tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22051470497405497372024-03-21T13:26:14.948-07:00The Safe Schools Coalition BlogSafe Schools Coalitionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12888406342613125865noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205147049740549737.post-85346644111611606252010-10-03T22:08:00.000-07:002010-10-03T22:26:23.975-07:00If Ever There Was a Time to Talk … Five Teens Have Killed Themselves in September<span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">by Beth Reis</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Five teens in the last three weeks had been so severely brutalized by peers for being gay that they felt the only answer was suicide.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">First, Billy Lucas, age 15, hung himself in his grandmother’s barn in Greensburg, Indiana. Billy wasn’t out if he was even gay – you don’t have to be gay to be harassed about it. Then came middle school student 13 year-old Seth Walsh of Tehachapi, California. Then 18-year old college student and violinist Tyler Clementi jumped off the George Washington Bridge (between New Jersey and New York). The next day, in Houston, Texas, straight-A student Asher Brown, age 13, shot himself. Less than a week later, 19-year old Raymond Chase hung himself in Providence, Rhode Island.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">We have to talk about it!!! Talking about suicide doesn’t make people commit suicide. Talking about bullying doesn’t make people bully. And talking about gay people doesn’t make people gay. Please, please take some time this week to talk with your classes about both.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">What your students need to know about suicide and self-harm:</span><br /></span><ul style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;" ><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">People who are considering suicide usually give </span><a href="http://www.yspp.org/about_suicide/warning_signs.htm" target="_blank">signals</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">There are concrete </span><a href="http://www.yspp.org/about_suicide/what_to_do.htm" target="_blank">things you can do</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> if you see what might be signals:</span></span></li></ul><blockquote style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;"><ul><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Show you care. Something like, “I’m here if you feel like talking.” </span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Bring it up. Something like, “Are you thinking about hurting yourself?” </span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Get help. Something like, “Let’s talk to someone. I’ll be there, too, if you want.” </span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">If they won’t talk with a parent or someone at school, do it yourself.</span></li></ul></blockquote><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">What your students need to know about bullying:</span><br /></span><ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Bullying, harassment, cyber-bullying and assault can lead to suicide.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">You don’t want to live with knowing that what you did or allowed a friend to do led someone to take their life.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Bullies need an audience. Refuse to participate.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Bullies often fly under adults’ radar. Make sure adults know what’s happening.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Harassment is illegal. The students who broadcast footage of Tyler Clementi before he killed himself may get as much as 5-10 years in jail.</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">What your students need to know about gay, lesbian, bisexual & transgender (GLBT) people:</span><br /></span><ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;"><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">Who you like – whether you are GLB or Straight – has nothing to do with whether you’re a good person.</span></li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">How masculine or feminine you are – whether or not you’re the way people expect you to be – has nothing to do with whether you’re a good person.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">GLBT people can be as <a href="http://www.nami.org/TextTemplate.cfm?Section=Fact_Sheets1&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=54036" target="_blank">mentally healthy</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/itgetsbetterproject" target="_blank">happy, and loved</a> as anyone else.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">GLBT people have made <a href="http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/RG-teachers_history-civics.html" target="_blank">awesome contributions</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> to the world we all share.</span></span></li></ul><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">IT’S TIME TO TALK:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">SUICIDE …</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The Youth Suicide Prevention Project suggests that you don’t want to glamorize or dramatize events like these recent suicides. But you DO need to talk with your students. Discussion questions might include these: </span><br /></span><ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">What kinds of things stress you and your friends?</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">What can you – or your friends -- do about the stress? What are some options?</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">If your friend was considering suicide, what could you do? What would you do?</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">BULLYING & HARASSMENT …</span><br /></span><ul style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;" ><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">What kinds of things do people in our school get harassed about?</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">What can you do if you see it happening? What are some options?</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">What if it happens to you? What are some options?</span></span></li></ul><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">LGBT PEOPLE …</span><br /></span><ul style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;" ><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">What do you already know about lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people? What stereotypes have you heard that you know aren’t true?</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">What good things have lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people done for the world?</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">If you – or your friend – were lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender where could you go to find friends and support?</span></span></li></ul><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Resources for adults:</span><br /><a href="http://www.yspp.org/" target="_blank">Youth Suicide Prevention Project</a><br /><a href="http://www.seattleschools.org/area/fam/glbtq/bullying.pdf" target="_blank">Bullying & Harassment Background</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, from Seattle Public Schools</span><br /><a href="http://www.maine.gov/education/bullyingprevention/bullying.pdf" target="_blank">Maine’s Best Practices in Bullying and Harassment Prevention</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">: A Guide for Schools and Communities</span><br /><a href="http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/" target="_blank">Safe Schools Coalition</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, addressing LGBT Issues in schools, headquartered in Washington, serving schools everywhere</span><br /><a href="http://www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/pdf/LGBT-FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">Safe at School</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, a new report from the Williams Institute at UCLA addressing the school environment and LGBT safety through policy and legislation</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Resources for the classroom:</span><br /><a href="http://www.yspp.org/schools/look_listen_link.htm" target="_blank">Look, Listen, Link</a> and <a href="http://www.yspp.org/schools/HELP_curriculum.htm" target="_blank">Help Every Living Person</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, suicide prevention curricula for middle and high school, respectively, from the Youth Suicide Prevention Project</span><br /><br /><a href="http://groundspark.org/our-films-and-campaigns/lets-get-real" target="_blank">Let’s Get Real</a> and <a href="http://groundspark.org/our-films-and-campaigns/straightlaced" target="_blank">Straightlaced</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> ... films and discussion guides from Groundspark about bullying for middle school and gender for high school, respectively</span><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/link" target="_blank">Lipstick</a> and <a href="http://www.blogger.com/link" target="_blank">Who I Am</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> … films and discussion guides from Scenarios USA written by youth, performed by pros & discussion guides, about friendship, coming out, and more for middle and high school</span><br /><a href="http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/blackboard-history.html" target="_blank">Lesson planning guides</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> for integrating LGBT issues into the fabric of the classroom, from the Safe Schools Coalition</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Resources for youth:</span><br /><a href="http://us.reachout.com/" target="_blank">ReachOut.com … Get Through Tough Times</a><br /><a href="http://www.ravendays.org/" target="_blank">Raven Days</a><br /><a href="http://www.pacerteensagainstbullying.org/" target="_blank">Teens Against Bullying</a><br /><a href="http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/youth/index.html" target="_blank">Safe Schools Coalition’s YOUTH page</a></span>Gabi Claytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834411375291647871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205147049740549737.post-36922982686572106362010-06-14T13:19:00.000-07:002010-06-14T13:24:23.360-07:00Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition all featured in clips. "Fighting for gay rights" on CNN tonight and tomorrow nightCheck out CNN tonight and tomorrow at 7 pm central (8 pm eastern). Ceara Lynn Sturgis, Constance Leighann McMillen, Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition all featured in clips. <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Fighting for gay rights"</span> - The Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition is a student-run group advocating for gay rights in Mississippi. Watch the CNN clip here: <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/living/2010/03/26/natpkg.miss.gays.cnn.html" target="_blank">"Fighting for gay rights"<br /></a> and see <a href="http://www.mssafeschools.org/" target="_blank">Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition</a>.Gabi Claytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834411375291647871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205147049740549737.post-60454998161219384602009-10-12T11:14:00.000-07:002009-10-12T11:15:22.940-07:00Matthew Shepard’s legacy - looking back and ahead on this anniversary.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Matthew Shepard was murdered eleven years ago today. </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"></span><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">"... despite the passage of time and increased cultural visibility, the realities faced by LGBTQs today are 'no different than when Matthew Shepard was murdered."<br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">~ Charles Robbins (Executive Director and CEO of </span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.thetrevorproject.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">The Trevor Project</span></a>.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Please read this excellent article: </span><br /><a href="http://www.edgenewyork.com/index.php?ch=entertainment&sc=culture&sc3=&id=97535&pg=1" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:130%;">Matthew Shepard’s legacy :: The fight continues</span></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">by Scott Stiffler, EDGE NYC, Monday Oct 12, 2009.</span>Gabi Claytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834411375291647871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205147049740549737.post-64040233961301184682009-09-15T17:25:00.001-07:002009-09-15T17:48:58.691-07:00Just Another Student Coming Out Story...An eighth grader on my floor whom I taught when she was a sixth grader - and when I was "Ms. K" - stopped by my classroom at the end of the day today along with a friend of hers (whom I also taught as a sixth grader). I asked how she has been over the past year or two, since I was on a different floor last year and rarely got the chance to see their class during that time.<br /><br />While she was updating me on her new teachers and how it feels to "rule the school" in eighth grade, the student added that she "has a man." I responded "Oh, yeah? What's his name? Is he in our school?" She looked at me, paused for a moment, and said "No, he's not in this school... And actually, I'm lying. I have a <span style="font-style: italic;">girlfriend</span>!" She gave me a big smile at first but then immediately proceeded to say "But you're the only one who knows about it." I reassured her of my understanding of discretion, saying "Well, none of my current students know that I used to be Ms. K - at least not yet - so I understand keeping things quiet. Don't worry."