything from "Legal Issues & Queer Youth: Know Your Rights" to "Activism 101: Fighting the Evil Empire" to "Butt Sex 101: Journey to Uranus."

Not only has the conference empowered its attendees, but has helped them to return to their home sites to manufacture resources and create a world where young people are respected for who they are, Slozberg said.

The Internet has played a huge role in bringing together young gays and lesbians by providing instant, free, private access to information, resources, and support, according to the organizers. Someone who might not read a flyer or see an ad can receive the same information on-line, when no one's watching.

San Franciscan youths living near LYRIC discovered the organization on the Net, telling how they were not yet ready, before attending the conference, to make a phone call. The Internet offers a unique environment for young people who are coming to terms with sexual preferences.

They feel immediate empowerment when they enter a room where 50, 60 people their own age are not only questioning but affirming. Many thoughtful people believe that such conferences as LYRIC is sponsoring can save teen lives. Suicide rates among young gay males and lesbians are uncommonly high. These rates are the result of peer-stimulated social pressures.

Parents too are often lacking in essential understandings and sometimes threaten to institutionalize their gay children. They refuse use of the car and end weekly allowances. Fortunately, however, they can not stop Internet access because it is available in public schools

The Internet has become a major tool for political organizing by gay youth on legislative and school-related issues. A San Francisco-based site, Incite (www.incite.org) for California gay youth, features advice on activism, networking and using technology plus links to other gay youth Web sites.