Anti-gay bullying suicide victim remembered

Seth Walsh, the bullied 13-yeard-old California teenager who hung himself from a tree in his family's backyard, is remembered as a gentle person who listened to Mozart in the shower, would relocate insects instead of killing them, and once apologized to flowers for picking one to lay on a family pet's grave. He came out as gay to his mother when he was 11 years old.

Rep. Barney Frank: Bullying deaths could galvanize public support for change

Some activists say the attention focused on the problem of anti-gay bullying could help teach Americans why it's important to pass legal protections for the LGBT community.

"It's when bigotry shows itself at its worst that people respond," said Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass.

Support for gay youth

In light of the recent spate of anti-gay bullying suicides it is important to know that several national organizations are dedicated to providing support, education and counseling for LGBT and questioning youth, including Campus Pride; Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays; the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network; and The Trevor Project.

Quote of the Day: Eliza Byard

"The single most important line of defense for young people in crisis is a network of visibly supportive adults, in their own community, in school, at home." - Eliza Byard, executive director of GLSEN, as quoted by The Associated Press

Cho Dependent: A conversation with Margaret Cho

Comedian, TV star, author, musician, belly dancer, Margaret Cho's been so famous for so long and for so many reasons that it's hard to believe that she's only 41-years old.

And, now appearing on the current season of the insanely popular 'Dancing with the Stars' - where she took out none other than David Hasselhoff on the first episode - whilst simultaneously crisscrossing the nation with her new Cho Dependent comedy tour, it's possible that Cho is at the pinnacle of her 20-year long entertainment career.

I was able to snatch a few minutes of her time recently to talk to her about 'Dancing with the Stars,' The Situation, Sarah and Bristol Palin, and, on a serious note, the recent spate of anti-gay bullying suicides.



Drew Wilson: How did you come to be involved with 'Dancing with the Stars' and are you going to be able to incorporate any of your belly dancing in your performances?
Margaret Cho: I was asked to do it and did some belly dance moves in my samba routine! It's hard though, because belly dance and Latin and Ballroom dancing are such different disciplines. Hopefully I will be able to incorporate more later if we stay in!


Was that you booing Sarah Palin?
There wasn't booing for her! They were booing the judges at the low scores given to Jennifer and Derek!

What was it like being up against The Hoff for elimination after the first episode? Did you think you were gonna be able to take him out?
No! He's so famous! He really is an international icon so it was amazing to have survived that! He's also a very nice man and really an elegant personality.

You're a self-proclaimed fan of 'Jersey Shore'. What's The Situation really like?
He's actually very shy, which is surprising. You'd never expect someone like that to have a shy side but he really does!

Have you had a chance to meet and discuss politics with Bristol Palin?
We haven't talked politics - just dance! She's a really nice person and very supportive and sweet.

 How in the heck are you managing to do 'Dancing' and tour the country with the Cho Dependent Tour? On a scale of 1-10, just how exhausted are you?
It's an 11. I’m completely tired physically but having a blast. I love doing both!

You're coming to Denver this Saturday with with the Cho Dependent Tour. What can Denver audiences expect from the show?
It's all new material - lots of surprises. It's my best show yet!


On a serious note, what are your thoughts on the recent spate of anti-gay bullying suicides?
It's heartbreaking. I used my storyline on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ to celebrate gay pride and reach out to the gay youth of our world. The bullying needs to end. The gay suicides need to end. We need to heal from this and teach our children to take care of each other.

Have you ever been bullied? What's the meanest thing a bully ever said or did to you? What would you say is the best way to respond to a bully?
Yes, I have been bullied. I have been told that I should kill myself - that this is a better option than being myself. It's terrible. I feel so much for all these kids going through this. The best way to respond is to love yourself and know that you are loved.

What message do you have for Denver's gay community and readers of MileHighGayGuy?
I can't wait to see you!

Margaret Cho brings her Cho Dependent Tour to Denver on Saturday, October 9 at the Paramount Theatre. Her album of the same name is now available and features comedy songs including 'The Bear Song.'

