ADVOCATE Op-ed: Why Black and Hispanic Kids Need GSAs

A student explains why his predominantly black and Hispanic high school needed help in nurturing LGBT students.

BY C. JACOBS

image

C. Jacobs, president of the Jeremiah E. Burke GSA (left) with Quincey J. Roberts, co-founder and youth program coordinator of HBGC (right).

One of the most important parts of any community is acceptance, and that’s what the GSA is all about. Our events show that whether you’re gay, straight, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning, there is a space in our school where you can be yourself.

That’s why I joined the Burke’s GSA, to help my peers understand that they can express who they are and what they feel while at school, and that it will be accepted and respected. I hope my participation in the GSA will help me gain friends, knowledge, and responsibility and help students and teachers at the Burke know that there is a place at our school where we explore, appreciate and celebrate differences.

Click the header link above to read the full article.

Trans* at School: Middle School and High School Edition

artoftransliness:

A lot of people have been asking us questions lately about coming out in middle school or high school, generally in the public school system. This can be really tricky due to bullying and difficulty with the teachers and administration, but there are some ways to make it a…

Source: artoftransliness

Bullying Tales: In Your Own Words, Part 1

(TRIGGER WARNING: discussion of anti-gay bullying, heterosexism, cissexism)

From the advocate.com: For many LGBT teens, bullying is as much a part of life as Noxzema and Facebook. Our readers share their bullying stories so others see they’re not alone; there’s a light at the end of the hallway.

By Neal Broverman and Michelle Garcia

Former Michigan student body president launching scholarship for bullied students

gaywrites:

Chris Armstrong, a former student body president of the University of Michigan, announced yesterday via YouTube that he and his family are starting a scholarship fund for students who have been bullied. 

Armstrong was involved in a highly publicized bullying dispute with then assistant Michigan Attorney General Andrew Shirvell last year. On a blog dedicated strictly to Armstrong, Shirvell was fired for calling Armstrong a “radical homosexual” and “a Nazi-like recruiter for the cult that is homosexuality.”   

In the YouTube video, Armstrong talks about his ordeal with Shirvell and praises the University of Michigan’s administration and staff for helping him get through “one of his darkest times.” The Chris Armstrong Scholarship Fund is intended for “anyone who has experienced bullying or other adversity” to go to the University of Michigan and “express what you want to express.” 

Watch the video at the link above, and if you’re going to the University of Michigan and you fit this description, considering applying! What a great way to turn a negative experience into something that could really help someone out. 

L.A. Schools Won't Tolerate Antigay Bullying | advocate.com

By Neal Broverman

LOS ANGELES CITY HALL X390 (FLICKR) | ADVOCATE.COM
Los Angeles City Hall

The Los Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest district in the nation, has strengthened their LGBT-positive policies.

On Tuesday, the LAUSD board passed a resolution that states school staff need to intervene when they see acts of antigay bias or harassment. The action also reiterates that Los Angeles schools teach the contributions of gays and lesbians by, “promoting positive images of LGBT people and making age-appropriate LGBT curriculum available in elementary and secondary schools.” Read more here.

Los Angeles schools already teach some aspects of LGBT history; the entire state of California passed an act that mandates all the state’s public schools teach of the positive contributions of LGBT people. Conservative groups hope to repeal the FAIR (Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful) Education Act at the ballot box next year.

Bullied Arizona Youth speaks with President Obama and Vice President Biden regarding the appointment of a gay youth advisor to the White House.

Washington, DC - Caleb Laieski, a 16 year old bullied youth from Arizona, was invited to the White House to share his experience as a bullied teen.

Laieski was one of very few youth that were chosen to meet with President Obama for a photo opportunity. While meeting with the President, Laieski proposed that the administration appoint an LGBT youth advisor to the President; which would serve as a liaison between the Obama Administration and our nation’s LGBT youth population to specifically address anti-LGBT bullying and other major issues that LGBT youth face and seek appropriate and immediate solutions.

Laieski, instead of accepting bullying as a rite of passage for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) teens took off for Washington, DC where he used his personal experience to lobby Washington lawmakers on the Student Non-Discrimination Act. After meeting with almost 200 different legislators and various administrative offices in just 22 days, Laieski worked on Capitol Hill to promote a safe schools bill; The Student Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 998 – S. 999). 

With his personal experience on the bullying he faced, he was invited to also speak with the Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, to discuss the affect that bullying has on today’s lesbian and gay youth and the dire situation bullying has on at-risk youth. The story stuck with Secretary Sebelius - a few days later, Laieski was included in the Secretary’s speech at the first-ever Federal LGBT Youth Summit that was held by the Department of Education.

 

Laieski, who has been a victim of bullying on a daily basis in his public school, included being followed home by other students who were threatening him, which led him to leave regular classes and pursue his GED instead of a high school diploma. 

