LOOK: Homophobia In Russia Inspires Sweden To Launch Awesome Pride Campaign

From Huffington Post:

Last year a court in Moscow ruled that gay pride celebrations were prohibited in the city for the next 100 years and things are just as bleak in other parts of the country.

But, instead of waiting until 2112 to show their pride, the Russian LGBT community has been invited to go west to celebrate in Sweden.

Stockholm Pride has unveiled a new Twitter campaign, #GoWest, that welcomes their Russian friends to travel to Sweden for their Pride celebrations this summer. On the campaign page for #GoWest you can send out a tweet that will automatically be translated into Russian, inviting people to Stockholm Pride.

“To celebrate that love, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity and gender identity is a democratic right, we have taken this opportunity to, with humor and love, direct a special invitation to all of Russia to celebrate Pride with us,” says Stockholm Pride, a generous offer to a population suffering in Russia right now.

1 week ago · 28 notes

Universities Don't Know How To Deal With LGBT Students, Warns NUS

By Lucy Sherriff | HuffPost Students UK

Universities do not know how to deal with students who want to come out or transition, leaving them without support and at risk of mental health issues, student leaders have warned.

The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) officers for the National Union of Students (NUS) said many institutions still do not know how to tackle homophobic bullying and are instead ignoring the problem.

In an interview with the Huffington Post UK, Finn McGoldrick says the manner in which universities treat LGBT students is “just not good enough”.

“As long as they have an LGBT staff network most institutions are happy,” she says. “LGBT students’ experience at their institutions has a huge part to play.”

“It’s not interacting with other students which is necessarily the problem. I think it’s when problems arise and institutions don’t know how to deal with homophobic bullying. They can’t help someone who comes in and says I’m transitioning, or someone who says I am no longer feel like I am of this gender identity, can I move halls.”

…

“Universities don’t know how to deal with huge rates of depression among LGBT students,” she continues, “and they aren’t even attempting to.”

Click on the title or click here to read more.

5 months ago · 26 notes

‘Heterophobia’

Clip by members of Mount Allison University’s Queer-Straight Alliance, defining heterophobia as “fear or resentment of heterosexuals” and features confessions by Jen Boyce, a “confessed heterophobe.”

The video concludes:

“Why isn’t homophobia just as ridiculous?”

This is a great video with an amazing message. Make sure to watch it.

7 months ago · 55 notes

"My 7-Year-Old Son Wants a 'Likes Boys' T-Shirt, and Here Is Why He's Going to Get It"

By Amelia, Huffington Post Blogger

From the piece:

…

Then a little while ago he asked for another Glee fashion item. This time it was a t-shirt, worn by Kurt, while the show’s ensemble sang “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga. It is a very simple white t-shirt with the words “Likes Boys” in bold black letters. Like most kids, my son asks for things all the time that he forgets about 10 minutes later, but this shirt wasn’t one of those. He brought it up again and again, and even explained to my husband and I that he liked boys the same way Kurt liked boys. And he even liked the same boy Kurt liked, so he really needed that shirt.

It should have been very simple. My son liked the shirt. We buy the shirt. And in truth, that’s exactly what happened, but first my husband and I had to talk.

While we want our son to be open, honest and comfortable about his orientation, we are also parents and we worry. The statement “Like Boys” should be fine. My son likes Blaine, calls him is boyfriend, and openly identifies as gay. That might seem a little unusual for a seven year old but that is our kid, and we think who he is is awesome. It doesn’t say “Wants to Fuck Boys”, but we both knew that’s what a lot of people would read when they saw it. Others would put their own interpretation of what “gay” means, exclusively men who have anal sex with other men, and put that on our kid. It doesn’t mean that to our kid or my husband and I. Gay to us means someone who is attracted to and falls in love (even puppy love) with members of the same sex. It’s about emotions, and how people feel inside. It’s not only about activities restricted to porn. But that’s not the society we live in. Buying him this shirt felt like the equivalent of putting a huge target on our kid, along with a neon sign over his head saying “Hey Homophobes! Look Here!”

