San Francisco, CA On the heels of the White House conference on bullying, GroundSpark, the national film, education, and advocacy organization, announced its national partners for the distribution campaign for StraightlacedHow Gender's Got Us All Tied Up, the organization's award-winning documentary film about the pressures teens face today because of gender role expectations.
Partners are publicizing the value of Straightlaced as a critical tool to help improve school social climates, particularly when it comes to addressing stigma and social pressures connected to gender roles, sexuality, and sexual orientation.
"Making the film and playing the film festival circuit were just the first steps in our campaign to open up dialogue about pressures to conform to gender stereotypes," says the film's director, Debra Chasnoff. "Working with these valued national partners to reach their millions of members and supporters will help ensure that Straightlaced has a significant impact in supporting youth to flourish, free from bias and harm."
GroundSpark's partners are equally determined to expand Straightlaced's reach. "It's a must see for anyone who has a young person in their lives," says Whitney Smith, the founder and CEO of Girls For A Change, who signed on to the campaign "because this dialogue should be part of every curriculum in school."
Maureen Costello, director of Teaching Tolerance agrees. "Every high school student in America should see it."
StraightlacedHow Gender's Got Us All Tied Up has been in increasingly high demand as the national media has focused more attention on bias-related bullying and harassment. The film profiles an extremely diverse crossection of teenagers who examine the way that gender-based expectations impact their livespressures that lead to bullying, low academic performance, risky sexual behavior, drug abuse, and most seriously, suicide attempts and violence. The film is starting to be used in high schools across the country and teacher education programs to help open up much needed dialogue about gender norms and stigma based on actual or perceived sexual orientation.
Straightlaced National Partners:
Anti Defamation League
Answer
California Partnership to End Domestic Violence
COLAGE
Facing History & Ourselves
Gender Spectrum
Girls for a Change
Girls Incorporated
GLSEN: Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network
Gay-Straight Alliance Network
National Youth Advocacy Coalition
National Center for Lesbian Rights
True Colors
PFLAG: Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays
Safe Schools Coalition
Teaching Tolerance