Bullying has taken many at-risk LGBT youth and a recent study shows, that LGB youth who come from highly rejecting families are more than 8 times as likely to have attempted suicide than LGB peers who reported no or low levels of family rejection. In a tragic event that struck too close to home, Laieski lost a close friend his age to suicide last year. This friend faced similar circumstances to Laieski’s experience with bullying, and since this experience, he has had several other friends with whom Laieski has a close relationship, attempt suicide due to the same systematic and sustained harassment in public schools. 

Instead of choosing suicide to deal with the experience of bullying, Laieski has begun channeling his inner pain into a positive experience by becoming a strong personal advocate for bullied LGBT Youth.

For more information on Caleb Laieski’s story and personal experience with bullying, a copy of photos from the White House event, or a copy of the LGBT Youth Advisor proposal, please contact Caleb Laieski or Linsey Pecikonis.  Beyond the Hill Strategies is a socially conscious consulting firm that advances social causes, candidates, and campaigns through personalized strategies for progressive people.

Special Thanks To:

Caleb Laieski
National Advocate
202-630-8096
ca.laieski@gmail.com

Linsey Pecikonis
Communications Director
Beyond the Hill Strategies
202-746-8426
linsey@beyondthehillstrategies.com

Thank you for bringing this story to my attention. <3

lgbtadvocate: tranquality: [photo: close up photo of an individual holding a small, mostly yellow, circular sticker to the viewer/camera. there is text on the sticker that reads, “I deserve a safe space to learn,” followed by “You Can Help!” The space between the ‘r’ and ‘v’ is taken over by an upside down triangle with the colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple; a yellow star is present in the red stripe. The sticker is created by and the message is supported by GLSEN, whose logo is present above the first sentence. The logo is grey, with the ‘e’ being emphasized by a lighter shade. there is a link: http://www.safespacekit.com] I just received these awesome stickers in the mail, along with other resources like ThinkB4USpeak posters, an info flyer for GLSEN’s newest project: Changing the Game, The GLSEN Sports Project, the 2009 National School Climate Survey - Executive Summary (the full one can be accessed here), and a whole lotta more inspiration for the upcoming school year to be one of my most productive years as I work with other students, teachers, and faculty to promote an actively safe and opportunistic school year for (actual or perceived) LGBTQ students and their allies. You may have seen the Safe Space Kit campaign talked about by Chely Wright, or featured on the GLSEN website, or the subject for which GLSEN won a $250,000 prize from the Pepsi Refresh Project, or from me rambling about it from time to time. Though the campaign is no longer in the spotlight or GLSEN’s main news, the chance is still there to sponsor a kit to your school, your kid’s school, someone you care about’s school, or any random school in the country. The Safe Space Kit provides resources for educators and allies to action against school bullying and harassing and towards a positive learning environment for all students. Supportive staff, inclusive curriculum, comprehensive anti-bullying policies, and student clubs such as gay-straight alliances/queer-straight alliances/GLOBAL are all a part of the solution for creating a better climate for students. The 42 page guide section of the Safe Space Kit provides concrete strategies for supporting students and educating about anti-LGBTQ bias. I can honestly say that if this were around, or even simpler: just having ‘safe space’ stickers, I think my earlier years of high school would’ve been much, much, much better. If I were to have had some teacher (or even my bus driver!) who was willing to step up, and step in, I would’ve been more prone to reporting my experiences with bullying and wouldn’t have been so fearful that no one would listen or worse: do nothing. This kit is much less about ‘saving lives’ than it is about preventing the endangerment of queer and trans* youth and students in the first place. If you’re tired of not hearing about students being bullied until after they’ve completed suicide, or until after their bullies have gotten on national news: you can take action now by promoting this kit. Shoot, you can even download a PDF copy here (and then convince your school, club, or teacher to purchase one because they have awesome stickers and posters ;)). And I hope that’s something you can get with. I have had the privilege of working with GLSEN to promote this and many other campaigns this summer. It is so worthwhile to know that we are helping students to stay safe and to feel comfortable and accepted in their schools. 
Pop-upView Separately

lgbtadvocate:

tranquality:

[photo: close up photo of an individual holding a small, mostly yellow, circular sticker to the viewer/camera. there is text on the sticker that reads, “I deserve a safe space to learn,” followed by “You Can Help!” The space between the ‘r’ and ‘v’ is taken over by an upside down triangle with the colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple; a yellow star is present in the red stripe. The sticker is created by and the message is supported by GLSEN, whose logo is present above the first sentence. The logo is grey, with the ‘e’ being emphasized by a lighter shade. there is a link: http://www.safespacekit.com]

I just received these awesome stickers in the mail, along with other resources like ThinkB4USpeak posters, an info flyer for GLSEN’s newest project: Changing the Game, The GLSEN Sports Project, the 2009 National School Climate Survey - Executive Summary (the full one can be accessed here), and a whole lotta more inspiration for the upcoming school year to be one of my most productive years as I work with other students, teachers, and faculty to promote an actively safe and opportunistic school year for (actual or perceived) LGBTQ students and their allies.

