Congresswoman Linda Sánchez

Cerritos, California

I’m doing my best to transform schools to make sure they are respectful and inclusive of LGBT students. Bullying and harassment can destroy motivation and self-esteem, affect school attendance, academic performance, and physical and mental health.

To help transform schools to make sure they are safe for everyone, I re-introduced the “Safe Schools Improvement Act” to address the problem of school bullying.

This bill would require all schools across the country to implement an anti-bullying policy to protect students from bullying and harassment.  This bill would protect students, whether they are being targeted based on their race, gender, real or perceived sexual orientation, or any other basis.

On top of this, the “Safe Schools Improvement Act” would make it possible for schools to better teach students about the consequences of bullying and harassment.

President Obama believes, as I do, that we have to make sure all students are safe and healthy.  The President has expressed  his strong support for my bill, and I’m working my hardest to make sure this bill makes it to his desk and he signs it into law.

The biggest tip I would give to LGBT students is to speak up if you’re being bullied. Bullying is not OK! Don’t suffer in silence. If you’re being bullied or picked on, it’s very important to tell someone.   Tell a teacher. Tell a parent. If they don’t hear you the first time, tell them again.

Congresswoman Linda Sánchez’s It Get’s Better YouTube video:

Congresswoman Linda Sánchez represents California’s 39^th Congressional District. She has been a national leader in advocating for anti-bullying legislation.

GLSEN’s Back-to-School Voices series is coming to a close. However, we’re looking for stories on how you are being an Ally in creating safer schools in your community! Check out our Ally Week Stories page to find out more information. 

Juliann DiNicola

GLSEN Student Engagement Associate
New York, NY

Being a part of the GLSEN family is a great privilege that I have.  I work as the Student Engagement Associate in the Community Initiatives Department.  I hear lots of feedback from students about what their GSA is doing, what an awesome day they had on the Day of Silence, and what their school climate is like. All of this feedback is so helpful since a big part of my job is planning for GLSEN’s Days of Action!

The first action of the new school year is Ally Week, which takes place from October 15-19th. Ally Week is a week for students to identify, support and celebrate Allies against anti-LGBT language, bullying and harassment in America’s schools.

There are plenty of ways you can be an ally to LGBT youth or talk to your school about why allies are important to you!

• Take the Ally Week pledge or gather pledges.
• Give a thank you card to an ally at your school.
• Initiate class discussions. Ask your teachers to set aside some time to talk about why it’s important to be an ally.
• Present at a faculty meeting about the importance of supportive educators.
• Spread awareness on social media by taking an Ally Week photo!

Don’t forget to register your participation to get FREE Ally Week gear!

It’s never too late to become an ally or identify allies in your school. Learn more about Ally Week here.

I’m so happy that a part of my job helps make back to school better for all students!

Check out this fun Ally Week video:

GLSEN’s Back-to-School Voices series is coming to a close soon. However, we’re looking for stories on how you are being an Ally in creating safer schools in your community! Check out our Ally Week Stories page to find out more information. 

Barb Silvey

GSA Advisor, Rogers High School
Spokane, WA

Rogers High School is located in Spokane, WA, a mid-sized city in conservative Eastern Washington.  Who would think that one of the two high school Gay-Straight Alliances in Spokane would be located at Rogers?  And yet, students are clamoring at the beginning of the school year:  ”When’s our first GSA meeting?”  ”What day of the week are we meeting?”  ”Isn’t Ally Week coming up soon?”  ”Are we going to Odyssey this year?”  ”When should we get together with our NOISE Group for a school-wide anti-bullying event?”  ”We need to start planning for PRIDE!!” It is an exciting start to the school year, and we are the center of it.

My name is Barb Silvey and I have been the proud Advisor of the Rogers High School Gay-Straight Alliance for the past eight years.  We have had students of all kinds in our group: kids looking for a way to come out, transgendered students looking for a safe place and people to be with and allies to all who want to have a group that can be proactive in our school.  We meet once a week and our biggest challenge is making sure everyone who needs us can find us.  Our ASB leaders make us GIANT signs to put in our commons and we put notices in the bulleting, but the best way is by word of mouth.  It is so exciting changing lives!!

