One last update from César before lobby day tomorrow!
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Want to tell your members of Congress to support the Safe Schools Improvement Act and the Student Nondiscrimination Act? You can do that too.
One last update from César before lobby day tomorrow!
Want to get updates throughout the day? Signup here!
Want to tell your members of Congress to support the Safe Schools Improvement Act and the Student Nondiscrimination Act? You can do that too.
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#lesbian #gay #bisexual #transgender #students #youth #bullying #anti-bullying #LGBT #LGBTQPIA #Safe Schools Advocacy Summit #policyJust a few minutes ago, the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education made a groundbreaking announcement – it intends to collect data in schools nationwide about anti-LGBT bullying as part of its Civil Rights Data Collection, an influential survey that is used to inform government action.
I’m proud to say that GLSEN’s longtime leadership in Washington urging the government to take action played an integral role in making this change happen. You won’t believe the interaction I witnessed firsthand that confirmed that in the most amazing way! But before I tell you that story, first back to what this change means.
This amazing development is something to celebrate and hopefully a trend of good news coming out of Washington in the coming days. Making civil rights data collection LGBT-inclusive is a critical step toward ensuring LGBT students’ civil rights. It also will further document the need for schools and policymakers to take action to ensure that LGBT students have equal access to a quality education.
But the backstory to this major advance is also incredibly exciting.
On May 22, I was at the White House for a Harvey Milk Day event, accompanying a delegation of GLSEN student leaders and staff. As we waited for the program to begin, a senior official from the Department of Education came running over to one of our students, Liam Arne.

“I need to shake your hand,” he said. “Because of you, the Secretary of Education is adding LGBT students to one of the most important Department of Education data collection instruments. You asked in that meeting, and afterward he told us to get it done!”
A few months earlier, we had taken Liam and three other GLSEN student leaders to meet Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. These amazing students wanted to stand up to make a change, and we gave them an opportunity to tell their stories directly to Secretary Duncan in support of action that would create immediate and lasting impact.
LGBT-inclusive data collection may seem like a wonky goal. But let me tell you, data drives decision-making, and what is measured is what is valued when it comes to government action. Liam, one of GLSEN’s amazing student leaders, secured a huge advance for LGBT youth nationwide.
That makes me #GLSENProud.
GLSEN’s student leadership development programs support students like Liam Arne in making an amazing difference. We need your help to keep driving progress! Please consider a donation to help us continue to support students like Liam bring hope for a better tomorrow for LGBT youth.
As we continue our #GLSENPROUD celebration this Pride Month, today I want to tell you about GLSEN Student Ambassador Matt Shankles, a shining example of how students really can make a difference.
A native of Marion, Iowa, Matt faced his own set of challenges at school when he came out as LGBT. He experienced name-calling, bullying and harassment from his peers simply for being himself.
Matt chose to take action. He looked for ways to change his school climate. He began a Twitter campaign to tweet encouragement to students who had been bullied.
Matt also participated in GLSEN’s Safe Schools Advocacy Summit in Washington where he met with lawmakers to push for the Safe Schools Improvement Act (SSIA) and the Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA).
But Matt’s work didn’t stop there. He joined GLSEN’s Student Ambassadors team. He spoke on a cyberbullying panel hosted by Iowa’s Governor. He also went on to testify at a Senate committee hearing in Iowa chaired by Senator Tom Harkin to discuss the need for safer schools.
Just a couple of weeks ago, Senator Harkin introduced an education bill that included provisions from both SSIA and SNDA. We can’t help but believe this was partly made possible because of Matt.
We celebrate students like Matt and others who are working to make their own schools and communities better. These incredible young people continue to inspire and challenge GLSEN to work harder for a better tomorrow for every student in K-12 schools.
Are you proud of a student leader in your community? Tweet to us about it using #GLSENPROUD.
Sultana High School is censoring and discriminating against its Gay-Straight Alliance. The Hesperia, CA school is limiting the GSA from using LGBT-inclusive language and participating in activities like GLSEN’s Day of Silence and Ally Week.
Today is the first school day since news broke last week during Spring Break that the ACLU of Southern California sent a letter demanding the school district stop discriminating against the school’s GSA.
Tell them that they are not alone
As they return to school today, the GSA members could face retaliation for their decision to stand up to their school district.
Along with our partners at the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, It Gets Project, and the California-based GSA Network, we want to send a clear message to Sultana High GSA members as they head back to school:
We are proud of you and we’ve got your back.
Will you join us? Click here to send your own message to the brave LGBT students and allies.
They believe that every student deserves to be safe and treated with respect, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Help us show them that people all across the country stand with them against discrimination.
Linda Harvey, an anti-LGBT extremist, said some ridiculous things about Day of Silence and LGBT people. So, naturally we had to fact-check her.
And show off just a small fraction of the powerful, courageous, and world-changing people who are using Day of Silence to take a stand and make a difference.
Whose side are you on?
Hey LGBT youth - we want to know what school is really like for you. Take our survey and let us know: www.glsen.org/2013survey
Applications and Nominations for our 2013 Gay-Straight Alliance of the Year Award close this Sunday at midnight.
2012 winners from Blake High School in Maryland share what it was like to win and why you should apply.
So what are you waiting for? Apply today – we want to hear about how you’re rocking out with your GSA/QSA to make things better at your school.
We want you to change the world.
Applications are open for GLSEN’s 2013 - 2014 Student Ambassador team. You’ll gain access to exclusive online resources for telling your story, blogging, creating videos, writing op-eds, and more. We’ll work with you to share your story on our networks and in news outlets such as CNN, The Huffington Post, ABC News, The Advocate and more.
And… if that wasn’t enough. A select group of ambassadors will be able to join us in Los Angeles for an all-expenses-covered 4-day media summit from August 7 - 10.
If you’re passionate about using the media and digital tools to tell your story and create safer schools, and will be a middle or high school student next year, apply today.
Only students in the United States are able to attend the media summit in Los Angeles.
Emma & César will be sending out video updates as they travel from their hometowns to the halls of Congress to advocate for safer school.
You can follow along with their journey by signing up here.
Creative Expression is an opportunity for you to show us how your school is celebrating No Name-Calling Week and creating a culture of no name-calling. We want to see your school wide displays featuring the message of No Name-Calling Week.
This year’s deadline is Friday, March 1, 2013.
Any kind of display can be created and a picture or video of the display will be submitted for judging. Show us your assemblies, the posters you created at school, lessons being conducted in classrooms, or anything that can show us what you are doing in your community.
The winning school will receive a No Name-Calling Week Prize pack including a Simon and Schuster Children’s Library, and a Stop Bullying Speak Up prize kit from the Cartoon Network. For more information about Creative Expressions or to enter your submission click here
Have a great No Name-Calling Week!
Watch LZ Granderson accept the 2013 Hero Award at GLSEN’s 2013 Respect Awards - New York
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Before we get on with the post, it’s important to note that these are two groups of diverse people who are very unique in many ways! However, in light of the month, (and mainly due to the fact that a lot of the resources available online are for both groups), here is a compilation of resources for Asian and Pacific Islander LGBTQ+ people! Other masterposts can be found here (and don’t hesitate to add anything if you have resources to contribute)!
GLSEN Pages:
Other organizations:
Historical information from the US National Park Service:
Some LGBTQ+ Asian/Pacific Islander Creators:
Other Helpful/Informational Links: