Respect Report - June 2011
|
|
|
 |
RESPECT REPORT |
|
|
|
 |
March with GLSEN at NYC Pride
by Eliza Byard, GLSEN Executive Director
Dear Supporter,
During Pride, event after event commemorates the past year's major milestones in the life of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities across the nation. At GLSEN, June 30 also marks the end of the fiscal year, adding to the sense of reflection and renewal.
This year, we have a lot to commemorate and celebrate. It was a watershed year for GLSEN, as tragedy galvanized public attention and action on our issues at all levels; as we launched our new strategic plan, unveiled a new logo and took our work to scale in ways we could never have imagined earlier in our history; and as our experience and expertise on LGBT issues in K-12 schools enabled us to make the most of new partnerships and new opportunities to champion real progress at the local, state and national level.
If you are going to the NYC Pride March on June 26, we'd love to have you celebrate with us by marching with GLSEN.
More
|
|
|
|
|
|
U.S. Department of Education Cites GLSEN Research to Trumpet Importance of GSAs |
 |
In a historic Dear Colleague letter from Secretary Arne Duncan, the U.S. Department of Education underscored the legal right of students to form Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) under federal law and heralded the positive benefits of GSAs on school campuses. Courts have consistently upheld the rights of students to form GSAs, but some schools and school districts continue to attempt to discriminate against them and block their efforts.
|
|
Learn more
|
|
|
THE LATEST |
|
GLSEN Receives Major Grant from CDC/DASH |
|
GLSEN was awarded an annually renewable grant from the Department of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to increase the percentage of schools and number of organizations that identify “safe spaces” for LGBT youth. During the five-year project, GLSEN will partner with 20 school districts across the country to implement a comprehensive evidence-based program to help keep LBGT students safe and healthy.
|
|
Read More |
|
Five New Leaders Join GLSEN's Board of Directors |
|
GLSEN is proud to announce the election of five new members to its National Board of Directors - John Wilson, Executive Director of the National Education Association; country music artist Chely Wright; Chip Sullivan, Head of Publicity for DreamWorks Studios; award-winning filmmaker Kimberly Reed; and Steven Salee, Founder of WildFire Strategies.
The diverse group of new board members will help oversee the organization's growth and strategy at a critical moment in GLSEN's history.
|
|
Read More
|
|
CDC Study Corroborates GLSEN's Research |
|
According to research findings in a study released last week by the CDC, lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) youth are more likely than their heterosexual peers to engage in risky behaviors such as substance abuse (e.g., tobacco, alcohol, and drugs), sexual risk behaviors that lead to pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, and suicidal thoughts and behavior.
Furthermore, the study found that compared to their heterosexual peers, LGB students are disproportionately at risk for victimization by others, such as being threatened or injured with a weapon on school property, findings that corroborate GLSEN’s own research on the general secondary school population in the report From Teasing to Torment: School Climate in America. The release of this report marks the momentous first instance of a federal research report examining the experiences of LGB youth.
|
|
Read More |
|
|
TAKE ACTION |
|
Safe Schools Improvement Act |
|
Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced the Safe Schools Improvement Act (S.506), a federal anti-bullying bill, in the U.S. Senate. This bill will require effective bullying and harassment policies in our nation's schools.
Learn more about this bill here.
|
|
IN THE COMMUNITY |
|
GLSEN CT Plays Pivotal Role in Passing Anti-Bullying and Non-Discrimination Bills |
|
With the Governor's signature, Connecticut will become the 13th state to enact an enumerated anti-bullying law that includes protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Learn more about the role GLSEN Connecticut played in making history.
|
|
Read more |
|
|
Major IBM-GLSEN Initiative Mobilizes ERGs Globally |
|
GLSEN and IBM introduced a new employee volunteer initiative to teach respect for diversity on June 15, 2011, the date that IBM designated for celebration of its 100th anniversary. On that day, IBM released its 400,000 employees to perform service in their communities, wherever in the world they live and work.
The partnership, called "IBM and GLSEN Day of Service Partnership: Teaching Respect," was developed cooperatively with IBM's global GLBT leadership team. The program is an adaptation of GLSEN's popular No Name-Calling Week.
|
More
|
New GLSEN Student Ambassador Tempest Cartwright Featured in CNN.com Article |
|
A recent CNN.com article about LGBT youth in school featured Tempest's experiences being out in school.
LGBT-related posters get torn down a lot in Tempest's school and community, so she and fellow advocates spend a lot of time putting them back up.
"After a while either they'll get tired of tearing it down, or it'll show them that we're not stopping just because you're going to hate," she said.
|
|
Read CNN Article More |
|
|
Thank You to GLSEN's 2010-2011 Student Ambassadors |
|
We want to take a few moments to recap what has been an absolutely tremendous year for Safe Schools advocacy work for our 2010-2011 Student Ambassadors.
During this last school year, you've read their work on our blog, seen their videos on YouTube, and watched them on AC 360, CBS Evening News and Entertainment Tonight. You may have even read their story in the NY Times, People Magazine, Teen Vogue, Entertainment Weekly, Huffington Post, Nick News, ET online, or heard it on OutQ’s Sirius radio and NPR.
|
|
More |
|
Weiland Society: Mike Balaban's Story |
|
Mike Balaban, a former GLSEN Board member and current chairman of the Emeritus Board, recognized the importance of an accepting educational environment for LGBT youth because no such haven existed in the deeply conservative southern county in which he was raised. By playing sports and denying his sexual orientation, Mike had avoided outright bullying during his teen years, but the costs of his internalized homophobia took much longer to overcome.
|
|
Read Full Article
Read More About the Weiland Society
|
|
|
Events |
|
JUNE 23-BETTER & BETTER Join us for a special Pride Week benefit for GLSEN at the Gramercy Theatre at 7:30pm. Tickets are $20-$40.
Featuring Performances by Andrea McArdle, Nellie McKay, the band BETTY, Frank DeCaro, Mimi Imfurst and Rachael Sage. Hosted by the comedian Alec Mapa ("Ugly Betty"). The evening will also feature remarks by It Gets Better Project co-founder Dan Savage.
Buy your tickets here
|
|
|
Did You Know? |
|
Students in schools with a GSA experienced less victimization related to their sexual orientation and gender expression. For example, 24.2% of students with a GSA experienced high levels of victimization based on their sexual orientation compared to 34.7% of those without a GSA.
|
|
|
(Source: 2009 National School Climate Survey) |
|
GLSEN on Facebook |
|
Our Facebook page has topped 197,000 fans! Become a fan and join an online community committed to ending anti-LGBT bullying in schools across the country. |
|
Become a Fan |
|
How to Start a GSA |
|
GLSEN has created a resource for new and already-established Gay-Straight Alliances or similar clubs. The resources take you through the process of establishing or re-establishing your group, identifying your mission and goals, and assessing your school's climate.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Each year GLSEN receives support from a variety of institutions, including private foundations, corporations and corporate foundations. National Sponsors make significant annual commitments to GLSEN Learn more. |
|
|
Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe |
|
