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.

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

LGBT youth attend conference at Yale

Fierce Advocates, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender service and advocacy group, held a conference for high school students Saturday on Old Campus.

The free conference, called Generation Equality, brought 62 students and 20 teachers from 21 high schools in and around New Haven to Yale’s campus. Yale undergraduates led workshops for the students, including “Building Better GSAs (Gay-Straight Alliances),” “How to be an Ally” and “Trans 101,” and brought in professional educators from the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network and mentoring program True Colors to advise the teachers on how to support LGBT youth. Yale professor Maria Trumpler, director of the Office of LGBTQ Resources, gave a lecture on LGBTQ history for both students and educators.

“We wanted a space for kids to talk about LGBT issues with more resources than their GSA advisers can give them,” said Katie Moug ’13, a co-coordinator of the conference.

The conference is the first of its kind in the region organized by undergraduates, Moug said, adding that events organized by adults are sometimes hindered by the wide age gap between the facilitators and the attendees. She said the Yale students see themselves as a “peer influence” for those who attended the conference, and took a different approach than organizations like True Colors, which hosts the largest LGBT youth conference in the country. more

As Bullies Go Digital, Parents Play Catch-Up

One afternoon last spring, Parry Aftab, a lawyer and expert on cyberbullying, addressed seventh graders at George Washington Middle School in Ridgewood, N.J.

“How many of you have ever been cyberbullied?” she asked.

The hands crept up, first a scattering, then a thicket. Of 150 students, 68 raised their hands. They came forward to offer rough tales from social networking sites, instant messaging and texting. Ms. Aftab stopped them at the 20th example.

Then she asked: How many of your parents know how to help you?

A scant three or four hands went up. Full story at NY Times

Palm Springs Pride Parade to gay youth: 'It gets better'

A record 122 entries brought crowds that packed the street between East Ramon and Alejo roads for the 24th annual Palm Springs Pride Parade.

It wasn't just colorful costumes and the promise of a fun time that brought out the crowd, parade-goers said.

Echoes of highly publicized suicides of youngsters from around the U.S. who were reportedly bullied over their sexuality were evident in the parade and united many in the crowd. See

Palm Springs Pride Parade to gay youth: 'It gets better'

The Desert Sun

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• Gays, lesbians recall tales of coming out, fitting in and loving themselves
• Issues don't hinder Palm Springs Pride's frolicsome atmosphere
• Palm Springs Pride Parade

Teen Giver Amazing Defense of Teacher

Graeme Taylor pleaded with the board of Howell High School in New Jersey, US, to overturn Jay McDowell’s suspension and said his actions had been “amazing”.

Mr McDowell disciplined two boys for saying homosexuality was “against their religion” on October 20.

He was suspended from his job after pupils claimed he became irate, slammed doors and shouted at the two boys. Mr McDowell is also accused of provoking the incident by asking the first student if he accepted homosexuals. See video here.

Transgender People Find Their Voice At North Carolina College

HAPEL HILL, N.C. — Nicole Hatch had spent six figures on her transition from a male to a female, including flying to Thailand for sexual reassignment surgery and spending at least $20,000 on facial hair removal.

But her voice still gave her away – callers would refer to her as "sir" when she answered the phone.

So Hatch came to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where speech pathologists teach transgender people how to speak like the people of the sex they're becoming or have become.

"To me, there's nothing worse than seeing someone dressed as a woman, a beautiful woman," said Hatch, 57. "Then she opens her mouth and she sounds like a sailor. It's very off-putting for people." More @ Huff Post

Episcopal campus ministries offer grace, acceptance to LGBTQ students

By Brede Eschliman, October 28, 2010

Episcopal News Service] Many feel disgust at the bullying of teenagers perceived to be different, and many mourn the loss of young people who have ended their own lives as a result. Sympathetic individuals are trying to reach out to these young people, to assure them that things will get better.
On some college campuses, Episcopal ministries are already making things better. Campus ministries that boldly affirm transgender, gay, straight, bisexual, and lesbian students improve lives and uplift spirits.

