Thank you!!!!

A super big thank you to everyone who helped out in any way and/or participated in the summit on the 23rd! You made the day a success!!

Keep checking back for updates on other awesome GLSEN events!

Scholarship Opportunity

PFLAG Scholarship for LGBT High School Seniors*

PFLAG (Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) National will be awarding three $5000 scholarships, three $2500, and up to 10 $1000 scholarships. PFLAG Scholarships provide an important, positive statement to a group of young people that is coping amazingly well in an often adverse school environment. They are marginalized and subjected to harassment and discrimination in many parts of the country, not only at school but also often in their own families. PFLAG is proud to support these articulate, accomplished scholars with great promise for future contribution to our society in general and to the cause of rights and recognition for GLBT people in particular. Scholarships are available at the national level and are awarded by many of the local chapters. Applicants can receive both awards if eligible. For more info and to apply visit: http://www.pflag.org/Scholarships.1236.0.html

*Note: LGBT youth AND allies are elligible for the scholarship!

Lawrence King Tragedy

Press Release: California Middle School Student Murdered in School Because of Sexual Orientation

http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/news/record/2261.html

NEW YORK, Feb. 15, 2008 – Ten years after Wyoming college student Matthew Shepard was brutally murdered because of his sexual orientation, a 15-year-old gay California student is dead after a student allegedly shot him because of his sexual orientation and gender expression.

Lawrence King, an eighth-grader at E.O. Green Junior High School in Oxnard, passed away last night after being shot Tuesday morning in class. The 14-year-old attacker, among a group of students known to bully and harass King because he sometimes wore makeup and jewelry and told classmates he was gay, will be charged with murder and a hate crime.

"This incident of senseless violence is truly horrifying, and our hearts go out to the student's friends, family and the E.O. Green School community," said Kevin Jennings, Executive Director of GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network. "As a nation, we've had our heads in the sand for far too long. We need to do everything we can to prevent something like this from happening again."

"In doing so, it's absolutely crucial that we name the problem of anti-LGBT bullying and harassment and address it directly to find a solution to the everyday fear that keeps countless youth from feeling safe in school. We must confront the fact that LGBT students are much more likely to be threatened with a weapon and much more likely to feel unsafe at school than other students."

The 2001-02 California Healthy Kids Survey for the California Department of Education found that California students who were harassed because they are, or are perceived to be, gay or lesbian were more than five times more likely than other students who were not harassed to report being threatened or injured with a weapon (28% to 5%).

"I am deeply saddened by the terrible news about the shooting of Lawrence King. My prayers go out to all of Lawrence's friends and family," said Judy Shepard, Executive Director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation. "This terrible incident underscores the fact that we cannot let hate go unchecked in our schools and communities. Our young people need our direction and guidance to prevent this type of crime from happening. I urge all parents and teachers to educate their children and students about acceptance, understanding and compassion."

Two of the top three reasons students say their peers are harassed in school are actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender expression, according to From Teasing to Torment: School Climate in America, a 2005 Harris Interactive report commissioned by GLSEN. The top reason is physical appearance.

As was the case at E.O. Green Junior High, what begins as bullying and harassment too often escalates to violence. In GLSEN's 2005 National School Climate Survey, nearly a fifth (17.6%) of LGBT students reported being physically assaulted at school in the past school year because of their sexual orientation and over a tenth (11.8%) because of their gender expression.

California is one of only 10 states that protect students from bullying and harassment based on sexual orientation and one of only five that protect students from bullying and harassment based on gender identity/expression.

"Safe schools laws and policies are vitally important, but simply having a law is not enough," Jennings said. "Schools need to implement staff development and trainings to address anti-LGBT bullying and harassment. Schools also need programs that teach young people respect and tolerance. Every student deserves to feel safe in school. We must take action and take responsibility for our inaction."

Another crucial intervention to protect students and all Americans is to pass the Matthew Shepard Act as an appropriate and measured response to the unrelenting and under-addressed problem of violent hate crimes committed against individuals based on actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and disability.

This is an emotional and scary time for many youth, and it is important to have information ready to support them in dealing with it. One national resource that you can share is the GLBT National Youth Talkline – 1 (800) 246-PRIDE (7743) – which provides telephone and email peer counseling, as well as information and local resources for cities and towns across the country.




What can I do?

~Remembering Lawrence King MySpace Page ~

GLSEN has set up a MySpace page in memory of Lawrence King. Please join as a friend and promote the page to your constituents.


~ Things Chapters Can Do Right Now in Support of Lawrence King ~

Partner with local organizations to organize a community action or vigil in memory of Lawrence and other youth who were lost due to violence based upon sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. Please pass on information about local organizing efforts to Kiwi.

Help others learn about Lawrence. Share his story with your constituents, and through media such as blogs, listserves, letters to the editor, press releases, and more. Feel free to take the GLSEN press release below, and personalize it for your Chapter.
Prepare resource information, such as community organizations and counseling/wellness services, for LGBT youth and allies to contact. This is an emotional and scary time for many youth, and it is important to have information ready to support them in dealing with it. One national resource that you can share is the GLBT National Youth Talkline – 1 (800) 246-PRIDE (7743) – which provides telephone and email peer counseling, as well as information and local resources for cities and towns across the country.

The Last One - You Can Still Join Us!

We are almost to the summit, which means one last planning session. Join us tomorrow (February 6, 2007) at 6:30 at Roland Park Country School, Multipurpose Room to finish the last few pieces of planning. As always, your very presence, not to mention your ideas and support, are much appreciated!

Meanwhile, DON'T FORGET TO REGISTER!