More schools take action to stem anti-gay bullying | Latest National Headlines | News fr...

The awareness of bullying in schools, the passing of Same-sex marriage in New York, and the spate of "It Gets Better" video's from celebrities and other people have slowly begun to raise awareness about bullying and teen suicide. California recently passed legislation that ordered teaching to be incorporated into the classroom about LGBTQ contributions and the history of same. Even more in the news was the recent passing of DADT, allowing gays in the military to come out of the closet without fear of being thrown out of the service.

Although we have a long way to go, the California legislation is having an effect on school bullying and also intervening legally in cases where guidelines have not been followed.  For example, instead of a teacher simply telling kids to quit using a disrespectful name, stopping taunts is more effective when the teacher explains why teasing hurts and getting bullies to recall instances when they were taunted or acknowledge that they would feel hurt if they were, experts said.

"It's about making them realize what it's like," said Travis Brown, an anti-bullying speaker now on a 200-school tour.

Students must be told to intervene if they witness bullying and to accept others' differences even if they don't agree with them. That goes for teachers, too. It is illegal, for instance, to order a boy to wash off makeup if girls are also allowed to wear it.


There remains a long, slow haul to spread informative and educational programs across the country's schools, but with the help of the ACLU and other legal eagles watching over the growing movement, it will happen and we might, just might, see the near end of bullying as we know it now.

Now if we could get politicians to end bullying among their ranks and setting a poor example for the bullies of today.

---

Anti-Gay Teacher’s Students Allege Classroom Homophobia :: EDGE Philadelphia

A NJ teacher posted anti-gay rhetoric on her  FaceBook page in possible violation of school policy, yet to be decided. We know how that's going to turn out. But what's worse is that she is teaching and preaching in a public classroom that "being gay is a 'sin' that 'breeds like cancer', ..." Over a hundred comments have been posted supporting and criticizing her for crossing the line. Almost every one of them tries to defend their position in one way or another. The problem is that the whole issue was missed here; these students are at the stage in their lives when they are most impressionable, need the most love and attention, and need the support of parents, teachers and other people of influence.

For this teacher to "preach" her own "Christian" ideology in a classroom or online is not Freedom of Speech but a clear form of hate and violation of the Constitution regarding separation of Church and State. She should be dismissed from her position immediately. These same so-called teachers are contributing to the death of hundreds of teenagers, gay and straight, who are struggling with a lot of issues, but haven't developed mentally enough to know how to sort out the right and wrong of these people and their "teachings."

---

Gay.net - Teacher Fired Over Gay Porn Career

Once again a rather controversial issue involving a person's past, their current direction, and peoples' perceived notions of how the past affects the future. This teacher, Miami-Dade school district teacher Shawn Loftis, recently fired for previously acting in the gay porn industry, feels that his civil rights were violated with his dismissal. I don't know if this involves his civil liberties as much as the perception of his current life. Obviously, as shown in this video, people are somewhat divided over the issue.

I personally believe that the real issue behind the motivation to fire him was based upon that fact that he acted in the gay industry and has little to do with his civil rights. Another case of the hatred and bigotry being fostered on the ill-informed.

Students Reveal Teacher Did Express Anti-Gay Bias In The Classroom - Topix

That didn't take long! Another school district, promoting hate and anti-gay teachers has let loose this outwardly spoken bully on his students with apparently free rein to say what he wants in his classes.

Jerry Buell, a Lake County teacher who posted virulently anti-gay comments on Facebook we recently cleared of any possible charges and put back in the classroom to teach his hate-filled rantings in class.  Brian Blaise, an honors student who graduated in 2003, described the day Mr. Buell offered his disturbing take on the issue of gays serving in the military:

"I looked up when he said he supported gays in the military, stunned by the answer. He immediately followed that comment with the statement that we should then put them on the front lines, and pull back," Blaise said.

It just doesn't seem that this guy is responsible for the care, safety and wlee-being of students. The only teaching he is doing is how to be a bully (like himself), hate those that are different, and to run and hide behind the "Freedom of Speech" right when questioned.

10 to 1 he's a Republican! (that translates to hypocrite)  with a few of his own skeletons in the closet. It seems to be the trend that those that shout the loudest against someone or something are usually hiding secrets about themselves.

Changing The Game | The GLSEN Sports Project

This comes from a friends blog at Craig's Gay Word.
Craig is an amazing young gay man with a passion for making the world a better place for everyone through understanding. I encourage my readers to link up to his site (look to the right for the link) and watch him take on life head on.

"Recess Chat" and Accountability for Bullies

Upper Valley News, October 26 
by Katie Beth Ryan, Staff Writer

Condensed by Barry Mattison- Teachers at Willow School, a private school in Wilder, NH founder by former Marion Cross school teachers Terri Ashley and Riley O'Connor have come up with an exciting new program that holds K-3rd grade children accountable for their actions on the playground. An idea that might play out in the future for higher grades.

Recess is normally a time when students receive almost no oversight or attention from teachers as they interact on the play field. It's during these times that problems can occur, such as bullying, exclusion from group activities, and emotional trauma, leading to problems for the teachers controlling the students when they return to class. Teachers trying to focus theses students who have been bullied or hurt by others have a hard time adjusting to the subjects at hand, thus resulting in being left behind, possible emotional scars, further torment while in class, and conflicts with the teacher from all children.

Now a daily part of the school program, "Recess Chat" is held immediately after recess, a half-hour period when the teachers and students discuss what happened during recess. It is an opportunity for teachers to find out if any student was picked on or emotionally hurt and holds those who cause that hurt accountable for their actions. The end result is that teachers and administrators are finding that students are now thinking about their actions and words before recess knowing that they will be discussed and exposed right after they happen in front of all the other students and staff. This accountability also has a big impact on the students as they are quicker to focus on the new studies instead of rehash what happened on the playground.

Key to a teachers lesson plan is inclusion of all the students, which can fall apart if children have had a bad experience on the playground.

This plan might be an excellent start to initiate in all schools to teach youngsters about accountability and the effects of bullying. By making them think about what might happen before they are given the freedom to express themselves openly as young people, they may grow up as adults, carrying over that same value of accountability for their actions. The ability of being able to walk in someone's else's shoes these days is a rare thing.

NBC on The Advocate: Another Bullying Suicide?

"Student's family says he complained of bullying after coming out."


This is still happening in spite of all the information out there, the media attention, everything. Something is wrong somewhere and I believe it is in the schools and partly with friends who don't want to "get involved." We've become such a society of "individuals" that nobody wants to help one another unless they belong to their clique, group, whatever you want to call it. Focus has to be placed on the schools before anything and get to these kids who are doing the bullying as well as the kids whoa re getting bullied. Educate each of them, one group is wrong and needs to be held accountable and the other needs someone who will listen to them, watch for the signs, be a friend when no one else will. GET INVOLVED! One life saved is better than one lost!

GLSEN: Safe Space Kit

GLSEN: Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network

Designed to help educators create a safe space for LGBT youth in schools, the NEW Safe Space Kit features the 42-page Guide to Being an Ally to LGBT Students. This guide provides concrete strategies for supporting LGBT students, educating about anti-LGBT bias and advocating for changes in your school. The Kit also shows how to assess the school's climate, policies and practices and outlines ways to advocate for change inside the school.