Message from:
The Coalition for Safer Schools of NYS, PO Box 2345, Malta, NY 12020
John Myers, Director of Operations and Programs
Email to: SARATOGANY@aol.com
The Real or Perceived Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Student Protection Project
===================================================================

City Pulse (Lansing, MI)
1/29/03
http://city-pulse.org/030129/030129gsa.html (w/pics)
City Pulse - January 29, 2003

GSA Youth Summit: An "atmosphere of activism"

By SARAH M. DAVIS

His freshman year at Portage High School, Nathan Triplett was assaulted in a locker room and knocked momentarily unconscious. The last thing he remembers hearing was the word "faggot."

After receiving a "boys will be boys" response from a teacher, the attack wasn't investigated. His senior year, he and other students organized a Gay/Straight Alliance. They also tried to change school policies. In the process, Triplett - a straight ally who is now a freshman at MSU - received death threats and various forms of intimidation. "Although we had some support from staff, school administration at the district level was very negative," he said. "They were adamantly against measures to amend school policies to be LGBT inclusive." The policies remain unchanged and under debate.

Saturday, Triplett co-facilitated the Second Annual GSA Youth Summit, attended by more than 50 area students and advisors.

Sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network of Mid-Michigan, the summit featured speakers of civil rights organizations who addressed students' rights, the need for legislative and school policy changes, and societal attitudes toward lesbian, bi, gay and transgender issues. Gay/Straight Alliance members also shared their experiences and ideas on how to create safer schools. "It's very affirming, and the speakers are motivating," said Sara Holy, a sophomore from East Lansing High School. "It's encouraging to be in an atmosphere of activism."

The most common issue facing gay students (and straight allies) in schools is verbal harassment and threats of physical harm. "Every student has the right to feel safe and welcome at a school. Who they are shouldn't interfere with their education," said Jay Kaplan, staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan's LGBT Project. Fear and a lack of information were named as schools' primary reasons for hesitance or hostility toward Gay/Straight Alliances and LGBT concerns. "But fear of community backlash cannot compromise students' safety or prevent the formation of GSAs, which have tremendous value for students," said Kaplan. East Lansing High School Senior Heather Findley agreed. "It's important for younger people to have a community and support network where they can discuss issues that are important to who they are."

Many students reported that while they often receive support from staff and students (more frequently than from school administrations), instances of vandalism and "typical harassment" still occur. "Verbal slurs are used more as daily speech patterns, not outright acts of hate. But they are used to belittle," said Findley. She expressed frustration that homophobic jokes and slurs are still commonly heard and often go unchallenged. "There are words that are not accepted by society," said Findley. "I hope that soon the 'f' word will be one of them."

Speakers and students said that changes in schools' harassment policies are badly needed. They believe LGBT inclusive policies would send the message that harassment - regardless of sexual orientation or identity - is unacceptable. "Up to 75 percent of school districts in Michigan are represented by one law firm, and schools are told that since the policy is not required, they shouldn't include it," said Kaplan. He said this tactic provides schools with a loophole to avoid equally protecting all students and staff.

But things are changing. High profile lawsuits have determined that schools can be held liable for failing to protect the safety and rights of students and faculty. And thanks to increased training, resources, activism, and education, school environments have started to change. Many at the summit felt that more progress has been made by students and progressive schools than through legislation at state or federal levels, noting that resistance to GSAs and policy changes often comes from parents or other adults, not students. Sean Kosofsky, director of policy at the Triangle Foundation, spoke about the significance of lobbying for anti-bullying legislation. "If you don't prohibit things under the law," he said, "then you're saying that they can happen." Though Michigan led the nation in promoting LGBT safety - East Lansing was the first city in the country to pass a law to protect gay persons, and Ann Arbor was second - Kosofsky believes that an anti-choice, conservative movement has gained statewide momentum in the last 10 years.

Kosofsky also discussed the April 9 Day of Silence, which has become the nation's single largest LGBT action event. "To many, we are 'the other,'" Kosofsky said. "And whatever is 'other' is a threat: Those people who are immigrants. Those people who are minorities. Those people who are gay." He believes that education and awareness events like the Day of Silence can help change that.

For safety and tolerance to grow, students stressed the need for grassroots progress and said that teaching children about acceptance and appreciation of diversity from a young age is critical. "In first grade, you are taught to share and to not call people names," said Findley. "Influencing language can shape how children think."

Legislative action was also emphasized. "The creation of a policy allows for a platform to address issues," Triplett said. In theory, passing laws sends a message to schools and citizens about what is legal - and what is not. "Then it's not just GLSEN's fight or a GSA's fight. It's a community's fight to ensure that schools are safe for all people."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------
Message alert for above from:

Sean Kosofsky
Director of Policy
Triangle Foundation
19641 W. Seven Mile Rd, Detroit, MI 48219-2721
313-537-3323 x 105 ph 313-537-3379 fx
1-877-7-TRIANGLE (877-787-4264) Toll-free Report Hate Crimes
Sean@tri.org
http://www.tri.org & check out http://www.AFAExposed.com
============================================================================
This message has been distributed as a free informational service for the expressed interest of non-profit research and educational purposes only.

Subscribe at saratogany@aol.com
John Myers
Director of Operations and Programs
(518) 587-0176

Return to P.E.R.S.O.N. Project Home Page