This article needs additional citations for verification .(November 2015) |
Founded | 1990 |
---|---|
Founder | Kevin Jennings |
Type | LGBT Youth Awareness Campaign & Education Lobbying Institution |
Location | |
Area served | United States |
Executive Director | Melanie Willingham-Jaggers |
Website | www |
Formerly called | Gay and Lesbian Independent School Teachers Network |
GLSEN (pronounced glisten; formerly the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network) is an American education organization working to end discrimination, harassment, and bullying based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression and to prompt LGBT cultural inclusion and awareness in K-12 schools. Founded in 1990 in Boston, Massachusetts, the organization is now headquartered in New York City and has an office of public policy based in Washington, D.C.
As of 2018, [update] there are 39 GLSEN chapters across 26 states that train 5,000 students, educators, and school personnel each year. [1] [ better source needed ] The chapters also support more than 4,000 registered school-based clubs—commonly known as gay–straight alliances (GSAs)--which work to address name-calling, bullying, and harassment in their schools. GLSEN also sponsors and participates in a host of annual "Days of Action", including a No Name-Calling Week every January, a Day of Silence every April, and an Ally Week every September. Guided by research such as its National School Climate Survey, GLSEN has developed resources, lesson plans, classroom materials, and professional development programs for teachers on how to support LGBTQ students. [2] [ better source needed ]
Research shows that in response to bullying and mistreatment, many LGBTQ students avoid school altogether; this can lead to academic failure. [3] To combat this problem, GLSEN has advocated for LGBTQ-inclusive anti-bullying laws and policies. GLSEN has also worked with the U.S. Departments of Education, Justice, and Health and Human Services to create model policies that support LGBTQ students and educators. GLSEN has considered their signature legislation to be the Safe Schools Improvement Act and has been honored by the White House as a "Champion of Change".
GLSEN's Day of Silence is a national day of action that began at the University of Virginia in 1996 in which students vow to take a form of silence to call attention to the silencing effect of anti-LGBTQ bullying and harassment in schools. [5] GLSEN's Day of Silence takes place in 8,000 U.S. schools every year and has spread to more than 60 countries.
Every January, thousands of elementary and middle schools participate in GLSEN's No Name-Calling Week to end bullying. No Name-Calling Week was inspired by the popular young adult novel entitled The Misfits by popular author James Howe, and is supported by over 60 national partner organizations. [10]
Every fall, GLSEN's Ally Week serves to educate allies about the role they play in creating safer spaces for LGBTQ youth. Ally Week was started in 2005 by GLSEN's Jump-Start National Student Leadership team. [21] Ally Week is supported by over 20 endorsers.
On October 8, 2008, GLSEN and Ad Council released the Think Before You Speak campaign, designed to end homophobic vocabulary and raise awareness about the prevalence and consequences of anti-LGBTQ bias and behavior in America's schools among youth, through the use of television, radio, print, and outdoor ads. [22] [23] The campaign also aimed to raise awareness among adults, school personnel, and parents. It includes three television public service announcements (PSAs), six print PSAs and three radio PSAs. Television commercials for the campaign include singer Hilary Duff as well as comedian Wanda Sykes. In 2008 the campaign won the Ad Council's Gold Bell award for "Best Public Service Advertising Campaign".
GLSEN has been conducting research and evaluation on LGBTQ issues in K-12 education since 1999. GLSEN became the only organization to regularly document the school experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) middle and high school students in the U.S. using GLSEN's National School Climate Survey. Other research reports GLSEN has put out include From Statehouse to Schoolhouse: Anti-Bullying Policies in U.S. States and School Districts, Shared Differences: The Experiences of LGBTQ Students of Color in Our Nation's Schools, Harsh Realities: The Experiences of Transgender Youth in Our Nation's Schools, as well as many other reports, articles, and book chapters. [24]
The GLSEN National Student Council, formerly known as the Student Ambassadors program, is one of GLSEN's student leadership teams. [25] Each year, GLSEN selects a small group of middle and high school students to serve as GLSEN youth representatives for the upcoming school year. Students of the National Student Council advise GLSEN on campaigns, bring GLSEN resources to their schools, represent GLSEN in the media, and have their own work published in local and national outlets.
