The Safe Schools Coalition

Dec 06, 2002

The Safe Schools Coalition offers an easy-to-negotiate web site full of resources for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender youth, parents/guardians and educators. It serves as a clearinghouse for thousands of free and low-cost reports, brochures, and posters. It lists all the national and international - and many of the LOCAL - organizations that can provide support and everything from spiritual to legal help. It recommends books, videos and curricula for classroom and school library use. Check it out! www.SafeSchoolsCoalition.org

The Safe Schools Coalition's list serve is a free, non-profit informational service offering resources and commentary regarding:

* Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender youth, parents/guardians and educators; * Their health and safety; * Schools' and communities' efforts to meet their needs; * Bias-motivated harassment and violence, including orientation-based violence; * Schools' and communities' efforts to reduce harassment and violence, including orientation-based violence; * Safe Schools Coalition meetings, activities and needs; * Job, scholarship and grant opportunities and media coverage of interest to our members; * Resources (books, videos, etc.) and conferences/events of interest to our members; * Laws and policies and election matters of interest to our members.

Subscribe on the web site: http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/listsub.asp

The Coalition also provides workshops for educators, students and community groups on "Understanding and Addressing Bias-Based Harassment and Violence in Schools" and "Understanding and Addressing Anti-Gay (GLBT) Harassment and Violence in Schools." Contact the Coalition to provide a workshop in your community or to train your members to provide these powerful workshops: training@SafeSchoolsCoalition.org

The Coalition conducts research, disseminates its own and others' research findings in formats educators and activists can use, and consults with other researchers. They conducted a landmark 5-year qualitative study of anti-gay harassment and violence in elementary, middle and high schools: www.safeschoolscoalition.org/theydontevenknowme.pdf. They synthesized the findings from the first eight population-based studies ever to address sexual orientation or orientation-based harassment among students: www.safeschoolscoalition.org/83000youth.pdf. Hard copies of these publications are available, too.

The Coalition provides resources to students and educators in some very concrete forms: a Safe Schools Resource Guide (for educators: www.safeschoolscoalition.org/SSCresource.pdf), a Safe Schools Zine (for students: www.safeschoolzine.org) and a Washington State Supplement to the Resource Guide (for educators in WA: www.safeschoolscoalition.org/SSCresourceWA.pdf). Hard copies of these publications are available, too.

In Washington State, the Coalition offers intervention services (information, advocacy and referral) for students, educators and families who are experiencing anti-GLBT harassment or violence at school. Contact the Coalition for intervention help through two of its member agencies' toll-free numbers 1-888-307-9275 or 1-866-HF-ZONE-1 or by email: mailto:INTERVENTION@SafeSchoolsCoalition.org