Showing posts with label bullying. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bullying. Show all posts

Monday, September 15, 2014

Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Join Cartoon Network’s “I Speak Up” Call-to-Action Against Bullying

Recognizing bullying as a health, educational and legal issue that affects millions of kids and families each year, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan have joined Cartoon Network’s recently announced “I Speak Up” call-to-action asking one million people to upload and share “I Speak Up” mobile videos to help fight bullying. The pro-active fall campaign serves as a focal point to CARTOON NETWORK’S SPEAK UP WEEK (Sept. 29-Oct. 3), the latest phase of its award-winning “Stop Bullying: Speak Up” initiative, which leads into National Bullying Prevention Month.

Both officials have shared their personal videos at www.StopBullyingSpeakUp.com and are using the hashtag #ISpeakUp to encourage others to unite with them in supporting this important effort. The goal is to collect one million user-generated videos that unite the voices of kids, parents, educators, celebrities and government officials all saying “I Speak Up,” demonstrating that through combined efforts toward a united cause, speaking up is one of the most effective ways to help bring a bullying situation to an end.

Select videos that are uploaded to www.Stop BullyingSpeakUp.com will become part of new campaign spots to appear on Cartoon Network, its digital platforms and Boomerang throughout October. Participants are also encouraged to share their videos on their own social media platforms using #ISpeakUp to help spread the word.

“Bullying and harassment can have devastating effects on kids of all ages,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “That’s why, alongside our partners at the Department of Education, the Justice Department is striving to reduce abusive behavior against and among students of every grade level. We’re committed to promoting safe and inclusive learning environments for all of America’s young people. And I’m proud to join Cartoon Network in calling on every student, parent, and educator to pitch in, and do their part, to speak up against bullying.”

Monday, February 7, 2011

Long Branch Middle School - Bullying (We'll Stop It)


This video is the official music video for 'Bullying (We'll Stop It)'by Long Branch Middle School in New Jersey. It was created by 24 8th grade LBMS Language Arts students to fight the epidemic of bullying in American schools and filmed and edited by 8th grader Grant Brown.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Monday, January 10, 2011

N.J. governor signs tough anti-bullying bill

Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., has signed the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights

The new law requires teachers and school administrators to be trained on how to spot bullying in schools, and mandates "safety teams" to address bullying complaints in each school district in the state.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Human Rights Campaign Statement on New Jersey Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights

Today New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed a landmark Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights into law.  The legislation, passed almost unanimously by both houses of the state legislature in November, is the toughest state anti-bullying law in the country.  The new law mandates specific anti-bullying procedures for schools across the state and also covers public universities.  After the signing, HRC President Joe Solmonese (pictured) made the following statement:

“This past year we have seen lives ruined and families destroyed by anti-LGBT bullying in all corners of the country.  We know when our elected leaders speak, kids struggling with their identity and self-worth listen.  Today Governor Christie and lawmakers in both houses of New Jersey’s legislature spoke loud and clear in sending a message to all children that they are valued, and to school administrators, educators and support professionals that they must be responsible and effective in addressing anti-LGBT bullying and harassment.  We applaud the Governor and legislative leaders who stood up for all children.  We also commend Garden State Equality for its tireless work over the years to make this law a reality.”

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Assistant Attorney General Perez meets with students to discuss bullying

Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Tom Perez today joined students at James Hubert Blake High School in Silver Spring, Md., to talk about bullying and harassment in schools. He focused on the Department’s work to address harassment and protect the civil rights of all students.

Blake High School has 1,800 students, and today’s event was presented with the support of Blake High School’s administration and the Blake Alliance for Equality, which is the school’s gay-straight alliance.

Read more at the United States Department of Justice blog - yeah, they've got a blog.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Federal Task Force in Bullying Prevention Turns to Public for Best Practices to Combat Bullying

The Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention Task Force announced today that it will begin accepting submissions from the public of field-based practices to combat bullying. Entries that are approved for posting on the website—www.bullyinginfo.org—can include formats ranging from research articles to youth-produced public service announcements (PSAs). All materials and resources posted must be free of charge and hosted on either a government or non-profit website.