<br /><br />She proceeded to tell me that she and her girlfriend have been dating since May. (She has the date they began dating painted onto the strap of her backpack). Apparently she thinks her mom and many other people in her community have an idea that she's gay, but she's not worried about negative responses because - in her words - she is "too gay" for anyone to bother her about it. (I interpreted this to mean that she is so confident about her identity that nobody would try to give her any trouble about it.) She anticipates that people in her life will be relatively understanding and allow her to lead her life as she chooses. At one point in the conversation, she added "I love reading books about anything gay, or same sex. Woman and woman, man or man, I love it. I can't get enough. Anything, I tell you." Her uninhibited enthusiasm and excitement were inspiring.<br /><br />What moved me the most about the conversation was how casual it felt. The student made it clear that she was completely comfortable approaching me to share this update, even though she had only spoken with a few close friends about it. The impromptu conversation this afternoon became one of those rare moments when I receive concrete feedback - in this case, two years after the fact - that at some point I did something to make a student feel safe and good about herself. That is one of the most gratifying things to know as an educator, even if I didn't necessarily know it at the time.Loren Krywanczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092268577687356994noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205147049740549737.post-67480670245603537762009-09-10T18:04:00.000-07:002009-09-10T18:35:29.246-07:00Back to School!Week One of the school year is almost over in Brooklyn, which means that it's back to the Safe Schools Coalition blog for me!<br /><br />Though I changed my legal name - first, middle, and last - over the summer, I opted to remain "Mr. Krywanczyk" at my school this year. "Mr. K" is an integral part of my identity there, and I wasn't able to change my name with the Department of Education early enough to give my school and coworkers adequate notice (by my personal estimation). After meeting my three new classes of sixth graders I find myself hoping that my trans-ness won't come up. Maybe that's delusional of me, since I taught some of our current eighth graders as "Ms. Krywanczyk" two years ago. However, I discovered on my arrival for in-service on Tuesday that I had been moved to a different floor from last year, which may increase the chance that my history will not arise in my classroom. Only time will tell.<br /><br />The most immediate challenge for me this year stems from the fact that all three of my classes are CTT classes. This isn't a problem, per se, it's just that I've never taught a single CTT class before. I think that collaborating with a co-teacher who will be in my room every period and working with a larger number of students with IEPs is a great opportunity, but also a significant change. My co-teacher has been working with CTT classes for twenty-odd years, which is exciting. I already love working with her and have learned from her, too, which is a good sign. After Day Two, I feel hopeful!Loren Krywanczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092268577687356994noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205147049740549737.post-4478436181485047192009-07-08T08:41:00.000-07:002009-07-08T08:45:23.557-07:00Press statement: Task Force Action Fund applauds hearing on school safety through bullying prevention<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Task Force Action Fund applauds hearing on school safety through bullying prevention</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br />July 08, 2009</span><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://www.thetaskforce.org/press/releases/pr_070809" target="_blank">http://www.thetaskforce.org/press/releases/pr_070809</a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">MEDIA CONTACT:</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Pedro Julio Serrano</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Communications Coordinator</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">(Office) 646.358.1479</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">(Cell) 787.602.5954</span><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="mailto:PJSerrano@theTaskForce.org">PJSerrano@theTaskForce.org</a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">WASHINGTON, July 8 — The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund has submitted testimony to the United States House of Representatives Subcommittees on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education and Healthy Families and Communities of the Committee on Labor and Education, highlighting the destructive effect of bullying and harassment on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students and families. The Task Force Action Fund urged passage of the Safe Schools Improvement Act, which would fund school programs to prevent bullying and harassment on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Statement by Rea Carey, Executive Director</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"></span><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">"Schools should be places of safety, not fear. Yet, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children and young adults, children and young adults who are perceived by peers to be LGBT, and the children of LGBT parents all remain at high risk of aggressive bullying and harassment. Sadly, the nation has recently witnessed many youth suicides that were caused by aggressive and unremitting school bullying targeted at a student's actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. This year, for example, Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, an 11-year-old in Massachusetts committed suicide because he faced daily and severe anti-gay bullying. As such examples demonstrate, unsafe schools can have profoundly destructive consequences.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">"Bullying and harassment motivated by homophobia, biphobia and transphobia are national problems deserving of federal legislative attention. The Task Force Action Fund welcomes federal measures to increase school safety that are cognizant of the specific prejudices faced by LGBT students and families. As one such measure, we ask Congress to pass H.R. 2262, the Safe Schools Improvement Act, introduced by Rep. Linda Sanchez. The Safe Schools Improvement Act would help schools deal with bullying and harassment that target a student's actual or perceived identity or associations with persons or groups on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or religion. It would send a strong and clear message that schools have a duty to actively protect all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity."</span></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">To read the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund testimony, click </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://www.thetaskforce.org/downloads/release_materials/tf_safe_schools_testimony.pdf" target="_blank">here</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://www.thetaskforce.org/files/images/rea_cc09_hires.jpg" target="_blank">Download a high-resolution photo</a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">To learn more about the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, follow us on Twitter: </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://www.twitter.com/theTaskForce" target="_blank">text</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">@TheTaskForce.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">–30–</span><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic;">The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund, founded in 1974 as the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Inc., works to build the grassroots political power of the LGBT community to win complete equality. We do this through direct and grassroots lobbying to defeat anti-LGBT ballot initiatives and legislation and pass pro-LGBT legislation and other measures. We also analyze and report on the positions of candidates for public office on issues of importance to the LGBT community. The Task Force Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) non-profit corporation incorporated in New York. Contributions to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund are not tax deductible. </span>Gabi Claytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834411375291647871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205147049740549737.post-19712436138849982112009-06-16T14:13:00.000-07:002009-06-16T14:50:33.116-07:00Nathan OUTloud interview with Kim Pearson regarding TYFA and the "Rob, Arnie & Dawn Show"<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">In Nathan OUTloud episode on June 14th, host Nathan Treanor interviews TYFA co-founder Kim Pearson regarding TYFA and the events from the "Rob, Arnie & Dawn Show" on KRXQ in Sacramento, California that started with the May 28th show.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Nathan OUTloud is a bi-weekly podcast dedicated to sharing stories from the LGBT community.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br />Go to the Nathan OUTloud site to listen to: <a href="http://nathanoutloud.blogspot.com/2009/06/episode-5-kim-pearson-from-transyouth.html" target="_blank">Episode 5 - Kim Pearson from TransYouth Family Allies</a> 36:40 minutes<br /><br />Find out more about: <a href="http://www.imatyfa.org/" target="_blank">TransYouth Family Allies (TFYA)</a><br /><br /><br /></span>Gabi Claytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834411375291647871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205147049740549737.post-39615505053879334942009-06-11T11:43:00.000-07:002009-06-11T12:10:17.497-07:00Thank you Rob, Arnie, and Dawn for an excellent show this morning<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I listened to the "Rob, Arnie & Dawn in the Morning" show this morning and I have to say I was very impressed. It was clear that they really got it that they had crossed the line on the show and then made it worse a week later by telling people that it was just a joke.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">What seems to have impacted them the most in getting there is that their regular listener audience told them that what they had done and said was not okay.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I could tell that they took time to really connect with people -- to open their minds and hearts to the responses they got -- and it changed them. And they have the guts to go on the air and admit how they screwed up and do a show that really deal with it.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Today they spent from 7:30 AM to 10 AM on the show talking about this. The guests they brought in were Kim Pearson and Autumn Sandeen who were excellent, and they had callers to the show also and handled that very well.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">This is what they posted on their homepage <a href="http://www.robarnieanddawn.com/" target="_blank">http://www.robarnieanddawn.com/</a> after the show:</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"></span><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">UPDATED JUNE 11TH, 2009, 10:45AM</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">We would like to thank our two very special guests for stopping by and sharing their stories with us. If you would like to learn more about them, please visit the following links.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">To learn more about Kim Perason and the TransYouth Family Allies organization visit <a href="http://www.imatyfa.org/" target="_blank">www.imatyfa.org</a>.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">And to read Autumn Sandeen's online contributions visit <a href="http://www.pamshouseblend.com/" target="_blank">www.pamshouseblend.com</a>.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">If you miss today's show, you can download the full two and a half hours directly from this web site by clicking on the links to the left.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Thank you,</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">The Rob, Arnie & Dawn Show</span></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Because the show's homepage may change in time I am linking directly to the show that happened today here:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.robarnieanddawn.com/audiofiles/06.11.09%2001%20Hour%20One%20Of%20Transgender%20Response.mp3" target="_blank">- Hour 1 Of Transgender Response</a><br /><a href="http://www.robarnieanddawn.com/audiofiles/06.11.09%2002%20Hour%20Two%20Of%20Transgender%20Response.mp3" target="_blank">- Hour 2 Of Transgender Response</a><br /><a href="http://www.robarnieanddawn.com/audiofiles/06.11.09%2003%20Final%20Part%20Of%20Transgender%20Response.mp3" target="_blank">- Last Part Of Transgender Response</a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Doing the show they did today takes guts, and I applaud Rob and Arnie for that - for being willing to publicly not only say that their behavior was wrong, and not just to apologize on the air, but to spend the whole show today talking about it so that other people can learn and understand with them.<br /><br />Again thank you Dawn for being such a good ally. Your voice in all this was very much appreciated.<br /><br />And thank you Kim and Autumn for your parts in this whole experience.<br /><br />It's very good to be able to see something like this turn out for the good. It is an example of what we can hold up to show people that there is reason to hope and to do this work we do.<br /></span>Gabi Claytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834411375291647871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205147049740549737.post-53033511284179242102009-06-07T13:32:00.000-07:002009-06-10T08:02:52.034-07:00Updates on "the transgender controversy" and the "Rob, Arnie & Dawn in the Morning" show<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Note: this is an update on my June 3rd post below, <a href="http://safeschoolscoalition.blogspot.com/2009/06/rob-arnie-dawn-in-morning-transgender.html" target="_blank">Rob, Arnie & Dawn in the Morning - "the transgender controversy"</a>.