I have seen the potential for hate and hurt in the church. I listened to a devoutly Christian high school classmate call homosexuality "disgusting" without fear of reprimand from a teacher who agreed with him. I drove countless times past a truck covered with signs reading "God Hates Fags" in my hometown. I watched as the Episcopal Church where I was baptized and confirmed, where I attended elementary school and served as an acolyte and sang in the choir, divided painfully over questions of human sexuality. Before it broke apart, I sat in its pews and read St. Francis' prayer over and over while trying not to listen to sermons condemning entire groups of people. After 18 years in the church, I knew anger and controversy. I did not know grace.

And then I found the Episcopal Church at Yale, and I found grace without measure. There was grace in the sermons, which taught us to be swift in love and slow to judge. There was grace in the chaplain who welcomed all congregants, gay and straight alike. Grace was embodied in the seminarian who sat patiently in a coffee shop while I garnered all my courage and tentatively inched out of the closet. Who, a few weeks later, even though he had a term paper due the next day, insisted on talking to me because he knew I was too scared to talk to anyone else.

Open and affirming campus ministries have enormous potential to serve LGBTQ students and welcome them into the fellowship of Christ. Queer peer liaisons may lend a sympathetic ear, but they are not trained in pastoral care as clergy are. Secular friends may offer love and support, but they do not provide assurance of God’s love. At a time when so many religious institutions offer only enmity or begrudging tolerance, Episcopal college ministries can offer enthusiastic affirmation and teach students that it is indeed possible to be both LGBTQ and faithfully Christian. They can reach out to young people, who may be confused or terrified or desperate, and offer them a place at the table and the peace of God’s grace.

-- Brede Eschliman is originally from the Diocese of Colorado but has lived and worshiped in Connecticut for the past four years. She graduated from Yale College in May 2010 and is currently pursuing a master's in public health at the Yale School of Public Health.

It Gets Better - School For Deacons

It Gets Better: Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles "True Colors"

On October 24th, 2010, members of GMCLA, along with their friends and supporters, gathered at Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles to sing a song of hope. This is the result of that extraordinary afternoon.

Life in rural communities for gay youth

A neighborhood like Chicago’s Boystown is a fairly safe–even welcoming–urban space for gay youth.

But, not all gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual and questioning teens are eager to flee the farm for life in the big city.

Mary Gray is a sociologist and associate professor Indiana University in Bloomington.

She spent time with rural gay youth for her She documents their experiences in her book Out in the Country: Youth, Media and Queer Visibility in Rural America.

Gray learned that city life doesn’t always equal easy life for gay teens. We spoke with her about her findings.

Click here to listen to the interview.

Students stand up to anti-gay bullying

The Appeal-Democrat Reports:

Ankar Singh endured taunts, slurs and physical threats from classmates for years before he came out of the closet.

And once he openly told people he was gay, the name-calling and bullying grew even worse.

Now president of the River Valley High School's Gay-Straight Alliance Club, the sophomore joined nine of his peers Thursday to call for an end to bullying and to draw attention to 10 recent teen suicides that resulted from intolerance.

As daylight faded, the teens and their club adviser held flickering candles in their hands and shared a moment of silence.

The boys and men who committed suicide ranged from 11 to 18 years old, and they all took their lives after enduring relentless taunts or instances of extreme harassment.

But despite those tragic and unnecessary deaths, bullying continues, said freshman Amy Sadler, one of the club's straight allies.

"They keep doing it because they know they can hurt people," she said. "Bullying will always be here, but we can help people not feel threatened."

US campaign takes on anti-gay bullying in school

The Obama administration is launching a campaign to prevent anti-gay bullying and other harassment at school, advising educators that federal law protects students from many forms of discrimination.

US campaign takes on anti-gay bullying in school

Washington Post

Obama tells gay teens 'It gets better'

Your request is being processed... UC Student Regent Comes Out In Wake Of Gay Suicides

All this history of denial was the backdrop to his dramatic, unexpected coming out during a dark Wednesday evening at the UC Irvine flag poles during the University's speak-out and candlelight vigil against homophobic bigotry and hate in the wake of the suicide of gay Rutgers University freshman Tyler Clementi last month. more

Ian McKellen Teaches Kids About Bullying

Sir Ian McKellen visited a school in the U.K. to talk about his heightened awareness of antigay bullying.

Ian McKellen Teaches Kids About Bullying

Nation Goes Purple To Support Gay Youth

Today is "Wear Purple Day," also known as "Spirit Day." Join millions to show your support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth by wearing purple to participate in Spirit Day and remember those teens who have taken their own lives as a result of anti-LGBT bullying. LikeTyler Clementi, who jumped off the George Washington Bridge after his college roomate and friend videotaped his private same-sex sexual experience and streamed it onto the internet.

