News
- GLBTeen Resources Web Site Receives "nod" from Tucson/Pima Public Library
The Tucson/Pima Public Library has paid the GLBTeen Resources web site a great service and compliment by including links to the web site in a couple of locations on the Library's web page. Thanks so much!
Listed at top of the list on the "TeenZone" web page located at:
http://www.lib.ci.tucson.az.us/teenzone/coolsites.htm
and here on the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, & Transgender Information -- Selected GLBT Internet links - Tucson & Arizona:
Here are some interesting articles summarized from various news sources
- Pink tsunami sends bullies a message
From PlanetOut.com — 9/13/2007
Really inspiring story being covered by PlanetOut about
how over 400 students at a Nova Scotia high school
wore pink one school day in support of a freshman who
was accosted and bullied by a group of homophobes
because the freshman wore a pink shirt to school.
Very clever way to confront the issue of stereotyping
and harassment because of a person's perceived
homosexuality. Awesome!
Story: - Utah Homophobes at it again
From The Huffington Post — 3/18/2007
Here's a posting by GLSEN Executive Director, Kevin Jennings,
about Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. last week signed into law a bill
that imposes new rules on high school student clubs including
provisions on how groups can form, what they can discuss in their
meetings, who can join, and what a principal must do if rules are
violated are addressed.
So who is the mean-spirited Mormon behind this? Meet State Senator
D. Chris Buttars, the man the Salt Lake City Weekly named
"BEST INSANE POLITICIAN" and a longtime foe of Gay-Straight Alliances
who has been introducing bills for years designed to restrict or
eliminate them and got lucky with this one.
More in-depth coverage available on the New York Times online
edition (registration required) available here
Story: - U.S. court upholds same-sex teaching to children
From Reuters News Service (via Yahoo! News) — 2/24/2007
Yahoo posts this fantastic news about a federal judge in
Boston has dismissed a suit by two families who wanted to
stop a Massachusetts town and its public school
system from teaching their children about gay
marriage, court documents show.
The judge pretty much says, "that public schools
are 'entitled to teach anything that is reasonably
related to the goals of preparing students to become
engaged and productive citizens in our democracy.'"
Story: - Georgia schools settle suit for GSA
From PlanetOut — 12/27/2006
Story:
Here's an article from PlanetOut on their continuing coverage of
White County, Georgia, schools now having to permit the formation
of Gay-Straight Alliance, pay the attorney fees of the students who.
brought the law suit against the District, and provide an anti-bullying
program for ninth-graders.
Queer students rule! See what awesome things students can accomplish! - Couple allegedly gay-bashed in Scottsdale
From The Advocate — 12/20/2006
Story:
Here's an article The Advocate about a beating two gay men endured
outisde a restaurant in Scottsdale, AZ. on Sunday, 12/17/06. The
two men, aged 19 and 28, were allegedly beaten by seven men.
A local, Paradise Valley Town Councilman has offered $10,000 for
information about the attack that is being classified as a hate crime. - National Gay Lesbian Task Force Creating Change Conference Video
From [0] The Task Force — 11/29/2006
Story:
Here's a link [1] to a YouTube page for the National Gay Lesbian Task Force,
Creating Change Conference with videos of speeches and presentations.
Check out a student made video, We Belong [2], on the Seeds of Tolerance [3]
contest page. The link to the We Belong (Flash Video) video is on bottom right.[0] http://www.thetaskforce.org/
[1] http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=TheTaskForce
[2] http://webelongthemovie.com/
[3] http://www.current.tv/make/vc2/sot - Gerry Studds Dies at 69; First Openly Gay Congressman
From The New York Times...registration required — 10/15/2006
Story:
Here's an article on the New York Times about the passing of Congressman Gerry Studds,
the first openly gay member of Congress and a demanding advocate for
New England fishermen and for gay rights, died early Saturday at Boston University
Medical Center, his husband said.http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/15/us/15studds.html?th&emc=th
- Another Victory in Massachusetts
From Nat'l. Gay and Lesbian Task Force... — 9/30/2006
Story:
Here's an article on the NGLTF web site about the Massachusetts state Supreme.
Court deciding to let same-sex couples from neighboring Rhode Island to get
married in Massachusetts. Now, if only "same-sex couples can marry in their home state"—
wouldn't that be novel!? - Climate for young gays improving
From Tucson Citizen... — 11/30/2005
Story:
Here's an older article about local Tucson GLBT teens from the Tucson Citizen.