“We know that many programs are successfully addressing bullying and want to share those materials with others,” says Kevin Jennings, assistant deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Education’s Education Department’s Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools who also chairs the Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention Task Force. “Our goal is to create an easy, central location for anyone to access information.”

Findyouthinfo.gov, an inter-agency federal government website that provides information on creating, maintaining and strengthening effective youth programs, already accepts submissions of evaluated, evidence-based programs on bullying for its program directory. In addition to information on bullying, submissions also are accepted for a range of other youth topics such as health and nutrition, positive youth development, substance use, parenting, and more. To submit field-based material to Bullyinginfo.org and/or Findyouthinfo.gov, visit www.findyouthinfo.gov/resourcesubmission.aspx. To submit evaluated evidence-based programs, visit www.findyouthinfo.gov/nominate.shtml.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Unfair Treatment: Gay teens singled out for punishment in school

Lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) adolescents are about 40 percent more likely than other teens to receive punishment at the hands of school authorities, police and the courts, according to research published in the January, 2011 issue of Pediatrics and available online today here

The analysis, conducted at Yale University, found that the disparities in punishments are not explained by differences in misbehavior. Youth who identified themselves as LGB actually engaged in less violence than their peers, for example. Nonetheless, virtually all types of punishments including school expulsions, arrests, juvenile convictions, adult convictions and especially police stops were more frequently meted out to LGB youth.

For instance, adolescents who self-identified as LGB were about 50 percent more likely to be stopped by the police than other teenagers. Teens who reported feelings of attraction to members of the same sex, regardless of their self-identification, were more likely than other teens to be expelled from school or convicted of crimes as adults. Girls who labeled themselves as lesbian or bisexual were especially at risk for unequal treatment: they experienced 50 percent more police stops and reported about twice as many arrests and convictions as other girls who had engaged in similar behavior. Although the study did not explore the experiences of transgender youth, anecdotal reports suggest that they are similarly at risk for excessive punishment.

The study is the first to document excessive punishment of LGB youth nationwide. It was based on the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) and included approximately 15,000 middle and high school students who were followed for seven years into early adulthood. Add Health utilized special techniques to ensure participants' privacy: for questions on more sensitive topics, respondents listened to questions through headphones and entered their responses directly onto laptop computers. The study collected details on subjects' sexuality, including feelings of sexual attraction, sexual relationships and self-labeling as LGB. Add Health also surveyed participants regarding how frequently they engaged in a variety of misbehaviors ranging in severity from "lying to parents" to using a weapon.

 The study authors hypothesize that the excessive punishments of LGB youth may reflect authorities' reluctance to consider mitigating factors such as young age or self-defense in determining punishment for LGB youth. Moreover, they note that LGB youth frequently encounter homophobia in the education, healthcare and child welfare systems, and may therefore fail to receive services offered to other young people.

"The painful, even lethal bullying that LGB youth suffer at the hands of their peers has been highlighted by recent tragic episodes. Our numbers indicate that school officials, police and judges, who should be protecting LGB young people, are instead contributing to their victimization," said Kathryn Himmelstein, the study's lead author. She continued, "LGB teens can't thrive if adults single them out for punishment because of their sexual orientation." Himmelstein, who initiated the study while a Yale undergraduate, currently teaches mathematics at a public high school in New York City.
The research was supervised by Dr. Hannah Brückner, a Yale sociologist and nationally recognized expert on adolescent sexuality.

Monday, November 29, 2010

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack's message for the It Gets Better Project


USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack's message for the It Gets Better Project.

Who's to blame for gay suicides? American Family Association blames the gays!

Silver fox Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association is troubled by the recent spate of anti-gay bullying suicides that have claimed the lives of a number of gay youth, so troubled in fact, that he has dusted off Anita Bryant's old  "homosexuals cannot reproduce — so they must recruit" lie to blame gay groups like GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) for the deaths  instead of the true perpetrators. - via Hatewatch



Cher and Christina Aguilera discuss anti-gay bullying


Burlesque stars Cher, Christina Aguilera, Stanley Tucci and Cam Gigandet sat down with Towleroad.com recently to discuss anti-gay bullying.

