James C. Hormel &
Michael P. Nguyen
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Press ReleasesFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Ali Bay, Communications Manager, Equality California CONTACT: Coral Lopez, Communications Manager, BIENESTAR Queer Youth and Straight Allies to Rally at State Capitol More Than 500 Youth Advocate for Safe Schools in California Sacramento – On Monday, March 26, students, teachers, parents and supporters of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth will convene at the state capitol to educate legislators and the public about the continued harassment of and discrimination against LGBT students in schools throughout California. More than 200,000 middle school and high school students are harassed every year based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation, according to the 2004 Safe Place to Learn report issued by the California Safe Schools Coalition and the 4-H Center for Youth Development at UC Davis. The report found that students who are harassed because of their sexual orientation are more likely to suffer from depression, miss school because they feel unsafe, and struggle academically. “We are gathering in Sacramento to make sure discrimination and harassment in schools doesn’t get swept under the rug or brushed aside,” said Nicole Cayanne, a straight ally and youth leader for the event. Cayanne is president of the Rocklin High School GSA and got involved in Queer Youth Advocacy Day last year to support her LGBT peers who feel they are not protected at school when they face discrimination. “I’ve seen my own friends get harassed and pushed around because of their sexual orientation, and it’s just not fair,” said the 18-year-old. “It’s not right, and it shouldn’t be happening to youth – especially at school.” To advocate for change, LGBT youth and their allies will rally on the east side of the state Capitol from noon to 1 p.m. Queer Youth Advocacy Day, co-sponsored by Gay-Straight Alliance Network, Equality California Institute and BIENESTAR, will give youth advocates an opportunity to tell their stories and meet with their legislators. "As a Latino gay student, I should be protected from discrimination at all times based on both my ethnicity and sexual orientation,” said Miguel Corona, a 17-year-old high school student from Pomona, who is participating in this year’s event. “As long as schools and administrators ignore the problem, students like me will be at risk of prejudice and harassment at school." The concern for school safety extends beyond the student population; both parents and teachers agree that a safe, supportive and welcoming school environment is a necessary part of the education process. “As a teacher, it is my responsibility to ensure a safe learning environment for all students, and I can only do this if our elected officials, community leaders, school administrators and my fellow teachers understand what students face every day. Students and their parents deserve protection and support,” said Elizabeth Sevilla, a teacher at Dominguez Hills High School, in Compton California. The California Legislature is currently considering two youth-related bills. SB 777 (Kuehl, D-Santa Monica) would correct inconsistencies and standardize various nondiscrimination statues throughout the Education Code, making the rules regarding discrimination clear and consistent across the state. AB 394 (Levine, D-Van Nuys) would clarify the steps school personnel would need to take in order to respond to discrimination in their classrooms and schools. It would also require the publicizing of such rules at the schools so both teachers and students are accurately informed. Queer Youth Advocacy Day is sponsored by Gay-Straight Alliance Network, Equality California Institute and BIENESTAR. The event also received support from: National Center for Lesbian Rights, PFLAG Sacramento, Assemblymember Mark Leno, Senator Sheila Kuehl, Capitol Political Action Committee, Assemblymember Lloyd Levine, ACLU-Northern California, California Cable & Telecommunications Association, Assemblymember Kevin de Leon, Assemblymember Mike Feuer, Human Rights Campaign, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, National Association of Social Workers - California Chapter, PFLAG-San Jose/Peninsula, Stonewall Democrats-Sacramento, Refer-A-Chef and Outword. GSA Network is a nonprofit organization, governed by youth and adults, that empowers youth activists to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools through Gay-Straight Alliance clubs. There are currently more than 600 GSA clubs in California schools, including more than 45% of the public high schools. www.gsanetwork.org Equality California Institute’s mission is to inform lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and the public at large about issues impacting the LGBT community and our allies, train activists to respond and work proactively for LGBT equality, and connect communities working for justice and civil rights for all. www.eqca.org BIENESTAR is committed to enhancing the health and well-being of the Latino community and other underserved communities. BIENESTAR accomplishes this through community education, prevention, mobilization, advocacy and the provision of direct social services. www.bienestar.org. - 30 – |