Additional coverage about the Doolen Middle School students working to form a
GSA and quotes from Amanda, past CDO GSA President.http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/news/local/113005a1_gay_teens_1a
- Hero of United Flight 93—A Mark Bingham history tour
From PlanetOut.com... — 9/12/2006
Story:
PlanetOut has published a great article about Mark Bingham, one of the heroes
who helped foil the hijacking attempt of United Airlines Flight 93—one
of the four planes hijacked by terrorists on September 11, 2001.
The article includes interviews with friends and family and describes
all the honors posthumously bestowed on Bingham, a gay man and athlete.http://www.planetout.com/content/slideshow/?coll=1656&navpath=/news//
- Ban on school bias passes Calif. Assembly
From planetout.com... — 8/22/2006
Story:
Continuing the story about anti-GLBT bias legislation...
Most of the real "meat" of the bill to include coverage of GLBT historical
figures along side mainstream figures of importance in California school
textbooks has been removed. This was done to help insure that anti-LGBT
bias was included in the non-discrimination policies.
The textbook/curriculum adoption was removed because Gov. Arnold had
made it clear that all of his conservative Christian supporters (who
got him into office and want to keep him there!) had gone all wiggy
about the textbook portions. They still aren't too excited about the
inclusion of GLBT in policies.
Here's the lead paragraph from PlanetOut.
After a long partisan debate, the California Assembly
voted 47-31 to ban materials and activities in schools
that are discriminatory toward gay men, lesbians,
bisexuals, and transgender individuals.
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, said the
bill, sponsored by out Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica,
was needed to expand the anti-discriminatory protections
now afforded minorities based on race, gender, and religion. - Federal Court: School Cannot Deny Access To Gay Club
From www.365gay.com... — 7/14/2006
Story:
A federal judge ruled Friday that White County
High School must allow students in the gay-straight
alliance club to meet on campus.
U-S District Court Judge William C. O'Kelley said
that the school cannot deny the GSA, called P.R.I.D.E.,
equal access or a fair opportunity to conduct meetings
on school premises during noninstructional time.
O'Kelley said that school officials had violated the
Federal Equal Access Act by barring the group from meeting
on campus, while allowing other non-curricular clubs to do so.http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/07/071406whiteco.htm
And here at The Advocate...
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid33684.asp
And here at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution...
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/metro/stories/0715metwhite.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=13
- Calif. Senate OKs gay curriculum bill
From planetout.com... — 5/12/2006
Story:
This is extremely huge and very necessary
- think about what it would mean to hear about important GLBT
historical figures along side mainstream figures of importance in
the classroom. On top of that, California (and Texas) are the states where
textbook publishers market their offerings: if something is
adopted in California, then you can be sure that text book will
appear in most other states before long. Of course, this has
gone no further than the California State Senate and will have
to get to the desk of the mostly homophobic Governor Arnold, who is
easily influenced by religious right wheelers-n-dealers.
The California Senate approved a bill Thursday
to include the contributions of gay men and lesbians
in social-science curricula in public schools.
The 22-15 vote broke down mainly along party lines,
with Democrats in favor and Republicans opposed. The bill
now goes to the state Assembly. - GLSEN's 2005 National School Climate Survey Sheds New Light
From GLSEN.org... — 4/26/2006
Story:
The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, or GLSEN,
today announced findings from the 2005 National School Climate
Survey (NSCS), the only national survey to document the experiences
of students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender (LGBT) in America's schools.
"The 2005 National School Climate Survey reveals that anti-LGBT
bullying and harassment remain commonplace in America's schools,"
said GLSEN Founder and Executive Director Kevin Jennings.
"On the positive side, it also makes clear that inclusive policies,
supportive school staff and student clubs, like Gay-Straight
Alliances, all relate to reduced harassment and higher achieving students."http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/news/record/1927.html/
- Lawsuit Claims Gay Discrimination At Charter School
From WMAQ-TV Chicago, IL... — 4/18/2006
Story:
Lambda Legal filed suit in federal court Tuesday
to stop what it calls discrimination against students
at the Noble Street Charter High School who tried to
create a gay straight alliance, or GSA, student group.