<br /><br />I checked and you can now listen to the</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> entire segment of this show on the player on the GLAAD site here:<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.glaad.org/Page.aspx?pid=730" target="_blank">http://www.glaad.org/Page.aspx?pid=730</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br />-----------------</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span>On June 5th GLAAD posted updated information on their </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> website </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">about ten companies that have pulled their advertising from </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">KRXQ, the Sacramento California radio station that hosts the Rob, Arnie & Dawn in the Morning show</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">:<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"></span><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">The entire listing of companies include:</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"></span></span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><li>Chipotle</li><li>Snapple</li><li>Sonic</li><li>Bank of America</li><li>Verizon</li><li>Carl’s Jr (CKE Restaurants)</li><li>Wells Fargo</li><li>Nissan North America</li><li>AT&T</li><li>McDonald’s</li></ul></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">For more information, read <a href="http://glaadblog.org/2009/06/05/update-mcdonalds-is-10th-company-to-pull-kxrq-advertising/" target="_blank">UPDATE: McDonald’s Is 10th Company to Pull KRXQ Advertising</a></span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">on the GLAAD website.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br />-----------------<br /><br />This was posted today, Sunday June 7, 2009 on >The Rob, Arnie & Dawn Show website: </span><a href="http://robarnieanddawn.com/newsite/" target="_blank">http://robarnieanddawn.com/newsite/</a> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">- and because it is posted on their homepage which I expect will change, I am posting the message here rather than linking to it:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"></span><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">UPDATED JUNE 7TH, 2009, 11:50AM</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">TO OUR LOYAL ROB, ARNIE AND DAWN FOLLOWERS,</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">WE HAVE FAILED YOU. AS A SHOW, AS PEOPLE, AS BROADCASTERS, WE HAVE SIMPLY FAILED ON ALMOST EVERY LEVEL.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">WE PRESENTED OUR OPINIONS ON A VERY SENSITIVE SUBJECT IN A HATEFUL, CHILDISH AND CRUDE FASHION; AND THEN, GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO RETRACT THOSE REMARKS, WE DEFENDED THEM.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">SINCE THEN, YOU, OUR LOYAL LISTENERS, HAVE MADE IT CLEAR TO US THAT WE WENT TOO FAR. THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING. NONE OF YOU SAID THAT WE COULDN’T HAVE OPINIONS, YET SO MANY OF YOU SAID THAT THE WAY WE GAVE THEM CROSSED THE LINE. FURTHER, YOU SAID THAT OUR ATTEMPT TO MASK OUR COMMENTS AS “JOKES THAT WOULD BE UNDERSTOOD BY OUR AUDIENCE,” WAS UNACCEPTABLE. I WOULD SAY NOW THAT IT WAS WORSE THAN THAT, IT WAS COWARDLY. YOU HAVE MADE THAT CLEAR.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO VARIOUS GROUPS AND ASKED FOR A CHANCE TO MAKE THIS RIGHT; TO RESPOND, WITH THEIR PARTICIPATION, TO THE EDUCATION THAT OUR AUDIENCE HAS PROVIDED US. THAT OPPORTUNITY HAS BEEN GRACIOUSLY GRANTED THIS THURSDAY MORNING, JUNE 11TH. AT 7:30 A.M.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">THE WORD APOLOGY APPEARS NO WHERE IN THIS LETTER FOR A REASON. WE ALREADY HID FROM DOING THE RIGHT THING ONCE AND WE’RE NOT GOING TO MAKE THAT MISTAKE AGAIN. APOLOGIZING IN A WRITTEN, POSTED STATEMENT IS A FORM OF COWARDICE. WE WILL SAY WHAT NEEDS TO BE SAID THIS THURSDAY.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">ON A FINAL, PERSONAL NOTE, AS THE LEADER AND OWNER OF THE SHOW, I HAVE MADE THE DECISION THAT WE NEED TO REFRAIN FROM BROADCASTING NEW EPISODES UNTIL WE CAN ADDRESS THIS ON THURSDAY . WE WILL RETURN TO THE AIR AT 7:30 A.M. JUNE 11TH.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">ROB WILLIAMS</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">ROB, ARNIE AND DAWN</span></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">So</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> since thier show is broadcast out of Sacramento California, that will be 7:30 AM Pacific time this Thursday.<br /></span></span>Gabi Claytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834411375291647871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205147049740549737.post-18306425849957277192009-06-03T21:21:00.000-07:002009-06-03T21:43:45.144-07:00Rob, Arnie & Dawn in the Morning - "the transgender controversy"<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I've been following a story I first heard about on a PFLAG listserv and Facebook about the Rob, Arnie & Dawn in the Morning show that airs on KRXQ - 98.5 FM Sacramento, CA.. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The hosts are dealing with what they refer to as "the transgender controversy" after a recent show.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I found some information on the GLAAD website:</span><br /><blockquote style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">June 2, 2009— In a lengthy May 28 tirade on the Rob, Arnie & Dawn in the Morning radio show heard in Sacramento, California on KRXQ 98.5 FM and Reno, Nevada on KDOT 104.5 FM, hosts Rob Williams and Arnie States verbally attacked transgender children. While discussing a recent story about a transgender child in Omaha, Nebraska and her parents’ decision to support her transition, the two hosts spent more than 30 minutes explicitly promoting child abuse of and making cruel, dehumanizing and defamatory comments toward transgender children.</blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Read the whole action alert here on the GLAAD site:</span><br /><a href="http://www.glaad.org/Page.aspx?pid=730" target="_blank">TAKE ACTION: Demand that KRXQ Radio Hosts Rob Williams and Arnie States Apologize for Encouraging Violence Against Transgender Children</a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The link to the audio file was only a 17 second clip, and I was unable to find the whole show. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">But I did find this June 2nd article by Michael Rowe on Huffington Post: </span><br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-rowe/krxq-sacramento-radio-hos_b_210637.html" target="_blank">KRXQ Sacramento Radio Hosts Encourage Violence Against Transgender Children</a>.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Then I went to the homepage for the Rob, Arnie & Dawn in the Morning show</span>:<br /><blockquote><a href="http://robarnieanddawn.com/newsite/" target="_blank">http://robarnieanddawn.com/newsite/</a></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The show is described there as:</span><br /><blockquote style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">A five hour, listener interactive radio program that many people describe as just three regular people sitting around the breakfast table trying to make sense of the world. We prefer to think of it as three really abnormal miscreants of society who have stumbled upon this line of work and are making everybody else pay for it.</blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I scrolled down to this:</span><br /><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Listen to Rob, Arnie & Dawn's response to the transgender controversy by clicking on the audio file links below...</span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">and I did that. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I had to download the audio files to my computer (an option with RealPlayer) in order to listen to them because when I tried listening to them online the audio was skipping and I was missing hearing parts. But that may have been when there was a lot of traffic on the site. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Here are the audio files: </span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.robarnieanddawn.com/newsite/audiofiles/tg/06.03.09%2009%20The%20Rob%20&%20Arnie%20Transgender%20Controversy.mp3" target="_blank">06.03.09 - The Rob & Arnie Transgender Controversy</a> 49.09 minutes<br /><br /><a href="http://www.robarnieanddawn.com/newsite/audiofiles/tg/06.03.09%2010%20Transgender%20Controversy%20Continued.mp3" target="_blank">06.03.09 - Transgender Controversy Continued</a> 22.46 minutes<br /><br /><a href="http://www.robarnieanddawn.com/newsite/audiofiles/tg/06.03.09%2011%20The%20Evolution%20of%20Tolerance.mp3" target="_blank">06.03.09 - The Evolution of Tolerance</a> 6.42 minutes<br /><br /><a href="http://www.robarnieanddawn.com/newsite/audiofiles/tg/06.03.09%2012%20Haters%20&%20Supporters%20of%20Rob%20&%20Arnie.mp3" target="_blank">06.03.09 - Haters & Supporters of Rob & Arnie</a> 5.58 minutes<br /><br /><a href="http://www.robarnieanddawn.com/newsite/audiofiles/tg/06.03.09%2013%20Seperating%20Transgenders%20&%20Mental%20Patients.mp3" target="_blank">06.03.09 - Seperating Transgenders & Mental Patients</a> 7.50 minutes<br /><br /><a href="http://www.robarnieanddawn.com/newsite/audiofiles/tg/06.03.09%2014%20More%20Listeners%20React%20To%20Transgender%20Controversy.mp3" target="_blank">06.03.09 - More Listeners React To Transgender Controversy</a> 9.04 minutes<br /><br /><a href="http://www.robarnieanddawn.com/newsite/audiofiles/tg/06.03.09%2015%20Listeners%20Still%20Love%20RAD.mp3" target="_blank">06.03.09 - Listeners Still Love RAD</a> 6.01 minutes<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Wow. It's a twisted time talking about gender identity, about bullying, hate speech, hate crimes, freedom of speech and much more - from more than one side. I found it a disturbing and in an almost clinical way an interesting look at how these three particular people hashed the subject among each other, with callers to the show, and sharing emails they have received.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I was SO glad that Dawn Rossi was part of the show because she is an outspoken ally. Thank you Dawn. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Anyone else have something to say on this? Please comment here.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">And if you want to respond to the folks at the show, this is from the GLAAD Alert:</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"></span><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">TAKE ACTION NOW!</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Please contact KRXQ management in Sacramento, California, where the show is produced and demand that radio show hosts Rob Williams and Arnie States publicly apologize. Call on KRXQ to hold Williams and States accountable for their remarks and establish clear standards to ensure their media platform will not be used to condone or promote violence against any parts of the communities they serve.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">John Geary</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Vice President & General Manager</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">KRXQ-FM</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">(916) 339-4209</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">jgeary@entercom.com</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Arnie States</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">On Air Personality</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">KRXQ-FM</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">(916) 334-7777</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">rad@robarnieanddawn.com</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Rob Williams</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">On Air Personality</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">KRXQ-FM</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">(916) 334-7777</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">rwilliams@entercom.com</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Please use the share page functionality at the top of this page to alert any of your friends and others who may also wish to take action. When contacting KRXQ, please ensure that your emails and phone calls are civil and respectful and do not engage in the kind of name-calling or abusive behavior.</span></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"></span>Gabi Claytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834411375291647871noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205147049740549737.post-1724563825368668372009-05-29T16:24:00.000-07:002009-05-29T16:34:37.706-07:00HIV/AIDS and Sixth Graders.During our school-wide Projects Week last week, a coworker and I collaborated on a week-long examination of HIV/AIDS in the United States with a group of 32 sixth grade students who were assigned to us. About half of the students in the group were students whom I teach reading and writing on a daily basis – but the other half are students that I only recognize from brief interactions in the hallways.<br /><br />The political insight and openness of the students in our group impressed and inspired me. By the second day, students were raising their hands and asking questions like “Wait, why aren’t people in U.S. prisons allowed to use condoms?” and “Why don’t we have needle exchanges in the U.S.?” My colleague and I gave them structured time to discuss these observations and questions as a class, and to think about what they, as youth and as students, could do to combat the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS in communities of color in the United States. <br /><br />Throughout the week, we discussed stigma and stereotypes, health care, access to testing and medication, and the astronomical rates of incarceration of young black and Latino men for drug-related charges. We also incorporated personal aspects of the issue – and my coworker and I even opened up with our students about our own personal connections to HIV/AIDS. A few students shared their experiences and how HIV/AIDS had affected their lives or families.<br /><br />The project also - inevitably - sparked many conversations about sex and sexuality that don't tend to crop up in students’ everyday academic lives. Our focus during the week wasn't primarily sex education, but we attempted to address the sexual transmission of HIV/AIDS without perpetuating a sex-negative, “this is what happens if you have sex!” fear. We wanted to avoid the too-common, morbid, depressing “AIDS = DEATH” message that students often get from the popular media and educators. Our goals included creating a space that was sex-positive and that emphasized the fact that contracting HIV/AIDS, while a very serious threat that should be actively avoided and prevented, does not necessarily end a person's social or sexual life (especially if they have access to medications and resources). That was a challenging line to walk with sixth graders, but once again our students proved themselves capable of grappling with the complexity of the issue.