Harvey Milk High: First Accredited LGBT Public High School in the U.S.
The Hetrick Martin Institute and the New York City Department of Education has opened the nation's first full-fledged public high school for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students.
This school will serve as a safe place for young people who are committed to achieving educational excellence, and graduating with the high-quality public school education to which they are entitled. The school administrators expect 95% of its students to attend college.
The Harvey Milk School has operated successfully for more than two decades as a small alternative program with just two classrooms. This September, the school will open in a city-renovated building at 2 Astor Place with 100 students. More than 170 students are expected to be enrolled by 2004.
Some opponents say the school violates existing anti-discrimination laws which protect against sexual orientation bias.
Southern Schools Harassment
A new study of safety and support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ( LGBT ) youth in North Carolina, Florida, and Kentucky indicates that the vast majority of GLBT young people face harassment in their schools, and indicates that many schools are not adequately addressing this problem. Project Director in NC, Karen Bonnewell of Haven House, Inc. submitted more than 80 surveys of NC youth from Wilmington to Weaverville.
According to the Breaking the Silence survey of 111 GLBT youth, conducted by the Southeastern Network of Youth and Family Services, 78% of youth said they have been verbally harassed due to their gender identity or sexual orientation. Of those who reported such harassment, 92% reported that the incident occurred in school. Also 13% percent of the youth surveyed reported being physically assaulted because of their gender identity or sexual orientation; 75% of those assaulted said the incident occurred in school.
'I consider myself lucky to have a supportive church and supportive parents and friends,' said one East Chapel Hill High student. 'But the social and academic pressures at school are just too great.'
Yet advocates say that the harassment itself is not the only problem; they are concerned about how the schools respond to these incidents. According to the survey, 73% of students who reported verbal abuse to a teacher or school official said that no support was provided. Of those who reported physical assault to the school, 60% said no support was provided.
Dale Eramo II's experience as a student in Union County illustrates the problem: 'One time when I was reporting harassment to the principal, the response was 'Don't you think you bring it on yourself?''
One student from a rural Eastern NC high school said: 'Without a GSA ( Gay Straight Alliance ) , a Diversity Club or an open-door policy in my old high school, I was afraid to be me. Fortunately, I found in the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics an excellent environment and education for a gay student of color.'
'This study shows more than ever that schools across the state need to train teachers, administrators, counselors, school resource officers and support staff to be sensitive to students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender ( GLBT ) and to students who are perceived to be LGBT,' said Allen. 'We have to be just as concerned about kids who are perceived to be GLBT as those who actually identify. The feminine boy and masculine girl—gay or straight—face equally harsh harassment.'
ELCA Youth Stand Up For Homosexuality
The National Lutheran Youth Organization, an official youth office of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ( ELCA ) , voted overwhelmingly to welcome people of all sexual orientations as members. Delegates also adopted a resolution supporting the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of non-celibate individuals of all sexual orientations in committed relationships. The ELCA currently will not ordain non-celibate homosexuals as pastors.
The Lutheran Alliance for Full Participation and Soulforce, Inc. commend the youth office for taking this stand.
'The youth are clearly leading the way to full acceptance of GLBT persons in the life of our church,' said Jeannine Janson, Co-chair of Lutherans Concerned/North America. 'They are modeling the ELCA as it will be; the question is simply when.'
'I look forward to the day when I will be accepted fully into the ELCA for who I am, and be allowed to fully participate in the life of the church,' declared Jake Reitan, young adult coordinator for Soulforce. 'I am so glad, as a young adult, a member of the ELCA, and a volunteer for Soulforce, that we can all work together to make that day become a reality.'
See www.soulforce.org .
PFLAG Receives Major Funding from Arcus Foundation
Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays ( PFLAG ) announced that the organization has received a grant of $40,000 from the Arcus Foundation, a family foundation based in Kalamazoo, Mich., that seeks to contribute to a pluralistic society that celebrates diversity and dignity.
Thanks to this grant, PFLAG has launched its pilot project, PFLAG's School Rulers, to expand the Safe School's Assessment program by developing and refining its survey and assessment tools in collaboration with academic researchers and PFLAG parent-educators.
The project will systematically measure how well schools and school districts are protecting GLBT youth from harm and how well they address issues and topics of concern to this population by examining specific policies, practices and programs.
'PFLAG's School Rulers is perfectly aligned with our mission of investing in youth and justice,' said Arcus Foundation president and founder, Jon L. Stryker. 'We strongly believe that education and knowledge can be an antidote to intolerance and bigotry.'
LOCAL NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Hammond, Ind.,
PFLAG meeting notice:
The Hammond/NW Indiana Pflag chapter will meet at 2:30 pm, Sunday, Aug. 24 at the Woodmar Methodist church, 173rd and Southeastern in Hammond. This month after their support and discussion groups, they will hear a presentation by PFLAG parents of a gay son—on their acceptance of their son and their relationship with him.
LGBTs and their families and friends are welcome to attend and to become members. This PFLAG chapter is one of 12 in Indiana, and of some 450 nationwide.
Howard Brown's Youth Dance Party—Synergy!
Howard Brown's Youth Dance Party is called Synergy, a drug and drama free party for queer youth and friends. This dance party event takes place monthly at Ann Sather's Restaurant, 929 W. Belmont in Chicago ( right off the Belmont stop on the red line ) . Live DJ and many GLBT youth and their friends. Suggested donation of $5 to help support Synergy. For more information or to sign up on their e-mail list contact Synergy@HowardBrown.org or call 773-388-1600 x 3367.
2nd Annual
'Rainbow Roundup'
Get ready to kick it up at this year's 'Rainbow Roundup.'
This annual event raises funds for DuPage's QYC ( Question Youth Center ) and the Canticle Ministries. The event will take place Saturday, Sept. 6 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Arabian Knights Farm, 6526 Clarendon Hills Rd., Willowbrook, Ill.; $50 per person will includes BBQ dinner, cash bar, line sancing, 2-step instruction, disco inferno '70s and '80s music, silent auction, raffle, and US99 DJ Michael Murphy as your host. Don't forget to dress the part in order to win the Best Cowboy/girl Drag contest or the Dolly Parton Wig Contest. Contact Mark at Map376@aol.com for more details or to order tix. Can't make it? Help out the organizations by donating an item for the silent auction. Contact Mark for that too.
Howard Brown's Youth Services Gets Major Funding
Howard Brown Health Center's ( HBHC ) Youth Services Program has receiuved funding from the United Way in Chicago, the Polk Bros. Foundation, the Galter Foundation and the Siragusa Foundation, making it one of the largest LGBT youth service programs in the nation.
The funding will be used to dramatically expand HBHC's Youth Services Program to provide comprehensive healthcare and social services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ( LGBT ) youth.
Among the new programs that will be added to HBHC's Youth Services Program is an expansion of an existing Drop-In Center, a place where youth can socialize with their peers while receiving healthcare and social services. New services may also include mentoring and health promotion programs, support groups and other programming specific to the needs of lesbian and transgender youth.