James Madigan, staff attorney in Lambda Legal’s
Midwest Regional Office in Chicago, said in a
release. "By forcing the GSA to meet informally, and
not allowing the GSA to use resources given to other
school clubs, the administration has created a
second-class citizen status for these students, and
that is against the law."http://www.nbc5.com/education/8799955/detail.html?rss=chi&psp=news
And here...
- Group condemns high school alliance
From salisburypost.com... — 4/8/2006
Story:
Preachers and concerned Christians set up camp outside
South Rowan High School at 6:30 a.m. Friday, loudly condemning
its new Gay/Straight Alliance and sin in general to anyone
who would listen. - Georgia School sued for ban on gay-straight club
From www.aclu.org... — 2/27/2006
Story:
The ACLU filed a lawsuit Monday in federal court against
officials at White County High School in Cleveland, Ga., for banning
a gay-straight alliance group.http://www.aclu.org/lgbt/youth/24284prs20060227.html
And here...
http://www.planetout.com/news/article.html?2006/02/28/1 - MA Gay Bar Attack Suspect Dies
From MSNBC.com... — 2/5/2006
Story:
The 18 year-old teen high-school drop-out, Neo-Nazi sympathizer,
who went on a killing rampage with a hatchet and pistol at a
gay bar in New Bedford, MA, was cornered in a shoot-out with
Arkansas police and died today from two bullet wounds in the head
sustained in the gun battle. Along the way, he killed a police
officer in Missouri, and apparently killed the older woman friend
he had picked up in W. Virgina.http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11146480/
and here: http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/02/02/gay.shooting/ - Gwen Araujo Murder Case
From www.planetout.com... — 1/27/2006
Story:
Prison sentences for the 2002 killing of transgender teen Gwen Araujo.
The two men convicted of second-degree murder, Michael Magidson
and Jose Merel, were sentenced 15 years to life.http://www.planetout.com/news/roundups/package.html?sernum=461
- Utah State Sen. Pushes Bill To Ban School Gay Clubs
From 365Gay.com... — 1/16/2006
Story:
State Senator Chris Buttars took his campaign to ban
gay-straight clubs to Utah's most outspoken conservative
group on the weekend.
Buttars told the Eagle Forum his bill to ban the clubs from
meeting on school property will be introduced in the Utah
Senate this year. - School district settles with gay students
From The Rocky Mountain News... — 11/22/2005
Story:
Colorado Springs School District 11 has settled a lawsuit
filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of students
after Palmer High School refused to recognize their Gay/Straight Alliance
as an official school club.http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_4259255,00.html
and here... http://www.denverpost.com/ci_3242257?rss - Three men arrested in connection with murder of gay Londoner
From The Advocate... — 10/20/2005 — Please Note: The Adocate might be filtered
Story:
by your school district and not be accessible from your school
London police officials said Wednesday that three teens
were arrested in connection with the brutal murder of
Jody Dobrowski. Two of the men, both 17, and another male,
age 13, were arrested early Monday morning and were released on bail - GSA to be founded at Provo High School...
From Provo Daily Herald... — 10/16/2005
Story:
Whether the community wants it or not -- and the bag
is a mixed one -- Provo High School has approved the
formation of a Gay-Straight Alliance club.http://www.harktheherald.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=66491
- AZ State changes its tune on abstinence-only
From CHAMP Network... — 9/14/2005
Story:
State health officials are sending a new message to
Arizona teens: Abstain from sex - or at least use a condom.http://www.champnetwork.org/index.php?name=pagetool_news&news_id=37
- Gay marriage bill goes to Calif. governor
From PlanetOut... — 9/7/2005
Story:
The California Legislature on Tuesday became the
first U.S. legislative body to approve same-sex marriages.
Will Gov. Schwarzenegger sign on? - Teen sues N.J. school to protect her safety
From PlanetOut... — 9/7/2005
Story:
SUMMARY: New Jersey school administrators were slapped with
a lawsuit claiming they failed to take adequate measures to
protect a lesbian student from abuse. - New Gay Battle Erupts At Boyd High School
From 365 Gay — 7/6/2005
Story:
The American Civil Liberties Union asked a federal judge
on Wednesday to reopen a lawsuit it brought two years ago on
behalf of several students who had sought to form a gay-straight
alliance at Boyd County High School.
