GLSEN

Talking Points:Hyperlinks (LOTS! ...now revised... )

Just finished spending time on the GLSEN site-

Significantly More Teens Think 'That's So Gay' is Wrong as GLSEN's Ad Council Campaign Enters Second Phase

It made me really think..... When I was very young I was introduced to the word faggot or fag. Honestly, I did not know the homosexual connotation. I thought it meant dork or jerk. My world was small and was limited to a few friends down the street and my family. It wasn't until I got much older that I realized those words were referring to a sexual orientation. How do slurs get incorporated into common vernacular? When they are widely accepted. No one wants to be a joke.

"The 'Think Before You Speak' campaign has started an important conversation among young people," Byard said."While we still have a long way to go before widespread use of anti-LGBT language becomes a thing of the past, hopefully this campaign will force more and more people to confront the real consequences of the words they use."

Well, I wanted to know more about the boy who committed suicide as a result of bullying. Specifically, the legislation that addresses anti-bullying behavior.

Go to

to read the summary or whole text of

H.R. 2262:

Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2009

I explored a few websites to find out specifically what happened to the child. I wanted to know if he had been exposed to all kinds of taunts and if the gay community, objecting to specifically anti gay name calling, decided to carry the banner. Several accounts did specifically site the taunts as being wholly or largely ones comprised of anti gay sentiment. Most accounts mentioned that the child did not identify himself as gay.

As evidenced in the following article:

Sirdeaner Walker Talks About Importance of Federal Safe Schools Improvement Act at MA Signing Ceremony

Mrs. Walker specifically addressed the types of taunting both her child, Carl and another victim of suicide, Phoebe Prince endured.

Next, continuing exploring the anti bullying theme further ( a theme near and dear to my heart), I explored the following article:

"GLSEN Announces No Name-Calling Week Creative Expression Contest Winners"

I was delighted to see that the contest includes educating young children about name calling. Changing attitudes is more difficult as people become entrenched in their prejudice. I was delighted to see that the contest includes educating young children about name calling. Changing attitudes is more difficult as people become entrenched in their prejudice. From Teasing to Torment: School Climate in America- A National Report on School Bullying reveals the dark side of bullying in schools in 2005. 65% reported bullying, 39% for appearance, 33% for their sexual orientation.22% of the GLBT and 7% of non-GLBT say they don't feel safe in school. The surprise for me was that only 85% of teachers considered it their obligation to keep kids safe, with only 73% of those "strongly endorsing this view". How can kids feel safe when the individuals with position power don't agree on their role. No wonder kids perceive a climate of indifference. I then followed a link to:

The LEZGETREAL, a Gay Girl's View on the World

had some interesting articles, among them "A Ban on Gay Blood Donation to Continue..."

As a health professional, the article peaked my interest. As a researcher, it drives me crazy when people make claims and don't back them up with data. The controversy is over a ban on allowing gay males to donate blood. Because the incidence of aides is higher (no data) in this population, despite protestation, there continues to be a ban. Supporting their argument, "Technology currently in use by blood bank can detect HIV up to seven days after the individual has been infected and all available data also shows that the error rate for these tests is low." So what about the initial seven days, and how comfortable are we with the error rates being low... Not zero? (no data)...

I hopped over to a twitter post about children with lesbian parents from USA today.

20-year study: Lesbians' kids better in social, academic competence

Results of Gartrell's study are online and will be published in the July issue of Pediatrics.

An excerpt from the article follows:

Between 1986 and 1992, Gartrell and her colleague, Henry Bos, recruited 154 prospective lesbian mothers as they were considering artificial insemination, or once they were already pregnant.

As the children have grown, the researchers have been periodically checking in on them, and the latest follow-up included questionnaires completed by 78 children when they were 10 and again when they were 17. The study also included an interview with one of each child's mothers to assess the child's psychological well-being.

The results were then compared to a group of age-matched children from traditional families."Compared to the traditionally reared teens, adolescents with lesbian parents rated significantly higher in social, academic and total competence, according to the study. The teens with lesbian parents also rated significantly lower when it came to social problems, rule-breaking and aggressive behavior than teens raised in more traditional families."

Awesome! Such positive information.

Then to educator material, I explored:

Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation and Youth: A Primer for Principals, Educators, and School Personnel

The abstract was well written and is intended to be

"a guide for employees who confront sensitive issues involving gay, lesbian and bisexual students."

I read the post and wanted more, so I read the PDF in its entirety.

What I discerned was that the publication actually addresses something not directly mentioned in the abstract. In attempt to stem evangelists from influencing students to attend ex-gay ministry and transformational ministry meetings, they were advising a position congruent with acceptance of homosexuality, free speech, and respect for their view and opposed to the religious freedom of the individuals with a different view, indeed a view that considered homosexuality as sinful. Separation of church and state was mentioned. No mutual respect, just mutual exclusivity.

Why can't we just get along???