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Broward County Office of Prevention Programsand
Safe Schools South Florida Present:
Bullyingand
Sexual Minority Youth Issues101
www.SafeSchoolsSouthFlorida.org
PO Box 24444, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33307(305) 576-2126 ~ (954) 771-4799
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AgendaAgenda Welcome Who is Safe Schools South Florida? Goals of the workshop Why we are here today Issues facing LGBTQ students Student panel and questions As professionals, how do we
respond? Strategies for helping professionals Utilizing resources 2
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WelcomeWelcome Acknowledgements
Thank you: The Graves Charitable Fund of the Community Foundation of
Broward. Gamma Mu Foundation. Aqua Foundation. Office of Prevention Programs of Broward County Schools.
Introductions Who we are. Who are you?
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How We Fulfill Our How We Fulfill Our MissionMission
We empower students We train educators We educate parents and
the public We review our programs
for value and improvement
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© 2010-20115
“I hate you people for leaving me out of so many fun things…you had my number and I asked and all, but no, no, no, no --- don’t let the weird looking Eric kid come along.”
From the journal of Eric Harris,
Columbine High School shooter
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Common Reasons for Bullying Common Reasons for Bullying and Harassment in Schooland Harassment in School
6Source: From Teasing to Torment: School Climate in America, A Survey of Students and Teachers
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Broward County School Board Broward County School Board PolicyPolicy
The School Board of Broward County, Florida (Hereinafter referred to as “The Board”) shall not discriminate against students, employees, applicants, contractors, or individuals participating in school board sponsored activities. The school board is committed to the provision of equal access in all student, employment, and business programs, activities, services, and operations that are operated or provided directly by The Board, as well as those operated or provided by another entity on behalf of The Board under contractual or other arrangements. This policy is established to provide an environment free from discrimination and harassment based upon age, race, color, disability, gender, marital status, national origin, religion, or sexual orientation.
It is the intent of this policy, and respective procedures, to support and implement protections against discrimination and harassment as prohibited by the constitution, federal and state statutes, county ordinance, and all other applicable laws or regulations.
AUTHORITY: F.S. 230.22(1)(2) & The Federal Americans with Disability ActPolicy Adopted 9/5/74Policy Amended: 7/22/75; 3/4/82; 7/14/87; 5/18/93 Amended Policy Approved 3/18/97
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BCPS Bullying and BCPS Bullying and Harassment PolicyHarassment Policy
Adopted July 2009Adopted July 2009
“Bullying” means systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or
psychological distress on one or more students or employees.
It is further defined as:
unwanted purposeful written, verbal, nonverbal, or physical behavior, including but not limited to any threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gesture, by an adult or student, that has the potential to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment or cause long term damage; cause discomfort or humiliation; or unreasonably interfere with the individual’s school performance or participation, is carried out repeatedly and is often characterized by an imbalance of power. 9
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Research Tells Research Tells Us…Us…
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How did it feel to be displaced?
"At first I was in complete and utter shock but soon after I started to believe that I was created to demonstrate negativity. I felt that all of my intellect, compassion, morals and talents were soon to be abolished. I was sickened to look at myself and after countless vain attempts to try and be "normal" I felt there may be nothing to live for. My mind was flooded, and still very much is, with the painful reality that I would never have a family again. I tried to escape reality with false hopes and empty promises to myself but none of this gave me a sense of genuine hope.“
David Hitchcock
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Research Tells Us…Research Tells Us… Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are up to
four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers.1
Nearly half of young transgender people have seriously thought about taking their lives and one quarter report having made a suicide attempt.2
Various studies have found depression strikes LGBT youth four to five times more severely.
Three-fifths (60.8%) of LGBT students felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation.3
LGBTQ teens have twice the number of unwanted pregnancies as straight teens.
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An 11-year-old Massachusetts boy, Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, hanged himself after enduring bullying at school, including daily taunts of being gay, despite his mother's weekly pleas to the school to address the problem.
http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/news/record/
2400.html
Sources: 1Massachusetts 2007 Youth Risk Survey 2Grossman AH, D’Augelli AR - Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior 2007 32007 GLSEN National School Climate Survey
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Biased Language in Biased Language in SchoolSchool
Homophobic remarks are the most common type of biased language heard at school: Approximately 90% of students hear “that’s
so gay” or ”you’re so gay” frequently. Approximately three quarters of students
hear other homophobic remarks (e.g., “dyke” or “faggot”) frequently.