Burlesque is now playing in theaters nationwide.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Palin daughters engage in anti-gay slurs on Facebook

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC)  today called on former Republican Vice Presidential candidate and current reality TV show star Sarah Palin to come out against the kind of anti-LGBT bullying sadly typified by her 16-year-old daughter’s posting on Facebook. According to media accounts, someone watching the new Palin reality show posted on Facebook that the show was failing. That prompted Willow Palin to respond by saying, “Haha your so gay. I have no idea who you are, But what I've seen pictures of, your disgusting... My sister has a kid and is still hot…. Tre stfu. Your such a faggot.” [sic]
“Anti-gay language by teenagers often starts at home – or at least, that’s where it should be stopped,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “It is our sincere hope that Sarah Palin will take this opportunity to speak out and condemn these kinds of insensitive remarks. It’s time for ‘Mamma Grizzly’ to teach all youngsters a lesson in decency and respect.”
Over the past year a number of teenagers have taken their own lives after being the victims of anti-gay bullying or harassment by other teenagers – most predominantly in the mid-teenage age range of Willow Palin. Many public figures, including President Obama, have addressed the issue, telling teenagers who are struggling with their sexuality and the bullying and harassment that sometimes goes with it, that it will get better. Sarah Palin has remained silent about the bullying-related suicides while publicly supporting political candidates who oppose equality and have anti-gay records including Christine O’Donnell in Delaware and Sharron Angle in Nevada.
“Sarah Palin has gotten away with not speaking up when the nation’s kids needed her most,” Solmonese said. “Sarah Palin, we ask you, will you use this as a teachable moment and tell all of our young people that this kind of language is simply unacceptable?”
To help stop the name-calling, bullying and gender stereotyping that so many students face every day, the HRC Foundation has developed the Welcoming Schools initiative. This innovative program gives elementary school administrators, teachers and parents across the country the tools to prevent bias-based teasing and harassment among elementary school students. It helps kids learn respect and tolerance early on, to prevent violence later in middle and high school.
“Willow Palin might not have gotten the kind of anti-bullying and name-calling lessons that could have made her think twice about this kind of language,” added Solmonese. “But there’s no reason her mother can’t use this moment as a way to reach out and make every young person feel valued and accepted.”

And while the New York Daily News reports that Willow's sister Bristol - currently on her way to winning this season of 'Dancing With The Stars' - has apologized for the homophobic comments, the conservative gay group GOProud has come to her defense saying, "...Apparently, it's only a homophobic slur when it comes from the daughter of a conservative female leader."

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Backlash against anti-gay bullying?

Some social conservatives say anti-bullying programs that work to protect gay students are little more than Trojan horses for pro-LGBT messaging on issues such as marriage and sexuality.

Faced with angry parents, some school officials have been forced to revise curricula, but others have stood their ground.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Jim In Bold

Equality Forum recently produced the documentary film “JIM IN BOLD” about the impact of homophobia on gay youth. The film centers on James Wheeler, a 19-year-old talented youth who committed suicide after being bullied.  Jim had been surrounded in his high school’s locker room and urinated on. There was no disciplinary action.

The award-winning film has been screened at over 50 film festivals and at the annual meetings of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the American Psychiatric Association.

Rest in Peace Brandon Bitner

Brandon Bitner (pictured) was buried today, Wednesday, November 10, 2010. The 14-year-old high school freshman from rural Middleburg, Pennsylvania committed suicide by running into the path of a tractor trailer. He left a note that he wanted to draw attention to bullying.

Brandon was a talented musician, who aspired to be a classical violinist. According to the note, he was tired of being called “faggot” and “sissy.”

According to his mother, Tammy Simpson, “He was the most wonderful child anyone could ask for.”

“We need to stop the carnage of gay teen suicides,” said Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director, Equality Forum, a national LGBT civil rights organization headquartered in Philadelphia.