Spirit Day was created by teenager Brittany McMillan earlier this month, in response to the recent spate of LGBT youth suicides, due to bullying. Spirit Day now counts millions of Americans committed on Facebook to wearing the color purple on Wednesday, October 20, 2010.

Nation Goes Purple To Support Gay Youth CBS New York

Parents & Teachers Best Defense Against Bullying

ACKSONVILLE, N.C. - From skin color to shoe size chances are we were all on the receiving end of some teasing growing up.

Though when teasing turns to bullying it becomes a serious problem.

“Believe it or not it does happen again and again,” says Dr. John Shaloub, a retired guidance counselor from Onslow County.

“You always believe that schools can do more right,” I asked. “Schools can do more,” he answered, “administrations can do more, the board of education can do more, the superintendent can do more.”

Shaloub says you see kids act out, become frustrated with school, or even turn their anger inward.

Most recently a spike in suicides amongst gay youth.

See

Parents & Teachers Best Defense Against Bullying

WNCT

Justin Bieber stands up to anti-gay bully

Teen sensation, Justin Bieber, was a victim of anti-gay bullying last week in Canada while playing a game of laser tag at an arcade, reportsTMZ.com. Although Bieber is straight, the vulgar comments made by a 12-year-old boy has the singer taking a stand against bullying and homophobia. See Justin Bieber stands up to anti-gay bully

Cho's Message for Bullied Teens

"We need you," Margaret Cho says in her new video for the "It Gets Better" campaign. "The world cannot go on without you." See Cho's Message for Bullied Teens

Colleges reach out to gays

In the aftermath of nationally publicized suicides of gay youth, local universities and student organizations are joining in a widespread movement this week to support gay and lesbian students.

"It is important to create an inclusive and supportive environment for people struggling with their sexuality," said Dustin Lewis, assistant director of Student Involvement at Xavier University.

"Additionally, bullying in general is a really serious topic for school-aged and college-aged students, so this type of a response felt appropriate and timely."

A series of activities will be held Wednesday at Xavier and the University of Cincinnati, while a public forum in response to the youth suicides is set for Friday at Miami University. A march against anti-gay bullying will take place Saturday at Northern Kentucky University.

See Colleges reach out to gays

Cincinnati.com - Cindy Kranz

News Update

• Support proposed federal Safe Schools Improvement Act

• Chaplains join search for answers in young man's suicide

• Christian Seminary Laments Teen Suicides, calls on religious leaders to speak out

• Transgender Religious Leaders Summit 2010 set Nov. 5 & 6 @ Berkeley's Pacific School of Religion

• Why Anti-Gay Bullying is a Theological Issue
  By CODY J. SANDERS

Gay teens finds hope in Deidre McCalla's viral hit "Wait Until Morning"

The latest viral addition to this anti-suicide, anti-bullying media mix is the song, “Wait Until Morning,” by singer-songwriter Deidre McCalla that has become the informal theme song of the movement. From her 1987 album, With A Little Luck, the song has a long history of helping people who were on the verge of suicide, and its hopeful message has found resonance in this current movement to help gay youth. (Hey, Ellen DeGeneres Show, are you listening?)

Click on this link to hear “Wait Until Morning,” and pass the song on to anyone, young or old, gay or straight, who you might know who is struggling with thoughts of suicide or depression. Its message has saved others, and every little bit helps.

More of Gay teens finds hope in Deidre McCalla's viral hit "Wait Until Morning"
Examiner.com

UU ministers speak out in support of gay teens

Unitarian Universalists use sermons, letters, and YouTube videos to confront bullying.

The sermon that the Rev. Fred Hammond preached to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Tuscaloosa, Ala., on October 10 and the six red roses that the Rev. Myke Johnson set in front of her congregation in Portland, Maine, on the same day are just two of the ways that UU congregations have responded to a recent rash of suicides of young men, victims of school-based anti-gay harassment.*

The recent deaths of at least six high school and college-age men captured the public’s attention primarily because of the death of Tyler Clementi, who jumped from a bridge September 22 after his Rutgers University roommate surreptitiously recorded his sexual encounter with another man and streamed it on the internet.

