Saturday, July 23, 2011
Dear Son, We Love You
A new site encourages parents of LGBT children to share their feelings with the world, one letter at a time. MORE
Nation’s Fourth-Largest School District Adds Gender Identity Protections
Florida’s Miami-Dade County school district, the fourth largest in the nation, has added gender identity to its antiharassment and antibullying policy. MORE
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Historic Summit to Protect LGBTQ Students Hosted by L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and L.A. Unified School District
Project SPIN Seeks to End LGBTQ Student Suicide and Reduce Homophobia In and Out of Los Angeles Classrooms
LOS ANGELES -- The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), which recently teamed up to end LGBTQ youth suicide and reduce homophobia in the nation's second largest school district, hosted an historic summit yesterday to draft a comprehensive plan of action. Participants included LAUSD Superintendent Dr. John Deasy, LAUSD Board President Monica Garcia, Center CEO Lorri L. Jean and approximately 200 educators and administrators, LGBTQ and youth advocates, Center staff and student leaders.
The collaboration, dubbed Project SPIN (Suicide Prevention Intervention Now), was initiated by the Center following last year's horrible rash of LGBT youth suicides.
"The time is now for an extraordinary effort to stop even the thought of suicide among LGBT youth," says Center CEO Lorri L. Jean. "We simply cannot afford the loss of even one more young life to bullying, exclusion or anti-LGBT discrimination. This historic collaboration will pave a life-saving path for LGBT and questioning youth who have been victims of ignorance and bigotry and thought about taking their lives. Together, we'll build a community where all youth feel safe, respected and loved, both in and out of the classroom."
The 2009 National School Climate Survey conducted by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) concluded that nearly 9 out of 10 LGBTQ middle and high school students experienced harassment at school in the past year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people ages 12-18.
"Our students must feel safe and affirmed to reach their full potential--in LAUSD, in their families and neighborhoods," says LAUSD Board President Monica Garcia. "Today, we challenge ourselves to partner, learn and create a pathway to end suicidal ideation for LGBTQ students."
Summit organizers from the Center and LAUSD will now compile a final report and recommendations before submitting a proposed plan of action to LAUSD. Additionally, a community council will be convened to ensure a high level of community involvement and to help build a support network for LGBTQ students and their schools. Working groups of the council will focus on the following areas: community assets, mental health, curriculum development and research and evaluation.
Community partners that participated in the summit included The Trevor Project, GSA Network, Project 10, GLIDE, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Services, the Los Angeles Police Department, Services Center for Independent Living, and Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
About the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center
Since 1971 the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center has been building the health, advocating for the rights and enriching the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Our wide array of services and programs includes: free HIV/AIDS care and medications for those most in need; housing, food, clothing and support for homeless LGBT youth; low-cost counseling and addiction-recovery services; essential services for LGBT-parented families and seniors; legal services; health education and HIV prevention programs; transgender services; cultural arts and much more. Visit us on the Web at: www.lagaycenter.org.
LOS ANGELES -- The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), which recently teamed up to end LGBTQ youth suicide and reduce homophobia in the nation's second largest school district, hosted an historic summit yesterday to draft a comprehensive plan of action. Participants included LAUSD Superintendent Dr. John Deasy, LAUSD Board President Monica Garcia, Center CEO Lorri L. Jean and approximately 200 educators and administrators, LGBTQ and youth advocates, Center staff and student leaders.
The collaboration, dubbed Project SPIN (Suicide Prevention Intervention Now), was initiated by the Center following last year's horrible rash of LGBT youth suicides.
"The time is now for an extraordinary effort to stop even the thought of suicide among LGBT youth," says Center CEO Lorri L. Jean. "We simply cannot afford the loss of even one more young life to bullying, exclusion or anti-LGBT discrimination. This historic collaboration will pave a life-saving path for LGBT and questioning youth who have been victims of ignorance and bigotry and thought about taking their lives. Together, we'll build a community where all youth feel safe, respected and loved, both in and out of the classroom."