<br /><br />We were also able to engage in class discussions about why so many celebrities and organizations are giving money to fight AIDS in foreign nations while ignoring the fact that the virus is rampant in particular communities right here in the United States. One student raised his hand during this conversation and made the point “If the people who were getting AIDS here were white, the government would care more.” (I almost wanted to ask him to teach a seminar on the issue, after he made that point.)<br /><br />During the week, sex and same-sexuality came up very often. Every time the topics of sex in prisons, or the Down-Low, or men who have sex with men arose, I caught myself tensing up as though bracing for a difficult conversation. But our students proved me wrong and proved themselves more than able to listen, talk, and engage with these issues in an intellectual, nuanced and sophisticated way. The entire week, we encouraged them to take a critical lens to the materials we were examining – which included an ABC News documentary on “AIDS in Black America” from 2007 – to see if students trusted the sources or not. Then, at the end of the week, our group shared our findings and thoughts with other groups of students from around the school who visited our classroom. Overall, it was a great success and made me feel hopeful. <br /><br />Since Projects Week ended, I have overheard homophobic slurs and negative uses of the word “gay” more frequently. Perhaps it is the time of year, as students get more restless and my sixth graders prepare to become seventh graders. I'm not sure. But any time I have heard a misuse or abuse of "gay" or "homo," I have addressed it with the student in question and asked him or her to find a word that more accurately describes his or her feelings. In light of this increasingly visible homophobia, I have also made a concerted effort to incorporate queer authors into my curriculum, as I believe that can give students different perpsectives on LGBTQ matters.<br /><br />As part of our current poetry unit, I devoted a week to the poems of Langston Hughes and to learning about Hughes body of work, his life, and the Harlem Renaissance. Many students quickly became very attached to Hughes’ poems, finding them inspiring and moving. At the very end of the week, I told my students that one fact about Hughes that didn’t come out in the biographical text we had read about him was his romantic involvement with men. My classes were shocked, but then able to reflect on how – if at all – that new piece of information changed their interpretation and understanding of his poems, and why it had been left out of biographies about Hughes. It was another great conversation.<br /><br />In hindsight, I realize I (kind of) lured them into a sort of pro-gay trap. Just don’t tell any right-wingers I said that.Loren Krywanczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092268577687356994noreply@blogger.com118tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205147049740549737.post-29984506752128458282009-05-11T10:05:00.000-07:002009-05-14T10:43:40.462-07:00Open Letter to OprahDear Oprah,<br /><br />First, thank you so much for your recent show that featured the mothers of 11-year old suicide victims Carl Hoover-Walker and Jaheem Herrera <http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20090501-tows-school-bullying>. You are wonderful for launching this conversation about the devastating consequences of bullying and what we can do about it.<br /> <br />That said, I was really disappointed that, despite both boys having found anti-gay bullying so gut-wrenching, your professional guests addressed bullying without ever talking about the URGENT importance of addressing homophobia and prejudice through EDUCATION. <strong>The best bullying programs and the best psychologists working one-on-one with bullied kids won’t put an end to anti-gay bullying. Until we’re willing to have teachers talk about gay people respectfully, kids will use homophobia as the weapon that our silence puts in their hands.</strong> <br /><br />What else do I wish you would do? <br />1. Check out www.safeschoolscoalition.org.<br />2. Have someone on the show to talk about the work of the Safe Schools Coalition.<br />3. Invite Kim Westheimer to talk about the Human Rights Campaign's wonderful Welcoming Schools project.<br />4. Have Debra Chasnoff of Groundspark talk about their amazing film-based curricula.<br />5. Invite Stephanie Brill of Gender Spectrum to talk about her unbelievable work with schools.<br />6. Invite the folks from the Committee for Children, Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League to talk specifically about how their bullying programs address bias-based bullying, and anti-LGBT bullying in particular.<br />7. Ask principals and curriculum directors to put aside preparing children for high stakes testing just one week every year and focus for that week on prejudice reduction <br />~ a day about religious diversity and, at older grades, prejudice against the religious (of various faiths) and prejudice against the unchurched; <br />~ a day about immigration, refugees and, at older grades, about xenophobia and its costs all over the world; <br />~ a day about race and the history of racism and about white privilege and what it means to be an ally (actually that would be part of each of the 5 days); <br />~ a day about sexual diversity -- about families with lesbian, gay, bi and trans parents/guardians, about the contributions of LGBT people and, at older grades about homophobia and transphobia and the history of anti-LGBT brutality; and <br />~ a day about women who've changed the world and, in later grades about misogyny and violence against women and what some men and women are doing to change that. <br /><br />If schools devoted just one week early in the year, every single year starting in elementary school, it could change climates dramatically. In combination with good anti-bullying programs, it could save the lives of the Carls and Jaheems, and the Gwen Araujos and Matthew Shepards too.<br /><br />It is time schools worked to reduce the PREJUDICES that underly the most horrific bullying and not just the bullying (the symptom). Please take the lead on this, Oprah. Nobody has a voice like you do.<br /><br />Beth Reis <br />Public Health Educator and Co-Chair of the Safe Schools Coalition <br />10501 Meridian Avenue N <br />Seattle, WA 98133 <br />206-296-4970 <br /><br />P.S. I hope your staffers watch the blogosphere, Oprah, because I couldn't find a place on your web site to say more than 180 characters and I couldn't figure out how to do this in that much space.Beth Reishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03160821445791577925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205147049740549737.post-73785056951785406182009-04-28T10:23:00.000-07:002009-04-28T10:44:51.415-07:00Question about terminology/labels<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Becky Groves of PFLAG Central Oregon posted a question on a PFLAG listserv, and I think it is interesting - and that Safe Schools Coalition folks could offer some good insight to her and each other.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Becky wrote:</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">I have a question from a Human Sexuality instructor in my chapter. I thought I would put it out there for some input. Here it is:</span><br /><blockquote style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">"I have become increasingly aware of an awkward feeling whenever I use the term homosexual, heterosexual, gay, Lesbian, transgender, straight, etc.<br />It is unavoidable in my class because these are the terms that we have to use and it seems that they have been so institutionalized as to have become acceptable by all who use them.<br /><br />Are you aware, or can you ask someone who would be aware if there is some movement afoot to change our vocabulary to excise these sexually based terms?<br />It seems to describe someone's personhood by what is done in private is so crazy and is frankly repugnant to me. I hate labels but it seems we are stuck with them unless or until we demand change. We don't call women who have had abortions, "aborters", or people who eat meat, carnivores (except in a nutritional definition perhaps) as their primary description, then why should we define individuals by what they do sexually?"</blockquote><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">I know a lot of young people are refusing to label themselves. What do you think about this? What kind of terminology is being used by those that don't want "labels"? Are there any thoughts from National about a change in these labels that we all use?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">Thank you in advance for your thoughts on this.</span></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">-----------------</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br />Please post your replies here on the Safe Schools Coalition blog.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">If you are unable to post responses here for some reason, please send them to me by using <a href="http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/contact/?id=11" target="_blank">this contact form</a> and let me know what is okay to post (i.e. your message? name? contact information?).</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Thank you,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Gabi</span>Gabi Claytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834411375291647871noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205147049740549737.post-73099411100285150682009-04-16T11:42:00.000-07:002009-04-16T12:02:06.852-07:00A short silent video about Day Of Silence<div style="text-align: left; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">NotThatPrince posted this video on YouTube on April 15, 2009 and wrote:<br /></div><blockquote style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">This video is to raise awareness of the Anti-LGBT bullying that afflicts our schools. So GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network) developed the Day of Silence, during which participants remain silent all day to echo the silence of those who are bullied for being (or appearing to be) an LGBT student.</blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FJej12C0FLc&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FJej12C0FLc&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><h3 class="label"><label for="wi-descrip"></label></h3><div style="text-align: center;"><pre style="font-family: georgia;" class="data input field-details readonly textarea pre-wrap" id="wi-descrip"></pre></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The National Day of Silence brings attention </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The 13th Annual National Day of Silence is Friday, April 17, 2009. </span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">To learn more please visit: <a href="http://www.dayofsilence.org/" target="_blank">www.dayofsilence.org</a> </span></div>Gabi Claytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834411375291647871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205147049740549737.post-46616439897926309812009-04-14T16:20:00.001-07:002009-04-14T16:37:01.858-07:00The Trouble with "Liberal" Teachers...When reflecting on how this year has gone for me at work with regard to my transition, it’s been easy for me to brush it off with an “Oh, there have been no problems at all! My school’s great!” And indeed, my school is a relatively ideal place for me to be going through this. But even in the most ideal of locations, quotidian challenges arise that keep me on my toes and in a state of perpetual emotional exhaustion. The problem at a school like mine - which is filled with young, mostly white Teach for America corps members and New York Teaching Fellows and fancies itself uber Liberal - is that coworkers are quick to rationalize hurtful ignorances with the excuse of "But I had good intentions! I'm very Liberal and open-minded!"<br /><br />Two weeks ago a colleague at school brought some students from a seventh grade class to see me. These four students had encountered me in the hallways last year as Ms. K and, even though I’ve never taught them, they have been confused and curious about my transition. My coworker did not discuss this in detail with me beforehand, nor did he ask me if the timing was convenient or appropriate for me.<br /><br />The four students were very shy and nervous, and this coworker drew some extremely problematic race analogies - which I didn’t even entirely understand - to explain to the students why they should “feel comfortable asking Mr. K anything they want to know!” The students were clearly very uncomfortable with this, so to relieve them of the pressure their teacher was putting on them, I suggested they write down their questions on post-its. They gladly did so, and the first questions they offered I was happy to answer and discuss: “How has your family reacted to you being transgender?” and “Why do you think you are transgender?” These questions pop up frequently, and I’m usually pretty happy to answer them.<br /><br />However, my coworker then started encouraging them to ask questions that I would never discuss with students, questions like: “Do you still menstruate?” It bewildered and angered me that he would self-authorize – let alone authorize students! – to talk about my body in that way. He was paying no attention to my level of discomfort, and to make matters worse, he made several offensive offhand comments while the students were writing down questions, such as: “So, who are you interested in these days, men or women?”, and “Do gay men hit on you a lot?” When I responded “Sometimes” to the latter question, he laughed and said “Haha, do you just tell them that you don’t have what they’re looking for?” At that point, I was ready to either a) sock him or b) tell him off for his arrogance in presuming to know anything about my body or "what I have." But the students approached me again with more questions, and I had to return to Teacher Mode.