James L. Bennett, regional director of Lambda Legal; Lori Fox of Out and Equal; Illinois State Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-14th); and Steve Moore, legislative advocacy committee chairperson of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) addressed legal issues at the foundation's LGBT suicide-prevention symposium at Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Feinberg School of Medicine April 20..
Moore began with a presentation about the work that the AFSP does specifically in Illinois. These include programs, events, grants, services and presentations to over one million Illinoisians. Then Moore shared that the tenth leading cause of death across all age groups is by suicide and that suicide claims the lives of 6.9 percent of people before the age of 65. Moore noted that according to the National Institute of Health, out of 150 health issues funding categories suicide research and prevention is number 149 on the list.
Within the LGBT youth population Moore noted that the rate of bullying and suicidal thoughts and/or suicide attempts is significantly higher than their heterosexual counterparts. Moore explained that the factors specific to the LGBT community include minority stress which is the cultural and social prejudice—both individual (family rejection, harassment, bullying, violence, victimization and contagion) and institutional (laws and public policies that create inequities or omit LGBT people from benefits and protections afforded others)—attached to minority sexual orientation and gender identity. LGBT people, Moore noted, are five times more likely to experience cultural and social prejudice if they live in a non-LGBT accepting area of the country.
Cassidy and Bennett shared the work they are doing to advance LGBT equality on the legislative and legal fronts following Moore's presentation. Cassidy talked about her work on a bill that would expand resources and protections for LGBT students who are bullied, recognition of the Day of Silence and the comprehensive sex education that was recently passed out of the Illinois House and is awaiting a vote in the Illinois Senate. Regarding the marriage equality bill, Cassidy remarked that she has received 3,000 unique contacts about the bill and that the vote is very close.
The work that Lambda Legal does is mostly in the courts, noted Bennett. Bennett remarked that there is a dichotomy between the progress we've made and the work that still needs to be done regarding LGBT equality. "Any time a group is singled out and told that they are less equal, that they matter less, that they don't get all of the rights and responsibilities that society affords is a recipe for disaster," said Bennett.
Bennett spoke about what they do to help students who are being harassed by their teachers or administrators for participating in the Day of Silence. In most cases the school districts end up settling with the students who are being harassed, noted Bennett.
"Illinois has one of the best, if not the best, anti-discrimination laws in the country ... the entire southern half of our country has absolutely no protections for LGBT people ... over half of the country has no protections for LGBT people," said Bennett.
Then Fox shared her story. Fox noted that she worked for a large corporation that had protections for lesbian and gay individuals, however, they didn't have transgender inclusive protections. At the time, Fox explained, she wasn't out of the closet and hadn't transitioned from male to female yet. Due to the lack of protections for transgender individuals Fox left her job, transitioned and started her own consulting firm. "If we can't be ourselves then we can't live our authentic lives," said Fox.
Fox explained that Out and Equal's focus is safety in the workplace for LGBT individuals. This includes helping businesses to become more LGBT inclusive. "The reason businesses are becoming more LGBT inclusive is due to economic factors," said Fox.
During the Q&A the panel was asked about bullying protections specifically for the transgender community. Cassidy remarked that it is a part of her plan when she re-introduces the bill that expands resources and protections for LGBT students who are bullied. Bennett said that Lambda Legal is moving towards educating the public on LGBT issues and less on litigation.
Other questions included health issues as they pertain to the marriage equality bill and the reasons behind sharing personal stories through humorous storytelling.
See www.afsp.org, www.lambdalegal.org, www.outandequal.org and www.repcassidy.com for more information.