…

Another great piece from Amelia. A must-read.

Click on the title to read the full piece, and make sure you check out her other entries.

7 months ago · 152 notes

Some Findings from GLSEN National School Climate Survey 2011

GLSEN’s annual poll — which comprised 8,584 student respondents from all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia — aims to “consistently examine the experiences of LGBT students in America’s schools.”

Here are some findings from the survey:

  • 81.9 percent of LGBT students reported being verbally harassed, 38.3 percent reported being physically harassed and 18.3 percent reported being physically assaulted at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation.
     
  • A considerable number of students reported discriminatory policies or practices against LGBT people by their school or school personnel. Students indicated the most common discriminatory policy or practice was related to treatment of LGBT relationships (e.g., related to dates for school dances and public display of affection). 
     
  • 60.4 percent of LGBT students never reported an incident of harassment or assault to school personnel.
     
  • 84.9 percent of LGBT students heard “gay” used in a negative way (e.g., “that’s so gay”) and 71.3 percent heard homophobic remarks (e.g., “dyke” or “faggot”) frequently or often at school.
     
  • Transgender students experienced more hostile school climates than their non-transgender peers — 80 percent of transgender students reported feeling unsafe at school because of their gender expression.
     
  • Six in 10 LGBT students (63.5 percent) reported feeling unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation; and four in 10 (43.9 percent) felt unsafe because of their gender expression.
     
  • LGBT students reported feeling unsafe in specific school spaces, most commonly locker rooms (39.0 percent), bathrooms (38.8 percent) and physical education/gym class (32.5 percent).
     
  • The reported grade point average of students who were more frequently harassed because of their sexual orientation or gender expression was lower than for students who were less often harassed (2.9 vs. 3.2). Increased levels of victimization were related to increased levels of depression and anxiety and decreased levels of self-esteem.
     
  • Nearly one third of LGBT students (29.8 percent) reported skipping a class at least once and 31.8 percent missed at least one entire day of school in the past month because of safety concerns.
     
  • Being out in school had positive and negative repercussions for LGBT students - outness was related to higher levels of victimization, but also higher levels of psychological well-being.
While acknowledging that the 2011 survey ”marks a possible turning point in the school experiences of LGBT youth,” Dr. Joseph Kosciw, GLSEN’s Senior Director of Research and Strategic Initiatives, added, “An alarming number of LGBT youth still face barriers that inhibit their ability to receive an education. And although we have seen an increase in school supports that can improve school climate for these youth, many of these young people reported being unable to access these supports in their schools.”

8 months ago · 63 notes · Source

knowhomo: LBGTQ* Safety and Ally Assistance (photo from University of Richmond’s Common Ground) (following text from Youth Pride, Inc) Ten suggestions for reducing homophobia in your environment 1. Make no assumption about sexuality. If a student has not used a pronoun when discussing a relationship, don’t assume one. Use neutral language such as “Are you seeing anyone” instead of “Do you have a boyfriend”. Additionally, do not assume that a female student who confides a “crush” on another girl is a lesbian. Labels are often too scary and sometimes not accurate. Let students label themselves. 2. Have something gay-related visible in your office. A sticker, a poster, a flyer, a brochure, a book, a button… This will identify you as a safe person to talk to and will hopefully allow a gay, lesbian, bisexual or questioning youth to break his/her silence. SAFE ZONE campaign stickers and resources can provide this visibility. 3. Support, normalize and validate students’ feelings about their sexuality. Let them know that you are there for them. If you cannot be supportive, please refer to someone who can be. Then work on your own biases by reading, learning and talking to people comfortable with this issue. And always remember, the problem is homophobia not homosexuality. 4. Do not advise youth to come out to parents, family and friends as they need to come out at their own safe pace. Studies show as many as 26% of gay youth are forced to leave their home after they tell their parents. IT IS THEIR DECISION and they have to live with the consequences. Help them figure out what makes sense for them. 5. Guarantee confidentiality with students. Students need to know their privacy will be respected or they will not be honest about this important issue. If you cannot maintain confidentiality for legal reasons, let students know this in advance. 6. Challenge homophobia. As a role model for your students, respond to homophobia immediately and sincerely. Encourage in-service trainings for staff and students on homophobia and its impact on gay and lesbian youth. 7. Combat heterosexism in your classroom. Include visibly gay and lesbian role models in your classroom. 8. Learn about and refer to community organizations. Familiarize yourself with resources and call them before you refer to make sure they are ongoing. Also, become aware of gay-themed bibliographies and refer to gay-positive books. 9. Encourage school administrators to adopt and enforce anti-discrimination policies for their schools or school systems which include sexual orientation. The language should be included in all written materials next to race, sex, religion, etc. 10. Provide role models. Gay and straight students benefit from having openly gay teachers, coaches and administration. Straight students are given an alternative to the inaccurate stereotypes they have received and gay students are provided with the opportunity to see healthy gay adults. You, as teachers, can help by making gay and lesbian students feel more welcome. Suggestions compiled by Youth Pride, Inc.

