GLSEN's 2011 GSA Census
GLSEN has supported GSAs for more than 20 years, providing resources and a place for more than 4,000 clubs to register. With the start of a new school year, we know some GSAs may not have registered with us yet. Plus, we want to know from all GSAs how we can provide even better support in the coming school year. So we're excited to announce the 2011 GSA Census. Are you a GSA member or advisor? Make sure your GSA is counted! |
No Name Calling Week:
Jan. 23 - 27
No Name-Calling Week is an annual week of educational activities aimed at ending name-calling of all kinds and providing schools with the tools and inspiration to launch an on-going dialogue about ways to eliminate bullying in their communities. Read more. And if you would like to apply for one of our Small Grants to cover the cost of purchasing a No Name-Calling Week Kit for your school click here.
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Local Events Corner: Fun for GSAs!
Disco Ice Skating When: Saturday, Dec. 10, 7pm - 9pm Where: Fairfield Ice Academy, 85 Mill Plain Road Fairfield, CT Why: To get students together to celebrate International Human Rights Day Cost: $10 to skate, $4 to rent, $2 per person will be donated to International Human Rights Funds Must Wear: Warm clothing, socks, can bring own skates |
GLSEN Responds to Brandon McInerney Plea Bargain
A plea bargain was reached in the trial of Brandon McInerney, who was 14 when he murdered 15-year-old Lawrence "Larry" King at E.O. Green Junior High School in Oxnard, Calif., on Feb 12, 2008. "The plea deal announced today ends a tragic chapter in Ventura County..." Read more.
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GLSEN Connecticut is a member of Community Works of Connecticut, a progressive workplace giving program.
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Please Note: This electronic message from GLSEN Connecticut contains information and opinions deemed relevant to ending anti-LGBT bias in schools and other items which may be of interest to the LGBT community and its valued allies. Not all opinions expressed are those of GLSEN Connecticut.
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Greetings!
 As we wrap up the semester and prepare for the holidays, we at GLSEN Connecticut want to thank you for helping us fight the good fight! Together we are making Connecticut schools better for all!
Just over the border in Springfield, Massachusetts, GLSEN Board Member, Sirdeaner Walker, has dedicated her life to ending bullying of all kinds, including bullying based on race, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or anything else that makes people different. We hope you had a chance to watch the December 2nd episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition which featured the Walker family. If you didn't, you can watch it here. To give people an opportunity to show their support for Sirdeaner's efforts to end bullying, the show worked with GLSEN to create a new website where people can take a pledge to Stand Together against bullying. If you haven't had a chance to take the pledge, please visit the web site here.
 We are happy to announce that GLSEN and the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) have co-authored the first-ever national policy resource for school districts on creating safer and respectful learning environments for transgender and gender nonconforming students. The guide contains model language that can be used in drafting district policy and is designed to be flexible for school districts to comply with their own specific needs and respective state laws and policies. Download the policy here. We hope you will find this useful in your daily work.
We are also proud to share a video of GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard, posted recently by OutGiving, talking about GLSEN's research on proven interventions to protect LGBT youth, our Safe Space Campaign and the Safe Schools Improvement Act.
Be sure to check out the updates below from our Jump-Start Student Leadership Team and our GSA Outreach Coordinator. There is some great work being done here in Connecticut!
Happy Holidays!
Leif Mitchell and Liane Roseman
Co-Chairs, GLSEN Connecticut
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| Educator's Corner: State and Federal Anti-Bullying Laws for Schools
We often gets asked for information about the recently revised Connecticut bullying law "An Act Concerning The Strengthening of School Bullying Laws." One of the most important aspects of this new law is the definition of bullying. This very inclusive definition is what many of you fought for and got when the legislature updated the statute last year. This new law also has reporting responsibilities for schools. Check it out and make sure that your schools are making the proper strides to be in compliance.
On the federal level, a great resource that many of you will find useful is one of the "Dear Colleague" letters that the US Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) issued in October 2010. This letter is reminding school districts that many incidents of bullying and harassment can actually violate civil rights laws. The letter itself is very long and detailed, so, here is a link to the Fact Sheet. This is a very useful, brief, bullet-point summary.
We hope that you will find these reminders of resources useful!
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| Quick & Creative GSA Activities!
Hello GSAs! The holiday break is fast approaching...why not try building on the theme of this time of year? Here are a couple of ideas that have been sent my way:
- Have an OPEN HOUSE at one of your next GSA meetings and invite one other club (or more) to come and partake of a few goodies while you both exchange what's working or not working in your own groups. That club learns a little bit more about you and you do the same. It's a way to help build a coalition of allies!
- You've pushed all fall to be the change agents at your school. How about a small, photocopied note that you leave at computer stations, study cubbies or the guidance office at your school with a simple message such as "Be an ally for one person today" or "Interrupt one put down today" or "Be an Ally and protect one person's back today." You can sign it as "your friendly GSA" or whatever suits your fancy. It's a great "on message" idea that links your goals with this time of year.
Please continue to share your creative work with me, Joy Lenters, GSA Outreach Coordinator, and may your holidays bring rest and relaxation.
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Celebrating Our Student Leaders
I am pleased to announce that our statewide team of fourteen Jump-Start Student Leaders has completed a set of very challenging but fun trainings in LGBT 101, Anti-Oppression, Facilitation, Messaging, and Middle School GSA Organizing. In fact, Messaging and Middle School GSA Organizing were two new training modules that Julian, our team's awesome Student Coordinator, and I created specifically for the team, and they were met with great dialogues and action plans led by our brilliant students.
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Alberto Cifuentes, Jr., Adult Jump-Start Coordinator
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While our student leaders learned and developed many vital skills and practices at our November trainings, they have even more learning and creativity to look forward to as we begin to plan and organize next year's GSA summit. So many of our diverse student leaders have already bonded and cultivated a welcoming and affirmative space for all members, which helped make our trainings so successful.
Moreover, our team has already submitted not just one but four proposals on topics ranging from language awareness to GSA leadership to the True Colors Conference in March. I am so proud of our team and look forward to a great year planning and implementing our workshops and prospective summit.
The energy and determination of our student leaders to make schools safe and accepting environments for all students definitely empowers me to continue the work I do as an advocate and activist. Thank you to both our entire team for their commitment to our mission and the chapter's Board of Directors for their boundless support and enthusiasm this year. I simply can't wait to meet with our dynamic and dedicated Jump-Start team in January. Happy holidays everyone!
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