<br /><br />The most infuriating part of the entire interaction was that while he was undermining my identity and treating me like an object for analysis this coworker clearly felt he was being open, affirming, and supportive. He assumed that as someone with “lots of gay friends!,” he was necessarily authorized to ask me probing personal questions and make judgments and share opinions about my body.<br /><br />I understand that “teachable moments” are unavoidable, and that difficult moments pop up every single day. As a professional, it is inherent to my job to be constantly put on the spot by my students, and I try to rise to the occasion to deal with that. When a student of mine used the phrase “no homo” two weeks ago, I talked to him individually to ask him what he meant by it and why he was using it. When another student asked me the question “Mr. K, who would you rather have as your girlfriend, Alicia Keys or Alissa Milano,” I responded by simply stating “Think about all of the assumptions you’re making about me when you say that.” The student was puzzled, but got quiet and pensive for a few moments.<br /><br />These situations are regular, and constant, and part of my job to tackle. I have occasionally chosen to come out as queer or trans in moments like that, but ultimately my decisions about what information I share about my body and my personal experience is completely up to me – and I’ve found that in many situations sharing my experience does not necessarily assist me in provoking thoughtfulness and getting my main points across to students. Even just in developmental terms, eleven- and twelve-year-olds process everything through the lens of themselves. Coming out has an important and crucial place in teaching, in my opinion, but it is not inherently necessary to prompt students to think critically about sexuality and gender identity.<br /><br />So, then, how do I react in a situation in which my body is being put on display as a specimen to be examined and probed, by a well-intentioned colleague who thinks he is affirming my identity? It is very challenging to be in that place, because it was not simply an interaction between myself and a coworker – there were students present, as well. I should probably speak with that coworker individually to explain to him why I felt like he disrespected my boundaries and identity. But I can’t find the energy in me, for some reason. I guess there are limitations to my willingness and ability to educate people about trans-ness, but maybe after spring break is over I’ll muster up whatever willpower I need to discuss it with him face-to-face.Loren Krywanczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092268577687356994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205147049740549737.post-51628272976691244072009-04-06T20:21:00.000-07:002009-04-06T20:29:00.999-07:00Article: Homophobia damaging lives across Europe-EU study<span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"></span><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">"From their early years, the derogative words used for gays and lesbians at schools teach them to remain invisible," said the study, published on Tuesday.</span></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Read </span><a href="http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LU292053.htm" target="_blank">Homophobia damaging lives across Europe-EU study</a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">31 Mar 2009 - Source: Reuters</span>Gabi Claytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834411375291647871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205147049740549737.post-40690648700814330602009-02-10T13:30:00.000-08:002009-02-10T15:02:18.663-08:00Curious Students.After the ELA exam my classes have dived into our Book Partnership unit, during which students are paired up homogeneously based on reading level. Each student partnership reads an appropriately-leveled novel, and at the end of each class period I provide what I call "Book Talk" time for partners to discuss their book and any responses, questions, or opinions they may have. One of the primary goals of the unit is to develop students' skills in verbal engagement with texts they are reading.<br /><br />My encouragement of students' critical engagement with literature appears to be effective, judging from some of the questions I fielded today. One student who is reading a YA novel called "Gender Blender" - the story of a high school boy and girl who end up exchanging bodies for a day - approached my desk to ask "Mr. K, what is gender, again? I thought I knew, but in this book they said it was the same as sex."<br /><br />I told the student that some people think of gender and sex as interchangeable, which probably explains the book's use of "sex" and "gender." He looked at me, confused, and said "But Mr. K, that's not true for everyone, right? I mean, there are some people who are born boys and become girls, right? I was watching this show called 'Real World: Brooklyn,' and there's a girl on it who used to be a boy... Is that true?" Before I could say anything, two other students who were hovering around my desk to ask me questions chimed in and said "Yeah, it's true! She used to be a boy! I watch that show, too."<br /><br />(Sidenote: It never ceases to amaze me how my - and my peers' - interpretations of mainstream media representations of LGBTQ people can differ so drastically from my students' impressions. Apparently, what I have found a gimmicky and cheesy move on the part of the Real World to include a "token trans person" has resulted in some important educational moments for some of my students.)<br /><br />Trying to avoid self-authorizing as a "gender expert," I kept my comments to a minimum in the conversation with this particular student. I just provided affirmation that his confusion was warranted, citing what I called a "wide spectrum" of gender identities that people could have.<br /><br />This particular student has demonstrated a consistent, pointed interest in trans issues and has raised unprovoked questions about transsexuals on at least three occasions. He is (I think) sometimes teased for "acting gay," wearing sweatervests and borrowing pink highlighters from the girls in his class to decorate his notebook. Without assuming anything about his identity, it is clear that gender and sexual identity are important for him to think about and work through. So, after a few minutes of thought, I decided to come out to him, individually, about my trans identity. As his class was getting ready to leave my room, I pulled him aside and said "You seem interested in this topic, which is great" - to which he smiled and said "Yeah, this stuff is really interesting to me" - and I continued "I want to let you know that I identify as transgender myself. I was born a girl and am now a man. So these issues are very real to me, and to many people I know."<br /><br />The student looked at me and said "So, that story you told us about when you were in middle school... you were a <span style="font-style: italic;">girl</span> then?" I explained that I don't talk too much about my history with my students because it can become a distraction - not because I am ashamed or worried about teasing. "My students respect me, I think," I said, "so I think that they respect me most if I am myself." The student nodded. He was clearly surprised to hear that I'm trans, but then he smiled shyly and said "Well, there have been rumors that you're, you know, GAY or whatever, but not..." In response to that, I came out as queer to him as well, emphasizing that it is important to me that people, including students, understand that it's nothing to be ashamed of. By that point, the student was clearly saturated with "new information about Mr. K," and he turned to go with a smile, saying "Um, I might write about this, and maybe I will have some questions. Bye, Mr. K!" He seemed to appreciate my straightforwardness, and he certainly took it in stride. If, as I have moments of suspecting, he is beginning to identify himself as LGBTQ in some way, the conversation could have been meaningful to him.<br /><br />Today was only my second experience coming out as trans to one of my sixth grade students, and the last time the student had directly asked me if I'd had "plastic surgery" and if I "used to be a girl" as he'd heard around the school. It was my first time coming out as queer to any of my current students. Though the conversation was a little nerve-wracking (as I suspect it will be each time I come out as trans to a student), it felt really good to tell a curious student that I identify as queer and trans, and that I am proud of who I am.Loren Krywanczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092268577687356994noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205147049740549737.post-6853859646831613712009-01-15T17:37:00.000-08:002009-01-15T17:52:45.004-08:00Test Prep Time.During the weeks after winter vacation and leading up to the January 21st statewide English Language Arts exam, a Title I public school – like mine – can feel like a pressure cooker. No Child Left Behind and administrators (more directly) begin to put a tremendous amount of pressure on teachers and students. Administrators who have never before stepped foot in my classroom suddenly storm in demanding to see my data binders (which I happily show them) and rattle off admonishments – “we need these kids to get 3’s and 4’s!” - without asking about anything about that is actually going on in my classroom. It is frustrating and stressful, to say the least. I sympathize with my students, eleven-year-olds who have already learned to get so nervous before The Test that some get nauseous just thinking about it.<br /><br />To add to these anxieties, three weeks ago I thought my “transgender cover” with my students had been blown. One of my sixth graders came up to my desk at the end of the school day to pose a question that caught me completely off-guard. His demeanor was not awkward; in fact, he appeared ready to inform me of some random fact he’d learned in science class. (That would have been in line with this particular student’s typical personality.) But then what came out of his mouth made me do a double-take: “Mr. K, there’s a rumor going around the school – I swear I didn’t say it - that you used to be a girl and had plastic surgery.”<br /><br />It took me a minute, certainly, to figure out how to respond. I decided to acknowledge the legitimacy of the "rumor" he'd heard without touching on the “plastic surgery” part, since specific characteristics of my body are irrelevant to the conversation and inappropriate to discuss in school. (Also, how would I possibly explain that SRS is not exactly “plastic surgery,” or the fact that I haven't technically undergone SRS, without venturing into deeply controversial territory?) I responded by saying: “Well, it is true that I used to be ‘Ms. Krywanczyk’ and that I used to identify as a woman. I am transgender. I don’t really talk about it very much. I think I just hope that students can be…” I trailed off, searching for the proper word to conclude my thought. The student actually spoke up and finished my sentence for me, nodding “mature! We can be mature,” and then shouting “bye, Mr. K!” as he vanished out the door to chase after friends who had passed by in the hall. As though nothing had happened. Just found out your teacher is a transsexual? No biggie.<br /><br />Overall, it was far less painful than I had imagined. The student has not brought it up since, and there has been no apparent “pronoun crisis” in the wake of it like I'd' feared. The ripple effect I anticipated after that conversation has not really happened – at least not to my knowledge. I continue to be slightly on edge, waiting for the day when it comes out in the middle of a lesson or in front of an entire class. But I realize it's possible that more of my students know, and that they are simply more composed and relaxed about bodies, gender, and sexuality than the adults in the building. Actually, the latter possibility seems highly likely.<br /><br />As I have witnessed over the past month, my students generally think about bodies, sex, sexuality, and gender all the time. The moment the door is opened for them to engage with these realities, incredible - and overwhelming - amounts of curiosity and fascination and angst bubble to the surface. I recently acquired an entire section of “Body Books” to augment the depleted non-fiction section of my classroom library, and the texts themselves have prompted a steady flow of interesting conversations. Last week, one student walked up to my desk wielding “Our Bodies, Our Selves: For Boys” and stated “Mr. K, this book tells me to ask someone about when he went through puberty. So… when did you?” My thoughts in response, in the order that they occurred to me after suddenly having my body put on the spot by a student , were:<br /><br />1. "Which puberty?"<br />2. "About five and a half months ago." (When I started physically transitioning to be male.)<br />3. "Oh, damn! I’m the teacher!"<br />4. "Maybe you should ask someone else, one of your peers, that question."<br /><br />The last thought was what actually came out of my mouth, accompanied by a “teacher smile” that I intended to indicate “this is not something you should ever ask a teacher, because we will not indulge you.” The student looked down at his shoelaces and shuffled back to his desk to ask his tablemate.<br /><br />A few days ago, a different student approached my desk carrying a copy of “The Boys’ Guide To Becoming a Teen.” He held the book out, pointed his finger at a page, and genuinely asked “Mr. K, what does this word mean?” I followed his finger and read: “Masturbation.” After an initial moment of panic, I opted for the route that would encourage the student’s pursuit of knowledge on his own. “Why don’t you look it up in the dictionary,” I responded, “and then decide if you want or need to ask me that question afterwards.” The student nodded, fetched a dictionary, and proceeded to avoid me for the rest of the class.