In October 2010, Tyler Clementi, a Rutgers University freshman who committed suicide by jumping off the George Washington Bridge, brought national attention to the epidemic of gay teen suicides that resulted from bullying. It is estimated that about 500 gay teens each year or 40 gay teens per month take their lives as a result of homophobia.

“In most public, middle and high schools, homophobic taunts are hurled without any disciplinary action,” stated Lazin. “Sticks and stones will break your bones, but names can really harm you.”

Currently, there are two bills in Congress, the Safe Schools Improvement Act and the Student Non-Discrimination Act. “Preventing bullying is a non-partisan issue,” said Lazin. “Congress needs to unanimously pass the Safe Schools Improvement Act and the Student Non-Discrimination Act to make resoundingly clear that our nation demands safe schools for all children.”

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Jim Carrey speaks out againt gay bullying

While sitting down with MTV News to discuss his upcoming role in 'I Love You Phillip Morris', Jim Carrey also spoke against gay bullying. 'I Love You Phillip Morris' will be released in select cities on December 3.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

It Gets Better: Kathleen Sebelius


The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today released a video message from Secretary Kathleen Sebelius telling lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth suffering from bullying and intolerance that they are not alone, and that it will get better.

The Secretary’s message is in response to the recent news of young people taking their own lives after being victims of bullying because they were gay or believed to be gay.

As Secretary Sebelius says in her video message, “Don’t let the bullies win and don’t let them cut your future short. We need you and your talents, and whether you feel it or not, lots of people do care about you. I promise you, it gets better. Today may seem dark. But tomorrow will be brighter. And so will the day after that….And the day after that. So be strong, be safe, and know that you are loved and supported.”

Resources for adults and children about bullying and how to stop it, can be found at: www.BullyingInfo.org

Fire Clin McCance! 50K Facebookers call for resignation of anti-gay Arkansas School Board Member

The Human Rights Campaign today once again called upon Clint McCance – a Midland School Board Member from Arkansas – to resign following an anti-gay tirade he unleashed on Facebook in response to a rash of bullying-related suicides.  HRC has placed a full page ad in tomorrow’s Batesville Guard – the local newspaper in Independence County – calling on McCance to resign. The ad can be seen here:  www.hrcbackstory.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/FireMcCance_ad-BatesvilleGuard.pdf.
McCance was re-elected in September to a four year term and there is currently no recall process for elected school board members in Arkansas. 
Earlier today, HRC president Joe Solmonese also sent a letter to McCance asking him to resign for the sake of the children in his community. A letter was also sent to McCance’s colleagues on the school board asking them to join the tens of thousands of people across the country calling for McCance’s resignation.
A Facebook page calling for McCance’s resignation has swelled to nearly 50,000 “likes.” The page is at: www.facebook.com/pages/Fire-Clint-McCance/170421922968484.
Concerned citizens can weigh in by sending a message to the school board president at: http://bit.ly/cqsJND.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Guidance Targeting Harassment Outlines Local and Federal Responsibility


Yesterday, the Department of Education issued guidance to support educators in combating bullying in schools by clarifying when student 
bullying may violate federal education anti-discrimination laws. The guidance issued today also makes clear that while current laws enforced by the department 
do not protect against harassment based on religion or sexual orientation, they do include protection against harassment of members of religious groups based on 
shared ethnic characteristics as well as gender and sexual harassment of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and transgender individuals.
 
The guidance, which comes in the form of a "Dear Colleague" letter sent to schools, colleges and universities, explains educators' legal obligations to 
protect students from student-on-student racial and national origin harassment, sexual and gender-based harassment, and disability harassment. The letter 
provides examples of harassment and illustrates how a school should respond in each case.
 
The White House and Department of Education also announced next steps to 
address bullying and harassment in schools.  Early next year, the White House 
will host a conference to raise awareness and equip young people, parents, 
educators, coaches and other community leaders with tools to prevent bullying 
and harassment.  This conference will build upon efforts led by the U.S. 
Department of Education and other federal agencies to spark a dialogue on the 
ways in which communities can come together to prevent bullying and harassment.

