Wyoming School Gay Victory ACLU sent out a press release Dec. 9 announcing a great GLBT win in the school system of Wyoming.
In response to a letter sent by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of two girls who were marched out of a high school homecoming dance by police, the Sublette County School District has agreed that same-sex couples will no longer be excluded from school dances.
'This is a terrific victory for the lesbian and gay students in our school,' said Amanda Blair, a senior at Big Piney High School in rural western Wyoming. 'From now on, all students, not just straight students, will be able to enjoy school dances. It's good to know that you can make a difference by standing up for what's right.'
Blair, an honor student who participates in swimming, band, basketball, track, and choir, had listed a female friend as her homecoming date when she signed up for the dance. School officials told her that same-sex dates aren't allowed at dances. Blair is heterosexual, but she and her friend decided to attend together in order to help lesbian and gay students in her district who may want to bring dates to school dances in the future. When Blair and her date arrived at the dance the next evening they were met by local police officers, who then escorted them off the premises without any explanation.
The Sublette County School District's assurances that students can bring same-sex dates comes in response to a letter the ACLU sent to district officials on behalf of Blair and her date. The letter, citing a 1980 federal case in Rhode Island, pointed out that students have a constitutional right to bring same-sex dates and demanded that the school allow them to do so.
'Amanda should be commended for her efforts to make Big Piney High School a better place for lesbian and gay students,' said Ken Choe, a staff attorney with the ACLU's Lesbian and Gay Rights Project.
GLSEN Chicago: Improving the Quality of Chicago Schools
GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) has released the 2003 School Climate Survey of 887 gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender middle and high school students across the United States.
The school climate survey found that:
— More than 4 out of 5 GLBT students said they were harassed. Of those, 39 percent reported being physically harassed, and 58 percent reported having property stolen or deliberately damaged at school.
— More than 90 percent of GLBT students reported hearing homophobic remarks, and 84 percent reported being threatened.
— GLBT students who report being verbally harassed are twice as likely to say they will not go to college.
— GLBT students who frequently experienced harassment had grade-point averages (GPAs) that were more than 10 percent lower than those who did not.
— GLBT students who did not have (or did not know of) a policy protecting them from violence and harassment were nearly 40 percent more likely to skip school because they were simply too afraid to go.
— Students in the Midwest are slightly more likely to hear homophobic remarks frequently or often.
GLSEN's National School Climate Survey is the only national survey to document the experiences of LGBT students in America's schools and has been conducted bi-annually since 1999. Key findings, the complete survey and additional information about methodology and demographics may be obtained at www.glsen.org .
Website of the Month:
www.youthresource.com
This Web site has it all. A fantastic layout and easy-to-use directory featuring every topic under the sun makes this site a breeze to use. Front-page column topics include 'community,' 'sexual health & wellness,' 'our lives,' 'links,' and 'Speak UP!'
Beneath those wonderful headings lies a multitude of great stories, stats, pix, autobiographies, etc. under such titles: young gay & bisexual men, young women, bisexual youth, transtopia and youth of color.
Scroll to the right and find listings of youth groups, communication tips for new relationships, stories, poems and help with depression.
Don't forget Advocacy! Check out info on 'No Name Calling Week March 1-5' and how you can sign a petition to support 'Sex Ed.'
Not only is this a fun site with lots of exciting topics, but there's great resources you can read about in the privacy of your own home on HIV, women's health, safer sex and how to help a friend or yourself if you harm your own body.
Midwest Student Confab
The Midwest Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, and Ally College Conference will be at Iowa State University, Feb. 13-15, 2004. Speakers include Riki Wilchins and Robyn Ochs. See www.mblgtacc.org .
Deadline for proposals is Dec. 21. Victor Raymond of Iowa State is Programming Chair, vraymond@iastate.edu .