The Center: Our hearts go out to victims of anti-gay bullying

The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Colorado (The Center) is deeply troubled by the recent suicides of five gay teens nationally because of suspected bullying and harassment.

The five teens who took their own lives are: Raymond Chase, 19, a student at Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island; Tyler Clementi, 18, a Rutgers University student; Seth Walsh, 13, of Tehachapi, California; Billy Lucas, 15, of Greensburg, Indiana; and Asher Brown, 13, of Houston, Texas.

"It's tragic that these young men with so much life ahead of them took their own lives because of anti-gay bullying and harassment. Our hearts go out to their families and friends," said Center Executive Director Carlos Martinez (pictured left). "These unfortunate events serve as a reminder that all students should be treated with dignity and respect, and that we need to ensure that anti-bullying policies in schools and universities are followed and enforced."

Unfortunately, suicide among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth is nothing new. LGBTQ youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers, according to the Massachusetts 2006 Youth Risk Survey. And for every completed suicide by a young person, it is estimated that 100 to 200 attempts are made, according to the 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey.

In Colorado, 70 percent of more than 300 LGBTQ youth surveyed by The Center in 2010 reported being called names and not feeling safe at their school. Nearly 40 percent reported that they have contemplated suicide.

The good news is that there are many organizations locally providing services and resources for LGBT youth. The Center's Rainbow Alley -- a drop-in center for LGBT and questioning youth ages 12-21, their families and allies -- experienced an average of 600 visits a month in 2009.

Rainbow Alley provides health services, counseling and referral, youth-led events and activities, and life resources in a safe and supportive space.

Also, Rainbow Alley each year hosts Queer Prom so LGBTQ youth have a safe space to celebrate the popular rite of spring. The Alley also hosts Gaybutante -- modeled after the debutante tradition -- where LGBTQ gaybutantes share their inspiring coming-out stories in front of a group of caring and supportive adults. This year's Gaybutante celebration is Saturday, Oct. 9, at 6 p.m. at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel.

In addition, Rainbow Alley staff work closely with high schools' Gay-Straight Alliance organizations and various community service organizations to prevent anti-gay bullying in schools.

Other resources available to Colorado LGBTQ youth include the Colorado Anti-Violence Program, LGBT centers and alliances in Boulder, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Pueblo and Grand Junction, the Colorado chapter of The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, the Gender Identity Center of Colorado, OASOS (Open & Affirming Sexual Orientation & gender identity Support) in Boulder; LGBT student centers on college campuses and many others.

Coco Peru's thoughts on anti-gay bullying

The fabulous Coco Peru addresses the recent spate of anti-gay bullying suicides on her blog saying that, "one of the reasons I wanted to create Coco was so that I could celebrate the very things I was taught to hate about myself so that future generations of gay kids wouldn’t have to go through what I went through."

Read the full post here.

A message from Judy Shepard: We must all protect gay youth from suicide

The following is a message from Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard and President of the Matthew Shepard Foundation Board of Directors:

Our family, and the staff and board at the Matthew Shepard Foundation, are all deeply saddened by the devastating report of at least the fourth gay or gay-perceived teen to commit suicide in this country in the last month.

Reports say that Tyler Clementi, 18, leapt to his death from the George Washington Bridge near his New Jersey college campus after a roommate allegedly broadcast him in a same-sex encounter behind closed doors in his dorm room, and apparently invited others, via Twitter, to view it online. Regardless of his roommate’s alleged tweet, Tyler had apparently made no statement about his own sexual orientation. I’m sure we will all learn more about this terrible tragedy as legal proceedings unfold, but the contempt and disregard behind such an invasion of privacy seems clear. In the meantime, we send our thoughts and prayers to Tyler’s family as they mourn their loss.

In the last month there has been a shocking series of teen suicides linked to bullying, taunting, and general disrespect regarding sexual orientation, in every corner of America. Just a few days ago, Seth Walsh, a 13-year-old in Tehachapi, Calif., passed away after 10 days on life support after he hanged himself. Police say he had been mercilessly taunted by fellow students over his perceived sexual orientation.

