LGBT Crime Survivors of Family & Sexual Violence

Here is a resource for those who have suffered from family and/or sexual violence.

Suicide claims another LGBT youth: Trevor Project intern Eric Borges – LGBTQ Nation

Facebook photo-EricJames

Sadly we say goodbye to another young person who thought the only way to end the pain was to take his own life. And once again, I have to add another picture, another name to the page of those who have preceded him.

EricJames, a young filmmaker, intern at The Trevor Project, and a Supplemental instructor at the College of the Sequoias took his own life January 11th after trying to be on his own, dealing with personal issues.

A young film maker, EricJames posted this video on November 10, 2011, in which he also appears — the subtext of his video was described as “love is universal.”



Update: Laura McGinnis, Communications Director at The Trevor Project sent LGBTQ Nation this statement:

We are deeply saddened to hear about the tragic death of EricJames Borges, and our hearts go out to his family and friends, and his community. EricJames was a dedicated, trained volunteer. Our main concern right now is that those affected by his death feel supported and can get the care they need. If you or someone you know needs support, please don’t hesitate to call the Trevor Lifeline at 866-488-7386.

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Socialshield Announced at CES in Las Vegas

A cloud-based program called SocialShield has introduced an application that can track your child's language, posts, etc. on most of the social networks. The idea behind the program is not to snoop on anyone's personal information but to give a heads up to parents about possible issues that could affect the health and welfare of their child. It watches for certain words commonly associated with bullying, harassment, etc. and alerts the parents that there may be a problem with their child being cyberbullied, have improper postings, and other problems that possibly need intervention.

Here's a short video about the program.

General Overview for Homepage from SocialShield on Vimeo.

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Warning Signs of Suicide | The Trevor Project

Now that the new year has begun and the festivities are over, it's time to get back to talking about the pressing issues of LGBT bullying, suicide and homelessness.

We present here information from The Trevor Project, one of the nation's leading non-profit organizations for teens that offers many services for LGBTQ teens and others who are struggling with emotional issues surround gender identity, family crisis, bullying and being homeless. That's what this blog is about and the more information I can get out about these socio-economic problems in our society of throw away kids, the better chance I have of saving at least one life.

• Nine out of 10 LGBT students (86.2%) experienced harassment at school; three-fifths (60.8%) felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation; and about one-third (32.7%) skipped a day of school in the past month because of feeling unsafe (GLSEN National School Climate Survey 2009).

• LGBT students are three times as likely as non-LGBT students to say that they do not feel safe at school (22% vs. 7%) and 90% of LGBT students (vs. 62% of non-LGBT teens) have been harassed or assaulted during the past year. (GLSEN From Teasing to Torment 2006)

• Sexual minority youth, or teens that identify themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual, are bullied two to three times more than heterosexuals. (Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 2010)

• Almost all transgender students had been verbally harassed (e.g., called names or threatened in the past year at school because of their sexual orientation (89%) and gender expression (89%) (GLSEN: Harsh Realities, The Experiences of Transgender Youth In Our Nation’s Schools 2009).

• LGBT youth in rural communities and those with lower adult educational attainment face particularly hostile school climates (JG, Greytak EA, Diaz EM – Journal of Youth & Adolescence 2009)

• Lesbian, gay, and bisexual adolescents are 190 percent more likely to use drugs and alcohol than are heterosexual teens (Marshal MP, Friedman MS, et al – Addiction 2008).

• It is estimated that between 20 and 40 percent of all homeless youth identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender (2006 National Gay & Lesbian Task Force: An Epidemic of Homelessness). 62% of homeless LGB youth will attempt suicide at least once—more than two times as many as their heterosexual peers (Van Leeuwen JMm et al – Child Welfare 2005)

I encourage each of you to first, VOTE in the upcoming elections. The results are going to have a direct impact on all social services directed towards youth in crisis, and second, volunteer, give of your money or time to help put an end to these problems.

Welcome to the New Year 2012 -  time to get going!

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Gay.net - The Disney Co. Says, “It Gets Better”

Disney has long supported same-sex partners by offering partner benefits and supporting LGBT rights. One of their more noticeable events is the annual LGBT day at the USA parks.

