Invisible Parents

Watch this new video from the director who was behind the viral "Homecoming" video for the UK's Coalition For Equal Marriage.

From OUT magazine comes this message of love and acceptance for what many consider a "non-traditional" family structure. However, with the results of the recent election leaning towards acceptance of gay relationships and families comprised of same sex parents, the time is coming for at least a greater acceptance of these relationships and the children affected by them. Studies show that children raised in same sex relationships are no different than those brought up in what society considers "normal" situations.

Normal is no longer the norm, and a new generation of young people has demonstrated a higher acceptance of different forms of the traditional bastion of marriage. This video appeals to the masses of those that are still locked in the old societal norms of traditioon and of what is acceptable, or not.

London Gay Men’s Chorus kick-starts video campaign for gay youth

A new campaign in London against bullying, very similar to the "It Gets Better" project here in the US, the London Gay Men's Chorus recorded a video as part of the Proud2Be Project, which aims to encourage gay youngsters to be proud of their sexuality.

The Proud2Be Project, which was founded by Matt and Jon Price last year, aims to include more videos from organisations and individuals as well as continuing to petition for change. It is hoped the project will also put on workshops, produce documentaries and exhibitions, and initiate Proud2Be centres.

                            

The founders encourage anyone who supports the project to send in videos and the identical twins explain their reasons for initiating the project on their website: “As children, the overriding message we received from our school, our church, the media and society was that being gay was something to be ashamed of. Although many would argue that times our changing, for us change could not come fast enough,” they say.

“Still the messages our LGBT youth receive are not too dissimilar to the ones we heard as children. When a child is told at school to ‘act less gay’ to avoid being bullied, the message is loud and clear. When a teacher fails to challenge a student who uses the word ‘gay’ as a put down, the message is loud and clear. When public figures continue to use derogatory and offensive language to describe the transgender community, the message is loud and clear.

They add: “Our desire is for our LGBTQ youth to access a new loving message and for that message to be as loud and as clear as the rest.”

We wish them all the success that the same project has achieved here in the states and hope that this movement will spread to the corners of the globe. There is a long road ahead, especially in view of the upcoming elections and the potential for a backslide in LGBT rights should the GOP gain control of hte government.

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boy culture: Baby, It's Warm Inside

Please download this music video by Mister Chase and Chris Salvatore called "Baby, It's Cold Outside." Proceeds will support LGBT youth organizations.

Go to this site to hear it now.

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West Virginia Moves to Protect LGBT Students - Model for Other States

The great state of West Virginia has led the way in ending bullying against almost every group habitually discriminated against with the passage of new language by the W. Virginia Board of Education. These new regulations, enforceable across the state, very clearly state that:

"Acts of harassment, intimidation, or bullying that are reasonably perceived as being motivated by any actual or perceived differentiating characteristic, or by association with a person who has or is perceived to have one or more of these characteristics, shall be reported using the following list: race; color; religion; ancestry; national origin; gender; socioeconomic status; academic status; gender identity or expression; physical appearance; sexual orientation; mental/physical/developmental/ sensory disability; or other characteristic."

This appears to be, on the outside, a model that other states can follow if they choose that will hopefully transform the current social non-acceptance of LGBT students, as well as those who fall under the categories specified in the new rules.

All I can say is...it's about time someone got the message!

 

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Gay Teen Suicide Awareness | causes.com

This is a "cause" near and dear to my heart, my writing, my life. It's a part of my mission statement and should be for anyone that cares at all about ending teen suicide resulting from bullying of any kind. My wish is that I live long enough to see an end to LGBTQ suicides.

If you can, support where you feel moved to do so, be an activist for equality for all, be aware.

"Gay teens are often isolated, tormented, harassed, beaten, and disowned in an intolerant and ignorant society. Mental health studies have shown that depression and anxiety are extremely common-place in people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans-gendered, or questioning. The hardship of being a teen, gay, and depressed can be overwhelming and often times leads to suicide.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death for ages 10 - 24 and gay teens are 4 times more likely to commit suicide than their straight peers.

Gay or straight, a person should never have to feel suicide is the only way out. However, due to the alarming percentage of suicides that occur among teens, gay teen suicide is an extremely vital issue that is, for the most part, unknown to many."

Help spread the word. Help save a life.

1. Suicide is the leading cause of death for young adults
2. Gay teens are up to 4 times more likely to commit suicide compared to straight teens
3. Every 5 hours, a gay teen tragicly ends their own life
4. Suicide is not an answer, it's a problem.
5. If you are considering suicide PLEASE Call 1-866-4-U-TREVOR. No matter how much it hurts, it will hurt more people by not calling.

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LGBTQ Homeless Estimated at 1,500 in NYC Alone!

This is another in my series of ongoing blogs regarding LGBTQ homeless youth in our cities.

For twenty years, In The Life Media has been a leading media organization for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) movement. One of the nation’s most honored and influential LGBT groups, In The Life Media creates social and political change by examining issues critical to LGBT individuals and providing audiences with powerful ways to advance equality within, and beyond, their communities.