<br /><br />The “masturbation” scenario was, in many ways, more difficult to handle as a teacher than any inquiries about my personal identity. After all, “what happened to your breasts?” can be easily and quickly deemed inappropriate. It is not so simple when a student has a question about a vocabulary word that is loaded with social significance (and stigma). It is challenging to respond encouragingly in such moments without worrying someone will accuse me of pushing an agenda. Regardless, though, I am glad these texts are in my room and have sparked such thought and interest among my students. It would be infinitely easier when students are left in the dark about “controversial” issues like their own bodies – aren't people who are ignorant always easier to control? - but, clearly, I do not consider that an option.Loren Krywanczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092268577687356994noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205147049740549737.post-77996169419844162312009-01-03T14:32:00.000-08:002009-01-03T14:52:33.023-08:00Exodus Mandate calling to pull Christian kids out of secular schools<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Thanks to Pam Spaulding's <a href="http://www.pamshouseblend.com/" target="_blank">Pam's House Blend</a> for this one </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /><a href="http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=8895" target="_blank">Fundies call for exodus from the public schools -- again</a></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">where she wrote:</span><br /><blockquote style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">An outfit called <a href="http://www.exodusmandate.org/index.htm" target="_blank">Exodus Mandate</a> has released an unhinged video, "<a href="http://exodusmandate.org/info_get_involved.htm" target="_blank">Call to Dunkirk</a>," that stresses the urgent need to pull "Christian" kids out of the secular schools.</blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Watch the twisted propaganda video from the religious right, and be prepared to be offended:</span><br /><br /><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The Call to Dunkirk</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hRGZLSVph3A&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hRGZLSVph3A&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span><br /><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The video doesn't specifically mention LGBTQ persons and issues in schools, but I had a feeling they did have things to say connected to that so I did a search on Google for the words "homosexual" and "gay" on the website exodusmandate.org and came up with these: </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.exodusmandate.org/20050503-resolution/20050503-resolution-homosexuals-in-public-schools.doc" target="_blank">RESOLUTION ON HOMOSEXUALITY</a></span> - <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">File Format: Microsoft Word</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span><blockquote style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Whereas, the promotion of homosexuality as a legitimate lifestyle in the public schools constitutes a far greater risk to far more children than the “Gay ...</blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.exodusmandate.org/20060424-homosexuality-in-schools/risk-audit.doc" target="_blank">Why Homosexual Activism in Schools Endangers Students</a></span> - <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">File Format: Microsoft Word</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span><blockquote style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">These are frequently initiated through school alliances with influential homosexual pressure groups such as GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education ...</span><br /></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.exodusmandate.org/art_20050509-sbc-resolution.htm" target="_blank">20050509 - SBC Resolution Asks for Investigation of Homosexual ...</a></span> - <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">File Format: HTML</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"></span><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">May 9, 2005 ... Groups like GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network and PFLAG ... Radical gender and homosexual advocacy groups influence ...</span></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.exodusmandate.org/20080122-appeal/em-front-letter2.pdf" target="_blank">Front Jan08 (Letter).indd</a></span> - <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"></span><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">children from homosexual indoctrination in our government schools. ... GAY “ MARRIAGE” PROMOTION – positive portrayal of “marriage” other than God-ordained, ...</span></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.exodusmandate.org/index_articles.htm" target="_blank">Articles Index</a></span> - <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">File Format: HTML</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><blockquote>2005-May 09 : SBC Resolution Asks for Investigation of Homosexual Influence ... 2002 - Aug 05 : Get Our Kids Out - Dobson says pro-gay school curriculum has ...</blockquote></span>Gabi Claytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834411375291647871noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205147049740549737.post-40441670277374000202008-12-22T21:24:00.000-08:002008-12-22T21:26:37.168-08:00The LGBT Leaders Meeting with Obama/Biden Transition Team<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">On Monday, December 15, 2008 this was posted on the National Youth Advocacy Coalition blog by Greg Varnum:</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Last Wednesday national leaders from the LGBTQ community were invited to a group meeting with representatives from the Obama/Biden Transition Team. The historic meeting was an opportunity for LGBTQ leaders to share our thoughts and to continue a dialogue which began during the campaign and I hope continues throughout the Obama/Biden Administration.</span></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">and </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span><blockquote style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">For those of you that are interested, here is the participant list for this meeting, as kindly provided by Parag Mehta, Obama/Biden Transition Team LGBT Liaison.</blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">It's an interesting list of people. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Read <a href="http://blog.nyacyouth.org/2008/12/lgbt-leaders-meeting-with-obamabiden.html" target="_blank">The LGBT Leaders Meeting with Obama/Biden Transition Team</a></span>Gabi Claytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834411375291647871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205147049740549737.post-62252090011661440922008-12-01T11:49:00.000-08:002008-12-01T11:56:14.757-08:00Transitioning on the Job: Part FourAs far as I can tell, none of my sixth grade students know that I’m trans. This astonishes me. Has not one seventh or eighth grader mentioned anything to one of my students? Has not one of them Googled my name? Seriously?<br /><br />Clearly, I can never know exactly what someone else is thinking – but I can make inferences based on students’ comments and actions. Students have continued to ask me “are you married?” when they point out the “Ms. Krywanczyk” written in most of the books in my classroom library. I met many students’ parents at Parent Teacher Conferences last week, and the fact that several parents commented “you look so young!,” implied (based on my past experience) that they perceived me to be a teenaged boy.<br /><br />Two weeks ago the concept of homophobia arose in my class because of a novel we are reading that has a prominent gay character (<span style="font-style: italic;">After Tupac and D Foster</span> by Jacqueline Woodson, which is fantastic). When I explained that homophobia is “hatred or intolerance of gay and lesbian people,” one of my students raised his hand to say “But Mr. Krywanczyk, what about transsexuals? Aren’t there transsexuals, too? My mom said she saw one once.” Most other students in the class proceeded to look at each other with confused looks on their faces, and a few of them asked “Mr. K, what’s a transsexual?” I explained the term briefly and we moved on with the lesson – but the moment confirmed my suspicions that my sixth graders do not yet know about my past as “Ms. K.”<br /><br />I continue to dread the day when one of my students asks me point-blank “did you used to be Ms. K?” or calls me “she.” One of the most frustrating aspects of being trans is learning firsthand that many people, once they are aware of your history, feel that they suddenly “know” something significant that changes the way they interact with you. I’m nervous that when my students learn that I’m trans, it will cause them to treat me differently - and it’s been feeling really good for my identity to be respected in my classroom, in part because it has been my only experience of that, to date. It is possible that my students are aware of my history, but they just “get it.” That would be amazing. After all, most of the seventh and eighth graders in our school have quickly caught on and started calling me “Mr,” or correcting themselves when they call me “Ms.”<br /><br />Though many of my colleagues and administrators have been supportive and well-intentioned, this year has reminded me that students are often more open and thoughtful than adults. When one administrator heard that the word “transsexual” came up in my classroom, he immediately assumed that I was “teaching transexuality” to my students. Though the matter was cleared up by other staff and faculty who were present at the time, hearing about his assumptions alerted me to the fact that I will probably not be given the benefit of the doubt very often this year: Even when students bring up their own legitimate questions, thoughts, or ideas about sexuality and gender identity, it very well may be assumed to be my doing. This incident put me on edge and reminded me to always watch my step and cover myself.<br /><br />Fighting the assumption that LGBTQ and sexuality-related conversations only arise in classrooms when queer or trans teachers bring them up is one of the biggest challenges LGBTQ-friendly teachers will face at my school this year. Three weeks ago, an eighth grade student in a coworker’s class asked about me: “If he’s a dude, why was he Ms. K last year?” The teacher responded exactly how a professional educator is supposed to respond – by explaining terms and abstracting the conversation to avoid talking about individuals' personal identities. She explained what “transgender” means and that gender and sexuality are not necessarily the same thing, while refusing to speak for me or about my transition in any detail. During this brief discussion in her classroom, another eighth grade student spoke up and began explaining transsexuality to the rest of his classmates. How did he know so much about the topic? His mother’s best friend, he informed everyone, is a trans woman.<br /><br />An administrator reprimanded my coworker for “discussing sexual preference” in her classroom – and stated that “if students have questions about Mr. Krywanczyk, they should go to Mr. K.” Basically, this administrator was saying that any and all instances of the word “transgender” coming up in class must necessarily have something to do with ME, and that I should be the only person in our school able to speak about trans issues. This is ludicrous, and completely invalidates students curiosity and the presence of LGBTQ issues and identities in students’ everyday experiences. Even after that situation settled down and the principal (thankfully) intervened to establish that the teacher had not done anything wrong, the implication remained that it is only acceptable for LGBTQ issues to arise in our classrooms when they are related to some kind of text that we are reading – not when students are “just” asking questions.<br /><br />In addition to invisibilizing the realities of students’ lives, attempts to shut down discourse and conversation often have strong racist implications in my school. Most teachers and administrators are white and very few of our students are white, and so the admonishment “Don’t talk about sexual preference!” all too quickly turns into“You know how racial minorities are, they’re so homophobic!” This is an offensive excuse made by adults in our school who simply don’t want to have to put forth energy to support queer and trans youth. LGBTQ-friendly teachers in the school will need to work hard to make room for LGBTQ-related dialogue that does not always become exclusively about queer or trans teachers and our identities. It should be about students having access to information and dialogue they need and deserve because these are issues that affect their lives.Loren Krywanczykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092268577687356994noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205147049740549737.post-73654264756086984392008-11-28T09:05:00.000-08:002008-11-28T09:38:36.935-08:00Transgender Day of Remembrance-Vigil Speech<span style="font-size:100%;">November 20, 2008</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />Portland State University</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />Portland, Oregon</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />My name is Jenn Burleton and I am the Founder and Executive Director of TransActive. I am the wife, spouse, partner and significant other of the woman with whom I’ve shared my life for the past 26 years. We have been the foster parents of two transgender youth.<br /><br /></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;">In the aftermath of the 2004 Indonesian tsunami, I traveled to Phuket, Thailand and volunteered whatever talents, skills and abilities I could to the recovery effort. I am old enough to have marched with Jesse Jackson, Ralph Abernathy and James Groppi in the fight for civil rights and fair housing in the late 60’s and I am young enough to have voted enthusiastically, idealistically and teary-eyed for President Elect Barack Hussein Obama. I am a middle aged, middle class social liberal.<o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />My name is Jenn Burleton; I am a woman who happens to be transgender and today just happens to be my birthday. It has always been a special time of reflection for me. <o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />Early on, it was the yardstick against which I measured the time it was taking my mother to accept and support the little girl that lived within me. During my teen years, it became the hourglass through which the sand that was my changing body flowed. And in adulthood, it is the day on which I take stock of how far we’ve come as a culture and how far we still have to go with regards to gender identity and expression.