In an effort to turn the discussion back to a response to the news reports that prompted me to reactivate it:
There is a problem of bigotry fueled harrassment against homosexuals in schools, against those suspected to be homosexuals, and against those who object to this harrassment, by "siding with" and defending those on the receiving end.
There are statistics that indicated that teen suicide is the third highest cause of death in their aged group, and that teens who do not exclusively embrace heterosexual attraction, are at least three times more likely to commit suicide than other teens.
The question here is....in view of determinations by medical practitioners and all other groups of credentialed, mental health care providers, is it helpful or responsible for public school administrators to permit speakers to come into schools to deliver a message that implies or states that sexual attraction or activity that does not fit the "hetero" mold, is a disorder, an illness, abnormal, or something that can be "cured" with reparative therapy? Since medical practitioners specifically hold a policy that such therapy threatens self esteem, and should not be practiced, aren't schools risking funds that are earmarked for education, by increasing their exposure to potentially costly legal suits for allowing this "ex-gay" message in schools.
Is there another explanation for exposing students to the "ex-gay" message and reparative therapy, besides the influence of religious fundametalist extremism?
Are the following examples of "model" ways to attempt to lessen the impact of the actual problem; teen suicide levels and harrassment and violence in schools, or "new age" liberal responses to non-issues?
Quote:
http://www.mass.gov/gcgly/index.html
The Governor’s Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth was created by Governor William F. Weld on February 10th, 1992, in response to an epidemic of suicide among gay and lesbian youth. On October 7th, 1998, Governor A. Paul Cellucci expanded the powers of the Commission and renewed the executive office’s commitment to combat suicide and violence affecting gay and lesbian youth.
Many of the difficulties encountered by gay and lesbian youth are within the jurisdiction of state government and can be corrected by the dissemination of information, training, and the implementation of formal guidelines and state policy.
The Commission works in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Education and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to create school based and community based programs focusing on suicide prevention, violence intervention, and the promotion of zero-tolerance policies regarding harassment and discrimination against gay and lesbian youth.
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Quote:
http://www.mass.gov/gcgly/yrbs03.pdf
Massachusetts High School Students and Sexual Orientation
Results of the 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey
The Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey (MYRBS) is conducted every two years by the Massachusetts Department of Education with funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The survey monitors behaviors of high school students that are related to the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among youth and adults in the United States.
The 2003 MYRBS was conducted in 50 randomly selected public high schools. In total, 3624 students in grades 9 - 12 participated in this voluntary and anonymous survey. Because of the high student and school response rates, the results of this
survey can be generalized to apply to public high school students across Massachusetts.
Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Students
The MYRBS found that:
Ø 3.5 percent of students surveyed described themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual.
Ø 6.0 percent of all students described themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual and/or reported same-sex sexual contact.
Students at Risk
Students who described themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual were significantly more likely than their peers to report attacks, suicide attempts and drug and alcohol use. When compared to peers, this group was:
Ø over five times more likely to have attempted suicide in the past year
Ø over three times more likely to miss school in the past month because of feeling unsafe
Ø over three times more likely to have been injured or threatened with a weapon at school....
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I think that the 2003 Massachusetts statistics are particularly sobering when you consider that they are experienced 11 years after that state's governor set up a commission, <b>"in response to an epidemic of suicide among gay and lesbian youth."</b> How do you think the "progressive", Massachusetts statistics will "stack up", in comparision to the stats in "bible belt" states?
Quote:
http://www.nmha.org/newsroom/system/...?do=vw&rid=474
National Survey of Teens Shows Anti-Gay Bullying Common in Schools
New NMHA Program Reaches Out to Parents to Help End Bullying
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Embargoed until 12 noon, December 12, 2002) -- Bullying and other harassment towards gay teens and teens who are perceived to be gay is widespread in America’s schools and communities, according to a new survey of teens sponsored by the National Mental Health Association (NMHA), the nation’s oldest and largest mental health organization.
More than three-quarters of teens (78 percent) report that kids who are gay or thought to be gay are teased or bullied in their schools and communities. Nine out of ten teens (93 percent) hear other kids at school or in their neighborhood use words like “fag,” “homo,” “dyke,” “queer,” or “gay” at least once in a while, with 51 percent hearing them every day. Four out of five teen respondents said they disapprove of the taunting.
“Bullying is unacceptable in any form,” said Michael Faenza, NMHA president and CEO. “When bullied, gay youth and those thought to be gay face an increased risk for depression, anxiety disorders, school failure and suicide, especially when they don’t have a system of support. <b>Schools, community groups and parents share the responsibility of preventing and stopping this prejudice.”</b>
NMHA has launched a nationwide program called “What Does Gay Mean?” to help parents talk to their kids about such prejudice. The centerpiece of the program is a brochure of the same name, written by child psychiatrist Dr. Lynn Ponton, one of the country’s top experts on adolescent sexuality.
“Parents need to know that, gay or straight, their teens may face anti-gay bullying,” said Faenza. “Talking to your kids about bullying and its consequences can protect them and other kids from this damaging experience.”
According to a 1996 study by the Safe Schools Coalition, three out of four kids targeted by anti-gay bullies are heterosexual. Though all children suffer from anti-gay prejudice, gay youth tend to suffer the worst consequences. <b>According to various studies, one third of gay students are physically harassed due to their sexual orientation and one in six is beaten badly enough to need medical attention. Compared to straight kids, gay teens are four times more likely to be threatened with a weapon at school, and three to seven times more likely to attempt suicide.</b>
“As parents we are <b>often uncomfortable talking to our children about issues of sexual identity,”</b> Faenza said, “but kids need to learn about tolerance at home before they pick up intolerance on the playground and elsewhere.”
The brochure includes tips on how to talk to children of various ages about people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender, and offers resources on how to talk to their kids about sexual orientation in a way that is consistent with their values......
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