Billy Lucas, 15, hanged himself a few weeks ago at his Indiana home after years of reported harassment by students who judged him to be gay. Asher Brown, a 13-year-old in Harris, TX, who had recently come out, took his life with a gun after, his parents say, their efforts to alert school officials to ongoing bullying were not acted upon.

Many Americans also learned this week about Tyler Wilson, an 11-year-old boy in Ohio who decided to join a cheerleading squad that had been all-female. As a gymnast, he was interested in the athletic elements of cheering. He was taunted with homophobic remarks and had his arm broken by two schoolmates who apparently assumed him to be gay. He told “Good Morning America” that since returning to school, he’s been threatened with having his other arm broken, too.

Our young people deserve better than to go to schools where they are treated this way. We have to make schools a safe place for our youth to prepare for their futures, not be confronted with threats, intimidation or routine disrespect.

Quite simply, we are calling one more time for all Americans to stand up and speak out against taunting, invasion of privacy, violence and discrimination against these youth by their peers, and asking everyone in a position of authority in their schools and communities to step forward and provide safe spaces and support services for LGBT youth or those who are simply targeted for discrimination because others assume they are gay. There can never be enough love and acceptance for these young people as they seek to live openly as their true selves and find their role in society.

Suicide is a complicated problem and it is too easy to casually blame it on a single factor in a young person’s life, but it is clear that mistreatment by others has a tremendously negative effect on a young person’s sense of self worth and colors how he or she sees the world around them. Parents, educators and peers in the community need to be vigilant to the warning signs of suicide and other self-destructive behaviors in the young people in their lives, and help them find resources to be healthy and productive. We urge any LGBT youth contemplating suicide to immediately reach out to The Trevor Project, day or night, at (866) 4-U-TREVOR [866-488-7386].

Ellen speaks out about recent spate of anti-gay bullying deaths

Equality Forum calls for murder charges in Tyler Clementi case

Equality Forum, a national and international gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) civil rights organization with an educational focus, calls on Middlesex County, New Jersey Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan to file murder charges for reckless manslaughter against Dharun Ravi and Molly Wei for causing the death of Rutgers University freshman Tyler Clementi.

Prosecutor Kaplan has filed charges against Ravi and Wei under New Jersey’s invasion-of-privacy laws and under the transmission and distribution of nudity and sexual contact laws, which are lesser criminal charges.

“The willful and premeditated conduct of Ravi and Wei in planting a web camera and in distributing over the internet sexual intimacy is shocking, malicious and heinous,” stated Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director, Equality Forum. “Equality Forum calls on the prosecutor to file murder by reckless manslaughter charges.”

Lazin is a former Assistant U.S. Attorney, former Chairman of the Pennsylvania Crime Commission and former law partner in a Philadelphia law firm. Lazin is the Executive Producer of JIM IN BOLD (www.jiminbold.com), one of the leading films on the impact of homophobia on GLBT and questioning youth.

Rutgers University freshman Tyler Clementi took his life on September 22nd by jumping off the George Washington Bridge after Rutgers collegians Dharun Ravi and Molly Wei secretly set up a webcam in his dorm room and recorded Clementi, 18, engaged in sexual intimacy with another male.

Ravi and Wei broadcast on the internet the sexual encounter without Clementi’s knowledge. When Clementi, an outstanding violinist, learned that the sexual encounter had been posted online, he took his life. Clementi’s body was recovered from the river on September 30th.

According to New Jersey’s criminal statutes, a person is guilty of reckless manslaughter if he/she recklessly causes the death of another person. To find a defendant guilty, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant(s) caused the victim’s death and that the defendant(s) did so recklessly.

Over the past year, there have been highly publicized cases where a teen took his or her life after their alleged sexual orientation or sexual conduct had been publicly disclosed. “Ravi and Wei had to know that outing a reclusive 18-year-old on the web would be emotionally explosive,” said Lazin. “As a society we should not tolerate - whether straight or gay - this invasion of the most basic privacy and its malicious exploitation on the internet.”