Produced by In The Life Media, the Emmy-nominated series, IN THE LIFE, was the first-and remains the only-LGBT issues-oriented show on public television. IN THE LIFE is a two-time Emmy Award nominee, a Lambda Legal Liberty Award honoree, a Seigenthaler Award recipient from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association and a Ribbon of Hope Award recipient from The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences: www.ITLMedia.org

There are an estimated 3,800 homeless youth in New York City. About 1,500 of them identity as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Government funding provides fewer than 200 shelter beds for all homeless children in the city.

This year, the State of New York slashed its budget for homeless youth services by 50%, despite the already inadequate funding for shelter space and services. 

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16 year old teen activist for LGBT rights petition to be appointed as an advisor to the President

Caleb Laeiski, founder of Gays and Lesbians United Against Discrimination and a well known young LGBT activist from the age of 13 has already met with President Obama before on the LGBT youth Issues and has shown great leadership here in Arizona.

With the increasing issues the younger generation of the LGBT are now facing we think that having an advisor to the President is greatly needed. Please join me in nominating Caleb Laieski for this honored new postiion of Advisor on LGBT Youth Issues to the President.

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Record Number of House Cosponsors for DOMA Repeal Bill

[NY D-Rep. Nadler]

A House bill to repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act has now attracted 122 cosponsors—two more than the total number of sponsors from the previous congressional term, when the legislation was first introduced.

“The coalition working for LGBT rights in the congress and the nation as a whole is larger than ever before, and we gain new allies every day. And, just this year, New York State enacted marriage equality, hammering one more nail into the coffin of bigotry and discrimination against gays and lesbians. Dumping DOMA is simply not a question of if but when,” Nadler said.

D-Maryland senator Barbara Mikulski has said that she would sign onto the bill after the LGBT groups Freedom to Marry, Courage Campaign, and Equality Maryland delivered 3,000 constituent signatures in favor of the legislation to the Democratic senator’s district office in Baltimore.

It's nice to know that some Senators are listening to their constituents instead of pocketing lobbyist and special interest money for voting against the people who put them in office. As one comment noted, it's time for LGBTQ adults to take action and become involved in the movement in this country to gain equality and equal rights for our community. Too many are quick to comment but not follow with action. Get involved with your time, financially support gay equality groups that are effectively fighting for rights on our behalf, blog, spread the word however you can.

As several other comments noted, there is no outspoken, up-front leader in this country taking charge of this movement for equality like Gov. Cuomo did in New York state. We need a leader to effectively excite and gather the groups and people together into one, single agenda-EQUAL RIGHTS for LGBTQ people!

Study Finds Alarming Number of Gay Teens Are Homeless | News | The Advocate

Study Finds Alarming Number of Gay Teens Are Homeless | News | The Advocate
Study Finds Alarming Number of Gay Teens Are Homeless | News
http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/...

According to the article:

Gay youth are far more likely than their straight counterparts to be homeless, according to the Children's Hospital Boston study, whose author warns of "a serious problem requiring immediate attention."

“These teens face enormous risks and all types of obstacles to succeeding in school and are in need of a great deal of assistance,” said Heather Corliss, whose findings show for the first time the magnitude of the homeless gay youth population. Corliss said these are "much higher numbers than we'd expect" given that gay youth are a minority.

Less than 5% of the more than 6,000 high school students surveyed identified themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. But those students accounted for 19% of the homeless. Among straight students, 3.2% were homeless.

“This suggests that they may be more likely to be mistreated or rejected by their families and more likely to leave home,” Corliss concludes.

Because the research was done only in Massachusetts, where gay marriage is legal and where researchers believe homosexuality might be more accepted, they warn it's possible that the rate of homelessness is actually higher in other parts of the country.

Having experienced this myself (except for having to be homeless), I can say that the problem is much bigger than this article proposes. I adopted a young boy while in a 15 year relationship and it was the best experience I could have gone through. While it ended the 15 yr. relationship, saving one soul from the hatred and emotional pressure of being "tossed out" was well worth the loss. Adopt or help out!

An excellent, interactive series from the NYTimes.

Coming Out: Audio, Photos, Stories of Gay Teens

www.nytimes.com

Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender teenagers talk about their lives in this weeklong series.

Gay teens more likely to be punished says study

"  Gay, lesbian and bisexual teens are about 40% more likely than straight adolescents to be punished by schools, police and courts according to a new study.

     School expulsions, arrests, juvenile and adult convictions and police stops are more likely to be meted out to them, said lead researcher Kathryn Himmelstein of Yale University who studied teenagers in the United States.

      The study, described as the first national look at sexual orientation and teen punishment, comes as a wave of bullying and suicide cases across the country has focused attention on adolescent torment.
      Research previewers studied 15,000 middle and high school students who were followed for seven years into early adulthood.
      Nearly 1,500 of the participants in the study identified themselves as lesbian, gay or bisexual, but more than 2,300 reported having felt a same-sex attraction at some point in their lives. More than 800 were in a same-sex relationship.
      A full report on the study will be published in the January edition of the journal Pediatrics."

by Dale McEwan..December 6

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.

GLSEN: Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network

GLSEN: Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network: GLSEN: Gay,Lesbian,Straight Education Network