GLSEN Chapters, with the support and guidance of the national office, work to bring GLSEN programs to their specific communities on a local level. Chapter board members and volunteers are students, educators, parents and community members who volunteer their time to support students and Gay-Straight Alliances, train educators and provide opportunities for everyone to make change in their local schools. GLSEN has 38 volunteer-led GLSEN Chapters in 26 states that work with student leaders, provide professional development for educators, and encourage policymakers to enact LGBTQ-inclusive policies. [1]
GLSEN organizes the annual GLSEN Respect Awards to honor leaders, personalities, and organizations who have made significant contributions to LGBTQ youth. Awards are given to organizations, celebrities, students, educators and gay–straight alliances. Since 2004, there have been over four dozen honorees and over $15 million raised in all. [26] [27] The first Respect Awards were in New York in 2004 and honored Andrew Tobias, author and Treasurer of the Democratic National Committee; MTV; and student Marina Gatto. Since then, the Respect Awards are held annually in New York in late May and in Los Angeles in late October. Since 2004, there have been over four-dozen honorees and over $17 million raised.
Year | New York awards | Los Angeles awards |
---|---|---|
2018 | Rosario Dawson | Ellen Pompeo, Inspiration Award |
Hollister, California | Yara Shahidi, Gamechanger Award | |
David Henry Jacobs | Max Mutchnick & David Kohan, Champion Award | |
Stephanie Byers Archived May 16, 2018, at the Wayback Machine | Twentieth Century Fox Films, Visionary Award | |
E.O. Green Junior High School | Ruby Noboa, Student Advocate of the Year | |
2017 | Ryan Pedlow | Kerry Washington, Inspiration Award |
Ann Clark | Bruce Bozzi, Champion Award | |
First Data | Zendaya, Gamechanger Award | |
Roland Park, GSA of the Year | DC Entertainment, Visionary Award | |
Carla Gugino | Ose Arheghan, Student Advocate of the Year | |
2016 | George Stephanopoulos & Alexandra Wentworth | Kate Hudson, Inspiration Award |
Ilene Chaiken | Connor Franta, Gamechanger Award | |
Optimedia | Target, Champion Award | |
Amber Schweitzer | Jess Cagle, Visionary Award | |
Academy for Young Writers, GSA of the Year | Edward Estrada, Student Advocate of the Year | |
2015 | Johnson & Johnson | YouTube |
Matthew Morrison | Justin Timberlake & Jessica Biel | |
Jon Stryker | Zachary Quinto | |
Desiree Raught, Educator of the Year | Mars Hallman, Student Advocate of the Year | |
Nixa High School GSA, GSA of the Year | ||
2014 | AT&T | Danny Moder & Julia Roberts |
Janet Mock | Bob Greenblatt | |
Laura Taylor, Educator of the Year | Derek Hough | |
The Park City High School GSA, GSA of the Year | Cliff Tang, Student Advocate of the Year | |
2013 | Jason Collins | Lionsgate |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | Todd Spiewak & Jim Parsons | |
LZ Granderson | Linda Bloodwort-Thomason | |
Farrington High School, GSA of the Year | Laila Al-Shamma, Student Advocate of the Year | |
Matthew Beck, Educator of the Year | ||
USA Network's Characters Unite campaign | ||
2012 | NBA | Marilyn & Jeffrey Katzenberg |
Marguerite Kondracke | Simon Halls & Matt Bomer | |
Janet Sammons, Educator of the Year | Bob and Harvey Weinstein | |
Allies 4 Equality, GSA of the Year | Luis Veloz, Student Advocate of the Year | |
2011 | Barclays Capital | Wells Fargo |
Susie Scher & Allison Grover | Chaz Bono | |
Chely Wright | Michele & Rob Reiner | |
Rich Espey, Educator of the Year | Rick Welts | |
Emmett Patterson, Student Advocate of the Year | ||
2010 | American Express | Modern Family |
Pfizer | Out & Equal Workplace Advocates | |
David Dechman & Michael Mercure | Dan Renberg and Eugene Kapaloski | |
Cyndi Lauper | Ferial Pearson, Educator of the Year | |
Danielle Smith, Student Advocate of the Year | ||
2009 | KPMG | HBO |
PepsiCo | David C. Bohnett | |
Mary Jane Karger, Educator of the Year | Shonda Rhimes | |
Austin Laufersweiler, Student Advocate of the Year | ||
2008 | DiversityInc | Lance Bass |
Goldman Sachs | Darren Star | |
Lloyd C. Blankfein | Disney / ABC Television Group | |
Ronald M. Ansin | ||
2007 | National Education Association | Hon. James C. Hormel |
Elizabeth Duthinh | Greg Berlanti | |
John Mack | Dr. Neal Baer | |
Hon. Sheila Kuehl | ||
2006 | Citigroup, Inc. | James Howe |
Kerry Pacer, Student Activist | Cisco Systems, Inc. | |
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling | Dr Virginia Uribe, Ph.D. | |
