New Study Corroborates GLSEN's Research, Finds LGB Youth Bullied 2 to 3 Times More Than Heterosexual Youth

GLSEN's longstanding research has shown for nearly 10 years that LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) students face pervasive bullying and harassment in school. Nearly 9 out of 10 LGBT youth experience harassment at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation, according to GLSEN's 2007 National School Climate Survey.

As we prepare to release findings from the 2009 National School Climate Survey later this year, a new study conducted by doctors at Nationwide Children's Hospital corroborates what GLSEN has found for years.

The act and victimization of bullying continues to be a problem among today's youth. While many children are experiencing this form of violence, it is more prevalent in children that are different from the social norm. As medical professionals continue to further their understanding of bullying, research shows a high rate of sexual minority youth who experience this harmful activity.

A new study conducted by doctors at Nationwide Children's Hospital found that sexual minority youth, or teens that identify themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual, are bullied two to three times more than heterosexuals.

According to the study that is now available online in the Journal of Adolescent Health, sexual minority youth are more vulnerable to a variety of physical and mental domains such as bullying or suicidal thoughts. Plus, the study found that many older adolescents reported being bullied.

For more of GLSEN's groundbreaking research, including reports on the experiences of transgender students in school and LGBT students of color in school, visit the research section on our website, www.glsen.org/research.

Applewood Elementary Students Celebrate 'Politeness,' 'Unity' During No Name-Calling Week

No Name-Calling Week is successfully bringing awareness to the bullying and harassment epidemic that plagues schools nationwide. The program, which was initially developed for grades 5-8, has many teachers at Applewood Elementary considering even younger age groups to include, as they find the earlier students are taught to respect others' differences, the better prepared they are for the future.

(Lesson plans for grades K-12 are available at nonamecallingweek.org.)

Enthused by the endless ways to participate in No Name-Calling Week, Applewood students are dividing up their week with days like "make a new friend day," "politeness day," and "unity day."

Applewood Elementary School counselor Ashley Jurkowski hopes that when the students enter middle and high school, they will "think ahead — and back — to their days at Applewood," before engaging in peer-pressured bullying.

5th grader Elizabeth Kisner already sees the value in her No Name-Calling Week experience.

I think it is a good idea to not call people names and to make new friends that you normally wouldn’t.
...
It helps you meet people you might not otherwise and find out they are great people.

If your school isn't participating in No Name-Calling Week, let your teachers know about your interest in it for next year!

How you can participate now:

The Creative Expression Contest allows students K-8 to submit essays, poetry, music, original artwork, and other pieces that convey their experiences and feelings about name-calling, and their ideas for putting a stop to verbal bullying in their schools.

GLSEN has also added a new High School category to the contest for short-film submissions that focus on anti-LGBT name-calling and bullying in school in partnership with Stories By Us.

All entries must be postmarked on or received via fax or e-mail by 6pm Eastern time on Friday, February 26, 2010. Winners will be notified by telephone, mail, or e-mail by April 2010.

One Place for Hate in Wyoming: No Place for Hate Banners Removed from Schools Because Cosponsored by LGBT Org

A Wyoming school board last week upheld its superintendent's decision to remove No Place for Hate banners from the local high school and elementary school. What was so horrible that required their removal?

The banners, part of the Anti-Defamation League's No Place for Hate campaign, were cosponsored by an LGBT organization, the Gay and Lesbian Fund of Colorado.

As the Minneapolis Star-Tribune's editorial board put it, "what types of prejudice and bigotry are challenged apparently makes a big difference to the board."

As we celebrate No Name-Calling Week, it's sad to think about the kind of message this sends to the schools' students.

A petition has been started to ask the board to put the banners back. You can sign it here. You have to register for an account or use a Twitter account.

This will come as no surprise, but Wyoming is not one of the 12 states that has passed a law to protect students from bullying and harassment or discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression..