knowhomo:

LBGTQ* Safety and Ally Assistance

(photo from University of Richmond’s Common Ground)

(following text from Youth Pride, Inc)

Ten suggestions for reducing homophobia in your environment

1. Make no assumption about sexuality. If a student has not used a pronoun when discussing a relationship, don’t assume one. Use neutral language such as “Are you seeing anyone” instead of “Do you have a boyfriend”. Additionally, do not assume that a female student who confides a “crush” on another girl is a lesbian. Labels are often too scary and sometimes not accurate. Let students label themselves.

2. Have something gay-related visible in your office. A sticker, a poster, a flyer, a brochure, a book, a button… This will identify you as a safe person to talk to and will hopefully allow a gay, lesbian, bisexual or questioning youth to break his/her silence. SAFE ZONE campaign stickers and resources can provide this visibility.

3. Support, normalize and validate students’ feelings about their sexuality. Let them know that you are there for them. If you cannot be supportive, please refer to someone who can be. Then work on your own biases by reading, learning and talking to people comfortable with this issue. And always remember, the problem is homophobia not homosexuality.

4. Do not advise youth to come out to parents, family and friends as they need to come out at their own safe pace. Studies show as many as 26% of gay youth are forced to leave their home after they tell their parents. IT IS THEIR DECISION and they have to live with the consequences. Help them figure out what makes sense for them.

5. Guarantee confidentiality with students. Students need to know their privacy will be respected or they will not be honest about this important issue. If you cannot maintain confidentiality for legal reasons, let students know this in advance.

6. Challenge homophobia. As a role model for your students, respond to homophobia immediately and sincerely. Encourage in-service trainings for staff and students on homophobia and its impact on gay and lesbian youth.

7. Combat heterosexism in your classroom. Include visibly gay and lesbian role models in your classroom.

8. Learn about and refer to community organizations. Familiarize yourself with resources and call them before you refer to make sure they are ongoing. Also, become aware of gay-themed bibliographies and refer to gay-positive books.

9. Encourage school administrators to adopt and enforce anti-discrimination policies for their schools or school systems which include sexual orientation. The language should be included in all written materials next to race, sex, religion, etc.

10. Provide role models. Gay and straight students benefit from having openly gay teachers, coaches and administration. Straight students are given an alternative to the inaccurate stereotypes they have received and gay students are provided with the opportunity to see healthy gay adults. You, as teachers, can help by making gay and lesbian students feel more welcome.

Suggestions compiled by Youth Pride, Inc.

9 months ago · 1,353 notes · Reblogged from knowhomo

Why My Son Can't Be a Boy Scout

By Amelia | Huffington Post

… my son is considered a threat to the Boy Scouts of America. Why? Because he identifies as gay. The Boy Scouts have created a lot of buzz lately by holding up their discriminatory policies against LGBT people. In the statement released by the BSA in 2004, they said, “Boy Scouts of America believes that homosexual conduct is inconsistent with the obligations in the Scout Oath and Scout Law to be morally straight and clean in thought, word, and deed.”

