The law school also does a good job of promoting equality and tolerance. I have attended events at the school about transgender issues, military recruiting, and other gender- and sex-related topics. Additionally, this afternoon, the law school will host a "conversation" about LGBT suicide, with the goal of "raising awareness, facilitating safety, and identifying any action that may be taken." It will be held at 5:30 p.m. in Room 75, and is sponsored by career services, student life, the diversity committee, Lambda Law Caucus, Louisville Youth Group and the school's Office for LGBT Services.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Law school meeting tackles gay suicide, bullying
College campuses across the nation are holding events in response to the recent string of suicides and bullying incidents involving students who are LGBT. Here at U of L, more than 100 students attended a vigil at the Red Barn, and the university's president, James Ramsey, sent out an email yesterday praising the event and encouraging people to review the school's diversity policy. All of this is fine and good, but it doesn't guarantee that something similar won't happen here. The key, at least in my opinion, is to maintain an atmosphere where this type of activity won't happen. That's easier said than done. Louisville does a pretty good job of that, at least compared to the rest of the state and the region. We have a local ordinance that addresses sexual discrimination and gay rights, and an active group called the Fairness Campaign that backs it up.
The law school also does a good job of promoting equality and tolerance. I have attended events at the school about transgender issues, military recruiting, and other gender- and sex-related topics. Additionally, this afternoon, the law school will host a "conversation" about LGBT suicide, with the goal of "raising awareness, facilitating safety, and identifying any action that may be taken." It will be held at 5:30 p.m. in Room 75, and is sponsored by career services, student life, the diversity committee, Lambda Law Caucus, Louisville Youth Group and the school's Office for LGBT Services.
The law school also does a good job of promoting equality and tolerance. I have attended events at the school about transgender issues, military recruiting, and other gender- and sex-related topics. Additionally, this afternoon, the law school will host a "conversation" about LGBT suicide, with the goal of "raising awareness, facilitating safety, and identifying any action that may be taken." It will be held at 5:30 p.m. in Room 75, and is sponsored by career services, student life, the diversity committee, Lambda Law Caucus, Louisville Youth Group and the school's Office for LGBT Services.
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• Strong anti-bullying policies: Create policies that explicitly prohibit bullying based on sexual orientation and gender identity. These policies should clearly define consequences for offenders and offer clear guidance on reporting procedures for victims.
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• Inclusive curricula: Integrate LGBTQ+ themes and histories into class lessons and materials in appropriate ways throughout the year, not just during designated months. This promotes awareness and understanding.
• Empowerment and Support Groups: Establish Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) or similar support groups where LGBTQ+ students and their allies can find community, support, and advocacy.
Community Engagement
• Parental support: Encourage parents and families to have open conversations about sexual orientation and gender identity. Provide resources and support for parents to be allies to their LGBTQ+ children.
• Collaboration with community groups: Partner with local LGBTQ+ organizations to offer resources, training, and support for students and staff.
• Awareness campaigns: Raise awareness of homophobic bullying through campaigns, workshops, or events that address these issues head-on.
Individual-level Interventions
• Bystander intervention: Teach students of all identities how to safely intervene as bystanders when they witness bullying. This includes speaking up, reporting incidents, and supporting the victim.
• Peer support programs: Create programs where students can be trained as peer mentors who can support and advocate for LGBTQ+ peers.
• Promote mental health support: Ensure LGBTQ+ students have access to quality mental health resources within the school and community to help address the impact of bullying.
Important things to remember:
• Consistency is key: These efforts require consistent implementation and reinforcement to create a lasting change in school culture.
• Intersectionality matters: Understand how other factors like race, ability, and socioeconomic status intersect with sexual orientation and gender identity to create unique experiences of bullying for some students.
• The work is never finished: Creating a safe and inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ students is an ongoing process that requires commitment, continuous learning, and adaptation.
Resources
StopBullying.gov
The Trevor Project
GLSEN