Pope Pride

gaywrites:

Lady Gaga’s recently announced Born This Way Foundation for youth empowerment will launch on February 29 with a kickoff event at Harvard University. The Harvard Graduate School of Education is among many organizations that will work together on “BTWF” to reach out to youth and promote self-acceptance and self-confidence. 

“BTWF, a non-profit charitable organization, will address issues like self-confidence, well-being, anti-bullying, mentoring and career development and advocacy,” the release said. “With a focus on digital mobilization to create positive change, BTWF will lead youth into a braver new society where each individual is accepted and loved as the person they were born to be.”

Road trip to Harvard, anyone?

gaywrites:

This week, GLSEN is sponsoring No-Name Calling Week, a week dedicated to raising awareness about bullying in schools and finding constructive solutions to problems among and between kids. 

The site linked above has tons of information about what this week means and what you can do to get involved. An especially cool link discusses how to get a NNCW event off the ground at your school, including tips on involving administration and students. 

Sometimes it seems like there are a lot of planned days, weeks or even months that demand our attention for a particular cause, and it gets overwhelming (not to mention how you should never name-call). Pay attention to this one anyway. I don’t need to tell you guys that bullying is out of control in a lot of schools in this country, especially against LGBT kids. A week of events like the ones suggested here could truly make a difference in how kids treat each other.

This week, I’m going to speak out against bullying among my peers. What will you do?

gaywrites:

In the United States, openly gay Republican presidential candidate Fred Karger’s campaign has fallen by the wayside in media coverage and political attention. But in Finland, another openly gay candidate is still going strong. 

Pekka Haavisto is the first openly gay person to run for head of state in Finland, and he’s doing quite well. He came in second place in the first round of voting in the election, securing him a place in a February runoff against conservative candidate Sauli Niinisto.

A smooth-talking political veteran, Niinisto is viewed by many Finns as the most statesmanlike of the candidates.

But Haavisto also has strong resume. The 53-year-old former environment minister has held several positions in EU and U.N. operations helping to solve crises in Sudan, Darfur and the Middle East.

“He’s extremely cultured and civilized. We need a member of a new, educated generation who hasn’t been corrupted by politics,” said Laila Halme, a retired graphic artist, as she walked her dog through thick snow to vote in a Helsinki suburb.

According to analysts quoted in the Huffington Post article linked above, it’s unlikely that Haavisto can beat his opponent in the runoff. But to have made it this far is a huge accomplishment, proving once again that things are getting better every day for LGBT people in the public eye. 

gaywrites:

Rossville Christian Academy, a K-12 school in Tennessee, has banned the promotion of or association with homosexuality via speech or action, and one parent believes the move is targeted at one gay student out of 300 kids at the school. 

The policy is legal because there is no state or federal law protecting against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and because the Christian academy may receive additional protection since it’s not a public school. The policy states: 

“Homosexuality is forbidden in scripture (Romans 1:27, Leviticus 18:22). A staff member or student who promotes, engages in, or identifies himself/herself with such activity through any word or action shall be in violation of this policy. Should the administration determine a violation of this policy, the person involved will be subject to disciplinary action with the possibility of permanent dismissal. Any applicant who is not in compliance with this policy will not be admitted.”

This is wrong on so many levels I can’t even point them all out. I’m appalled. Permanent dismissal for being gay? Targeting one kid in a humiliating, homophobic manner? And this is all perfectly legal? Really? 

projectqueer:

(TRIGGER WARNING: suicide, anti-gay bullying)

Toronto students cheered, chanted and pledged to end school bullying at a raucous rally held at the Ricoh Coliseum on Thursday.

The day-long event featured 9,000 students from the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and a series of motivational speakers, athletes and entertainers.

The rally was designed to spotlight bullying, much in the news following the death of 15-year-old Ottawa high-school student James Hubley. Openly gay, and tormented by depression and his peers, Hubley committed suicide on Oct. 15.

Click the link above to watch the video and read the full article.