Well, I guess if they are using the word “straight” as the slang for ‘“heterosexual,” then they might have a point… but we all know they’re not. My son is at the age when most boys start Cub Scouts, but he won’t be among their numbers.

…

…It wouldn’t be fair to enter my son into the Scouts knowing that he is discriminated against. We will not ask him to lie about who he is, and neither of us feels that he is old enough to understand what he could possibly be taking on. More than that, gay kids face the trial of homophobia in this country every day. Setting him up with a group that he may grow to love, only to find out later that that same group thinks he’s “unclean,” would be cruel.

…

What do they think [on BSA’s statements] a gay scout or leader is going to “introduce or discuss”? It’s not like anyone is campaigning for a “Safe Anal Sex” merit badge. No, instead, it prohibits a gay scout leader from being honest about his or her partner or husband. It restricts gay scouts from answering the question “what did you do this weekend?” with “my boyfriend and I went to the movies.” That is simply unacceptable, because the mere mention of “same-sex attraction” is considered such a threat that it cannot be discussed. It saddens me that the BSA finds reality so threatening.

So far the BSA’s bigotry is only an issue for the adults in my son’s life, not for him, but … Soon his friends will be Cub Scouts, and he may come to me and ask to join. Then Bruce and I will have the unpleasant task of sitting a little boy down and figuring out the least painful way of saying, “Baby, they don’t want you.” And my little boy will know firsthand what discrimination is. Boy Scouts, you will help him learn an important lesson. I hope you are proud of yourselves.

Click on the link above to read the full article.

10 months ago · 29 notes

Watch Jon Stewart’s takedown of Chick-fil-A and The Boy Scouts of America over their anti-gay policies and statements.

10 months ago · 45 notes

Jennifer Caroll, Florida's Lt. Governor, Sparks Outraged And Inspiring Twitter Reactions With 'Lesbian' Comment

Check out the link to visit the page for slideshow prepared from inspiring responses to  Florida Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll statements. She told Tampa 10:

The problem is that when you have these accusations that come out, it’s not just one person you’re attacking. It’s an entire family. My husband doesn’t want to hear that. He knows the type of woman I am. I mean, my kids know the type of woman I am… Usually black women that look like me don’t engage in relationships like that.

In response to Carroll’s statements, Huffington Post Gay Voices tweeted for lesbian women to post pictures of themselves on Twitter with the hashtag #ThisIsWhatALesbianLooksLike, to show, as one respondent put it, that lesbians come in “all colors, all sizes, all hairstyles!”

10 months ago · 13 notes

Protect Children From Anti-Gay Therapy

caniscreamyourname:

So basically, some asshole parents make their kids go through “anti-gay” therapy after they come out and California has a bill that would ban them from doing this.

A state senate committee has already approved a bill that would forbid sexual orientation change therapy for children under 18, and adults would receive warnings of the hazards of such efforts.

Along with a warning that these therapies are not shown to be effective in changing a person’s sexual orientation, the bill cites risks of depression, anxiety and self-destructive behavior. 

Recently, a group called “SaveCalifornia” started campaigning for Republicans in the GA to vote down the bill.

The SaveCalifornia campaign serves to indicate the lengths that religious right activists are willing to go to in order to fight pro-LGBT legislation that would actually safeguard child welfare.

Introduced by Senator Ted Lieu, SB1172 would limit California’s health professionals from engaging in so-called sexual orientation change efforts, sometimes known as conversion or reparative therapy, with minors.

The legislation, the first of its kind in the US, passed 23 votes to 13 in the state Senate last month. It is believed the General Assembly has enough votes to pass the legislation and that Gov. Jerry Brown will sign, but voicing your support will be vital in ensuring the bill becomes law.

I urge you all to sign this petition to declare your support of the ex-gay therapy ban. The aim is for at least 5,000 signatures, but currently they’ve just barely reached 700. You would be helping those people who have not been accepted by their family for who they can’t help being, and it takes only 20 seconds to sign. Spreading the world also helps too.

10 months ago · 28 notes · Reblogged from caniscreamyourname