Now they have jumped on the wagon with this great video, adding it to the long list of "It Gets Better" video's in support of The Trevor Project.

Thanks once again Disney for your continued support of the LGBTQ community!

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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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Delinquent Under-age Bully gets a slap on the hand after video beating went viral and petitions demanded action

Zach Huston, a freshman at Unioto High School in Chillicothe, Ohio, was the subject of a beating, caught on video that went viral online. He says that without the October 17 attack being filmed, faculty and administrators would have taken little action against his assailant. Even his mother has been the subject of controversy online with people saying she is only looking to profit from her son's beating. What a bunch of low life snobs to think that a mother, defending her gay son, is more worried about money than ensuring the safety of her son.

Zach has continued back at school, refusing to give in to the bullies and taunts he endures every day, both at school and online by cyberbullying. An attorney, retained on his behalf, has issued a notice that there will be repercussions for the lack of actions taken by school administrators, the student responsible for the beating, and the apparent refusal to end the bullying of Zack and others.

I applaud his mother for not only accepting her son, but for standing against those who wish to harm him. People need to take a stand against bullying before this happens again and we lose any more teens to suicide.

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Case Closed: Jamey Rodemeyer's Bullies Not Charged | News | The Advocate

While the Brandon McInerney case ended up with some justice in the cold-blooded murder of a young student in school, this case serves to emphasize the point that there still exists injustice, hate and lack of accountability on the part of teachers, administrators, police and parents in educating our children when it comes to right and wrong.

You can read the sad article I refer to here, but what I wanted to post out there were some of the comments made following this post on Facebook.

Michelle  H.

Bullying has always exsisted and will continue to exsist because we don't teach our children value for others and the dignity that we share in being human. All we teach is Competion, Ambition and Survival of the fitest. Respect is the basis of all relationships. Human dignity is the most important thing we can teach children, not us vs them. Success is possible in greater numbers when we don't crush each other in a blind desperate reach for a higher social status.

 Jim C.

Michelle Calienes Harvelle So well said! Our society has embraced a mind set of Competition: Winners & Losers, the strong deserve to dominate the weak, the poor deserve to suffer for not being mean enough, aggresive enough, forceful enough to bully "success" out of the hands of others. We have come to merciless and it's bad for everyone. Only through collaboration does our species build anything at all - from friendships, to neighbors to nations. Each of us is a valuable organ in the body of humanity. The Bullies must be redeemed and the Bullied protected. Bullying, Domination, Oppression etc. are always wrong. Always. That includes all victims - no exceptions not even gay men and transgendered women. NO exceptions set aside for wanton cruelty. Never.

  OccupyEquality

There are other avenues for the family. http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/40190330 gives parents the right to ask for a federal investigation from the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and I hope they do. 

This particular one disturbed me and I had to comment, along with others

Jackson E. · Top Commenter

or wait...wait until the spotlight is off and no one is paying attention anymore and then...accidents happen.

Maybe the children that taunted poor Jaime will be hit and killed in a hit-n-run "accident" or maybe they were shot and killed randomly or stabbed in a crowded area. Accidents happen all the time. It's just about time they started happening to these bullies. 

Deanne C. · Top Commenter ·

Jackson Euler, I so disagree with you on this one. I would never wish the hate, beatings or rape that I or any one else had has to endure on anyone, not even those that hate. I do however understand that equality comes by being the example, and by treating everyone else as you believe you should be treated. To do what you are saying makes one no different than those that drove Jamie to his suicide. To insure that the world knows of the injustices that occur every day in LGBT lives and to be a just person despite them is the only way to gain true equality for all Americans. We must lead our country by example.

Jackson E. · Top Commenter

Deanne Cooley Thanks for your post, Deanne. I hope you are right but I still disagree with you. A few "mysterious" beatings or "accidents" and just watch how these attacks stop. If it were my kid, I would be at the shooting range right now, training for the day that I could take their lives as they took my child. Maybe 5 years, maybe 10 years, maybe 25 years but justice would be done.
Good luck to you.

And, my response...