UU ministers may be more aware than most of the dangers of gay bullying. Some endured it themselves. In his sermon at Tuscaloosa, Hammond shared his own experience as a seventh grader who was tormented daily because he carried his books “like a girl.” Only after he finally broke down in tears and a teacher and a counselor became aware of the bullying and intervened did his life improve.

Hammond said he shared his story not only to let people know that bullying is not new, but that a critical part of surviving it is having supportive people in one’s life. “A big part of my story is that I did have people who intervened. That’s a part of what needs to happen for youth today.” He said the youth group at his congregation includes many youth from the community at large, including several who are gay. MORE

NH Episcopal bishop part of 'It gets better' msg

The first openly gay Episcopal bishop is part of a YouTube project reaching out to young gay people who are dealing with isolation and self-doubt. The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, bishop of New Hampshire's Episcopal church, is part of a growing collection of video messages telling gay youth to hang on, that life gets better over time. More of

NH Episcopal bishop part of 'It gets better' msg

Boston Globe

EDITORIAL: Harassed teens should know: It can only get better

Every day, children in their teens and younger endure taunts and worse just because they are different. Most suffer in silence, afraid that even complaining about their treatment will draw unwanted attention. So they live lives of silent fear.

It doesn’t have to be that way, and one university proved that on Wednesday night. Moved by the stories of bullying and harassment in the last several weeks, students and their friends staged a gay youth forum to share their stories and take a stand against violence. More of

EDITORIAL: Harassed teens should know: It can only get better

Torrington Register Citizen

YouTube phenom comforts bullied gay youth

he'll always have the lingering memory of sitting in the gym one afternoon during Grade 6, staring at a basketball hoop and wondering how she might get away with hanging herself.

"I was convinced there was something wrong with me," Shanie Beauregard, 21, said of her life before coming out as a lesbian, when she was tormented and teased by classmates. "I thought it was my fault, that I had done something to bring it on."

The Carleton University student remembers times when she had to stay away from the kitchen because she didn't trust herself around knives, or when she wouldn't climb too many levels in a building for fear she might jump.

Beauregard recently uploaded a video to It Gets Better, a You-Tube channel where thousands of people have posted testimonials in solidarity with the lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender community (LGBT).

The collection of videos showcases people talking about being bullied and feeling hopeless -but they also tell tales of falling in love and living fulfilling lives. The videos all have the same, simple message: it gets better.

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/life/YouTube+phenom+comforts+bullied+youth/3682393/story.html#ixzz12alarPp5More of

YouTube phenom comforts bullied gay youth

Vancouver Sun

Sacramento LGBT community fights back against bullies at school and online

SACRAMENTO, CA - The recent rash of suicides among gay youth prompted by bullying has the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community fighting back.

In Sacramento, Equality Action Now, a LGBT civil rights organization, is participating in the online campaign, "It Gets Better."

"When you come out and get through your difficulties you suddenly find yourself surrounded by people that want you in their lives," says Tina Reynolds, co-founder of Equality Action Now. "It gets so much better."

The goal of the campaign is to ensure LGBT youth that whatever pain their experiencing because of their sexual orientation, whether it's bullying online, at school or trouble at home, it does get better.

More of

Sacramento LGBT community fights back against bullies at school and online

News10.net

Utah and DC activists spoke out against LDS apostle's words

Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, flew into Salt Lake City from Washington D.C. earlier this week to call on LDS apostle Boyd K. Packer to “correct” statements he made about same-sex attraction. His group, which expressed concerns that Packer’s speech would negatively affect LGBT youths, delivered a petition with 150,000 signatures to LDS Church headquarters.

A number of LGBT advocates in Utah rallied behind HRC’s effort. In fact, HRC had to rent a small tourist bus to carry everyone from a news conference at the Utah Pride Center to the LDS Church Office Building.

Here’s a run down of what was said at the Utah Pride Center:

Utah and DC activists spoke out against LDS apostle's words

Salt Lake Tribune (blog)

Bishop Gene: How Religion Is Killing Our Most Vulnerable Youth

An increasingly popular bumper sticker reads, "Guns Don't Kill People -- RELIGION Kills People!" In light of recent events I would add religion kills young people: gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender young people.

