Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

Panel addresses education for LGBTQ youth
Special to the online edition of Windy City Times by Janean L. Watkins
2014-11-24

This article shared 4827 times since Mon Nov 24, 2014
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email


Teach for America ( TFA ) hosted a Chicago National Conversation Series Event "The State of Education in LGBTQ America" Nov. 12 at the Center on Halsted. Tim'm West, managing director of TFA's LGBTQ Initiative, hosted the program.

TFA works in partnership with communities and stakeholders to expand educational opportunities for impoverished children. They are one of many organizations invested in ensuring education equity for LGBTQ youth in schools.

Special guest to the panel, Jonathan "Yoni" Pizer, the LGBT liaison for U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, discussed the need for more LGBTQ and allied educators shaping and promoting an affirming school culture for LGBTQ youth.

Also in attendance were Avi Bowie, LMSW and director of youth programs at Center on Halsted, and Carla "C.C." Carter, Ph.D. and teacher trainer in the areas of brain-based learning, multiple intelligences and teaching to diverse learners.

Others in attendance were former CPS student Terry Dudley who is at third year psychology major, LGBT counselor and activist Dr. Claudia Mosier, and educational consultant for Edney Educational Consultant, LLC., Bryan Edney.

On Nov. 13, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network ( GLSEN ) released data from its National School Climate Survey, which studied the experiences of middle and high school LGBTQ youth across the country. The findings showcase experiences that are deserving of a second look and solutions.

One major area of note was hostile school environments for LGBTQ students, which they have found are having a direct affect on students' mental health and academic success.

"We believe that an equal and excellent education means that schools embrace and support all students with the dignity and respect they deserve, including those who identify as LGBTQ," said West.

A TFA press release detailed why they are working with groups like GLSEN and The Trevor Project: "TFA believes that great teachers come from all backgrounds, but teachers who share the backgrounds and experiences of students can have an additional impact in and outside the classroom … according to a 2013 survey, more than 850 corps members self-identified as LGBTQ."

Dr. Joseph G. Kosciw, GLSEN's Chief Research & Strategy Officer said, "Our research tells us that policymakers and education leaders in these 29 states must do more to create safer and more affirming schools for LGBT students."

According to GLSEN's Illinois snapshot, "Students also heard anti-LGBT language from school staff. 25 percent regularly heard staff make negative remarks about someone's gender expression, and 17 percent regularly heard school staff make homophobic remarks."

After the discussion at Center on Halsted, West, the panelists and working groups of community members created recommendations for improvements to school and community climate, which fell into five categories.

In addressing the seven in 10 students who were verbally harassed for their sexual orientation, the first set of recommendations fell under Culture and Climate. These included points like developing a comprehensive list of unacceptable language, accountability and restorative justice for student violators, as well as the promotion of judgment-free zones across school culture.

Next, they proposed Direct Student Support, which suggests workshops for parents, alumni mentorship and a change in the language used to classify LGBT youth. This change could be as simple as moving into the use of the terms Rainbow Children or Indigo Kids.

The group made suggestions for Family and Community, as well, which included reaching out to religious leaders.

Finally, the group tackled recommendations under Teacher Preparation and Policy and Advocacy, which endorses mandatory courses on LGBTQ history and LGBTQ-inclusive mandatory training on dealing with bullying and suicide prevention. They also advocate for the creation of accountability measures to lessen the chances that policies created in Chicago are not only rhetorical, but produce safety and equity in schools.

"There are no broad-sweeping directives from TFA, understanding that we are just one player, among many, seeking to ensure educational equity conversations are LGBTQ-inclusive," said West. "The point isn't to go into communities with answers and directives, but with questions that enable and empower diverse players to decide how they might work together to create change."


This article shared 4827 times since Mon Nov 24, 2014
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

2024 'Nike Basketball Camps with the Chicago Sky' announced
2024-03-28
The Chicago Sky officially announced, in a debut collaboration with Nike Sports Camps, 2024 summer basketball camps for Chicagoland youth. Two camps for boys and girls ages 7-15 will take place June 17-21 and July 8-12 ...