Barry Mattison · Jackson Euler : I don't know if you realize it, but in a way, your statement is the statement of a bully and the theme of a gang. Taking another life for a life is 'Old Testament" and not the answer to violence. God is about love, not violence and retribution. In as much as I write and blog daily about this issue in the hopes of ending it, I would never advocate violence against violence. It takes a strong stand by a lot of people to put an end to something deemed as wrong and shameful as bullying. I'll ride the buses, stand in the lines, write, fight peacefully for change, but I won't hurt another, especially children who are essentially a copy of their home, family and a sick society's environment. Pu the blame where it makes the most sense and go after changing them

Then this final jerk chimes in...in part ;

Sam Abbott · Subscribe

Chris Clowes : It is stupid to think that this is just an online thing. Think before you speak, especially stupidly Chriso. If you are unable to have control over or a healthy communication with your children then do not have children at all. It is your effing responsibility to know what is going on in their lives, otherwise don't have children like many lesbians choose to as they do not like children to begin with but that's another discussion.

 

Sam Abbott · Subscribe

Chris Clowes : You toned it down and lost your temper again. Typical angry lesbian. I feel badly for your children if you have some or plan to. Don't spew that angry BS onto them or get angrier and bark louder when someone makes you swallow your own BS. Got it?

 

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Petitions, Causes and the Collective Movement of Change

I taught English at University and post-secondary level, and although it did cringe a little at the vernacular of this petition, my mission is to stop the hate, put an end to the bullying, and save the lives of as many teens as possible. I write, blog, post, read, research and spend so much time on this thing called the "social network" that it almost has possessed me. However, I not only signed the petition, which asks you to sign up with the option to receive more information as it becomes available, but just like almost every other source of good, dependable information for all of us (instead of trusting every source on the internet), I posted this petition on my blog, Facebook and Twitter accounts in the hopes that it would push more people to get off their apathetic butts and actually feel the time is right to make their voices be known.

Yes I agree that the wording, emphatic caps and sentence structure are all off the chart - the passion, coupled with the fact that someone took the initiative to do something about this very serious issue in the lives of the LGBTQ community and those who are discriminated against and thought of as being lesser persons far outweighs my need to spend time tearing down this author. I would rather, even through misspelled words and terrible sentence structure, help save one more life and be proud to say that I have had a part in ending the bullying and hate. I too was bullied in school and even in my later life now as an adult. I understand how passionate this person is and chose to overlook these infractions and put my force behind the thought. Please, I encourage people not to waste time tearing apart a persons passion for a good cause, but to throw their enthusiasm into supporting that passion and help put an end to the bullying and loss of teenagers as a result of it. One of those kids might just be your own. One final thought...how many causes, petitions or change.org actions have you already supported that only may have contained one or two errors in the wording, but you felt strong enough to sign anyway. It is not the counting of errors that we should focus on but rather the end result. That is when change happens, that is when lives are saved. My thanks to the author of this and every other person who starts a cause or petition to save a life. I would ask you this: what more nobler thing is there one can do than effect change and save lives?According to the Bible, the answer would be to give your own instead. Be passionate, spell words wrong if that is what it takes, help rewrite a petition, but for the sake of the "cause", please get involved and put aside your need to criticize. That is when you become part of a larger action and help effect positive change. Thanks to those who sign these petitions and causes; to others, please, please overlook the obvious and believe, if it makes sense to you internally, in the validity, or lack thereof, of these causes and go with your heart. It will make a world of difference you probably don't even know.

I firmly believe that a part of the "dumbing down" of Americans is directly related to the rise in poverty, lower education levels achieved in our grade schools, and the lack of higher education being available at an affordable price for those who choose (or can afford) to go on to achieve a higher degree. Much of what we are seeing now in the Republican agenda is the push to cut education costs, de-fund college tuition assistance and generally speaking, make us all just a little less questioning of the overlords who truly rule this country. This serves their purpose well and is, in my estimation, the major reason that this country is in the position we are now. Current statistics estimate that 1 in 4 Americans possess level 1 literacy skills (the lowest so far.) That translates into a staggering 44 million Americans that can not read or write at even the most basic of levels. Bringing that thought back around to the subject, this is the reason that, while I cringe when I see poorly written language as is the subject of all this commenting - I have to look away and look beyond the obvious and determine the true meaning of the author's intent. In this case I firmly believe that this is a good cause, one the author is passionate about, and I am not in a position to question their background but rather, will this further the cause of ending hate, LGBTQ bullying, and change the collective mindset of a society that is heading down a dangerous path.