Derailed "Don't Say Gay" Bill in TN Shows How Your Voice as a GLSEN Supporter Can Make A Difference

A proposed law to prohibit discussion of any sexual orientation in Tennessee schools other than heterosexuality, sometimes called "No Promo Homo" laws, was essentially killed for another year yesterday. GLSEN Public Policy Associate Alison Gill talks about how GLSEN supporters like you can make a difference in defeating bad policies like this.

Last week the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition (TTPC) told us about a scary bill moving through the K-12 Education Subcommittee of the Tennessee House. HB0821, also called the "Don’t Say Gay" bill, would prevent Tennessee teachers and schools from discussing sexual orientation other than heterosexuality. A law like this can make LGBT students feel invisible and could cut them off from resources they need, such as supportive teachers.

When TTPC told us that the K-12 Subcommittee was to consider the bill this Wednesday, we emailed an Action Alert to our networks in Tennessee, warning them about the bill. Fortunately, we have very strong networks in Tennessee thanks to a lot of great local organizing by GLSEN supporters and student leaders such as Conrad Honicker.

Combined with local efforts such as TTPC's, we were able to apply significant pressure on the subcommittee to drop the bill. And we were successful! On Wednesday, the Tennessee K-12 Subcommittee decided not to take up the bill, which should kill the "Don’t Say Gay" bill for at least another year.

Sign up to receive GLSEN's Action Alerts here.

GLSEN ED Eliza Byard on Obama SOTU, Changes in Education: Essential Investments, Room for Concern

From GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard:

Last night, President Obama spoke eloquently of the need to “expand the promise of education in America.” The massive investments he has directed toward our nation’s schools are essential, but the way in which those investments are structured leaves room for concern.

President Obama is rightly concerned about the fact that we lead the industrial world in high school dropout rates. He is right to call out the fact that the level of achievement currently reflected by a U.S. high school diploma lags far behind what’s necessary for true individual – and societal – success. But his prescriptions for change, to date, do not reflect a balanced approach to the root causes.

The President and Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, have been very clear about what states and districts must do to benefit from the buckets of cash currently allocated for education in various pieces of the federal budget. They will require from states what they have termed the “four assurances” –

1. progress on raising standards,
2. improving teacher effectiveness,
3. tracking and assessing student and teacher performance,
4. and turning around failing schools.

They favor a free-market approach to achieving those goals, with an emphasis on competition, choice (primarily through an expanded commitment to charter schools) and incentives. Whether or not one agrees with this approach, it clearly only describes one element of the thorough-going culture change required to truly transform education in the United States so that all children leave high school prepared for success in college and life.

Last night the President called for reform to ensure that every American student has “access to a complete and competitive education” that is the “pre-requisite” for success in today’s world. This vision will not be a reality until the President and the U.S. Department of Education do all in their power to ensure that schools across the country remove the barriers to learning created by societal inequities and bias. Students will have a true shot at that success only if schools are strong partners with parents in guiding the social and emotional development of young people through their school years. By and large, schools are not living up to this aspect of their responsibility to the young people in their care. We need the President’s leadership on this front as well.

Today is 'Iowa Gay-Straight Alliance Day'

Today marks the fourth annual 'Iowa Gay-Straight Alliance Day,' organized by the Iowa Pride Network to honor students and staff who work together to end the harassment and intolerance endured by LGBT youth in Iowa's schools.

The 2009 Iowa School Climate Survey conducted by the Iowa Pride Network, discovered that LGBT students who have GSAs in their schools are:

• 47% more likely to report that at least some of their classes included material on LGBT culture, history, or events
• 53% more likely to report that the representations of the LGBT community portrayed in those classes were somewhat or very positive
• 49% more likely to report that the school library makes resources on the LGBT community available.

According to the Journal Express, there are now over 120 GSAs in Iowa, up 60 percent from four years ago.

After we started the GSA at Hoover, more students are thinking twice before using anti-gay slurs. There are students out there who get picked on for being gay or being perceived to be. This day let’s them know that they aren’t alone and that they’re supported.

