Collectively Speaking

As stated before according to the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network a study done in 2008 found that 9 out of 10 LGBT teens have reported being bullied at school. The study also revealed that LGBT students were five times more likely to frequently skip school due to fear of bullying, and also that their overall GPAs were half a grade lower. Reverend Irene Monroe continues on to explain her concern as to when gay bullying will end in “When will the anti-gay bullying cease?”. Monroe describes this anti-gay bullying as “bullicide” and feels as though it’s become a national epidemic. I personally would have to agree with Reverend Monroe. This issue of gay bullying and just bullying in generally seems to not only be considered an epidemic but also a pandemic.

Dr. Molly O’Shea expresses the importance of programs for LGBT students in “Talk with your teens about Day of Silence Friday April 20”. She makes a point to say “Whatever one’s political or religious views’ bullying, mistreating, or harassing someone should never be acceptable”. O’Shea goes on to talk about the Day of Silence that many schools in Michigan participate in. She explains that 87% of LGBT students were verbally harassed based on their sexual orientation. The numbers related to LGBT bullying are beyond alarming. Clearly through prevention programs and days like A Day of Silence the serious issues and consequences of bullying can be understood by not just students, but also their parents, teachers, and community around them. 

LGBT students face many challenges because of their adversity and because of that an organization has been created. A very important support system that is in place for these children is the Gay, Straight, Alliance club. It is an organization designed to give support to LGBT and straight students and to created better bonds between the groups. I have already posted a blog about what it is and its history but this blog will be about what the organization does to help out the students and everyone else in the community.

            One big event that many GSA groups across the country get involved in is Gay Pride. Starting in June of 1970, Pride Walks swept the nation after the famous Stonewall incident; a riot of law enforcement and LGBT people. Since then Pride Walks have been a national showing of all LGBT people who take pride in who they are and display it for the country to see. Many GSA groups will ban together and attend these walks to empower themselves and take pride in who they are.

            Another event that can be held is known as the “Go Back to School Day” for LGBT Alumni to attend. This event can range from Alumni helping out with group activities to sharing their experiences being a LGBT student in school. These people can also have access to new and innovative programs that could help the development of a GSA group. I find this to be a crucial component of a GSA group. Having people that have gone through the same kinds of struggle come back to school and help younger students cope is an excellent way of helping LGBT youth.

            Teach the Teachers is another great event that GSA has been known to put on. It is basically a workshop type interaction between GSA members and their teachers. This gives students the opportunity to voice their concerns to teachers about how they feel in school and the classroom. This is meant for teachers to try and understand the struggles that their LGBT students go through and hopefully make a difference in their lives by making their school experience a positive one.

            Speaking out to middle schools is a great way for GSA to get involved in the community and create respect for students that are LGBT. It is no surprise that the middle school age is a time of great bullying and name calling. Many students use the word gay, fag, queer, and many other derogatory terms that can be offensive to the LGBT community and students. GSA can come in to middle schools and educate young students about what words and actions are offensive and the struggles that LGBT students can go through. By doing this, it puts things in perspective for young students and hopefully they will think twice about how they treat LGBT students.

            Awareness days are a great way for GSA groups to get the entire student body involved in what they want to accomplish. These days can be devoted entirely to educating the student body about the issues of LGBT students and people in general. A well know awareness day is the day of silence. This is a day that is set aside to raise awareness of LGBT people who are bullied or harassed and feel they need to be silent about it because they are different from everyone else.  Students are asked to remain silent in honor of those who feel can’t speak up about their problems or worries. Another event that groups do is the pink triangle day. It is where students are given a pink triangle to wear for the day to show support to LGBT people. The pink triangle symbolizes what Nazi concentration camps gave to homosexuals to identify them in the concentration camps. Awareness days can be one of the most effect ways for GSA groups to get the word out about their organization to advocate for the equality of LGBT students.

           These are only a handful of events and programs that GSA groups do in order to fight for LGBT students. GSA is an important part of support for many LGBT youth that faces challenges every day. This organization plays a vital role in many students’ lives and through all the activities and events they put on, they not only reach out to LGBT students but everyone else in schools and the community.

            The curriculum for high school education for the LGBT community is limited.  In fact high school sexual education for teen LGBT is almost nothing.  Students are not being taught about sexual intercourse for people in the LGBT community.  This means that they have to search for that information on their own when it should be provided for them by their school system.  This is a highly controversial topic, but it is one that should be addressed so that we are providing fair sexual education for all.

            Even the new standards for curriculum that the Journal of School Health has come out with are lacking in several areas.  It talks about being able to differ between sexual identity and sexual orientation, but it does not look into the fact that LGBT teens are not getting the right sexual education.  Some of the safe-sex education still pertains to them, but they are not getting an education about safe sexual intercourse for them.  They need standards that help them, not just heterosexual teens, to get accurate information.

            This is why the standards need to be revamped.  This way they can include teens from the LGBT community into the mix so that everyone is getting accurate information that will help them in the future.  It is important that we keep open minds about our sexual education so that our future generations are well prepared.

Works Cited

O'Shea, Molly. "Talk with your teens about Day of Silence Friday April 20." Detroit News Blog 14 Apr. 2012. Web. 21 Apr. 2012.

Monroe, Irene. "When will the anti-gay bullying cease?" Windy City Times 27 Oct. 2010. Web. 21 Apr. 2012.

"National Sexuality Education Standards: Core Content and Skills, K-12. A Special          Publication of the Journal of School Health. Special Report." American School Health Association (2012). Print.

 

No Author. "Gay/Alliance: A Student Guide.: Massachusetts Department of Education: Elementary and Secondary Education. July. 1995. Web. 24 March. 2012.