The 2009 National School Climate Survey conducted by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) concluded that nearly 9 out of 10 LGBTQ middle and high school students experienced harassment at school in the past year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people ages 12-18.
"Our students must feel safe and affirmed to reach their full potential--in LAUSD, in their families and neighborhoods," says LAUSD Board President Monica Garcia. "Today, we challenge ourselves to partner, learn and create a pathway to end suicidal ideation for LGBTQ students."
Summit organizers from the Center and LAUSD will now compile a final report and recommendations before submitting a proposed plan of action to LAUSD. Additionally, a community council will be convened to ensure a high level of community involvement and to help build a support network for LGBTQ students and their schools. Working groups of the council will focus on the following areas: community assets, mental health, curriculum development and research and evaluation.
Community partners that participated in the summit included The Trevor Project, GSA Network, Project 10, GLIDE, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Services, the Los Angeles Police Department, Services Center for Independent Living, and Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
About the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center
Since 1971 the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center has been building the health, advocating for the rights and enriching the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Our wide array of services and programs includes: free HIV/AIDS care and medications for those most in need; housing, food, clothing and support for homeless LGBT youth; low-cost counseling and addiction-recovery services; essential services for LGBT-parented families and seniors; legal services; health education and HIV prevention programs; transgender services; cultural arts and much more. Visit us on the Web at: www.lagaycenter.org.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Religious gay teens find safe haven
Israel Gay Youth helps teens struggling with conflict between religious, sexual identity reach peace
For a little over a year members of the religious Israel Gay Youth program have been holding secret meetings, online and in person. Established in September of 2009, the youth group has joined dozens of others trying to provide lesbian and gay religious teens with a safe haven.
"Most of the teens who come to us, especially the young ones, are still in the closet," says Gidi Grunberg, who coaches a group of older boys. "They hide their membership in the group even from their parents, so we are committed above all to their security and discretion." MORE
Thursday, January 20, 2011
EW Looks at Gay Teens on TV
Entertainment Weekly takes a special look at the history and current state of gay teens on television, from Rickie Vasquez to Kurt and Blaine. MORE
Monday, December 27, 2010
NYer Of The Week: Gay Teen Educates Classmates About Acceptance
The latest New Yorker of the Week is stepping up and stepping out by helping to educate others about acceptance. NY1's Vivian Lee has the story.
For high school junior Manny Leyva, being a teenager means more than just worrying about grades, pimples, and being cool.
“I didn't want to be noticed because I was gay,” Leyva says. “I was afraid to raise my hand and speak to the class.”
But last year, Leyva worked up the courage to tell his friends and family. And teachers say he became the only openly gay male at Brooklyn School for Collaborative Studies, which has 700 students.
“When I walk around the school hallways and within the street, I don't have to give an image, but I want to give an image to everyone that I am gay, I am a teenager, I am different, and I want to teach them that,” he says. Read more.
For high school junior Manny Leyva, being a teenager means more than just worrying about grades, pimples, and being cool.
“I didn't want to be noticed because I was gay,” Leyva says. “I was afraid to raise my hand and speak to the class.”
But last year, Leyva worked up the courage to tell his friends and family. And teachers say he became the only openly gay male at Brooklyn School for Collaborative Studies, which has 700 students.
“When I walk around the school hallways and within the street, I don't have to give an image, but I want to give an image to everyone that I am gay, I am a teenager, I am different, and I want to teach them that,” he says. Read more.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
It Gets Better - A Message from the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice
The Obama administration's top civil rights official on Thursday released a video as part of the "It Gets Better" Project, highlighting the work of the Justice Department defending gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students.
"If you have been targeted for harassment or bullying because of your sexual orientation, because of your sexual identity or expression, or simply because your classmates see you as different, I am here to tell you that we here in the Civil Rights Division will not stand for it," Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez says in the video. "My colleagues in the Civil Rights Division want you to know that you are not alone." MORE @ Huff Post
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