This year, our main focus is going to be the Changing The Game initiative  We intend to approach all of our sports teams and convince them to sign Team Respect Challenge pledges of respect and inclusion so that we can turn our school into a safe place for EVERY student and staff member.  We are also continuing to collaborate with our sister school, Shadle Park High School, for GSA events (movies, Valentine’s parties, Christmas parties and hoping to top our participation of 250 for the Day of Silence this year.

Come visit us on our Rogers High School GSA Facebook page.

Resources to help get you back to school:

Changing The Game: GLSEN’s Sport Project - an education and advocacy initiative focused on addressing LGBT issues in K-12 school-based athletic and physical education programs

Ally Week – Celebrate amazing allies in creating safer schools for all students!

Jump-Start Guide - Find out ways in which you can create and support a GSA in your school

GLSEN Chapters – Find a chapter in your area that can provide on-the-ground support to your GSA, or find out how you can start one!

GLSEN’s Back-to-School Voices series is coming to a close. However, we’re looking for stories on how you are being an Ally in creating safer schools in your community! Check out our Ally Week Stories page to find out more information. 

Kaily

Student, West Jordan, UT

I am proud to say that I am doing my part to help make my school become a safer and more comfortable place. I fought alongside 4 others to get a GSA in my school. It was a tough battle but we got it! Just the other day was a real eye opener for me. It’s Rush Week at school so all of the clubs are out shaking their tail feathers, including our glittery GSA table. When I witnessed a group of fellow students standing close by laughing and making jokes about “the gay club,” I walked over to them and handed them all lollipops, which we were passing out to everyone, and let them know it’s people like them that give us reasons to start clubs like ours.

As I walked away I was hugged by a stranger. While still in this embrace he told me the story of how his older brother attempted suicide twice because of the bullying he faced being gay in our school. My eyes got misty. He then began taking pictures of our booth to show his brother and signed up for the club. He then hugged me again and thanked me for standing up for the cause. I will never forget that moment. Ever.

Resources to help get you back to school:

2011 National School Climate Survey Executive Summary – learn stats, facts, and recommendations for our current school climate from our latest research report

Jump Start Guide for GSAs – everything you need to start and run a successful gay-straight alliance

Top 10 Things To Do With Your GSA – A video + resource list so that your GSA never runs out of ideas

Ally Week – celebrate being an ally for LGBT youth & learn how you can become an ally

Ashton Rose

Student
Milford, Ohio

Last year I entered my first year at Milford High School as a trans-identified student. I had left my other school because of bullying so severe I had to be withdrawn from my classes. As a transgender guy, I use male pronouns. But my Milford teachers did not respect my identity and referred to me as “she” and “her.” They also did not call me Ashton and instead used the name that I do not like but is still attached to my legal documentation. I initially thought most of the teachers were transphobic and probably just hated me until I realized that most of the school staff didn’t even know what the word transgender meant. I came to the conclusion that I needed to give Milford educators a presentation to help them better understand transgender and gender non-conforming issues; by educating them I’m preventing teachers at my school from unknowingly hurting other students like me in the future.

One incident at school that really struck me was when I was in math class; it was the second week of school and I did not know all my teachers that well. My math teacher was young leading me to believe he would likely be more accepting than most of my other teachers. I was sitting in class and went to raise my hand to answer a question when he pointed at me and said, “Yes sir?” I was about to answer but a student shouted out, “That’s a girl.” He looked somewhat uncomfortable, maybe even embarrassed and responded, “Whatever it is.” I was shocked and terribly hurt at his use of the word “it” and the way he handled the situation.

The situation turned me off from talking to my teachers and identifying supportive staff. I had no hope in finding a supportive teacher or even one I could trust. Another thing, that I often dread even now, is finding a bathroom I can use with the least amount of hassle. Obviously using the male bathroom would be virtually impossible and something that could get me expelled. Conversely, entering the girl’s bathroom isn’t the most convenient either. There was one time when I walked into the girl’s restroom and immediately was given weird looks by a group girls standing at the mirror. I entered a stall quickly and the girls immediately began snickering and saying things about me being ‘disgusting’ and ‘strange.’

