Top 10 Things To Do With Your GSA
Here are some great ideas to invigorate your GSA from current Jump-Start student leaders. For even more support read through our Jump-Start Guide for GSAs.
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Joy Lenters
GSA Outreach Coordinator
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Are Your Current Students Our Future Student Leaders?
Hello, GSA Advisors!
As we return to school, I am wondering: Do you have a middle or high school student who is passionate about changing the lives of LGBT youth and their allies?
If so, help them put their passion into action by joining GLSEN Connecticut's Student Organizing Team. We will be accepting applications until October 15, 2012.
Please visit our website for more information and the application, or send an e-mail directly to our Student Organizing Team. And, of course, you can always contact me!
Happy back to school,
Joy Lenters
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SAFE Training: October 29 - 30
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Save The Date: Second Annual Safe Schools Summit
April 6th, 2013 We'll share more details soon, but please save the date for GLSEN Connecticut's second annual Safe Schools Summit! It's being held once again at Common Ground High School in New Haven on Saturday, April 6th, 2013 from 9:00am - 5:00pm.
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A Benefit for GLSEN Connecticut
and Friends
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Emerging Activist Award for High
School or Undergraduate Students
The Richard L. Schlegel National Legion of Honor Award for Emerging Activist is given to young individuals (in high school or an undergraduate in college) who are living in the United States who have made outstanding contributions to lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) communities. This award is for an Emerging Activist and the recipient will receive a cash award and includes travel expenses for attending the awards ceremony. The Legion of Honor Awards will be presented during the annual DC Metro Area GLBT Studies Symposium. Please click here for more information, and to fill out a nomination form for yourself or someone else. The deadline for submissions is 5:00pm on Friday, October 12th, 2012.
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| Greetings!
After a busy summer, GLSEN Connecticut is in full swing for Back to School! We have lots of exciting news for our members, student leaders, and educators!
We are pleased to share with you an incredible new resource: Guidelines for Connecticut Schools to Comply with Gender Identity and Expression Non-Discrimination Laws. This document was created by the Connecticut Safe Schools Coalition, of which GLSEN Connecticut is a member, and includes many references to best practices created by GLSEN. It provides information and guidance to school faculty and staff, students, and parents on the rights, responsibilities, and best educational and employment practices for transgender and gender non-conforming students.
There are also many resources available to support safe school climates available through our national office. Please click on the following links for more information about:
Last but not least is the Safe Space Kit. Thanks to generous grants from GLSEN, Mass Mutual and Pepsi, these empowering, easy to use kits were sent to every public, private and parochial middle and high school in Connecticut last September. Your local school should have received one, but feel free to call them to find out if they still know where it is! Are they using it? Would they like to but aren't sure what it's really for or what to do with it? Just have them get in touch with us and we'll provide all the training and help they need.
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How to tell someone it's not okay
to say "that's so gay"
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As we move farther into the school year, we'd like to remind you that over half of all students report hearing homophobic remarks often at school. Creating a safe environment for all students - LGBT and straight alike - begins with one simple act: thinking before you speak. For more information visit our Think B4 You Speak website.
Together we can continue to make schools safe places for all. Connecticut's students count on your support, and we are so grateful to all of our dedicated volunteers! If you would like to get more involved - or know someone who might - just fill out our volunteer application. We'd love to get to know you better.
Here's to an amazing school year ahead!
Leif Mitchell and Liane Roseman
Co-Chairs, GLSEN Connecticut
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 by Joseph Kosciw, Ph.D.
Senior Director of Research and Strategic Initiatives
In 1999, with little data available about the experiences of LGBT youth in schools, GLSEN launched the first national study on the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students in school - the National School Climate Survey.
Having led GLSEN's research efforts for nearly a decade, I continue to marvel at the fact that an organization has continually made such an unprecedented investment in knowledge. GLSEN is the thought leader on LGBT issues in education because of the understanding we've gained through this survey about the pervasive victimization LGBT youth face in school and the supports and resources that can fundamentally alter their school experiences for the better.
As we release GLSEN's 2011 National School Climate Survey today, the NSCS remains the only national study to examine the experiences of LGBT students and compare that data over time.