Perhaps not directly, though. And religion is certainly not the only source of anti-gay sentiment in the culture. But it's hard to deny that religious voices denouncing LGBT people contribute to the atmosphere in which violence against LGBT people and bullying of LGBT youth can flourish.

The news is filled with the tragedies of teenaged boys who were gay and decided to end their living hell by committing suicide. Maybe they weren't even gay, but merely perceived to be by their peers, who harassed, taunted, and threatened them unmercifully. Full story at Huff Post by Bishops Gene.

Parents Mourn Suicide of Transgender Teen

The tragic and untimely deaths of Rutgers University freshman Tyler Clementi and Seth Walsh from Tehachapi raised a lot of questions when they made national headlines last week about what we as a society could or should be doing to make sure that tragedies like that do not happen again.
The teens were bullied so badly that they felt there was no other way out than to take their own lives.
Another recent suicide hit close to home.
This is the story of Buchanan High graduate, Justin "Chloe" Lacey.
Born on October 4th, 1991, Justin Lacey grew up like any other young boy enjoying paint ball guns and "wanting to be a sniper and wanting to be an astronaut, you know, all boy," says mom, Allison Murphy.
She says she never knew her son was transgender until he was about 16, when he saw a television show about being transgender and 'Chloe' said, 'Boom, that's it.'
Murphy speaks of Justin and "Chloe" as two different beings, both of whom she loved dearly and whom she and stepdad, Sean Dempsey say, were selfless. More of Parents Mourn Suicide of Transgender Teen
at KMJ Radio News in Fresno.

From Lutherans Concerned/North America: The Bullying Must Stop

From Lutherans Concerned/North America:

Bullying has to stop. Any and every kind of bullying.

Bullying is very much in the news at the moment, and should be. It has apparently resulted in the deaths by suicide of at least five young people under the age of 20 in recent weeks. Unknown is how many other young lives have been lost or are being made a living hell because of bullying by peers, and the enabling quiescence or tacit approval of those tasked with inculcating and enforcing society's standards.

Bullying can be defined as sustained intimidation. The intimidation can take many forms: physical as shoving, hitting, beatings, systematic theft, or destruction of belongings. It can be psychological in the form of taunting, humiliation and being ostracized. Lots of times, it's both. In its most virulent, overwhelming, and destructive form, it is electronic, cyber, using social networking media to disseminate its vile message of de-humanizing hatred - instantly and widely.

Recently, there have been tragic cases where bullying because of perceived or known sexual orientation has resulted in the deaths of Tyler Clementi (18), Seth Walsh (13), Billy Lucas (15), Asher Brown (13), and Raymond Chase (19) - all took their own lives in September.

Bullying is, at its core, an expression of weakness, with an awful and deadly twist. The weakness expresses itself, not in confidence building and personality development, but in attacking someone who is different, perceived to be weaker, less desirable, or less popular - like the overweight, the short, the less attractive, the bookish, the gay. The purpose of bullying is zero sum: to make the bully(s) more powerful by making someone else weaker. Persistently. Its perpetrators believe they become more "in" by pushing someone else "out."

But this message is not about abusive peers like the two 18-year-olds, Dahrun Ravi and Molly Wei, who thought it was ok to violate privacy by surreptitiously webcasting Ravi's roommate, Tyler Clementi, and a friend, an action that appears directly connected to Tyler's suicide.

This message is about what Ravi and Wei learned or failed to learn about acceptable conduct in their 18 years. This message is about parents, schools, and churches/synagogues/mosques/etc that failed to get it through their heads that difference is not deficiency, diversity is not undesirable, actions have consequences, and bad actions can lead to horrific consequences.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families devastated by the sudden snuffing out of the lives of their children before they really had a chance to thrive. We can do more, though. We can take up the fight against the root causes of bullying. The root causes are the enablers, those who in all the ways possible in a society make being different something to be punished, who condemn gay people in terms that rob them of humanity. Because of the influence they exercise over impressionable young people, religious, political and educational leaders bear particular responsibility to keep disagreement from becoming incitement to ignorant and dangerous attacks. That doesn't seem to be happening widely enough.

