PFLAG Community News Archive

Forum to Address Bullying - March 31

Posted: Sunday, February 20, 2005

Contact:
Brad Clark
Director, GLBT Youth in Iowa Schools Task Force
515-243-1221
brad.clark@iowasafeschools.org

FORUM TO ADDRESS BULLYING FACED BY GAY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN IOWA

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA — The harassment and bullying of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) students will be the subject of a free public forum hosted by the GLBT Youth in Iowa Schools Task Force. The “Making Our Schools Safe for GLBT Students” forum will take place on Thursday, March 31, from 7:00 – 8:30 PM at Kirn Junior High School (Auditorium), 100 North Avenue, Council Bluffs. The forum is one of many taking place across the state, focusing on making schools safer for GLBT students

The subject of the forum is timely as legislation to protect all students from harassment and bullying in schools died in the Iowa Legislature this month. Such a move comes after Governor Vilsack and the Iowa Department of Education released a model policy on bullying and harassment last fall, which includes “sexual orientation” as a protected class. In a letter addressed to education leaders, citing the “rising tide” of bullying and harassment in Iowa schools, the Governor introduced the new policy along with other anti-harassment/anti-bullying efforts being undertaken by the Iowa Department of Education. In addition, School Administrators of Iowa has passed a resolution to encourage local school districts to add “sexual orientation” to their non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies and the Iowa State Education Association has endorsed a “Statement on Bullying, Harassment, and Discrimination” that includes both “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.”

These developments come over a year after the GLBT Youth in Iowa Schools Task Force released a report to the Governor’s Office, the Iowa Legislature, and other education policy makers, addressing the need to end the harassment against GLBT students. Some findings of the Task Force include:
• Seventy-percent of GLBT students report feeling unsafe in schools because of their orientation.
• GLBT students hear words like “faggot” or “dyke” or “that’s so gay” 26 times a day at school.
• Seven out of ten anti-gay harassment incidents are directed against heterosexual students who are perceived to be GLBT.

Forum panelists will discuss the experiences of GLBT students and address many issues in creating safer schools and communities for these students, including legal, psychological, and religious issues. Panelists include: Linda Nelson, President, Iowa State Education Association; Marti Nerenstone, Attorney at Law, Council Bluffs; Amber Johnson, Student, Lewis Central High School; Dr. Russell Palmer, Professor Emeritus of Religion, University of Nebraska- Omaha; and Michael Hall, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Iowa Western Community College.

Panelists will underscore the 2003 National School Climate Survey on the safety for GLBT students in schools, which was released by the Gay-Lesbian-Straight Education Network (GLSEN). This bi-annual study found a direct relationship between harassment and bullying, reduced grade-point averages (GPAs), and the diminished college aspirations of LGBT students. Key findings of the 2003 National School Climate Survey include:
• Unchecked harassment correlates with poor performance and diminished aspirations: LGBT youth who report significant verbal harassment are twice as likely to report they do not intend to go to college and their GPAs are significantly lower (2.9 vs. 3.3).
• Policymakers have an opportunity to improve school climates: LGBT students who did not have (or did not know of) a policy protecting them from violence and harassment were nearly 40% more likely to skip school because they were simply too afraid to go.
• Harassment continues at unacceptable levels and is too often ignored: 84% of LGBT students report being verbally harassed because of their sexual orientation. 82.9% of students report that faculty never or rarely intervene when present.

The panel will be moderated by Brad Clark, Project Director, GLBT Youth in Iowa Schools Task Force, which is a statewide coalition of educators, civil rights and GLBT advocates in partnership with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission. And, Commissioner Connie Gronstal of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission will offer a brief welcome.

Following the panel discussion, presenters will take questions from the audience. In addition, a resource packet will be available to the audience that includes resources for educators, parents, religious leaders, civil rights community and the general public on creating safer schools and environments for GLBT students. The forum is free and open to the public.

The forum is being hosted by the GLBT Youth in Iowa Schools Task Force with funding from Humanities Iowa.

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Support the Pride Prom

Posted: Sunday, February 20, 2005

The Omaha PFLAG board has voted to donate $250 from our organization’s treasury toward meeting costs of the planned Pride Prom.

The citywide Pride Prom, a first in Omaha, will be from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on May 21 in Cary Hall at First United Methodist Church, 7020 Cass St.

The prom will seek to attract gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students who might not be welcome at their high school’s prom. It is being planned by a committee made up of leaders and members of Proud Horizons, the PFLAG-sponsored youth group, and of the GLSEN-sponsored Gay Straight Alliances in Omaha high schools.

If you would like to make a donation, make the check out to Proud Horizons and mail it to: Dave England, 2912 Lynnwood Dr., Bellevue, NE 68123. The prom costs are estimated at $2,000.

If you have any questions, call Barbara Johnson, 330-3324.