"Our daughter Emily is a soldier in Iraq, and she just told us that she's gay. Will they throw her out of the military?"

Working to create a dialogue of understanding in our schools and communities throughout Massachusetts.

We believe every student has the right to a safe and equitable learning environment free from verbal or physical harassment.

For students who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or questioning (GLBTQ) school can be a difficult place to learn and mature. GLBTQ students are often invisible in our schools. Whether or not faculty and administration are aware of its gay students, these students need a supportive, safe environment.

Since 1993, the Massachusetts Department of Education and the DPH, with support from the Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth, has provided funding and support for a Massachusetts Safe Schools Program. In Massachusetts, it is the law that no student may be discriminated against in our public schools because of sexual orientation. Effective March 10, 1994, the following is included in Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 76, Section 5: (MASSACHUSETTS ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAW)

No person shall be excluded from or discriminated against in admission to a public school of any town, or in obtaining the advantages, privileges and courses of study of such public school on account of race, color, sex, religion, national origin or sexual orientation.

Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Students The 2005 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that:

• 3.7 percent of students surveyed described themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual.
• 6.4 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:

• over four times more likely to have attempted suicide in the past year
• over four times more likely to miss school in the past month because of feeling unsafe
• almost twice as likely to have been injured or threatened with a weapon at school

The purpose of Greater Boston PFLAG's Safe Schools & Communities Project is to help schools and communities establish a safe atmosphere where all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, can flourish and grow. We know that creating a safe environment for LGBT students requires work on a number of levels, such as policy development and enforcement, availability of library resources, teacher and student training, and curriculum development.

As parents, teachers, guidance counselors, administrators and health care providers, we can make our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth feel safe and welcome. Together, our voices create affirming learning environments for all students.

Since it's beginning in 1993, the Greater Boston PFLAG Safe Schools & Communities Project speakers have reached over 100,000 people in thousands of schools, religious and community organizations and corporations. Greater Boston PFLAG makes schools safer in ways nobody else can. As families, our voices carry tremendous weight in schools.

WHAT WE OFFER -- Training is available for:

Schools

• Presentations for classroom discussions in middle and high schools
• Training for faculty and administrators
• Diversity days, violence prevention programs, health fairs and panel discussions
• Gay, Straight Alliance (GSA) discussion groups
• PTA/PTO evening events
• School-wide assemblies
• Colleges and universities

Communities

• Community forums and panels
• Human service organizations
• Civic organizations
• Corporate training
• Religious groups

Our trained speakers are parents, family members, and friends of GLBT youth, as well as GLBT adults and youth. They bring a family perspective and expertise to their personal stories.

Join us - click here, print and mail the form

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT Greater Boston PFLAG'S PRESENTATIONS

TEACHERS:

"The speakers were great-they really touched the audience. Many teachers went home and had a talk with their own children. So many wonderful responses. It was the talk of the lunch table the next day. Many teachers felt that this gave them the "recharging" they needed to keep active in dealing with this issue and make sure that our high school is safe for gay kids!"

"My students and I are very grateful for your heartwarming stories and excellent information on this sensitive subject. We were all made to feel very comfortable during the discussion period thanks to your experience and your openness."

"Many students told me that they were very moved by your honest emotion in coming to an understanding about this issue in your own life. It is important for people to see and hear that parental love is constant. You are doing important work educating young people in the best possible way to be accepting of all people."

"We liked having both a parent of a GLBT individual and a gay parent- it added a dimension often overlooked in discussions of GLBT issues in schools."

STUDENTS:

"This was the best class we had all year. I thought the two speakers were direct, honest, and realistic. Their message was based on real life experiences, and that they were so open as to share their personal experiences with us made us trust them. I felt like I could connect with what they were saying."

"Both speakers admitted their own stereotypes about homosexuality and that made me see that with enough understanding and down to earth knowledge anyone can change his her frame of mind."

"I found this class extremely interesting because of the incredibly open and comfortable atmosphere our two PFLAG guest speakers created as soon as they began their presentation."

"It was good to hear a parent expressing pride in her gay child and risking harassment to express it."

"Gay people shouldn't be oppressed or ridiculed, and the hatred shouldn't be going on."

"I used to dislike gay people and now realize I was just being stupid and ignorant."