-Stephen Wayne Boatwright, a senior at Hoover High School and Iowa Pride Network board member

No Name-Calling Week Contest Winners Displayed at U.S. Department of Education

Planning on being in the D.C. area between now and February 26? If so, stop by the U.S. Department of Education to view the creative poems, drawings and videos of winners from last year's Creative Expression Contest in conjunction with No Name-Calling Week.

Things to Know Before You Go:

WHEN: The exhibit is on display now through February 26, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WHERE: Lyndon Baines Johnson Education Building

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact GLSEN Education Associate Justin Rosado at jrosado@glsen.org. He's friendly and helpful.

If you can't make it to D.C. please inform your friends, family and co-workers who might. This is a an exceptional opportunity to shed light on the national problem of name-calling in schools. Your attendance is direct support that reinforces the importance of annual events like No Name-Calling Week.

Sirdeaner Walker, Mother of Boy Who Died by Suicide, Talks About Importance of GLSEN's No Name-Calling Week

Today is the first day of No Name-Calling Week. The following is a statement from Sirdeaner Walker, a mother from Springfield, Mass., about the importance of No Name-Calling Week and its message of respect.

Dear Educators:

My name is Sirdeaner Walker, and last spring, my eleven-year-old son, Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, took his own life after enduring months of relentless name-calling and bullying at school.

As my family and I struggle to find peace, I have determined to do everything in my power to eliminate name-calling and bullying of all kinds from schools so that other boys and girls do not suffer as Carl did. I am writing now to ask you to join me in this effort by participating in No Name-Calling Week (January 25-29, 2010), an event designed to help K-12 schools engage their students in the important work of building respect for all.

My son was only in middle school, but he heard all the names that I’m sure you have all heard at some point in some hallway. This problem begins early, before students even understand the terms they use, or have any sense of their consequences. There are No Name-Calling Week resources tailored for all classroom levels from elementary through high school, to spark discussion and reflection appropriate for students of various ages.

There is more information about this event and the free lesson plans and resources available to you for use in your school on the No Name-Calling Week website, at http://www.nonamecallingweek.org/.

No Name-Calling Week has reached tens of thousands of classrooms since its inception seven years ago. I am very grateful for the No Name-Calling Week Coalition Members for their leadership, and hope that you will add to that legacy of leadership by being part of No Name-Calling Week 2010.I thank you for all of your efforts on behalf of your students.

Sincerely,

Sirdeaner Walker

P.S. Please register as a No Name-Calling Week participant when you visit the website, so that it is possible to continue measuring the nation-wide reach and impact of this important program. It means a lot to me to know that there are allies out there in this crucial work. Thank you.

Happy No Name-Calling Week!

GLSEN's No Name-Calling Week officially has begun on the East Coast (and in other countries that participate).

Thanks to all of our partners who help make this week possible.

GLSEN's No Name-Calling Week Starts Monday

Only a couple of days until one of our favorite weeks of the year begins. Learn all about how teachers are preparing over at the new No Name-Calling Week Facebook page.

Don't forget to get your last-minute NNCW resources at http://www.nonamecallingweek.org in our downloads section.

20 Years Later, Youth Have Room to Grow in Accepting Gay and Lesbian Peers

We mentioned a few weeks ago that the Girl Scout Research Institute released a report on teen beliefs and values. GLSEN Research Assistant Mark Barkiewicz looked a little deeper at some of the findings and wants to share a little about what he found. From Mark:

According to research findings in Good Intentions: The Beliefs and Values of Teens and Tweens Today [PDF], a recent report from the Girl Scout Research Institute, 59% of youth in grades 7-12 agree with the statement “Gay or lesbian relationships are okay, if that is a person’s choice,” in contrast to only 31% who agreed with this in a 1989 study.

Furthermore, the study also highlights that 48% of 7th to 12th graders today say that if they found out one of their same-sex friends was involved in a gay or lesbian relationship, the friendship would continue and not change at all, compared to only 12% in 1989.

These positive changes should not come as a surprise as the American public in general has grown more tolerant of gay and lesbian issues throughout the years.