In a motion filed today, the ACLU points to failures by
the school district to keep up its end of the agreement to
provide a mandatory training focused on sexual orientation and
gender identity discrimination.http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/07/070605boydSchool.htm
Logon and visit the GLBTeen Bulletin Board discussion area and discuss what kind of teacher & student training (if any!) is happening at your school. - The Pope and AIDS
From New York Times ...registration required — 5/8/2005
Story:
If Pope Benedict XVI wants to ease human suffering,
he could encourage the use of condoms.http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/08/opinion/08kristof.html?ex=1116216000&en=0900ad6d8afb668a&ei=5070
- Sunnyside Unified School District & Changes to Non-Discrimination Policies
The meeting of the Governing Board of Sunnyside Unified School District (Tucson) on Tuesday, April 12, the board voted unanimously to add "gender identity or expression" to all of our non-discrimination policies -- (1) nondiscrimination, (2) staff hiring, (3) student participation, and (4) multicultural/diversity education.
Sunnyside is the only school district in the state of Arizona that now offers domestic partner benefits to all employees, defines "domestic partners" within the context of "families" in district policies, and has BOTH "sexual orientation" and "gender identity or expression" in all of our discrimination policies! - Gay marriage bill goes to Calif. governor
From PlanetOut... — 9/7/2005
Story:
The California Legislature on Tuesday became the
first U.S. legislative body to approve same-sex marriages.
Will Gov. Schwarzenegger sign on? - Teen sues N.J. school to protect her safety
From PlanetOut... — 9/7/2005
Story:
SUMMARY: New Jersey school administrators were slapped with
a lawsuit claiming they failed to take adequate measures to
protect a lesbian student from abuse. - Sakia Gunn Murderer Gets 20 Years
From QueerDay... — 4/30/2005
Story:
Richard McCullough admitted that he fatally stabbed 15-year-old Sakia Gunn during a confrontation about her being a lesbian. He was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in prison, having previously faced up to 30 years before pleading guilty last month to aggravated manslaughter, aggravated assault and bias intimidation. Sakia Gunn, pictured, and four other girls were waiting for a bus in downtown Newark, New Jersey, when McCullough and another man drove up and asked them if they wanted to go to a party. The girls responded that they were lesbians. The men began spewing homophobic insults and McCullough stabbed her.http://www.queerday.com/2005/apr/22/richard_mccullough_gets_20_years_for_sakia_gunn_murder.html
With another story about the murder and murder conviction:
- Navajo head vetoes gay marriage measure
From N.O.W. ... — 5/2/2005
Story:
The president of the Navajo Nation vetoed a measure
Sunday that would have banned same-sex marriage on the
Indian reservation.
See the article below on the original ban by the Navajo Tribal Council - Connecticut Legalizes Civil Unions for Same-Sex Couples
From N.O.W. ... — 4/21/2005
Story:
On Wednesday, the Connecticut legislature voted 26 to 8
to make civil unions legal for same-sex couples.
Civil unions carry the rights and privileges of marriage at
the state level, but not at the federal level. - Calif. Gay Marriage Bill Clears One Hurdle
From PlanetOut... — 4/27/2005
Story:
A bill to legalize same-sex marriage in California cleared an Assembly committee Tuesday despite arguments that it violates a gay marriage ban approved by voters five years ago.http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050427/ap_on_re_us/gay_marriage_2
- Navajo Nation outlaws same-sex marriage
From PlanetOut... — 4/26/2005
Story:
The tribal council of the Navajo Nation outlawed same-sex marriages in a unanimous vote. The Dine Marriage Act also prevents plural marriages and marriages between close relatives.http://www.planetout.com/news/article.html?date=2005/04/26/2
- Poll shows improving views on gay athletes
From PlanetOut... — 4/15/2005
Story:
A new poll in Sports Illustrated shows mixed feelings about out athletes -- there's "nothing wrong" with openly gay pro jocks, but they're "bad for the team." What?http://www.planetout.com/bounce/pnodirect/orbit/2005/0415/sports.html
- Opponents mobilize against Day of Silence
From PlanetOut... — 4/15/2005
Story:
As thousands refused to speak for a day to draw attention to harassment of LGBT students, the religious right struck back with a so-called "Day of Truth."http://www.planetout.com/bounce/pnodirect/orbit/2005/0415/silence.html
- Killer of Arizona gay man gets life term
From PlanetOut... — 3/29/2005
Story:
A Tucson court sentenced the murderer of a gay man to life in prison. The victim's mother described her son's killer as having "evil running in his blood." - Gay-slaying verdict: guilty
From Arizona Daily Star... — 1/28/2005
Story:
A 22-year-old man described as having neo-Nazi beliefs was
convicted Thursday in the murder of a gay man who was beaten
to death near North Fourth Avenue in 2002.
