GLSEN Breaks the Silence with Launch of TEACH RESPECT Campaign

Apr 06, 2005

Riley Snorton
212-727-0135, x135
rsnorton@glsen.org

New York – GLSEN, or the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, announced today that it would launch a public education campaign entitled Teach Respect on April 13, 2005. The launch of the campaign will coincide with the culmination of the Day of Silence, where in over 4,000 schools an estimated 450,000 students in all 50 states and Puerto Rico will take a vow of silence to bring attention to the bias and harassment experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students and their allies.

The Teach Respect campaign seeks to educate, inform and inspire Americans to address the serious problems of anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment that affects ALL students – gay and straight alike – in our nation’s schools.

“It is fitting that GLSEN launches the Teach Respect campaign on the Day of Silence,” said Kevin Jennings, Founder and Executive Director of GLSEN. “As hundreds of thousands of students lead a silent event to educate their classmates and communities about anti-LGBT bias, violence and harassment, GLSEN now breaks the silence on this issue with a campaign encouraging all Americans to take action to make schools safe for all students.”

According to GLSEN’s 2003 National School Climate Survey, 4 out of 5 LGBT students report being verbally, sexually or physically harassed at school because of their sexual orientation. The study also found that inclusive safe schools policies, teacher trainings on LGBT issues and supporting student clubs commonly known as Gay-Straight Alliances are part of the solution to ensure schools are safe and effective environments for all students.

The Teach Respect campaign will use public service announcements, or PSAs, in print media and radio to raise awareness of the harmful effects of bullying and harassment in America’s schools. The Teach Respect PSAs can be viewed and heard on a re-launched educational website, www.TeachRespect.com. The site will also provide information and resources about what can individuals can do within their homes, schools and communities to curb anti-LGBT bullying and harassment.

About the Day of Silence
The Day of Silence, a project of GLSEN in collaboration with the United States Student Association (USSA), is a student-led day of action where those who support making anti-LGBT bias unacceptable in schools take a day-long vow of silence to recognize and protest the discrimination and harassment – in effect the silencing – experienced by LGBT students and their allies. Across the country last year an estimated 450,000 students in over 3,000 K-12 schools and over 600 colleges took part in the Day of Silence. This year the Day of Silence has already been endorsed by over 150 organizations and several local governments have issued proclamations about the day.

About GLSEN
GLSEN, or the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, now in its 10th year, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for ALL students. GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. For more information on GLSEN’s educational resources, public policy agenda, student organizing programs or development initiatives, visit www.glsen.org.