President Obama's Video Message of Support to LGBT Youth
Discussion Guide for Educators

President Barack Obama recently issued a video message speaking directly to young people, offering reassurance and hope to those being bullied because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, or simply because of being different. The President's empathy and concern, so clearly and directly expressed, is an historic contribution to the outpouring of support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth we have seen over the past few weeks.

President Obama's statement provides an opportunity to engage your students in important conversations about differences, bullying and standing up for others. Let's build on his message of strength and hope by making sure that young people who may be targets of bullying know that with time, life does get better. And, let's make sure the students around them are empowered to be allies.

Use the discussion suggestions below in your classroom and click here for more ways that you can make a positive difference.

Elementary School - Grades K-5

Get students talking about bullying and how they can they can stand up for others. Follow these directions to encourage your students to be allies.

1. Present some of the themes in President Obama's video to your class, using the following questions:

   • Have you ever seen someone being bullied at this school? What did you do?
   • How are students who are considered "different" treated by other students?
   • How does it feel to be called mean names or bullied?

2. Lead your class on a guided tour of the school campus to identify places, "hot spots", where they have seen name-calling and bullying take place most. When you return to the classroom, write each "hot spot" on a piece of paper and ask students as a group to put them on a continuum from "hottest" to "coolest". Lead a class discussion using the following questions:

   • Why do you think name-calling seems to occur more in some places in and around the school than in others?
   • What is similar about the places you've identified as "hot spots" for name-calling in the school?

3. Ask students to trace their feet ("take a stand") or hands ("give a hand") on a piece of paper, and then to write and draw words and pictures that represent how they can help students who are being bullied. As an alternative, ask them to draw a picture representing how they might help someone who is being called names or bullied.

Middle School - Grades 6-8

After showing President Obama's video, facilitate a class discussion with your students using the following questions:

1. What message was President Obama trying to send in the video?
2. How big of a problem is bullying in your school? When and where at school does bullying happen most?
3. President Obama has dealt with being "different". How might students at this school feel who are considered "different"?
4. Have you ever stood up for someone being teased or bullied? Why or why not?
5. Why is it important to have allies, other students who will stand up for you, at school?
6. In President Obama's video, he says that "it gets better." In what ways might bullying get better after middle school?
7. What would be your message to LGBT youth who are being bullied?

High School - Grades 9-12

After showing President Obama's video, facilitate a class discussion with your students using some of the following questions:

1. What message was President Obama trying to send to LGBT youth? To all youth?
2. How big of a problem is bullying in your school? What types of bullying occur (teasing, name-calling, physical bullying, cyberbullying, etc.)?
3. President Obama has dealt with being "different". What types of students are considered "different" at your school and how are they treated? How might our differences make us stronger?
4. Have you ever stood up for someone being teased or bullied? Why or why not?
5. Why is it important to have allies, other students who will stand up for you, at school?
6. In President Obama's video, he says that "it gets better." In what ways has bullying gotten better or worse for you or your peers since middle school and why?
7. In what ways might bullying get better after high school?
8. What would be your message to LGBT youth who are being bullied?