Emily Eastwood, Executive Director of LC/NA, said, "Anti-gay religious bias must not be allowed to form a smoke screen which protects blatant bullying and harassment in the name of 'family values' and commitment to the Bible. Those who would threaten, injure, kill, abuse, or extort will lose their power if we unite with one voice to say 'no more -- not one life more!' We must take our message of God's radical and inclusive love into our churches and beyond to our streets and schools. The needless deaths and injury of these young people shall not be tolerated. The gift of their lives shall not be wasted. They were our children. May our grief for these few become outrage which turns us to action for the many more who are already suffering and will suffer. Doing nothing is no longer an option."

Bullying is not part of the crucible of growing up, something that tempers the steel of one's soul and personality, as if it was some perverse rite of passage. Tolerating bullying ought to be completely unacceptable to anyone who practices Christianity.

The board of LC/NA is currently discussing what concrete actions steps to take in response to this pressing concern. Meanwhile, here's what you can do:

• Let local religious, educational and political leaders know that you are opposed to bullying and in favor of vigorous prevention and enforcement efforts

• Talk to your pastor or other educational leaders in the church to have them make bullying the subject of adult education classes, bringing in local expertise to speak on the subject

• Make sure that all the young people in your reach know that they do not have to put up with bullying, that if they are bullied they should seek help, that they are neither alone nor powerless. Make sure they know they are loved and respected, and listened to.

• You should take this subject seriously.

• You should get others to take it seriously.

'It Gets Better' Gives Hope to Gay Youth

The Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire's "It Gets Better" YouTube Video. He says:  
"Hang in There, be strong ... God loves you and only wants the best for you."

"You gotta give 'em hope," Harvey Milk said.

Today’s "It Gets Better" campaign on YouTube is giving hope to young people facing homophobic bullying, harassment and thoughts of suicide.

We are calling on Oasis congregations across the Bay Area to help "It Gets Better” illustrate the love that is available to the LGBTQ teens from the affirming religious community.

For LGBT clergy, you can submit an "It Gets Better” video. Or you might help an out LGBT person in your congregation record one.

Or you might do both of these steps. Harvey was right: “We have to give ‘em hope.”

And we need to do that today.

For Gay Youths, Middle School Can Be Toughest Time

An AP story reports:

NEW YORK — By the time she was in eighth grade, Rory Mann was so aware of the differences between her and other students that she couldn't bear to enter the cafeteria. Instead, she ate lunch alone on the cold, hard bathroom floor, propped against a wall. Sometimes Mann, who had known she was gay for about a year but dared not tell anyone, would cut herself on the arms with a razor blade. Her long sleeves hid the evidence of her misery from classmates and family.

 Full Story here. 

Episcopal Public Policy Netwok Action Alert on Safe Schools Improvement Act (H.R. 2262/S. 3739)

"Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors." 

--The Book of Common Prayer

It was the cruelty of their fellow students that drove several young men to take their own lives last month rather than endure the bullying and harassment they received for their actual or perceived sexual orientation. Billy Lucas, 15; Seth Walsh, 13; Asher Brown, 13; and Tyler Clementi, 18 are only the most recent victims of bullying and harassment whose deaths by suicide have made headlines. It has only been because of their tragic deaths that we have learned of their suffering and desperation and the failure of schools and teachers to protect them. Countless other children and teenagers suffer at the hands of bullies without help or hope and often in silence.

According to the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network’s (GLSEN) 2009 National School Climate Survey, approximately 89 percent of students heard “gay” used in a negative way. About 61 percent of students felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation and about 40 percent felt unsafe because of how they expressed their gender. Even more frightening, approximately 85% of students were verbally harassed because of their sexual orientation. About 40 percent of students were physically harassed at school because their sexual orientation, and nearly 27% because of their gender expression.

The recent rash of suicides cries out for our voices and advocacy on behalf of children and teenagers who have been bullied, harassed, and discriminated against in their schools. We are called to speak out against the cruelty perpetrated against vulnerable students in schools that are unaware of their suffering or unwilling to act decisively to put an end to such suffering. We will take this opportunity to remember those who took their own lives to escape the agony of bullying by asking policymakers and schools administrators to focus on protecting our children in school.

To address such bullying and harassment, Representative Linda Sanchez (D-CA) and Senator Robert Casey (D-PA) have introduced the Safe Schools Improvement Act (H.R. 2262/S. 3739), which would amend the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act to encourage schools to develop programs that address bullying. Tell Congress to address bullying and harassment and vote to pass the Safe Schools Improvement Act.

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