David A. Higdon was convicted of the first-degree murder
of Philip Walsted, who was beaten to death with a baseball bat. - From Gay teenager whose shirts sparked controversy withdraws from school
The Advocate... and from... The Kansas City Star...
Story:
Brad Mathewson, whose situation prompted the American
Civil Liberties Union to file a lawsuit against the high
school and its principal, dropped out of school this week.
That would appear to end the controversy that started when
he was asked to conceal the gay-pride themes on two T-shirts
he wore in October.http://www.advocate.com/new_news.asp?ID=14571&sd=12/11/04-12/13/04
and here:http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/10390539.htm?1c
- Group moves to guard gay student rights
From PlanetOut...
Story:
Citing areas of the country that have seen an
increase in hostility since the November election, Lambda
Legal has made commercials that affirm gay students' civil
rights. - Laramie Project Play at Rincon/UHS and Arizona State Revised Statutes
From Arizona Daily Star
Story:
This article about GSAs, the Laramie Project play being put on
by Rincon/UHS, and information about the Arizona Revised Statutes
that deny discussion about homosexuality in a positive manner in schools. - Hate Crime
From Tucson Weekly...
Story:
While Tucson has a progressive reputation, the 2002 death
of Philip Walsted serves as a reminder that anti-gay hatred remains.http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/Currents/Content?oid=oid:62494
- GLBT youth win college scholarships
From PlanetOut... 7/14/2004
Story:
Yet another high school honor student Ryan Kim was disowned by his parents
and kicked out of their home, as well as having all monetary support
for his college education withdrawn, he is one of the
Point Foundation college scholarship recipients. - Group gives grant to expelled gay student
From PlanetOut... 1/12/2005
Story:
High school honor student James Barnett made headlines when
he was expelled for being gay. Now, he tells PlanetOut about
his Point Foundation college scholarship and how he came out.http://www.planetout.com/news/article.html?date=2005/01/12/1
- Voters in 11 states ban same-sex marriage
From PlanetOut...
Story:
During the U.S. presidential election on Tuesday,
voters in 11 states gave a clear indication on their
feelings toward same-sex marriage. - Study: Teens adjust well with gay parents
From PlanetOut...
Story:
Teenagers raised by two moms develop as well as
teens raised by opposite-sex parents, according to a
groundbreaking new study published in the journal Child
Development. - Saskatchewan approves same-sex unions
From QueerDay...
Story:
Gay and lesbian couples can officially tie the knot
in Saskatchewan with Justice Donna Wilson ruling today
that the "traditional" definition of marriage is unconstitutional. - Irish bishop backs same-sex couple rights
From PlanetOut...
Story:
A senior Catholic bishop has gone against the
pope's recent comments and backed equal rights for lesbian
and gay couples. - Gay students sue Los Angeles high school
From PlanetOut...
Story:
The ACLU filed a lawsuit on behalf of gay and
lesbian students at a Los Angeles high school Thursday,
claiming that school staff members harassed them repeatedly. - Gay youth smoke more, study finds
From PlanetOut...
Story:
Gay and lesbian youth, like older LGBT people, may be 40 to 60 percent more
likely than their straight peers to smoke cigarettes, according to recent
research. 26-Oct-2004 02:50:12 pm, Health - Chicago mayor signs petition supporting same-sex marriage
From The Advocate...
Story:
Chicago mayor signs petition supporting same-sex marriage.
http://www.planetout.com/news/article.html?2007/09/13/6
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kevin-jennings/mean-spirited-meddling-an_b_43691.html
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070224/ts_nm/usa_gays_suit_dc_1
And here at the Arizona Republic — personal info required to view story:
http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/1220hatefolo-ON.html
And here Yahoo News (in case PlanetOut is blocked at school)...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/po/20060823/co_po/banonschoolbiaspassescalifassembly
And here at New York Times (registration req'd)...
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/14/us/14gays.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin
Here's the original "guilty verdict" story from Tucson DailyStar
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