In doing safe schools work, it is important to consider how attitudes can vary across different groups and populations. Gender plays an interesting role with regard to these findings. Girls are more likely than boys to accept gay or lesbian relationships (65% vs. 54%) and continue a friendship with a same-sex friend involved in a gay or lesbian relationship (59% vs. 38%).

In trying to understand these gender differences, it is worthwhile to consider the role that masculinity can play in boys’ development, such that being gay can be seen as contradictory to being ‘masculine’ and tolerance of gay people somehow can be seen as being less ‘masculine.’ Nevertheless, while these findings show that girls are, in general, more accepting of their gay and lesbian peers, the question remains as to why four-tenths of girls would end a friendship with a same-sex friend involved in a gay or lesbian relationship.

Given these findings, many LGBT students may have a difficult time finding allies among their peers. In the nearly 20 years since the initial study was done, GLSEN has been working to develop school communities in which every member is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.

Through GLSEN’s effort in providing professional development to educators, efforts to create policies that protect LGBT students, and support of Gay-Straight Alliances, an increasing number of students across the country have had the opportunity to experience a more positive school atmosphere.

In further developing a better learning environment for all students, it is important that youth become more tolerant of their peers, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or how they express their gender. Resources such as Gay-Straight Alliances can be helpful in fostering supportive peers for LGBT students and increasing tolerance and respect for diversity.

Teaching Tolerance Mag: Are LGBT-Friendly Schools the Answer to Anti-LGBT Bullying?

Teaching Tolerance Magazine, a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, published a great article in its Spring issue on the thoughtful arguments for and against creating more and bigger LGBT-friendly schools. Two exist currently, Harvey Milk High School in New York and The Alliance School in Milwaukee.

On the one hand, do LGBT-friendly schools segregate LGBT students and their allies? On the other hand, do they offer LGBT students and their allies a better opportunity to feel safe while getting an education?

Put another way, are LGBT-friendly schools a short-term fix to a long-term problem that lets other schools off the hook when it comes to addressing anti-LGBT bullying and harassment? But even if they are a quick fix, should students have to endure constant bullying and harassment when there's an alternative?

The discussion also begs another question - shouldn't every school be LGBT-friendly?

Said GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard in the article:

Given the inequalities in the existing system, these schools are essential resources of last resort for students who may otherwise not graduate. They fill a pressing need.

Full discloser: Yesterday I had the opportunity to meet Alliance's lead teacher, Tina Owen, and several Alliance students. Five minutes with Tina and the students and you can tell Alliance is not only necessary, but that other public schools could learn a thing or two from the school.

Take the story of Jahqur, a non-LGBT-identified student, who spoke to Teaching Tolerance:

Jahqur Ammons, now a junior, failed seventh grade. “I spent more time chasing girls than chasing grades,” he says. Jahqur’s brother, already at Alliance, told him about the open campus, the small classes, the helpful teachers. Jahqur enrolled at start of his freshman year.

“When I came here,” he says, “I thought all gay people were nasty. I used to say snide things. But I got to know them instead of judging them. Now I realize they’re just like me.”

Last year, when a conservative Christian group picketed the campus, it was Jaqhur who led the response. “The protesters were saying this school was teaching us to be gay and that we were all going to hell,” Jahqur recalls. “I didn’t think that was very a Christian thing to say. So we got all the students to go outside and show them: Gay, straight, trans, goth, emo — we’re all one.”

What do you all think about LGBT-friendly schools?

Facebook Event to 'Kill All Gay People' at MA High School a Horrifying Example of Why GLSEN's Message of Respect Matters

We tweeted last week about a horrifying story out of Chelmsford, Mass., in which a Facebook event was created to "kill all gay people yea" at Chelmsford High School.

Thankfully no acts of violence have been reported and it turned out to be "the senseless act by an individual who failed to recognize the serious consequences that may result from such a post," according to police.

The hopeful news is that the community seemed to rally in opposition, with the principal denouncing the hateful action over the school intercom. Said one commenter on the Facebook event:

This is truly disgusting. Everybody should be trying to embrace each others differences and learn from them instead of instilling fear in people who would never think about doing anything to hurt you.

