GB-PFLAG president Gretchen Frasier with opening remarks
Questions:
The Facts
The results of the 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey show that 3.7% of students described themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual (GLB) and 6.4% of all students described themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual and/or reported same-sex sexual contact.
The survey reveals that gay, lesbian and bisexual students attempt suicide almost 5 times more than their straight peers, were over four times more likely to miss school because of feeling unsafe, and almost twice as likely to have been injured or threatened with a weapon while at school.
What is your school climate like for these students?
It’s against the law; it should be against school policy.
Teachers and students need the tools to recognize and address what is occurring.
Greater Boston PFLAG trained speakers are parents, family members and friends of GLBT people, as well as GLBT people.
Our focus is sharing our personal stories and addressing anti-gay name-calling and bullying.
We give students and faculty the tools to bring about change, and resources to support long-term progress. We are available to:
The survey reveals that gay, lesbian and bisexual students attempt suicide almost 5 times more than their straight peers, were over four times more likely to miss school because of feeling unsafe, and almost twice as likely to have been injured or threatened with a weapon while at school.
What is your school climate like for these students?
How often do they hear anti-gay language such as faggot, dyke, saying "that’s so gay" to mean stupid?Of youth who attempt suicide, 89% were known to have experienced harassment. No student should have to endure the harassment that GLBT, or those perceived to be gay, experience daily.
It’s against the law; it should be against school policy.
Teachers and students need the tools to recognize and address what is occurring.
Greater Boston PFLAG trained speakers are parents, family members and friends of GLBT people, as well as GLBT people.
Our focus is sharing our personal stories and addressing anti-gay name-calling and bullying.
We give students and faculty the tools to bring about change, and resources to support long-term progress. We are available to:
- speak in health or other classes and assembly presentations and address anti-gay name-calling like “that’s so gay”.
- train school faculty to address anti-gay name-calling and bullying and create environments that are safe, welcoming and inclusive.
- present workshops on Diversity Days
- engage students in interactive activities and provide information at Health Fairs
- collaborate with Gay Straight Alliances to craft a school or community forum where issues that GLBT students face can be discussed openly in a format considered appropriate for each school.