I hope in the process that I didn't commit too many grammatical errors so as to turn anyone away from seeing the tree in the forest.

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Remove their hateful billboard that says "Homosexuality is Sin"

Given that these people are "Christians" in the sense that they believe and follow every word in the Bible, then they are completely wrong in making this "assumption." It is common for people to selectively use verses from the Bible to make a point without first understanding the background, meaning and true intent of that verse. I'm assuming that this billboard is based upon Leviticus 18:6, which reads: "You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female. It is an abomination." A similar verse occurs two chapters later, in Leviticus 20:13: "A man who sleeps with another man is an abomination and should be executed." On the surface, these words could leave you feeling rather uneasy, especially if you are gay. But just below the surface is the deeper truth about God -- and it has nothing to do with sex.

Leviticus is a holiness code written 3,000 years ago. This code includes many of the outdated sexual laws we mentioned earlier, and a lot more. It also includes prohibitions against round haircuts, tattoos, working on the Sabbath, wearing garments of mixed fabrics, eating pork or shellfish, getting your fortune told, and even playing with the skin of a pig. (There goes football!)
Once again, people are using portions of a greater picture without understanding the true intent. While there isn't enough room here to say much more, it behooves those who wish to condemn others based upon convenient selection of Bible verses to do their homework first.

More explanation is available at: http://www.soulforce.org/article/homosexuality-bible-gay-christian. This sign MUST be taken down because it is baseless in its assumptions and without concern for the true meaning of God's Love.

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Bullied Gay Teen Fights Ariz. School District

After Merik Castro, a gay Arizona teen who was bullied so relentlessly he once considered suicide, collected more than 3,000 online petition signatures and generated publicity, the school board updated its bullying guidelines at a packed public meeting last month, adding "sexual preference" under its harassment policy.

The problem is that the wording still needs to be changed to be effective according to Castro. The word "preference" implies that orientation is a choice, he says, assigning blame to victims. Nothing new there.

"It basically says you’re choosing this lifestyle," Castro told EDGE. "You’re choosing to be bullied."

According to EDGE, "Castro said he was called names, pushed into lockers and taunted so severely by his classmates at Wigwam Creek Middle School that he wrote a suicide letter. He eventually reached out to Caleb Laieski, a 16-year-old activist for bullied LGBT youth.


After Laieski sent in an anonymous tip about a student being bullied for his sexual orientation, the school focused on Castro and launched an investigation. Three students were eventually suspended and Castro transferred schools.


'I feel like they expelled me out to get rid of the problem,' he said. 'They got rid of the victim, but not the bullying.'.

Ann Donahue, community liaison for the Litchfield Elementary School District, said Castro chose to transfer. She could not confirm allegations that the superintendent pulled aside Castro and his mother, a school district employee, and pressed them with questions about his sexual orientation.

"She told me, ’Well now that you’re choosing this alternative lifestyle, there come consequences and you’re going to get bullied,’" recalled Castro.

This is the same story we hear over and over as bullied students are either forced to change schools, commit suicide, or end up being home schooled. School Districts across the country must come to the realization that ignoring bullying does not make it better in any sense of the word.

Laieski (the 16 year-old activist) is helping Castro look into legal options and the process of recalling school board members.

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PUT INTO LAW. THAT BULLYING IS A HATE CRIME UNDER THE PENTALITIES OF THE LAW! | The White House

I took the time to register and sign this petition because I fully believe that by sitting back and letting other people do the work, my voice is not being heard and I should have no say in the consequences of not replying and participating in such an important issue, the whole mission of my blog and existence at this point in my life. Please do the same and let your position be known where it matters. Thanks.

The thanks of every person out there that has been on the receiving end of bullying in any form. We MUST speak up and make it known that it will no longer be tolerated and bullies will no longer be run from. Bullying reaches up to the highest levels of our country...we must start at the top, not the bottom, to end this hate.

