Grow a pair! Says Canadian Scott Thompson

 Gay and lesbian teenagers have had a lot of heavy messages to digest lately – from Dan Savage’s optimistic It Get Better Campaign to Rick Mercer’s recent rant that gay public officials need to step up and speak out.

Now, Canadian comedian Scott Thompson had added his fiery two cents to the discussion. He message: Forget efforts like It Gets Better. Instead, be ready to fight.  .  

Campaign for Ohio to start anti-bullying policy after teen attacked.

 More than 4,000 people join campaign on Change.org calling on Union-Scioto School District in Ohio to adopt an anti-bullying policy after assault of gay 15-year-old caught on cell phone video.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the on-campus assault of a gay 15-year-old student caught on cell phone video, more than 4,000 people have joined a campaign on Change.org calling upon the Union-Scioto School District in Chillicothe, Ohio, to pass an anti-bullying policy that includes sexual orientation and gender identity.

Bret Thompson launched the campaign on Change.org after the assault, which no one stepped in to stop. The 15-year-old’s attacker received only a three-day suspension for the assault.

“I started this petition on Change.org because I know Ohio and this attack does not reflect our values,” said Thompson. “Every child has the right to learn in a safe environment, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.” 

Words can kill.

Middle school can be a place for learning, discovery and friendships. But for some kids, it can also be a place of cruelty, loneliness and fear.

Aislyn Doeur: "You're supposed to feel comfortable. And like you're scared to walk in the hallways. ...I was scared that I wasn't going to have any friends."

Jacob Kaufman: "It just got to that feeling of desperation, and pretty much hopelessness."

Genesis Johnson: "I was so scared I didn't know what to do. I didn't know who to go to."

Johnny Cagno: I wasn't accepted at school. I couldn't be who I am. ...I was very, very scared to go to school every day.

Deliberations begin in slaying of gay student

 

Jurors began deliberating Friday in the murder trial of Brandon McInerney, the 17-year-old accused of shooting a gay classmate to death in 2008. The jury began weighing eight weeks of testimony in a trial that included nearly 100 witnesses. Many of those testifying were students and teachers at E.O. Green Junior High School in Oxnard who saw tensions on campus rising after 15-year-old Larry King began coming to school dressed in makeup and girl's boots.

San Francisco Giants Join It Gets Better Campaign.

 

The San Francisco Giants have become the first professional sports team to join the "It Gets Better" campaign against bullying of gay youths it’s been reported today.

Molly Wei Avoids Charges In Tyler Clementi Case

Molly Wei, the former Rutgers University freshmen accused of using a webcam to watch a male classmate's sexual encounter with another man, has been approved for a pretrial intervention program that will allow her to avoid criminal prosecution.

Under the deal with prosecutors, Wei, 18, of Princeton, N.J., pleaded not guilty Friday to two counts of invasion of privacy, according to theMiddlesex County Prosecutor's Office.

Brazil Gets Homophobia Helpline

 

The government of Brazil has launched a special new homophobia helpline to deal with complaints of anti-gay discrimination and violence.

Department of Health criticised for gay ‘leadership course’

 

The Department of Health has been criticised for spending £36,000 on a two-day residential course for gay and lesbian NHS managers.   The report follows extensive ‘freedom of information’ requests put to health and local government authorities regarding gay issues from two UK national newspapers.

Addressing anti-gay bullying!

Anti Gay Bullying has many heads,  it strikes in many ways and in many places.   News in from America details another case, where recent graffiti targeting a gay teacher has again brought calls for the San Ramon Valley school district to better address such incidents.
But, as seen here and elsewhere, there is no easy answer on how to do that. Such discussion often prompts strong feelings that the subject matter is inappropriate for schools, and that it's a promotion of homosexuality.