Nearly a fifth of students hear homophobic remarks from teachers or other school staff.
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Source: 2007 GLSEN School Climate Survey
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Biased Language in Biased Language in SchoolSchool
Negative remarks about gender expression were also common: Just over half of students hear frequent
remarks about someone not acting masculine enough and 39% heard remarks about someone not acting feminine enough.
More than a quarter (28%) of students hear negative remarks about gender expression from teachers or other school staff.
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Source: 2007 GLSEN School Climate Survey
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Sexual Sexual Orientation:Orientation:
One of the Human One of the Human DiversitiesDiversities
Heterosexual Homosexual Bisexual
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Paradigm of Human Paradigm of Human SexualitySexuality
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Sexual Sexual BehaviorBehavior
Sexual behavior is a choice. Behaving homosexually does not necessarily mean
that one’s sexual orientation is homosexual. Likewise behaving heterosexually does not
necessarily mean that one is heterosexual. Significant numbers of people have engaged in
both heterosexual and homosexual behavior. 16
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Sexual Sexual OrientationOrientation
Sexual orientation seems to be formed at a very early age.
Adolescence and early adulthood are an unfolding of that orientation.
The development of sexual orientation does not seem to be a choice.
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Gender Gender IdentityIdentity
Gender identity is the sense of “I am male” or “I am female.”
Formed at a very early age and not subject to choice. Gender identity is revealed by feelings, dreams and
fantasies about one’s body and genitals.
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Gender RoleGender Role
Gender role most often reflects the ways in which our culture invites us to behave depending on our genitals.
Gender role is similar to sexual behavior in that it is a choice.
“Be a man” “Act like a lady”
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Counselors and Teachers: Counselors and Teachers: Responding to StudentsResponding to Students
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Counselors and Teachers:Counselors and Teachers:Responses to Coming OutResponses to Coming Out Recognize the importance of this process for the
gay student. Respect the risk the student is taking by coming
out to you. Show your appreciation and support of the student. Help to make it a happy occasion. Also remember to never out a student to parents,
guardians, or others due to possible severe ramifications for the student.
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Step One and Step Two:Step One and Step Two:Identify the Bullying or Harassment:Identify the Bullying or Harassment:
Connect and ReflectConnect and Reflect Be assertive, yet connect with the aggressor. Label
the form of harassment: “Paul, you just made a harassing comment based upon… appearance, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, abilities, size, age, etc.).
Do not imply the target is a member of that identifiable group.
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Step Three:Step Three:Say What’s Not OkaySay What’s Not Okay
Do not personalize your response at this stage: Consider this: “We at ____ school do not
harass people – we do however ensure that everyone here feels welcome and valued.”
Re-identify the offensive behavior: “This name calling/this type of language can also be hurtful to others who overhear it.”
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Step Four:Step Four:Request a Change and/or Request a Change and/or
Ask for Change in Future BehaviorAsk for Change in Future Behavior “So, let’s give it a rest.” “______ is a great school, let’s keep
it that way, okay?” “Jessica, please cut it out. I know you and am sure you can
make the right decision.” “Miguel, please pause and think before you act.” “We want
everyone to be safe at this school.” Check in with the target, either offline or in the moment,
depending on context and situation: “If this continues, please tell me, and I will take further action, and/or we will talk about what to do next.”
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Intervening inIntervening inAnti-gay BullyingAnti-gay Bullying
It might sound like this: Connect: “Vanessa, you’ve got a great head on
your shoulders.” PAUSE…
Reflect: “But, I just overheard you call Jylene a dyke, and it doesn’t look like she’s laughing.”
Say What’s Not Okay: “Calling her a dyke is a putdown and our school is a place where everyone is valued and respected.”
Request a Change: “So, stop it/cut it out. I have confidence in you to make good choices.”
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