You may have seen the Safe Space Kit campaign talked about by Chely Wright, or featured on the GLSEN website, or the subject for which GLSEN won a $250,000 prize from the Pepsi Refresh Project, or from me rambling about it from time to time. Though the campaign is no longer in the spotlight or GLSEN’s main news, the chance is still there to sponsor a kit to your school, your kid’s school, someone you care about’s school, or any random school in the country. The Safe Space Kit provides resources for educators and allies to action against school bullying and harassing and towards a positive learning environment for all students. Supportive staff, inclusive curriculum, comprehensive anti-bullying policies, and student clubs such as gay-straight alliances/queer-straight alliances/GLOBAL are all a part of the solution for creating a better climate for students. The 42 page guide section of the Safe Space Kit provides concrete strategies for supporting students and educating about anti-LGBTQ bias.

I can honestly say that if this were around, or even simpler: just having ‘safe space’ stickers, I think my earlier years of high school would’ve been much, much, much better. If I were to have had some teacher (or even my bus driver!) who was willing to step up, and step in, I would’ve been more prone to reporting my experiences with bullying and wouldn’t have been so fearful that no one would listen or worse: do nothing. This kit is much less about ‘saving lives’ than it is about preventing the endangerment of queer and trans* youth and students in the first place. If you’re tired of not hearing about students being bullied until after they’ve completed suicide, or until after their bullies have gotten on national news: you can take action now by promoting this kit. Shoot, you can even download a PDF copy here (and then convince your school, club, or teacher to purchase one because they have awesome stickers and posters ;)).

And I hope that’s something you can get with.

I have had the privilege of working with GLSEN to promote this and many other campaigns this summer. It is so worthwhile to know that we are helping students to stay safe and to feel comfortable and accepted in their schools. 

(via lgbtqyouthspace)

Source: tranqualizer

No Punishment for Homophobic Fla. Principal | advocate.com

Blanche Ely High School Pompano Beach, Florida x390 (FAIR) | ADVOCATE.COM

The principal of a Pompano Beach, Fla. high school will not face any consequences after he threatened two female students with suspension and outed them to their parents after he saw them holding hands.

Principal Karlton Johnson was driving a golf cart on the campus of Blanche Ely High School on May 3 when he spotted the female couple; their school district is not releasing their names. Johnson lectured the girls, separated them, threatened them with suspension, and then alerted their families to their relationship. The girls complained to the superintendent, who defended her employee.  The superintendent, Sharon Airaghi, said Johnson was within his rights as all hand-holding at her schools is not allowed, though a conservative church pastor has been heralding Johnson’s actions concerning the two girls.

“It’s irresponsible because these kids are literally being put in danger,” Kris Drumm, the director of youth and family for Sunshine Social Services, Inc., told the South Florida Times regarding the principal outing the students. “The parents are not prepared to hear this information and the youths end up abused or homeless after being thrown out of the house. This is serious.”

Blanche Ely High School is part of the Broward County School District, the nation’s sixth-largest school district.

Click here to read the full story. 

gaywrites: Making a (fashion) statement: A 12-year-old boy in England wore a skirt to school to protest the school’s uniform policy - in the summer months, girls are allowed to wear skirts but boys aren’t allowed to wear shorts. The policy doesn’t explicitly say that boys can’t wear skirts, so voila. Brilliant how confident he is. More. 
View Separately

gaywrites:

Making a (fashion) statement: A 12-year-old boy in England wore a skirt to school to protest the school’s uniform policy - in the summer months, girls are allowed to wear skirts but boys aren’t allowed to wear shorts. The policy doesn’t explicitly say that boys can’t wear skirts, so voila.

Brilliant how confident he is. More. 

(via homopride)

Source: gaywrites

Gay Track Star Voted Prom King

GAY PROM KING From left to right: my date, myself, my best friend, my boyfriend X390 (HIS BLOG) | ADVOCATE.COM
Craig (left) and Carl pose for a pre-prom photo

An openly gay high school student in Pennsylvania was voted prom king over the weekend, an honor he and his boyfriend followed up with their own private celebration.

While gay track athlete Craig Cassey had already decided he wouldn’t be attending the prom with his boyfriend, Carl, because he didn’t want to upset his mother, neither he nor the female friend he escorted to the event were expecting to hear their names called when it came time for the evening’s crowning moment.

Craig wrote about his experience on his blog, Craig’s Gay World:

“Winning prom king amongst a crew of 7 potential male candidates shows that my school is not only tolerant of openly gay students but is accepting! My good friend Molly won with me and we slow danced to cheers from all sides, congratulating us and urging us to kiss. Don’t worry, we didn’t. There were no shouts of “Homo,” no negative remarks, just congratulations and “bro hugs” and pats on the back – truly a testament to my school’s consistently improving climate.”

The next day, Craig and Carl held their own “solo prom.”

Following his graduation, Craig plans to attend Georgetown in the fall, where he will run track and continue writing his blog.

Read the full story here.