Before I left I washed my hands and as I was walking out I heard one girl say, “That thing shouldn’t be allowed in here.” Ultimately it ruined the rest of the week for me. After that incident with the bathrooms I decided to see my school counselor. I figured it was inevitable that I come out to her. And I found myself surprised when she focused on helping me feel safer in school. Afterwards I went to see her every week. I expressed my fear of coming out to my teachers and them not treating me as a student, but she was quick to offer me many alternatives. One day the counselor called me down to her office and told me she had someone she wanted me to meet. She introduced me to an openly gay teacher at school with a wonderful partner and adopted twins! We spoke for a while and I started feeling better.

Once I discovered that I had support in my school I realized that I needed to take action. After a four day summit as a GLSEN Student Ambassador, I found other adults and resources that could help me make my school a better place for trans students. It really empowered me and I was soon very excited to make my way back to my high school with new support and confidence. I knew I could work with GLSEN to put a presentation together and educate my teachers because being in the dark about these subjects can really hurt other trans students in their quest to come out. Not only did I have the help of GLSEN, I had a new outlook on teachers that would support me in the midst of my push for teacher training. And I realized that educating my teachers could help me advocate for a trans-inclusive school policy.

Creating a trans-inclusive school policy would make my school safer and more affirming for students like me. I want to focus on my class work and the year ahead instead of worrying about what pronouns my teachers use towards me, whether or not I can go to the bathroom at school without experiencing harassment or even what clothes I can wear that I feel most comfortable in.  I simply want to do well in school and figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life. And I believe I can get there with my school’s support.

Resources to help you get back to school

Ashton is participating in GLSEN’s Student Ambassador program, a student leadership program run by GLSEN’s communications department. If you are interested in GLSEN’s Student Ambassador program, make sure you are subscribed to student updates and we’ll let you know when applications open this spring.

Check out: GLSEN’s Model District Policy for Trans & Gender Nonconforming Students:

What have YOU done to transform you school? What ideas or tips can you provide to other LGBT students overcoming challenges? Share your story with us so that we can share it with world. Together, we’ll be inspired to make this school year even better than the last – for everyone.

Andrew

Student
Portland, TN

In the rural town of Portland, TN, 1,200 teens go to the high school each day.  While their parents are driving to work, and younger brothers/sisters learning the alphabet, our school club, Born This Way (BTW) is fighting for their self-image, equality, and a safer school climate.  Nearly the entire school feels a need to change.  There is a particular need to make Portland High School (PHS) a better school, but some never take the initiative to do so.

Once I felt this need, I jumped at the thought of changing the school and making it a better place.  My best friend and I started Born This Way.  We wanted to make it a very well-rounded club, therefore we included into our meetings components of individualism, anti-bullying, and equality.  Once I heard about GLSEN Middle Tennessee’s Student Action & Empowerment Forum (SAEF 2012) my ears perked up because I knew there would be a vast amount of knowledge for me to gain from this event!  Just in the first few hours of being there I learned so much!  My knowledge grew about the LGTBQ community, social justice, conflict resolution, and so much more!

When I left this event and returned to my BTW club sponsor, I was overwhelmed with the things to inform her about!  Not only did I learn things from the GLSEN chapter leaders, I also learned things from the other exceptional students that attended.  We discussed things like Ally Week and the Day Of Silence; since these are GLSEN-sponsored events, we have planned a shared calendar for all GSAs* in Middle Tennessee, so that we all will be focusing on these same events and get support from our GLSEN chapter!  This, alone, is priceless to me because now I have a vast amount of people standing behind me to organize around these events!

Taking everything that I have learned at SAEF 2012 and trying to summarize it would be exceptionally hard.  The open environment, friendly people, and terrific GLSEN swag made this more than worthwhile to me.  It was like a whole new world has been opened up that has been lying hidden for so long. I feel sort of like an adventurer that has just found the long lost treasure! Just two days with these people makes me want to do so much more; the priceless knowledge and some breathtaking new friends also made this a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I cannot wait to commence this work in my school!