Even though the police and school were able to stop anything from happening, the fact remains that at least one person at the school (5 signed up as attendees) wanted to send a message to LGBT students and those perceived to be LGBT that they are not welcome and could face violence simply because of who they are or are perceived to be.

GLSEN's 2007 National School Climate Survey found that 86.2% of LGBT students experienced harassment in school in the past year because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, 60.8% of LGBT students felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation.

This has got to stop. If students do not feel safe, they cannot learn.

GLSEN is one of 100 finalists in a campaign on Facebook to award $1 million to a charity. We want to use the grant to send a Safe Space Kit to every middle and high school in the country.

Please consider voting for us at http://tinyurl.com/voteGLSEN.

It's a vote for GLSEN and a vote for respect and hope and acceptance.

Voting in Chase Community Giving Begins: Vote for GLSEN and Our Partners to Win $1 million

Voting has begun in Chase Community Giving on Facebook. GLSEN is among the 100 finalists vying for $1 million.

Vote, vote, vote. (You may have to refresh a few times to get it to work)

And please vote for our partners:

Matthew Shepard Foundation
The Trevor Project

You can also help by tweeting http://tinyurl.com/voteGLSEN and #voteGLSEN

How You Can Do More Than Vote to Help GLSEN Win $1 Million

Cross posted at blog.dayofsilence.org

We're only a few hours away from the start of voting (Friday, Jan. 15-Friday, Jan. 22) in Chase Community Giving, a campaign through Facebook to award $1 million to the charity with the most votes out of the 100 finalists. Five runners-up will receive $100,000.

We need your help to make sure our Big Idea for $1 million (to send a GLSEN Safe Space Kit to every middle and high school, public and private, in the country) is realized.

Because every LGBT student deserves a safe space in school, here's how you can help:

• Vote: This is the easy part. Vote at this link: http://tinyurl.com/voteGLSEN (you will need to accept the Chase Community Giving app first). And while you're at it, vote for our partners http://tinyurl.com/voteMSF and http://bit.ly/voteTrevor.
• Change Your Facebook Profile Picture: Show your pride and support with this button. You can also download other images for your website or profiles here.

• Tell Your Friends: Make sure you update your status to say you've voted. Tweet, message, call, text, email, yell at your friends to vote for GLSEN and our partners Matthew Shepard Foundation and The Trevor Project.
• Join the Facebook "Vote for GLSEN" Event: A good way to show your support before voting even begins.
• Post to other Facebook Pages, Groups, Users: Make sure your pages, groups and friends all know about the chance to vote for GLSEN and help send a Safe Space Kit to every middle school in America.
• Comment on Blogs and Message Boards: Every mention helps.
• Hashtag: Use #VoteGLSEN and #ChaseGiving in all of your tweets.
• Change Twitter Website or Bio: Add http://tinyurl.com/voteGLSEN to your Twitter accounts.
• @Tweet Celebs: Ask celebrities and people with lots of followers to mention @GLSEN, @MSFerasehatenow and @TrevorProject
• Share Your Thoughts: Comment on this blog post about why you are voting for GLSEN and any other ideas you have to help spread the word.

Support GLSEN in Chase Community Giving by Using and Sharing These Images!

We're getting closer and closer to the first day of voting for the Chase Community Giving campaign on Facebook, which begins on Friday, January 15! Help GLSEN spread the word about our Big Idea, and encourage others to vote for us, by using the images below on your Facebook profiles, on personal blogs, and anywhere else you wish!

To download an image to your computer...
PC Users: right-click the image and select "Save image as..."
Mac Users: click on the image while holding the Control key and select "Save Image As..."

Use this image for your Facebook profile picture:

<a href="http://tinyurl.com/voteglsen" "target=blank"><img src="http://www.glsen.org/images/data/GLSEN_IMG/img/000/000/670-1.JPG"></a>

Use these images on blogs, on MySpace or anywhere else you can spread the word. (You can also copy and paste the HTML code below each image into blog posts, blog sidebars, or MySpace profiles!)

