Author Archives: Nichole

Gov. Support for LGBT Youth of Southwestern PA on the Rise

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Hey yinz! We just put out this press release with PSEC and GLSEN Pittsburgh about some really awesome updates from this week. Read below for all the info. The Mayor of Pittsburgh even released his own image for youth to post around on Facebook (see below). I hope everyone has had a meaningful Day of Silence / PA: Breaking the Silence – Night of Noise!  -Nichole

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Governmental Support for LGBT Youth of Southwestern PA on the Rise

PITTSBURGH, PA– The City of Pittsburgh has made several historic steps toward addressing anti-LGBT bullying this week.

On Tuesday, April 17, Council member Bruce Kraus convened a roundtable hearing on anti-LGBT based school bullying. Leadership from several major anti-bullying and LGBT community organizations in Pittsburgh delivered testimony regarding the severity of bullying in the Pittsburgh Public Schools. Council member Bruce Kraus stated, “the inherent value in each and every individual and their worth in society should not be a sensitive subject” thus indicating his desire to bring bullying to everyone’s attention, particularly parents and teachers.

Ian Syphard, Chair of GLSEN Pittsburgh also commented on the roundtable discussion. “It’s everyone in the system that needs the training on how to handle these tough situations, top down bottom up”, thus emphasizing the need for the current staff members to be trained on how to deal with bullying in their school. Janet Yuhasz, the Student Support Services Coordinator and Compliance Officer for Bullying and Harassment from Pittsburgh Public Schools said “Knowing more about the resources is one thing, and the second piece is making sure we’re spreading the word about that.”

On Thursday, April 19, leaders from the Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition (PSEC) met with members of the Mayor’s LGBT Advisory Council to discuss LGBT youth needs in the City of Pittsburgh. This meeting was well attended by LGBT non-profit staff and others interested in making schools safe for LGBT students.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl recognized the Day of Silence on behalf of the City of Pittsburgh in an official proclamation and specifically commended GLSEN and the Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition for the work these organizations do with LGBT youth. This is the first known mayoral proclamation recognizing the Day of Silence in Pennsylvania.

Today, April 20th, is GLSEN’s National Day of Silence where youth refrain from speaking during the day to stand in solidarity with the hundreds of thousands of youth that are oppressed and silenced in schools every day because of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. PSEC has been working with student leaders across the state to hold this crucial event. In Pennsylvania there are thousands of high school and college students participating. Also there are several Pittsburgh Public Schools administrators wearing the GLSEN Pittsburgh official Day of Silence shirts.

PSEC Executive Director Jason Landau Goodman stated that “silence is the most powerful of sounds today; when we are asked to reflect about all the voices we do not hear – and work toward a world in which we can all raise our voices and be heard; free to express, identify, and feel without fear.”

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The Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition (PSEC) is PA’s statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth organization working towards safe schools and communities for all.

The Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) Pittsburgh, is a chapter of the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. GLSEN Pittsburgh strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. Founded in 1990, GLSEN National, envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. GLSEN seeks to develop school climates where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes to creating a more vibrant and diverse community. For information on GLSEN’s research, educational resources, public policy advocacy, student organizing programs and educator training initiatives, visit www.glsen.org.

www.pennsec.org
www.glsenpittsburgh.org

Day of Silence

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GLSEN’s National Day of Silence will take place tomorrow, April 20, 2012. Since 1996, GLSEN has sponsored this daylong, in-school action to promote support and compassion for all those silenced intheir schools due to bullying and anti-LGBTQ bias. The Day of Silence will be observed by thousands of students across the nation including at hundreds of schools across Pennsylvania.

The 2nd Annual “Pennsylvania: Breaking the Silence – Night of Noise” will take place in the afternoon with over 20 schools across the state. For this event, the schools observing the Day of Silence will break the silence together by releasing special-made balloons at the end of the day.

We join PSEC and PA students in encouraging everyone to change their Facebook (and other social media) profile pictures to one of the logos on here online for the day: http://pennsec.org/campus-and-local-resources/day-of-silence/.  You can email info@pennsec.org ifyou would like one made for your town.

Each registered school for the “PA: Breaking the Silence – Night of Noise” was sent printed balloons. As students gather at a central landmark at their school toward the end of the day, we asked that everyone write words or messages about how it feels to be silent with permanent marker on the balloon. After everyone in the group has had a chance to contribute, there will be final community remarks, followed by the balloons being released signifying the departure of silence from oppression.

Immediately following, organizations are planning avariety of events of noise, “Night of Noise”, including concerts and community forums to continue the dialogue. We will assemble pictures from all the different events in a collage and post it back here. What are you doing for the Day of Silence – Night of Noise?

Nichole Mahoney is the Pittsburgh Regional Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition and an undergraduate student at the University of Pittsburgh. Nichole is from Bethel Park in Allegheny County.