I believe PHS is just a few steps from acceptance, and with SAEF 2012 it’s now on the right track!

If you would like to learn more about GLSEN Middle Tennessee and to apply to be a part of their Jump-Start student organizing team, please visit their website here. 

Resources to help get you back to school:

Ally Week – Celebrate amazing allies in creating safer schools for all students!

Day of Silence - a day where we recognize the silence many LGBT youth across the country face on a daily basis

Jump-Start Guide - Find out ways in which you can create and support a GSA in your school

GLSEN Chapters – Find a chapter in your area that can provide on-the-ground support to your GSA, or find out how you can start one!

Rich Espey

Middle School Teacher
Baltimore, Maryland

When you teach Middle School students you need to expect the unexpected! This year, as I look forward to another year as co-advisor to The Park School of Baltimore’s Middle School GSA (for information and resources on starting your own GSA, check out GLSEN’s Jump Start program), I can’t wait to see what great project ideas our students will come up with. Last year our GSA began by creating a “Question of the Month” bulletin board, posting queries like “Why don’t straight people have to come out?” and “What are the ‘rules’ for girls and boys in our school and what happens if someone breaks them?” Along with each displayed question were slips of paper for people to leave anonymous written responses in our rainbow-decorated box, a box which filled quickly with (mostly) thoughtful replies. Each month’s contents were summarized and posted on the bulletin board along with a new question. What a great way to promote thoughtful hallway discussion and increase LGBT visibility!

Later in the year our GSA decided to sponsor a mock referendum in anticipation of Maryland’s coming referendum on same-sex marriage legislation (passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor in March, 2012). After an informative student-led assembly explaining both the issue and the referendum process, our rainbow box was once again put to work! The results? Ninety-one percent of our student body voted in favor of upholding the law entitling same-sex couples the right to civil marriage. I sincerely believe that the work my colleagues at Park have done to include age-appropriate presentations of gender and sexuality diversity across the curriculum played a role in that landslide.

So what’s next? The LGBT History Timeline we didn’t quite have time to get off the ground last year? Advocacy supporting pending transgender anti-discrimination legislation? I don’t know! But I do know my colleagues and I will listen carefully to our students and support their needs and interests. I’ll wager that in this school year we’ll find new ways to keep thinking, talking and learning about gender and sexuality diversity – and we’ll get even closer to creating that ideal environment of safety and inclusion for all. Middle Schoolers never cease to surprise and amaze me. I’m expecting the unexpected – thank goodness that’s something I can count on!

Resources to help you get back to school

The Jump Start Program – GSA resource

What have YOU done to transform you school? What ideas or tips can you provide to other LGBT students overcoming challenges? Share your story with us so that we can share it with world. Together, we’ll be inspired to make this school year even better than the last – for everyone.

Alan Brown

Trustee, The American Boychoir School
Princeton, New Jersey

As a newly-appointed trustee to a small independent middle school, one of the first things I did was to request a copy of the official school handbooks–this included the Employee Handbook as well as the Student & Parent Handbook. To prepare for the new year, I read these documents cover to cover, highlighting all language pertaining to sexuality and or coupling and noting the places where wording was not LGBT-inclusive. This meant looking at everything from non-discrimination and sexual harassment policies to the discussion of school dances to the explanation of spousal benefits.

I am now working with the Head of School to update these important documents that serve as the legal foundation to the school’s policy, but also set a very important tone around LGBT issues as they are distributed to every member of the organization. Just as in our classrooms and hallways, the words we as schools use in our websites, publications, memoranda, and just every day emails can send an important signal to all constituents–parents, students, employees, and anyone else involved–that we respect the contributions of all people to the school community, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Resources to help you get back to school

Safe Space Kit – learn how to create safe spaces in your school for everyone!

Model Policies & Laws – sample policies and laws for use at the state, district, and school level to make sure LGBT students are safe and respected

What have YOU done to transform you school? What ideas or tips can you provide to other LGBT students overcoming challenges? Share your story with us so that we can share it with world. Together, we’ll be inspired to make this school year even better than the last – for everyone.