“It is of national importance that the prosecutor should file the most severe charges that the law allows. Equality Forum also calls on the New Jersey legislature and Governor Christie to enact criminal legislation with severe penalties for this type of exploitative and malicious use of the internet,” stated Lazin.

Anti-bullying summit held in Washington

The U.S. Department of Education last week participated in a two-day meeting in Washington D.C. designed to combat bullying in schools.

"We hope this summit will help us get ahead of the game by focusing on prevention and doing everything we can to bring this plague to an end," said Kevin Jennings (pictured), assistant deputy secretary of Education. Jennings, who is openly gay, founded the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network.

Research shows gays, lesbians are much more likely to be bullied

People who identify as gay or bisexual, as well as straight people who have had a same-sex partner, are one to two times more apt to be the victims of childhood violence and are twice as likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, a study from the Harvard School of Public Health and Children's Hospital in Boston found.

More than four in 10 women who are sexual minorities and more than one in four men who are sexual minorities had been victims of violence or abuse as children, compared with about one in five straight women and men, according to a study of more than 34,000 adults.

In the Life: Bullycides

This month 'In The Life' looks at the growing phenomenon of bullycides, a term recently coined to address the national health crisis of young people taking their own lives as the result of bullying.

Visit InTheLifeTV.org to find out when the show airs locally or to watch the latest episode online.

Check out the trailer for this powerful episode below:

ACLU sues school district for failing to protect gay youth

The New York Civil Liberties Union has filed a federal lawsuit against the Mohawk Central School Districtin Herkimer County for failing to protect a gay student who does not conform to masculine stereotypes from vicious and relentless harassment, physical abuse and threats of violence.

Over the past two school years, Jacob (pictured), a 14-year-old student at Gregory B. Jarvis Junior/Senior High School, endured escalating harassment for his sexual orientation and for not conforming to masculine stereotypes. He suffered near-constant verbal assault, his personal property has been defaced and broken, and he was regularly pushed and had things thrown at him. This past year, a student knocked Jacob down the stairs and sprained his ankle and a student brought a knife to school and threatened to kill him.

The harassment harmed Jacob’s academic performance and mental health and though the district was repeatedly made aware of the abuse, district officials – including the superintendent and school principal – failed to formerly investigate the harassment, discipline students, or even inform Jacob and his parents of their rights to file complaints under the school’s grievance procedures.

More after the jump.


“Jacob, like all students, has a right to be safe at school,” NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman said. “No child should live in fear because of their sexual orientation, or because they look or act differently than others. That the principal and other school officials would turn their backs on this vulnerable young man is unconscionable. What’s more, it’s illegal.”

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York. It maintains that the school district violated Jacob’s rights under the 14th Amendment; Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, and state human rights and civil rights laws. It names following defendants: Mohawk Central School District; Joyce Caputo, superintendent of schools; Edward Rinaldo, the school’s principal; and Cynthia Stocker, the district’s equal opportunity compliance officer.

“People always make fun of what they don’t understand, but the school has a responsibility to protect people,” said Jacob, a singer and songwriter who loves the pop singer Pink and dreams of going on American Idol. “I shouldn’t have to fear for my safety at school. No one should.”

Beginning in the seventh grade and continuing through Jacob’s eighth grade year, numerous students relentlessly harassed Jacob because he is gay, dyes his hair, wears eye makeup and speaks in a high-pitched voice. He endured a range of slurs, such as faggot, queer and homo, on a daily basis, occasionally with teachers present. Indeed at least one teacher contributed to this climate of harassment by telling Jacob he should be ashamed of himself for being gay.

Aside from the continuous verbal assault, Jacob has also experienced physical intimidation and violence at school. Students have thrown food at him in the cafeteria; pushed him down the stairs; knocked books from his hands; destroyed or defaced his belongings, including his clothing, cell phone and iPod; and threatened to beat, stab and kill him. When the student who brought a knife to school threatened to kill him, he said he would string Jacob’s “ass up from the flagpole.”

