The tragedies of recent weeks have captured the attention of many across the country. The Alliance Board and Staff extend our deepest condolences to the families and communities who have directly been affected.
These much-publicized events spotlight what we know so well about bullying. Without prevention and intervention efforts that explicitly address LGBTQ youth, our young people will continue to suffer. These events lend urgency to the call to action we sound at the Alliance. We need your support to help us take that action.
The Prevent School Violence Illinois Act signifies a critical step in the safe schools movement; it defines bullying in state law and explicitly prohibits bullying with regard to actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. The law empowers our young people and their families to hold administrators and educators accountable for providing safe and nurturing schools for all.
Still, there is much work to do. With the law as our foundation, the Alliance will continue its work educating school personnel, social service providers and government officials, with a focus specifically on social justice and anti-oppression.
We know there are many opportunities to respond, react and come together around these recent events. We at the Alliance encourage you to Step Up, Step Out and Take Action!
At the Alliance, youth are always at the heart of our work and they, more than anyone, understand the effects of anti-LGBTQ harassment and bullying. It is our belief that they truly are the agents of change within their schools. By providing young people opportunities to become leaders, their vision and energy push forward the LGBTQ safe schools movement.
As part of their commitment to stand up and take action, the Alliance Youth Committee is participating in the Make it Better Project, a campaign launched by the GSA Network in California to provide youth a forum to demonstrate how they have made their schools and communities better, safer, and more accepting for ALL youth. With this project, young people from across Illinois will be uploading videos to www.makeitbetterproject.org about their experiences with bullying, activism, and social change.
As always, at the Alliance we draw inspiration from the energy and passion of the young people and adults who join us in our work to promote the safety and support of LGBTQ youth and all students in Illinois schools. Thank you for your time, your commitment and vision for a brighter future.
IN THIS ISSUE [LINK HERE OR FROM THIS ISSUE’S MAIN INDEX]
windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=28993 Anti-suicide project reflects on cases
windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=28994 DePaul vigil remembers teen suicides
windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=29017 by Kirk Williamson
windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=29018 by Tracy Baim
windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=29019 by Toni Weaver
windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=29020 by Amy Pirtle
windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=29021 by Bobby Pirtle
windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=29022 by Eric Marcus
windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=29023 by Alexandra Billings
windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=29024 by Caleb’s Story
windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=29025 by Karlis Streips
windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=29026 by John R. Cepek
windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=29027 by Judy Shepard
windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=29028 by Lee Lynch
windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=29029 by Kristi Keorkunian
windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=29030 by Joshua Plant
windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=29031 by Chris Hill
windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=29032 Trevor Project Chicago events
windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=29034 Mother of Slain Teen Gwen Araujo Addresses LGBT Youth Suicide by Sylvia Guerrero
windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=29035 by Carl G. Streed Jr.
windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=29036 by Thom Bierdz
windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=29037 by Kit Duffy
windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=29038 by Vernita Gray
windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=29039 by Wancy Young Cho
windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=29040 RESOURCES
windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=29041 QUOTES