Christopher Murray

High School Social Studies Teacher and Coach
Bethesda, Maryland

2012 marked my first year where I made a strong stance on LGBT equality in my school and county.  For years I have had the Safe Space poster on display and have had activities for the National Day of Silence and Ally Week.  But last year I made it my mission to bring the Changing the Game GLSEN Sports Project: Team Respect Challenge to our school.  This easy to administer, but very meaningful pledge emphasizes to our student-athletes how important respect is both on the field of athletics and within the school setting.  To date we have had all of our winter and spring teams willingly sign the pledge and we should have every team signed by September 1st! I can tell you from experience that when you present the pledge your athletes will buy in to the concept of respect for all.  I have seen player hold other players more accountable for their word choice because of the pledge and witnessed team chemistry grow from the pledge.  The GLSEN Sports Project needs to be implemented on ALL teams, and LGBT respect should be as important to a coach and athletic program as practice is.

Resources to help you get back to school

Day of Silence – a day where we recognize the silence many LGBT youth across the country face on a daily basis

Ally Week – celebrate what it means to be an Ally

Changing the Game GLSEN Sports Project: Team Respect Challenge - addressing LGBT issues in K-12 school-based athletic and physical education programs

What have YOU done to transform you school? What ideas or tips can you provide to other LGBT students overcoming challenges? Share your story with us so that we can share it with world. Together, we’ll be inspired to make this school year even better than the last – for everyone.

Sabrina

Student
Troy, MI

At my old school, it didn’t seem possible for any student to be openly LGBT without having to face relentless bullying. I knew of a small but prominent GSA there, but never thought to join, especially in the midst of a harsh school climate and the scrutiny of my peers. I certainly never expected myself to be organizing such a club at my new school.

A year later, I moved here to Troy. Things were definitely different. I noticed the environment in the school was a lot more tolerant; this was a school that chose to embrace diversity rather than criticize. I contacted my school administrators during my junior year in hopes of starting a gay-straight alliance. With the help of the Federal Equal Access Act, and an enthusiastic volunteer teacher adviser, we were granted permission to organize our club—and all it took was an e-mail to the principal.

Our GSA kicked off to a great start. Over the course of one year, we put up posters, marched in the homecoming parade, organized the Day of Silence and Spirit Day, challenged anti-LGBT language from one of our elected officials, and contributed to fostering a positive safe space for all kinds of people in our school. GLSEN’s resources were a huge help. For larger events like Ally Week and Day of Silence, we ordered materials from GLSEN’s website, like wristbands, posters, and stickers. We also ordered a Safe Space Kit; our adviser put Safe Space posters in his room and we distributed Safe Space stickers to those who were willing to take them. Additionally, we took advantage of the incredible tools from the GLSEN Jump-Start Guide for GSAs, including icebreakers and tips on how to be a more trans-inclusive space.

Unsurprisingly, our school’s office received phone calls from angry parents trying to shut down our club. Some students even tore down our posters. Yeah, we’ve had challenges, but what’s progress without a few bumps along the way? These instances are just reminders to us that it’s always possible to make a positive difference.

I’m so thankful I had the opportunity to get involved with starting a GSA. When I look back on my days as a freshman at my old school, I would change only one thing: I wish I would have gotten involved with their GSA, small and unpopular as it may have been. It’s amazing to me that people had the courage to initiate a GSA in such an unfriendly environment and it’s even more amazing the way they overcome challenges in order to provide the kind of safe haven that every school needs for LGBT students and their allies. If you’re considering starting a GSA at your school, my advice to you is to do it.

Resources to help you get back to school

Day of Silence – a day where we recognize the silence many LGBT youth across the country face on a daily basis

Ally Week – celebrate what it means to be an Ally

Jump-Start Guide  – if you want ideas of how to create a GSA and activities for meetings, here’s a great resource for you

What have YOU done to transform you school? What ideas or tips can you provide to other LGBT students overcoming challenges? Share your story with us so that we can share it with world. Together, we’ll be inspired to make this school year even better than the last – for everyone.