During last school year, Jacob’s father called Principal Rinaldo frequently regarding these incidents and threats. Additionally, Jacob’s mother and stepmother spoke to Rinaldo several times over the phone and in person. Each time, Rinaldo promised to look into the harassment allegations, but he never reported to Jacob’s parents on any steps taken to investigate incidents, the outcome of any such investigations, and any subsequent corrective or disciplinary actions.

“We didn’t want to file this lawsuit, but we had no other choice to keep our son safe,” said Robert Sullivan, Jacob’s father. “But this lawsuit goes beyond Jacob. We’re doing this for all of the kids out there who need help.”

“School district officials have been deliberately indifferent to Jacob’s harassment,” said NYCLU staff attorney Corey Stoughton, lead counsel on the case. “By behaving as though they were powerless to stop the threats and abuse, they not only discriminated against our client, but also violated their own policies and practices for preventing harassment and discrimination.”

School officials violated the district’s anti-harassment policy in several ways. For example, the policy requires the school’s equal opportunity compliance officer to interview all relevant persons involved in a harassment complaint. Yet, Stocker, the compliance officer, interviewed neither Jacob nor his father about the incidents they reported, nor did she file reports on each incident as required by the policy. Likewise neither Stocker nor Rinaldo ever reported the harassment complaints to the proper authorities, in violation of the policy.

At a June 9, 2009 meeting, Rinaldo told Sullivan that he could not guarantee Jacob’s safety at school and stated that the harassment would likely continue in the upcoming school year. Rinaldo and Sullivan agreed that for Jacob’s safety, the young man would not attend school for the remainder of the year except to take his final exams.

The plaintiff is seeking changes to school policies and practices to address the harassment Jacob faces, as well as compensatory and punitive damages.

In addition to Stoughton, attorneys on the case are Christopher Dunn, Galen Sherwin, Ami Sanghvi, Matthew Faiella and Naomi R. Shatz.




Teachers guilty of gay bullying keep jobs

This editorial in the Star Tribune questions why two Minnesota teachers, accused of harassing high-school student Alex Merritt (pictured) in the classroom because they perceived him to be gay, have not been been fired by the school district. The student's family received a $25,000 settlement in the case, but school officials did not acknowledge any wrongdoing, according to this article.

Interesting.

Sounds a lot like some of my experiences with school officials in Colorado - both as a student myself and as the uncle of a bullied kid.

There is still a lot of work we need to be doing in the schools.

Fighting bullying in schools

The U.S. House Education and Labor Subcommittees on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education and Healthy Families and Communities recently held a hearing on the importance of improving school safety. The joint hearing was titled “Strengthening School Safety Through the Prevention of Bullying” and examined ways to prevent violence and harassment in young students.

“Schools should be supportive and nurturing places where all students can learn and grow. But for too many LGBT youth, they are places filled with name-calling, ostracism, and violence,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese, in written testimony submitted in the record. “School officials must have the tools, as well as the responsibility, to prevent future tragedies, protect LGBT students and maintain safe places for all of our nation’s youth. The Safe Schools Improvement Act would provide public school administrators with that critical guidance and protect all students against bullying and harassment.”

Find out more after the jump.


Sirdeanear Walker, mother of Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, was a featured witness at the hearing. Last April, 11-year-old Walker-Hoover of Springfield, Mass., hanged himself after a period of prolonged school bullying, which included anti-gay taunts. Walker-Hoover’s mother said she reported the bullying to school leaders multiple times, but was met with inadequate responses.

“In 2009 alone, there were numerous tragic news accounts of young people taking their own lives because of the amount of shame, fear, anxiety, and stress that bullying imposes,” said U.S. Representative Linda Sánchez (D-CA). “The Safe Schools Improvement Act is a critical piece of legislation that will help schools become the safe places they need to be for student to learn and grow. It is time we combat the outdated belief that bullying is a harmless rite of passage which downplays the seriousness of bullying. Bullying interferes with student's academic performance and school attendance and is often a major factor in students' decisions to drop out of school or to join gangs for protection.”