        "We've got to dispel the myth that bullying is just a normal rite of 
passage, or an inevitable part of growing up.  It's not," said President Obama.  
"We have an obligation to ensure that our schools are safe for all of our kids. 
Every single young person deserves the opportunity to learn and grow and achieve 
their potential, without having to worry about the constant threat of 
harassment."

        "Bullying is a problem that shouldn't exist.  No one should ever feel 
harassed or unsafe in a school simply because they act or think or dress 
differently than others," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "To 
every student who feels threatened or harassed -- for whatever reason -- please 
know that you are not alone.  Please know that there are people who love you.  
And please know that we will protect you," Duncan continued.

        "Students cannot learn if they feel threatened or harassed," said 
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Russlynn Ali.  "We want to keep students 
safe and learning, and today's guidance will help us do that."

        Following the release of today's guidance, the Department plans to hold 
technical assistance workshops around the country in early 2011 to help 
educators better understand their obligations and the resources available to 
take prompt and effective steps that will end harassment and bullying in schools 
and on college campuses.
 
The guidance issued today is just one of several efforts in the Department of Education's comprehensive approach to end bullying. In 2009, the 
Department joined the Departments of Defense, Justice, Health and Human Services, Agriculture, and the Interior to form the Obama Administrations Inter-Agency Task Force on Bullying. In August of this year, the Obama 
administration hosted the first ever National Bullying Summit and launched both the Stop Bulling Now campaign and www.bullyinginfo.org, a national database of 
effective anti-bullying programs.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Department of Education issues guidance to protect gay students from bullying

The Human Rights Campaign applauds the guidance issued today by the Department of Education (DOE), which addresses how Title IX protects LGBT students from gender-based or sexual harassment. The administration’s action comes on the heels of an August letter from HRC to the Secretary of Education, outlining how DOE guidance and other federal initiatives can strengthen the fight against bullying in our nation’s schools. The same letter was also sent to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Attorney General Eric Holder.
In order to fully protect LGBT young people, HRC continues to call on the administration to go beyond today’s interpretation of existing law and come out in support of two important pieces of legislation: the Student Non-Discrimination Act and the Safe Schools Improvement Act. The Student Non-Discrimination Act would explicitly prohibit discrimination by schools against public school students on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.  The Safe Schools Improvement Act would require schools and districts receiving federal funds to adopt codes of conduct specifically prohibiting bullying and harassment, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
“Today’s guidance from the Department of Education is an unequivocal reminder that our nation’s schools are already obligated to respond to incidents of bullying on the basis of a young person’s sexual orientation or gender expression,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “Now more than ever, the President has an opportunity to put a decisive end to the unequal treatment of LGBT students and push Congress to pass landmark legislation.”
Consistent with HRC’s recommendations, the Department of Education’s letter – addressed to over 15,000 school districts, as well as institutions of higher learning that receive federal funding – stipulates that school administrators are required by Title IX to protect LGBT students from gender-based and sexual harassment, regardless of the actual or perceived gender identity or sexual orientation of the harasser or their target.
The administration’s legal guidelines arrive amidst a persistent climate of fear that prevents many LGBT young people from gaining equal access to a safe learning environment. In a 2009 survey of 7,261 middle and high school students, the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network found that nearly 9 out of 10 LGBT students experienced harassment at school in the past year and nearly two-thirds felt unsafe because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Meanwhile, only 14 states have laws prohibiting discrimination, harassment, and/or bullying against students based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Under current federal education law, sexual orientation and gender identity are not protected, as a status, from discrimination at school.
To help stop the name-calling, bullying and gender stereotyping that so many students face every day, the HRC Foundation has also developed the Welcoming Schools initiative.  This innovative program gives elementary school administrators, teachers and parents across the country the tools to prevent bias-based teasing and harassment among elementary school students.  It helps kids learn respect and tolerance early on, to prevent violence later in middle and high school.