2005 | Lehman Brothers | Jeffrey C. Quinn |
Talia Stein | Moses Kaufman | |
Hon. Richard Gephardt & Chrissy Gephardt | IBM | |
Frankie Martinez | ||
2004 | Andrew Tobias | |
Marina Gatto | ||
MTV |
In 2000, the leader of the conservative Parents' Rights Coalition of Massachusetts (now known as MassResistance) secretly taped one of the 50 workshops in "Teachout 2000", titled "What They Didn't Tell You About Queer Sex and Sexuality in Health Class: Workshop for Youth Only, Ages 14–21". [28] Students discussed sex in a workshop "billed as a safe place for youths to get their questions about their sexuality answered" in the session's Q&A section. A question was asked about fisting a minor and an explanation was provided. [29] Greg Carmack subsequently suggested that the question might have been planted by those making the recordings. [30] MassResistance dubbed the incident "Fistgate" [28] [31] and the tapes generated controversy when they were broadcast over radio. [32] A state employee who participated in the discussion and was subsequently dismissed filed suit against Camenker and Scott Whiteman as a result of the distribution of the tape recordings, [33] while others pointed out the legal prohibition against recording people without their knowledge or permission. [32] According to Bay Windows , a "Massachusetts Superior Court judge ruled that the tape was illegally acquired and therefore an invasion of privacy against those individuals present, who were never told they were being recorded." [34]
Gay bashing is an attack, abuse, or assault committed against a person who is perceived by the aggressor to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ+). It includes both violence against LGBTQ people and LGBTQ bullying. The term covers violence against and bullying of people who are LGBTQ, as well as non-LGBTQ people whom the attacker perceives to be LGBTQ.
A gay–straight alliance, gender–sexuality alliance (GSA) or queer–straight alliance (QSA) is a student-led or community-based organization, found in middle schools, high schools, colleges, and universities. These are primarily in the United States and Canada. Gay–straight alliance is intended to provide a safe and supportive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and all LGBTQ+ individuals, children, teenagers, and youth as well as their cisgender heterosexual allies. The first GSAs were established in the 1980s. Scientific studies show that GSAs have positive academic, health, and social impacts on schoolchildren of a minority sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Numerous judicial decisions in United States federal and state court jurisdictions have upheld the establishment of GSAs in schools, and the right to use that name for them.
LGBTQ culture is a culture shared by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals. It is sometimes referred to as queer culture, LGBT culture, and LGBTQIA culture, while the term gay culture may be used to mean either "LGBT culture" or homosexual culture specifically.
The origin of the LGBTQ student movement can be linked to other activist movements from the mid-20th century in the United States. The Civil Rights Movement and Second-wave feminist movement were working towards equal rights for other minority groups in the United States. Though the student movement began a few years before the Stonewall riots, the riots helped to spur the student movement to take more action in the US. Despite this, the overall view of these gay liberation student organizations received minimal attention from contemporary LGBTQ historians. This oversight stems from the idea that the organizations were founded with haste as a result of the riots. Others historians argue that this group gives too much credit to groups that disagree with some of the basic principles of activist LGBTQ organizations.
Ally Week is a national youth-led effort encouraging students to be allies with the LGBT members of their community in standing against bullying and harassment. It takes place in K-12 schools and colleges. It is led in the same spirit as Day of Silence: to educate on anti-LGBT harassment issues. Ally Week is usually held in September or October.
The questioning of one's sexual orientation, sexual identity, gender, or all three is a process of exploration by people who may be unsure, still exploring, or concerned about applying a social label to themselves for various reasons. The letter "Q" is sometimes added to the end of the acronym LGBT ; the "Q" can refer to either queer or questioning.