Gay News

Nex Benedict's autopsy report released
2024-03-27
The full autopsy report for Nex Benedict (he/they)—a 16-year-old transgender and Indigenous student from Oklahoma's Owasso High School who died in February a day after a school fight—has been released. The Oklahoma Office of the Chie ...


Gay News

An interstate trans healthcare crisis: Illinois prepares for influx of people seeking gender-affirming care
2024-03-26
With hard-won rights, such as access to hormone replacement therapy or permission to use one's chosen pronouns in school, breaking down in states across the country, trans residents of all ages are left with a choice: ...


Gay News

No charges filed in Nex Benedict fight; campaigns call for Walters' removal
2024-03-22
In Oklahoma, Tulsa County District Attorney Stephen Kunzweiler announced that no charges will be filed in connection with the fight that happened the day before transgender, nonbinary high school student Nex Benedict died by suicide, NBC ...


Gay News

Former Chicago Girl Scouts CEO Brooke Wiseman to receive Luminary Award
2024-03-22
Brooke Wiseman, a now-retired nonprofit leader in the Chicago area, spent most of her career creating leadership development opportunities for girls and women—and making sure that hungry children could be fed. While leading Girl Scouts of ...


Gay News

Windy City Times seeks nominations for 30 Under 30 Awards
2024-03-18
--From a press release - CHICAGO—After a four-year hiatus, Windy City Times has revived its 30 Under 30 Awards. Windy City Times is seeking to recognize 30 more outstanding LGBTQ+ individuals (and allies). Nominees should be 30 years or younger as ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Missouri measure, HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, judge, Texas schools
2024-03-15
In Missouri, a newly proposed law could charge teachers and counselors with a felony and require them to register as sex offenders if they're found guilty of supporting transgender students who are socially transitioning, CNN noted. ...


Gay News

One Roof Chicago launches youth-focused workforce development program
2024-03-14
One Roof Chicago (ORC) is set to launch its first training, education and job placement program for LGBTQ+ young adults in late spring. This Community Health Workers and Elder Care program is a part of ORC's ...


Gay News

PASSAGES Bryan Dean Wilson
2024-03-14
Bryan Dean Wilson, 64, of Chicago, passed away March 11. Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Bryan graduated from Washington High school in Cedar Rapids before earning his B.S. in Biology from Mount Mercy University, also in ...


Gay News

UPDATE: Nex Benedict's death ruled a suicide; family responds
2024-03-13
A medical examiner's report concluded that the cause of death of Oklahoma student Nex Benedict (he/they) was suicide, media reports confirmed. Benedict—a 16-year-old transgender student—died Feb. 8, a day after ...


Gay News

Florida settles 'Don't Say Gay' lawsuit
2024-03-11
On March 11, the state of Florida settled a multi-year lawsuit against the so-called "Don't Say Gay" law, which limits how LGBTQ+ topics can be discussed and presented in schools, The Hill reported. The settlement agreement ...


Gay News

Center on Halsted hosts 6th Annual Intergenerational Talent Show
2024-03-03
On the evening of Feb. 29, Center on Halsted held its 6th Annual Intergenerational Talent Show in front of a packed audience at the Hoover-Leppen Theater. The event brought together participants of the Center's youth and senior ...


Gay News

Federal investigation initiated in Nex Benedict case
2024-03-02
The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights has started an investigation into the Oklahoma school district where Nex Benedict, a transgender 16-year-old sophomore, went to school and was bullied before his death, The Advocate ...


Gay News

Court blocks Texas attorney general's demand for PFLAG data
2024-03-01
From a press release: AUSTIN, Texas—Travis County District Court Judge Maria Cantú Hexel on March 1 blocked the latest effort by the Texas Attorney General's Office to persecute Texas families with transgender youth, temporarily haltin ...


Gay News

NATIONAL School items, HIV/AIDS activist dies, Nex Benedict, inclusive parade
2024-03-01
In a new survey, the Pew Research Center asked public K-12 teachers, teens and the U.S. public about the ongoing scrutiny placed on classroom curricula, mainly regarding race and LGBTQ+ identities, ABC News noted. Among other ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.