“Schools must be safe places for all students, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity, so that they can learn without fear of being bullied or attacked,” said U.S. Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY). “I am grateful for the witnesses who came today to testify about school safety, and I was especially pleased that Ms. Sirdeaner Walker could join us. She told the heartbreaking story of her 11 year old son Carl who committed suicide after being the victim of anti-gay harassment. I pledge to work with my fellow members of Congress to decrease incidents of bullying, harassment, and violence in our schools. We must start by finding better means of collecting and analyzing data so we can learn more about the problem and find ways to fix it once and for all.”

Working to train educators on how to appropriately address LGBT issues, the Human Rights Campaign is in the second year of a three-year pilot of Welcoming Schools. The ‘Welcoming Schools’ guide is designed for use in elementary schools, and gives educators the tools to improving the school climate. It offers specific guidance on addressing anti-gay and gender-based name-calling, as well as ways to create an inclusive approach to family diversity. For more information, visit www.hrc.org/welcomingschools.




ACLU takes on anti-gay bullies (and teachers) and wins

The American Civil Liberties Union announced yesterday that it has reached a settlement agreement with the Vallejo City Unified School District on behalf of a high school student who faced anti-gay harassment and discrimination from teachers and school staff and was required to participate in a school-sponsored “counseling” group designed to discourage students from being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. The settlement is designed to combat harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity at all the district’s schools, and includes district-wide anti-harassment training for students and staff.

“All I ever wanted was to be able to go to school and just be myself. But I couldn’t do that when the people I was supposed to be learning from were judging me and telling me something was wrong with me. How was I supposed to learn when I was constantly scared?” said Hamilton, a high school student who came out as a lesbian when she was 13.


Read more after the jump.
For Rochelle Hamilton, starting high school was the beginning of relentless verbal harassment and discrimination from teachers and staff based on her sexual orientation and gender expression. Hamilton began attending Vallejo’s Jesse Bethel High School as a sophomore in the fall of 2007. The verbal attacks started almost immediately, and continued for months.

Hamilton became severely depressed and her grades plummeted. Worried for her daughter, Hamilton’s mother, Cheri Hamilton, repeatedly wrote letters, made phone calls, and met in person with school and district officials for several months. After three months of outreach to the school and the district, Cheri Hamilton contacted the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California for help. The ACLU intervened to resolve the matter with the school district.

Hamilton reports that while some of the harassment she suffered came from other students, most of the time it came from school teachers and staff. Specific incidents included:

· A teacher approached Hamilton while she was hugging her girlfriend and said, “This is ungodly, and you’re going to hell. This is a sin.”

· Another teacher said, “What’s wrong with you? What are you, a man or a woman?”

· Other school staff made repeated harassing comments to Hamilton in front of her classmates, including saying, “it’s not right to be this way.”

· Hamilton was also on several occasions denied access to the girls’ locker room.

“California school districts are required by state law to protect students from harassment and discrimination, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity,” said Elizabeth Gill, an ACLU-NC staff attorney who worked with the district on the settlement. “If a school district ignores anti-gay bias in schools, it is plainly violating both state and federal law. These laws are designed, in part, to ensure that all students are able to learn and thrive free from bias. When it’s left unchecked, harassment can take a serious toll on students.”

One of the most egregious incidents in this case involved a school counselor who required Hamilton to attend a special weekly support group for gay students. The real purpose of the group was quickly revealed, however, when the counselor berated students for “choosing” to be gay and tried to convince them to change their sexual orientation or gender expression. The counselor told the students that it is “hard to get a job if you’re gay.” When Hamilton’s mother went to school officials about the “counseling” group, the counselor confronted Hamilton the next week, telling her, “You’re going to get this treatment your whole life. What are you going to do, stand up every time?”

“The district-wide anti-harassment training will make Vallejo schools a more welcoming place to learn for all students,” said Jory Steele, ACLU-NC’s managing attorney. “District administrators made the right move in taking important steps to protect its students from bias.”

Hamilton transferred out of Jesse Bethel High School midway through her sophomore year to escape the daily harassment. She is now completing her junior year at another high school in the district.