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November is Anti-Bullying Week/Month : Nov. 13-19, 2011

October was officially recognized as anti-bullying month. However, that has been extended into November, and hopefully, even longer. 

Download and share this mp3 audio file. Ask that it be played in your school or send it
to your local radio station and request they play it as a public service announcement.

Here is what Rick Mercer of CBC Television's Rick Mercer Report said about
the importance of the annual Bullying Awareness Week!

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Cohoes High School holds anti-bullying presentation

COHOES, N.Y. - As Niskayuna Police and the FBI investigate threatening videos on YouTube, Cohoes High School takes on the growing issue of cyberbullying Thursday night.

Students, parents, and community members are invited to attend an anti-bullying presentation at the high school, starting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday night. The event will feature Jesse Saperstein, author of "Atypical: Life with Asperger's in 20 1/3 Chapters," speaking to the audience about his experiences with bullying and cyberbullying.



In June, a Cohoes teen became the first person to be charged under Albany County's new cyberbullying law.
Albany county passes cyberbullying law
Facebook page created for bullying

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Anti-gay bullying — Does silence equal death? | Daily Record | dailyrecord.com

This article is a little one-sided in its idea that bullying in the schools is a unresolved issue in that schools across the country have no idea as to how to deal with bullying in school. I disagree, and in fact, have provided resources on this blog as to established programs that are available for not only schools in general, but very specific for students and administrators alike.

One of the longest and most in-depth programs is several years old and actually was established before bullying became such an issue. Dr. Phil McGraw's son, Jay McGraw,  created a school program meant to address bullying on levels and was instrumental in getting it into many schools across the country. He also has written a book on the subject. There are also many other in-school programs that provide sensitivity training for teacher and students in the form of assemblies, group discussions and one-on-one role playing.

Click on our Resources Page for more information and other programs.

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Frontrunners New York make an "It Gets Better" video

Members of the Front Runners New York running club let LGBT teenagers know that it gets better as part of the It Gets Better Project founded by Dan Savage. If you are an LGBT teenager and are contemplating suicide, please call the Trevor Hotline at 866 4-U-TREVOR or visit www.TheTrevorProject.org.

For more information on how to get involved with the It Gets Better Project, go to the official website at www.ItGetsBetterProject.com. Front Runners New York is a running club for lesbians, gay men and gay-friendly people of all athletic abilities. For more than 30 years, the club has supported a network of men and women that ranges from recreational walkers and joggers to competitive track athletes, road racers and marathoners.

Front Runners was founded on and sticks to a simple mission — to provide lesbians and gays with a healthier life through running. No matter what your pace, preferred distance or racing goal, you will find members to run and train with. Many of our members found lifelong friends, training partners and spouses through the club. At Front Runners New York, we are family in every sense of the word! Whether you are running for fun, competition, fitness, or just want to socialize and get to know other runners, we're glad to have you join us! For more information, visit www.FRNY.org.

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Spirit Day October 20th

October 20th - Spirit Day!

I hope that as many as possible wore Purple today to help focus attention on Spirit Day and a smattering of subjects, including bullying, teen suicide, gay marriage, and other LGBTQ issues. I wore my "It Gets Better" t-shirt so that I could talk to everyone I met about it. Guess what! It worked...and people in general, even in my red-necked, rural town of Vermont at least were willing to listen to me and wish the best for all those that struggle with any of the issues I mentioned.

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Stomp Out Bullying (.org)

Please support the Trevor Project by joining and help put an end to bullying.

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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.

Bachmann on Natural Disasters, Divine Intervention | News | The Advocate

Only a fanatical idiot like Michele Bachmann could attribute natural disasters to "Divine Intervention." It's funny, but I saw the exact same thing in 1973 when I was very young. I also lived in Las Vegas through many earthquakes and they weren't attributed to divine intervention then.

I guess natural disasters are really a readily available, political catapault for this stupid, ignorant fool. Maybe, just maybe, they might be due to global warming?  Of course, we all know that, according to the GOP, there is no such thing. Maybe Bachmann should be more worried that her hate-filled rhetoric is causing the highest teen suicide rate in the country in her own home state and not worry about hurricane Irene.

Where in the hell did she come from anyway...some alien craft?