The Think Before You Speak campaign is a television, radio, and magazine advertising campaign launched in 2008 and developed to raise awareness of the common use of derogatory vocabulary among youth towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning (LGBTQ) people. It also aims to "raise awareness about the prevalence and consequences of anti-LGBTQ bias and behaviour in America's schools." As LGBTQ people have become more accepted in the mainstream culture, more studies have confirmed that they are one of the most targeted groups for harassment and bullying. An "analysis of 14 years of hate crime data" by the FBI found that gays and lesbians, or those perceived to be gay, "are far more likely to be victims of a violent hate crime than any other minority group in the United States". "As Americans become more accepting of LGBT people, the most extreme elements of the anti-gay movement are digging in their heels and continuing to defame gays and lesbians with falsehoods that grow more incendiary by the day," said Mark Potok, editor of the Intelligence Report. "The leaders of this movement may deny it, but it seems clear that their demonization of gays and lesbians plays a role in fomenting the violence, hatred and bullying we're seeing." Because of their sexual orientation or gender identity/expression, nearly half of LGBTQ students have been physically assaulted at school. The campaign takes positive steps to counteract hateful and anti-gay speech that LGBTQ students experience in their daily lives in hopes to de-escalate the cycle of hate speech/harassment/bullying/physical threats and violence.
Research has found that attempted suicide rates and suicidal ideation among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) youth are significantly higher than among the general population.
LGBTQ sex education is a sex education program within a school, university, or community center that addresses the sexual health needs of LGBTQ people.
Youth pride, an extension of the Gay pride and LGBT social movements, promotes equality amongst young members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, and Queer (LGBTIQ+) community. The movement exists in many countries and focuses mainly on festivals and parades, enabling many LGBTIQ+ youth to network, communicate, and celebrate their gender and sexual identities.
Historically speaking, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people have not been given equal treatment and rights by both governmental actions and society's general opinion. Much of the intolerance for LGBTQ individuals come from lack of education around the LGBTQ community, and contributes to the stigma that results in same-sex marriage being legal in few countries (31) and persistence of discrimination, such as in the workplace.
Research shows that a disproportionate number of homeless youth in the United States identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer, or LGBTQ. Researchers suggest that this is primarily a result of hostility or abuse from the young people's families leading to eviction or running away. In addition, LGBTQ youth are often at greater risk for certain dangers while homeless, including being the victims of crime, risky sexual behavior, substance use disorders, and mental health concerns.
The following outline offers an overview and guide to LGBTQ topics:
Education sector responses to LGBT violence addresses the ways in which education systems work to create safe learning environments for LGBT students. Overall, education sector responses tend to focus on homophobia and violence linked to sexual orientation and gender identity/expression, and less on transphobia. Most responses focus in some way on diverse expressions of gender and support students to understand that gender may be expressed in a different way from binary models. Responses vary greatly in their scope ; duration ; and level of support that they enjoy.
LGBTQ psychology is a field of psychology of surrounding the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals, in the particular the diverse range of psychological perspectives and experiences of these individuals. It covers different aspects such as identity development including the coming out process, parenting and family practices and support for LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as issues of prejudice and discrimination involving the LGBTQ community.
Due to the increased vulnerability that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) youth face compared to their non-LGBTQ peers, there are notable differences in the mental and physical health risks tied to the social interactions of LGBTQ youth compared to the social interactions of heterosexual youth. According to the article "Social Media: A double-edged sword for LGBTQ+ Youth", the study showed that "in comparison to cisgender youth, transgender and gender binary youth had a higher risk of depression and anxiety" from social media exposure. Youth of the LGBTQ community experience greater encounters with not only health risks, but also violence and bullying, due to their sexual orientation, self-identification, and lack of support from institutions in society.
Suicidal ideation and suicidal thoughts are often the precursors of suicide, which is the leading cause of death among youth. Ideation or suicidal thoughts are categorized as: considering, seriously considering, planning, or attempting suicide and youth is typically categorized as individuals below the age of 25. Various research studies show an increased likelihood of suicide ideation in youth in the LGBT community.
Bullying of lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) people, particularly LGBT youth, involves intentional actions toward the victim, repeated negative actions by one or more people against another person, and an imbalance of physical or psychological power.