Our new report continues to provide a comprehensive snapshot of LGBT students' experiences, but for the first time it clearly shows both decreases in negative indicators of school climate and continued increases in most LGBT-related school resources and supports. I hope you'll take a look at the report to learn more about what our amazing team of researchers found, and continue to support GLSEN's work to make schools safer and more affirming for LGBT youth.
Click here to learn more about GLSEN's 2011 National School Climate Survey. |
Got Empowerment?
Recognizing All Student Leaders!
Student Organizing Adult Coordinator
There are few words that truly encompass the energy and excitement of attending Camp GLSEN. Sponsored by GLSEN National, this annual five-day retreat at the wonderful Edith Macy Conference Center in Briarcliff Manor, New York, brings together adult and student Jump-Start Student Leadership Team Coordinators and local GLSEN chapter Board Members from all over the nation to train, network, and gain instrumental leadership skills.
I was very proud to join Julian Arias, GLSEN Connecticut's Jump-Start Student Coordinator, and Jeff Bianco, our chapter's Treasurer, at this monumental event. It continues to be one of the highlights of my year as both a community organizer and a safe schools advocate. Julian and I not only refined our skills, but also enriched our already effective youth-adult partnership that is the cornerstone of our Jump-Start
Leadership Team's success.
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Alberto Cifuentes, Jr., Julian Arias, Jeff Bianco
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At Camp GLSEN we
had a great activity where one person would shout "I got a recognition!" The audience would shout back "recognize!" to express appreciation for the people who continue to enrich our lives as safe schools organizers and human beings. I want to recognize the incredible and talented staff at GLSEN National for sponsoring and coordinating this great event, especially our chapter's very own community liaison, Ricardo Martinez. I also want to recognize GLSEN Connecticut's amazing Board of Directors and volunteers who consistently support our Jump-Start and Students of Color Organizing (SOCO) Teams with their encouragement, enthusiasm, and empathy.
I want to give a BIG shout-out to our chapter's newly formed Student Organizing Team, a vibrant partnership of our Jump-Start Team and SOCO Team, which will continue to provide more direct outreach to students across the state, specifically middle school students and students of color. I also want to recognize two of our chapter's fiercest student leaders, Roberto Diaz, SOCO Student Liaison and GLSEN Student Ambassador, and, of course, Julian, who has grown so much as a leader and individual since his first Camp GLSEN in 2011.
Wait - I've got another recognition! I recognize all of you for your continued support of GLSEN's mission to make schools safer for ALL students regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. Whether you're an administrator, teacher, parent, student, or concerned citizen, GLSEN Connecticut and our growing Student Organizing Team thank you for your commitment to ensuring the safety, respect, and acceptance of all youth.
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GLSEN Connecticut's Student Organizing Team Open House Saturday, October 6th 11:00am - 3:30pm
Our Student Organizing Team - comprised of both our Jump-Start Student Leadership Team and our new Students of Color Organizing (SOCO) Team - is gearing up for a dynamic year! We have more opportunities than ever before to empower our state's youth to create social change and make their schools safer for all students regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.
The Jump-Start Student Leadership Team is in its third year of programming, and is focusing this year on providing more education on issues affecting LGBT middle school students and their allies. In contrast, our chapter's brand new SOCO Team is working on a year-long website project that will provide support and inspiration to LGBT students of color and their allies.
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Safe Schools Summit 2011
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The Jump-Start and SOCO Teams are excited about recruiting both experienced and novice student leaders from all across the state! Middle school and high school students in grades 6-12 are welcome to apply. The application, a Q & A, and flyers to download and post at your school or social networking website are available on our Student Organizing page.
Want to meet some of our current and former Jump-Start Team Student Leaders and learn more about our coalition? Please join us for an Open House on Saturday, Oct. 6, 11am-3:30pm, at the New Haven Pride Center, 14 Gilbert Street in West Haven for a fun and interactive informational session with plenty of FREE food and giveaways! Please click here to RSVP if you're interested in attending this event. And, to help us get the word out, please click here to download a flyer you can post.
If you can't make it in person how about attending one of our virtual open houses? We're holding a one-hour informational phone/web-based session on Jump-Start and SOCO on Sunday, September 30, 8-9pm, and Sunday, Oct. 14, 8-9pm. You will be able to speak with current and former Jump-Start team members and participate in a lively Q & A session. If you would like to attend one of these virtual open houses, please click here to RSVP at least 2 days or 48 hours before each call.
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