<a href="http://tinyurl.com/voteglsen" "target=blank"><img src="http://www.glsen.org/images/data/GLSEN_IMG/img/000/000/671-2.JPG"></a>

<a href="http://tinyurl.com/voteglsen" "target=blank"><img src="http://www.glsen.org/images/data/GLSEN_IMG/img/000/000/672-2.JPG"></a>

GLSEN's Big Idea if We Win $1 Million Through Chase Community Giving

What would you do with a million dollars?

This was the task handed to the Top 100 charities in Chase Community Giving. We at GLSEN had one goal in mind when contemplating that question: Make the biggest impact for the most students possible. Then we thought, why stop there? Why not come up with something that could potentially benefit every student in the country?

GLSEN's Big Idea is to send our newly updated Safe Space Kit to every middle and high school in the country, public and private.

We want every school in the country to have a guide to help educators create safe spaces for LGBT youth in school that also provides concrete strategies for supporting LGBT students, educating about anti-LGBT bullying and advocating for changes in schools.

So if you help us win $1 million by voting for us Friday, Jan15-22, we will provide every middle and high school in the country with a resource to make schools safer for every student.

Because every student deserves a safe space. And safe spaces save lives.

Please tell all your friends: http://tinyurl.com/voteglsen. Join our event page at http://tinyurl.com/GLSENChaseEvent.

Also, please vote for our partners Matthew Shepard Foundation and The Trevor Project.

Follow Friday: Follow GLSEN

Come check us out @glsen on Twitter. All the cool kids are doing it.

While youre at it, don't forget to fan us on Facebook. And tell all your friends. We even created an easy link for everyone to find us. Facebook.com/GLSEN

GLSEN, Matthew Shepard Foundation, The Trevor Project to Support Each Other in Chase Community Giving Finals

GLSEN is one of 100 finalists in Chase Community Giving, a project with Facebook to award $10 million to charities. Top vote-getter in the final round of voting (Jan. 15-22) is awarded $1 million. The next five vote-getters will be awarded $100,000 each.

We are proud to say that two of our partners working to make the world a safer place for LGBT youth, Matthew Shepard Foundation and The Trevor Project, are also finalists. Luckily, every Facebook user is given five votes starting Jan. 15. We hope you'll use three of your five on us.

More to come later this week.

From our joint press release:

In a joint statement, GLSEN executive director Eliza Byard, Matthew Shepard Foundation executive director Jason Marsden and The Trevor Project executive director Charles Robbins said:

"We are grateful for the overwhelming support Facebook users have already shown GLSEN, the Matthew Shepard Foundation and The Trevor Project in the first round of the Chase Community Giving program. Our three organizations have worked together for years to create a safer and better world for LGBT youth. Because of this partnership and the scarcity of resources available to fund crucial support for LGBT youth, we have decided to work together to ensure that each organization has the best chance to further our important work through the grants awarded as part of the Chase program. We ask our supporters to use three of their five votes for GLSEN, the Matthew Shepard Foundation and The Trevor Project."

Gay Student Made the Choice to be 'Silent No More'

First off, Happy New Year!

To start 2010 off in the right direction, the monthly magazine Teen Ink has published the essay "Silent No More," by a gay youth whose torment over anti-gay jokes at his expense turned out to be a "blessing in disguise."

As a high school freshman he was insecure and in a self-professed state of denial when questioned about his sexual orientation, until one day when he decided to make a promise to himself not to allow the constant taunts to silence his potential. With the help of his strong support network of friends and family, and through a conscious effort, he was able to become a confident, goal-seeking sophomore who is now actively involved in his school's GSA.

Hate is unproductive. I've learned that I cannot hold grudges or become bitter toward people who try to hurt me; their hate comes from misinformation and ignorance.
...
Though I was knocked down, I built myself back up with clear goals and responsibilities. I now have two objectives: to provide a safe community for gay students, and to educate those who harass us.