<o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />Since 1999, November 20th has been the day we set aside to remember our sisters and brothers, sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, lovers, companions, friends and total strangers whose lives were cut short by violence, ignorance, misogyny and fear.<o:p></o:p> This is our day to honor and remember those who died simply because they were or were perceived to be sharing our transgender umbrella.<o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />We know that at least one trans person dies violently every month. Many of these murders remain unsolved. This does not include those who take their own lives after having been slowly but surely emotionally assassinated by intolerance, indifference, poverty and isolation.<o:p></o:p> Those of us who share, to one degree or another, a trans identity are the survivors… and when I did the math with regard to my own life, I realized how very fortunate I have been. As of today, I’ve survived 496 months since first coming out as transgender at 12 years of age.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />Lawrence King was not as fortunate.<o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />I did not have the privilege of knowing Larry in life; however I did spend several weeks earlier this year in Oxnard, California speaking with Larry’s friends, teachers, counselors, mentors and neighbors.<o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />Joined by my friends and colleagues, Hayley Klug, Mariette Pathy Allen and Esther Griffin, I met with school administrators, the Mayor of Oxnard and even Larry’s father and family members of the boy who shot Larry.<o:p></o:p> I have taught classes at E.O Green Middle School… 20 feet from classroom #42 in which Larry was shot in the head twice from behind at close range. Several of the students who were there that day were in the classes I taught.<o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />You may have read that Larry was a troubled and flamboyant gay teen who liked to wear women’s clothing and harass straight boys. That Larry flaunted his sexuality. That one of the boys Larry liked finally wouldn’t take it anymore and brought a gun to school and shot Larry twice in the head as Larry sat at a desk in the computer lab.<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />I’m here to tell you that the only true part of any of that, is that one of the boys Larry liked brought a gun to school and shot Larry twice in the head. The remainder is nothing more than a cisgender-centric manipulation of Larry King’s trans identity in order to fit his death into a politically useful, binary gendered model of what homophobic violence is.</span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />An article in The Advocate even suggested that support and encouragement for Larry’s overtly feminine gender identity and expression and his presumptively "gay" sexual orientation contributed to Larry’s death.<o:p></o:p> It’s time for the hijacking of Larry King’s identity to stop. Larry, who told friends he preferred the name “Letitia”, was transgender.</span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />It’s true that Letitia had male anatomy and at 15 was boy crazy (as are many straight girls at that age). But as many of us in this audience already understand, our identity… her identity existed between her ears and not between her thighs. The inability of some cisgender people in ALL communities to understand and respect that simple fact lies at the center of the identity theft that Letitia King was subjected to in life and most tragically, in death.<o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />Letitia ’s life was complex, challenging, inspiring and, in the days prior to her murder, even joyous.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />Born on January 13, 1993, Letitia turned fifteen one month prior to being killed. She had been taunted, harassed and abused for being feminine from elementary school on. Long before she may have even had a sexual orientation, Letitia understood that non-conforming gender expression is at the core of LGBT oppression. And yet, this small for her age child never backed down from being who she was.<o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />Everyone who knew Letitia said that the weeks after she began fully expressing her true gender identity were the happiest of her life. Far from being the outcast some have portrayed her to be, Letitia had many friends at school, mostly other girls, and was well-liked by many in the school faculty and staff.<o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />She loved butterflies. A child after my own heart, she loved the music of Crosby, Still & Nash. Her favorite song though, was “Lean On Me”, which she confidently told her chorus teacher she wanted to sing the solo on at the Spring 2008 school concert.<o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />Letitia was described as a sweet child who befriended stray animals. Together with her adoptive mother, she crocheted scarves to send to the troops in Afghanistan and she loved Archie, the dinosaur-sized therapy dog at Casa Pacifica, the residential care center she was staying in at the time of her death.<o:p></o:p> When asked how she withstood the teasing, bullying, harassment, physical and emotional abuse of others, including possibly members of her family, Letitia would simply say; “I am what I am.”<o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />While some have tried to co-opt, manipulate, pigeon-hole and minimize Letitia’s identity in order to serve political or social causes, the brilliance of who she was lights the way out of the shadows for those who were fortunate enough to have known her. Averi, one of Letitia’s friends wrote this poem a few days after her death:<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />“I was his friend<br />And loved him till the end<br />You all treated him bad<br />You made him feel so very sad<br />Now take your life and change it up</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><span style=""><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">So God can fully fill your cup”</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />Whether one attends a church that believes in a Supreme Being, or worships as I do at the intersection of equality, justice, respect and hope, we must all keep our cups filled with the compassion needed to understand those who are different than us and the courage to, despite all opposition, stand together not just as men and women of trans experience, but as human beings first and foremost.<o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />Another victim of senseless violence, Martin Luther King, once said:<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><span style=""><br /><br />“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />We owe it to those we remember today, to Letitia King, to Cameron McWilliams who took his own life at age 10 after telling his mother he wanted to be a girl, to Ian Benson and Gwen Araujo, to Brandon Teena and Barry Winchell. To the transgender children of today and tomorrow whose quality of life and whose very lives hang in the balance of what we do on their behalf in the days, weeks, months and years to come.<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />To each of us who has traveled our own unique road to where we are, and to where we’re going. To all of these and to those whose names and lives may never be known, let us remember… and let us promise them that from this day forward, we will never again be silent about the things that matter.<o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />Peace.<br /><br /><br />Jenn Burleton<br />Executive Director<br />TransActive<br /><o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:times new roman;"></span></span><b><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" ><o:p></o:p></span></b>Jenn Burletonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09238894765681881430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205147049740549737.post-49363757400625809782008-11-26T14:10:00.000-08:002008-11-26T14:22:30.638-08:00A Broken Youth: Why Gay Adults Should Be Able to Adopt(I wrote this for my English class. I liked it so I decided to post it here)<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">A Broken Youth: Why Gay Adults Should Be Able to Adopt<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The glass dish slams against the wall barely missing his face. The sound of the plate shattering breaks the screaming of the house. More then dishes are being broken tonight. A fourteen-year-old boy begins to run from his family. He runs with only one thing on his mind: an escape. He did not believe his family could hold so much hate. He cried and began to pant as his bare soles hit the pavement, and blood trickled down his face. He held onto his heart in sheer panic and collapsed next to the freeway entrance. It may sound unrealistic, but this situation is real for thousands of children. I know, because I am one of them.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>When lesbian, gay, biseuxal, and/or transgender (LGBT) people come out to their families loosing everything is a real possibility. The state should allow LGBT parents to foster and adopt young people in need. According to a study by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force on LGBT youth, “over twenty six percent of youth are forced to leave their home when they come out,” which is incredibly daunting (Ray). We are dealing with thousands upon thousands of children who become homeless. Young LGBT people who come out do not have a lot of options and there is a basic right, even for LGBT children, to have a safe place to live. Adults in the gay community become foster parents to give back and provide a safe place for these young people to live. Unfortunately, many do not think LGBT people are suitable parents (Rekers). In this paper I will use academic evidence and a personal example to disprove the position which proposes LGBT parents are unfit. If these young people do not find a safe, supportive place to live they can fall into the problematic foster care system, the criminal justice system, the homeless system, or even death. America is failing our young people, and we must increase tolerance and understanding if we expect to save our most vulnerable.<br /><br /><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>George Rekers, from the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, claims that “homosexual people are not fit to be parents.”His number one claim in his paper is that “homosexually behaving adults have more stress in their lives then heterosexual people and thus would be more damaging to young people in care” (Rekers). This claim exposes biased research because he claims LGBT people should not be parents because of the stress of an LGBT parental unit, while never addressing why they may have more stress. LGBT people have more stress in their lives, and in their family structures, because of society’s stigma, institutionalized discrimination, and rejection of LGBT people. They do not have more stress because gay people inherently have more tension in their lives. The APA, the American Psychological Association, agree by stating on their website,<br /><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>“The widespread prejudice, discrimination, and violence to which lesbians and gay <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>men are often subjected are significant mental health concerns. Sexual prejudice, <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>sexual orientation discrimination, and antigay violence are major sources of stress for <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>lesbian, gay, and bisexual people (APA).”<br /><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Rekers also exposes his own bias with how he identifies LGBT people as “homosexually behaving” adults. The term used by Rekers is rejected by mainstream scientific organizations like the APA, as evident with the removal of homosexuality as a disease in 1973 (Bradly). He minimizes gay people by claiming that being gay is a behavior, that can be corrected, not an intrinsic identity. He also compares gay parents to “households with a pedophilic behaving adult, households with practicing criminals, households with drug dealers and drug abusers.” The irony in his statements is that no matter how he much he argues, LGBT people are not sex offenders, drug dealers, or, since 2003 (Lawrence vs. Texas), criminals of the state.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Rekers continues to infer in his paper that gay people can change their orientation and that the behavior is socially damaging to society. Rekers seems to be scapegoating gay people as carriers of destruction, disease, and wickedness. His statements are a reflection of the organization he represents and the organizations it aligns itself with.<br />I do not agree with Rekers research and conclusion and I have a personal example here to be shared within the context of this academic paper about the success of parents happen to be to be gay. LGBT people should be able to foster and help young people because LGBT adults may have gone through similar situations in their youth. They can accept, and support this specific group of young people on a different level then a heterosexual parent. I ran away when I came out because my family did not want anything to do with me anymore and it is interesting to note who exactly I lived with when I ran away. I lived with a lesbian couple.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>There were a couple places I could have gone, but I decided to live with this specific couple because of the love they accepted me with. The reason I found support, acceptance, and love is because they were able to understand me. I wanted a family to cherish, nurture, and love every part of me, not cherry pick what they found acceptable and what they believed to be distasteful, especially an identity. I wanted a family who would not question if I had antagonized the bullying at school, or if getting spit on while I rode the bus was my fault. I longed for a family to stand up for equality, justice, and fairness, not just pass by with the status quo. This couple became my family. I lived with them because they were able to support me on a whole different level then my heterosexual rejecting parent. I believe this is a personal story that many young people hold to be truth when raised by a family member of similar characteristics. It helps to be able to connect with the youth you are caring for.