Pursuant to the five-year agreement reached with the ACLU, the district will adopt a clear policy explicitly prohibiting discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation or gender identity, as required by California law; develop a specific procedure for harassment and discrimination complaints; provide mandatory training for all teachers and other staff who interact with students in how to identify anti-gay harassment and discrimination, why it’s harmful, and how to prevent it; and provide mandatory anti-harassment training to all students in the district, as well as taking other steps to make the district a more welcoming environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students.



Challenge Day comes to Starz FilmCenter

Teen Files 15 Minute Preview from Rodrigo Torres on Vimeo.

Challenge Denver brings out the red carpet at the Starz FilmCenter on May 12th, from 11:00am - 2pm, for the Student Film Festival, a one day event bringing awareness to Challenge Day; an anti-bullying program that has been brought to nearly 3000 students in 7 Denver Public Schools. The Festival will screen seven films by students sharing their own words on the impact of Challenge Day. Reina Guiterrez, principal of Hamilton Middle School said, "Challenge Day is heartfelt. It is engaging and reflective. Challenge Day should be required."

This academic year, 20 Challenge Days were held in 7 DPS schools - Denver School of the Arts, Manual, and South High Schools as well as, Kepner, Hamilton, Rishel, and Grant Beacon middle schools. Each school was given the opportunity, skills and equipment to create a short (5-7 minutes) film that expressed their own Challenge Day experience.

"We see miracles every Challenge Day - so we thought what better way to share this and end oppression in our schools than giving the young people, so impacted, a voice and means of expression through film?" stated Betsy Leighton, Executive Director, Challenge Denver.

Participating in the film festival are Challenge Day founder Rich Dutra-St John, Academy Award winner Donna Dewey, Mayor John Hickenlooper, Denver Scholarship Foundation, Denver Film Society, and over 200+ DPS students in celebrating the work of Challenge Day in opening hearts, transforming lives, and creating safe schools where every child can feel respected and loved.

"The work of Challenge Denver has been an extraordinary model that we hope can be followed nationwide," said Founder of the nationally recognized Challenge Day, Rich Dutra-St John.

HRC applauds Safe Schools Improvement Act

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, applauded the reintroduction of the Safe Schools Improvement Act in the U.S. House of Representatives today by Representatives Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY). The Safe Schools Improvement Act (SSIA) would amend the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (part of the No Child Left Behind Act) to 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. The Act would also require that states report data on bullying and harassment to the Department of Education. 


“Tragically, last month alone, two eleven-year-old boys, Carl Joseph Walker Hoover and Jaheem Herrera, took their own lives after suffering bullying by classmates who perceived them to be gay. Their deaths remind us of the true costs of anti-LGBT school bullying and harassment to our families and communities,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “We place our children in grave danger when we fail to adequately help school administrators and teachers create safe learning environments for all students, including those who are, or are perceived to be, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. We stand with the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network in calling upon Congress to quickly pass the Safe Schools Improvement Act.”

More after the jump.


Bullying and harassment of students who are, or are perceived to be, LGBT is widespread. While current federal law provides important support to promote school safety, it does not comprehensively and expressly focus on issues of bullying or harassment, and in no way addresses the challenges faced by LGBT youth in our nation’s schools.

In the 2007 National School Climate Survey conducted by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), nearly three-fifths of students reported feeling unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation, and more than a third felt unsafe because of their gender expression. In addition, 44% of LGBT students surveyed reported experiencing physical harassment and 22.1% reported being physically assaulted at school in the last year.

Numerous education, health, law enforcement and youth development organizations support federal legislation to combat bullying and harassment, including the American Association of School Administrators, American Federation of Teachers, American School Health Association, National Association of School Psychologists, National Education Association and National Parent Teacher Association.

In the 110th Congress, SSIA was introduced by Representative Linda Sanchez (D-CA) and had 80 co-sponsors in the House.



Breaking the silence on anti-GLBT bullying in schools

Debra Chasnoff, Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker, executive director at GroundSpark and co-creator of The Respect For All Project, breaks the silence on GLBT bullying.