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Creating “Safe Zone” for LGBT Students

Creating “Safe Zone” for LGBT Students. Danhua Kong. Seth’s story. Seth Walsh, 1997-2010, hanged himself from a plum tree in his family's backyard. . 5 th grade, being called "gay." 7 th grade, taunts and verbal abuse constantly occurred; being called "fag" and "queer."

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Creating “Safe Zone” for LGBT Students

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  1. Creating “Safe Zone” for LGBT Students Danhua Kong

  2. Seth’s story Seth Walsh, 1997-2010, hanged himself from a plum tree in his family's backyard. • 5th grade, being called "gay." • 7th grade, taunts and verbal abuse constantly occurred; being called "fag" and "queer." • Becoming afraid to use the restroom or be in the boy's locker room. • One teacher allegedly called Seth "fruity" in front of an entire class. • His mother’s pleas to the school for help were often brushed aside. • September 28, 2010 http://www.aclu.org/lgbt-rights/seth-walsh-1997-2010

  3. Thevoice • "People kept coming up to me and making fun of me, they would call me horrible names and I would cry all the time. Letters were put in my locker saying things about AIDS and how my parents shouldn't have had me and how I should just die. Kids would threaten me after school and follow me home yelling things at me. No one should have to go through what I went through in school." • "There was no one in my school for me to talk about my issues. I felt completely alone and unsupported. I had nowhere to unload the burden I was feeling unless I ended it.“ • "When I would go to lunch I would have to sit through 45 minutes of gay jokes and 'Oh my God, how could someone possibly be gay?!' A lot of the time I ate in the classroom by myself because I just couldn't stand it anymore."

  4. Does It Matter? • My father asked if I am gayI asked Does it matter?He said No not reallyI said Yes. He said get out of my life I guess it mattered. • My boss asked if I am gay I asked Does it matter? He said No not really I told him Yes. He said you're fired faggot I guess it mattered. • My friend asked if I am gay I said Does it matter?He said No not reallyI told him Yes.He said Don't call me your friendI guess it mattered • My lover asked Do you love me? I asked Does it matter? He said Yes.I told him I love you He said Let me hold you in my arms For the first time in my life something matters. • My God asked me Do you love yourself?I said Does it matter?He said YESI said How can I love myself? I am gayHe said That is the way I made you Nothing will ever matter again ------------An Anonymous high school student

  5. Why should we care? • The issue of sexual orientation is one of personal importance to a great number of children • About 1 to 3 of every 10 students is either gay or lesbian, or has an immediate family member who is. • Thus, between 3 and 9 kids in every class of 30 has had some direct experience with the issues of homosexuality and homophobia • Schools 'obligation • to support and enhance the self-esteem of all students regardless of their sexual orientation; to provide accurate information • Students suffer from homophobia at school • Young people are asking • respect for one another and caring about one another's feelings, regardless of differences

  6. Statistics about LGBT Students • 4 -- 10% is gay • In a public school system of more than one million, there are at least 40,000 to 100,000 gay students. • Academics • Twice as likely to say that they were not planning on completing high school or going on to college. • The average GPA for those who were frequently physically harassed was half a grade lower than that of other students. • Health—high levels of family rejection • Three times more likely to use illegal drugs. • 8.4 times more likely to report having attempted suicide and 5.9 times more likely to report high levels of depression

  7. Statistics cont…. • Family & Shelter • Half of gay males experience a negative parental reaction when they come out and 26% of those youth was thrown out of the home. • 25%-- 50% of homeless youth are LGBT because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. • LGBT youth are overrepresented in foster care and juvenile detention • Harassment & Violence • Nearly a fifth are physically assaulted because of their sexual orientation and over a tenth because of their gender expression. • About two-thirds reported having been sexually harassed (e.g., sexual remarks made, being touched inappropriately) in school in the past year. • ---FELAG NEW YORK CITY

  8. Statistics cont…. • A comprehensive 2009 study of over 7,000 middle and high school students entitle the National School Climate Survey • 9 out of 10 LGBT students reported that they had experienced harassment at their school in the past year based on their sexual orientation or gender identity • Two-thirds said they felt unsafe at school because of who they are. • Nearly one-third skipped at least one day of school within the previous month because of concerns for their safety • Locker rooms and bathrooms being locations of particular worry for LGBT students

  9. What has the government done? • On June 15th, 2011, the U.S. Department of Education issued a ”Dear Colleague” letter to school districts across the country reminding them that students have the right under the federal Equal Access Act to form Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs). • GSAs are student-run extracurricular clubs that bring together lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and straight students to support each other and promote tolerance, and are common in public school districts throughout the nation.

  10. Obama Proclaims June lgbt pride month On May 31 • “It is a story about the struggle to realize the great American promise that all people can live with dignity and fairness under the law.” • “…reaching out to LGBT youth who have been bullied by recording “It Gets Better” videomessages to assure them they are not alone.” • “NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2011 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists, and to celebrate the great diversity of the American people.”

  11. U.N. Human Rights Council: LGBT Rights Are Human Rights • On June 17, U.N.'s Human Rights Council took a critical step forward for human rights by recognizing that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people around the world struggle against violence and discrimination every day and deserve protection from such abuses. • On the closing day of the Council meeting in Geneva, members adopted, for the first time ever, a resolution condemning violence and discrimination against those who are LGBT. It is the first U.N. resolution to focus solely on LGBT persons.

  12. What are we expected to do? • "I think it is important for teachers to realize the harassment that happens every day at high school. When I told one of my teachers who knew I was gay when I was leaving, he felt embarrassed and naive, as well as shocked and appalled, because he never knew that I suffered such levels of harassment." • "Most of the students in the gay straight alliance identify as straight, but it's nice to know that they support me. I'm not scared being 'out' because they would defend me." • "I don't know if you can really understand how I feel, but if you can, I hope you can change things so it is easier for people like me. Maybe professionals could talk to our teachers and kids to make them less homophobic, maybe then they would know I can't help how I am." • ----Report of the Rhode Island Task Force on Gay and Lesbian Youth

  13. What can we do? To be a “safe zone” To create a “safe zone”

  14. Believe that our school is enriched and enlivened by the diversity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. • Be aware of the presence of LGBT students, faculty, and staff and be willing to engage in genuine dialogue and interaction. • Be willing to discuss issues impacting LGBT people's lives in a non-judgmental manner. • Know LGBT resources and be willing to refer students to support and information resources at school and in the community. • Comfortably use inclusive language, avoid stereotyping, and do not assume everyone is heterosexual. • Maintain confidentiality. How to be a “safe zone”?

  15. To create a “safe zone”-suggestions to reduce homophobia

  16. Recommended Readings • Books Growing Up Gay/Growing Up Lesbian- A Literary Anthology, edited by Bennett Singer Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, Jeanette Winterson • Nonfiction:About Our Children, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). For parents after coming out. Coming Out to Parents, Mary V. Borhek. A guide for both gays, lesbians, bisexuals and their parents. Now That You Know, Betty Fairchild and Nancy Hayward. A book for parents dealing with their child's homosexuality.The New Loving Someone Gay,Don Clark. For friends and parents about accepting gays and lesbians. • HistoryAnother Mother Tongue, Judy Grahn. Gay cultural history. Gay American History: Lesbians and Gay Men in the USA, Jonathan Katz Making History- The Struggle for Gay and Lesbian Equal Rights, Eric Marcus.

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