<div><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>But it is not always this positive, it is disappointing that many people who provide a home for homeless youth, or youth in care, but do not recognize their own bias for getting involved in the foster care system. Many youth, as evident from the Task Force’s study on homelessness, happen to be LGBT. Between 20-40 percent of homeless youth identify as LGBT (Ray). Many conservative faith based institutions and families discriminate against LGBT youth who happen to wind up on their doorsteps. A youth who was rejected from their family may be further traumatized as another rejects them (CWLA). We need to make sure this does not happen by not only allowing all eligible and stable adults to be foster parents, but also invest in culturally competent and accepting adults to help our young people. Not all heterosexual adults are good parents, and neither are all LGBT adults, but that does not mean we should exclude an entire minority because of cultural bias.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Popular science further supports the fact that LGBT people are suitable parents and refutes the idea Rekers and other conservative organizations promote. The APA released a study in 2004 solidifying research from the 70’s that homosexual parenting is normal and suitable to a child’s development (APA). They found no evidence to suggest the contrary. The APA also stated that stress in LGBT homes are likely caused by external factors like society refusing to recognize LGBT people as legitimate members of society, then anything else (APA). They state that the rejection of the child’s family “sends a signal to the child and society that their family situation is unacceptable and subject to ridicule. “ This statement directly refutes the claim made by Rekers.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The APA expands on past research that LGBT parents raise healthy children on their website:<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>“Studies comparing groups of children raised by homosexual and by heterosexual <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>parents find no developmental differences between the two groups of children in four <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>critical areas: their intelligence, psychological adjustment, social adjustment, and <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>popularity with friends. It is also important to realize that a parent's sexual <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>orientation does not indicate their children's.”<br /><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>So we know there is an overrepresentation of LGBT homeless youth but the question is what do we do now with this data? This academic paper exists to promote an end to bans on LGBT people being included in the general pool of foster parents. Research by the APA, scholarly journals, and respected researchers confirm that LGBT adults are capable of raising children into healthy and productive members of society (APA). LGBT adults may even be more likely to relate to specific groups of young people from similar situations, like gay youth and help them grow into productive members of society (CWLA). With bans on gay people adopting and being foster parents in states such as Florida, Mississippi, Utah, and now Arkansas, it seems the battle is heating up (Ruggeri). As American citizens it is our duty to respect everyone and to recognize that impartial scientific evidence must trump public opinion, otherwise we may as well live in a Stone Age theocracy minimizing all minorities and those who disagree. That is not a democracy. America was created on the principle that “all men are created equal,” and like Harvey Milk, a gay leader, said “no matter how hard you try, you can never erase those words from the constitution.” I believe in the constitution.<div><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I conclude with a poem named London by the poet William Blake. It reminds me of the challenges facing our young people. In this poem Blake describes London with desolation and how it is infesting thoughts with negativity. He describes a London that is ignoring its civilians and turning a horrible situation even direr. London may not specifically be about LGBT youth in care, but it does represent a feeling that many LGBT youth find themselves in. The emotion they often feel is one of hopelessness. LGBT youth have daunting statistical data suggesting that they will break, fail, and die faster then other youth, but it is not just mind-forged manacles that Rekers suggests with his flawed data, but factual data of society’s intolerance and what it causes. LGBT youth should be provided safe, stable, accepting homes and LGBT adults should be able to foster and care for these, and other youth. Parents who can relate to these young people will be able to help them grow when no other adult would. Let us not neglect our most vulnerable.<br /><br /><br /><http://www.apa.org/topics/sorientation.html><http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&an=23462349&site=ehost-live><http://www.cwla.org/programs/culture/glbtqposition.htm><http://www.thetaskforce.org/downloads/homelessyouth.pdf><http://www.narth.com/docs/rationalebasisfinal0405.pdf>.<br /><br /></http://www.narth.com/docs/rationalebasisfinal0405.pdf></http://www.thetaskforce.org/downloads/homelessyouth.pdf></http://www.cwla.org/programs/culture/glbtqposition.htm></http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&an=23462349&site=ehost-live></http://www.apa.org/topics/sorientation.html></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205147049740549737.post-41391099671026263382008-11-15T08:12:00.001-08:002008-11-15T08:14:28.509-08:00A Short Reflection of Community Organizations by Kyle Rapinan<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">A college education, this is the aspiration I knew would be an escape to a life of instability and hostility. I have a similar story to many youth that are abandoned by their families for convenience. When I was fourteen I ran away from home because being gay was not an option with my unstable mother and homophobic and violent brother. I floated from friend's house to friend's house throughout my high school career. Four years is a long time to live such instability. The bullying followed me to my school when I came out there. I turned to the Gay Straight Alliance at my school for help and found out that I was not worthless and had a purpose. I kept focused and graduated with decent grades and a surprising acceptance to the University of Washington.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Looking back at my negative and positive experiences I know that if it was not for community organizations, loving friends, and loyal teachers I would not be here today. I am a true example of a village raising a child. My village happened to consist of mostly LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender), or inclusive, organizations. It made sense that I would fall into the safety net of Seattle's LGBT community. This community happened to be the only place where I truly felt safe and accepted. The LGBT community in Seattle, and the allies who helped me figure out my purpose in life, truly saved me from a life of instability and homelessness. Organizations like the Lambert House, a queer youth drop in center, American Friends Service Committee, a social justice organization and speaker's bureau, Seattle Education Access, an educational advocacy organization, and of course, the Safe Schools Coalition, a international partnership for safer schools, helped truly solidify my future. I would not be here today, or the young adult I am presently, without these, and countless other community organizations. The people organizing for safer schools with Safe Schools Coalition have truly changed my life and I hope to give back continuously.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">But then my dreams almost seemed unobtainable when my mother would not release her tax returns so I could receive federal money. My dreams came to a halt and I panicked. But then I heard about SEA and they worked with me to petition the University of Washington to grant independent status so I could receive federal funds. I was also able to receive a couple large scholarships from Pride Foundation, Colin Higgins Foundation, the GSBA and other community organizations. I utilized the Safe Schools Coalition youth website to discover doors to my future. Safe Schools is a great resource for our community.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I am happy to report that I have the next few years paid for and my dream of a college education is being fulfilled everyday. I plan on obtaining a law degree and becoming a civil rights lawyer for non-profit's and minorities. I can not thank LGBT organizations enough, like Safe Schools, for their empathy, love and care for the future leaders of tomorrow.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Kyle Rapinan</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Past Intern for American Friends Service Committee and Safe Schools Coalition</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">University of Washington Student</span>Safe Schools Coalitionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12888406342613125865noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205147049740549737.post-3425109642882929362008-11-12T15:39:00.000-08:002008-11-12T16:22:44.195-08:00Civil rights and civics lessons ... marriage equality and Proposition 8<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Adam R wrote today on a PFLAG National Blog post <a href="http://pflagblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/olbermann-on-marriage-equality.html" target="_blank">Olbermann on Marriage Equality</a></span>:<br /><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Keith Olbermann of <span style="font-style: italic;">MSNBC </span>commented on <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/" target="_blank">his show</a> recently about the passing of Proposition 8 in California, and his dismay and disappointment with the results. He wonders why anyone would want to deny another person the right to the same things that they enjoy.</span></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Keith Olbermann is</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> thoughtful, powerful, and wonderful. He said:<br /></span></span><p style="clear: both; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"></p><blockquote style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">You are asked now, by your country, and perhaps by your creator, to stand on one side or another. You are asked now to stand, not on a question of politics, not on a question of religion, not on a question of gay or straight. You are asked now to stand, on a question of...love. All you need do is stand, and let the tiny ember of love meet its own fate. You don't have to help it, you don't have it applaud it, you don't have to fight for it. Just don't put it out. </blockquote><p></p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Please watch & listen to his whole commentary here:</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hnHyy8gkNEE&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hnHyy8gkNEE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Thank you, Keith Olbermann.</span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(153, 51, 153); font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Join the Impact</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">: A Protest for LGBTQ Rights in cities in EVERY state in America and some other countries. </span><br /><blockquote style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"></blockquote><blockquote style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Tuesday night was a bitter-sweet celebration. We came together to witness the first black man who will become our president, yet watched in sadness as Florida, Arizona, Arkansas, and California all voted down equal rights for all citizens.<br /><br />This is not a 4 state issue. This is an issue of equality across America. Stand up and make your voice heard.</blockquote><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"></span></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><u></u></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><u>Join the Impact</u></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><u></u><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">This Saturday, November 15th </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">8:30AM HST - 10:30AM West Coast - 11:30AM Mountain - 12:30PM Central - 1:30PM East Coast</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">See </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/" target="_blank">jointheimpact.wetpaint.com</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> for locations and more information. </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Safe Schools Coalition friend Steve Schalchlin wrote yesterday:</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span><blockquote style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Asking for the right to marry does not change society except in one way: It makes it more just. </blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Read the whole blog post Steve ended with that line: <a href="http://bonusroundblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/why-soulforce-marches.html" target="_blank">Why SoulForce Marches.</a><br /></span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*</span></span><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Also, see this post on my personal blog for a message from the band Rebecca Riots, and a link to a free song to download: </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://gabiclayton.blogspot.com/2008/11/rebecca-riots-new-song-for-you-and-us.html" target="_blank">Rebecca Riots - A Thousand Hands (Wedding Song '08)</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.<br /><br /></span>Gabi Claytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834411375291647871noreply@blogger.com0