The recent suicide of Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi is tragic enough, but his was only one of five teens whose lives have been cut short after experiencing varying instances of bullying based on their real or perceived lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) identities.

                              

Through its youth programming arm Common Roads, the Center provides weekly safe spaces for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth in Harrisburg and Lancaster. Safe spaces such as these for LGBTQ youth to connect, learn, and have fun in a supportive environment, are critical to supporting these young people in a time of life often filled with anti-LGBT bullying.

Addressing the epidemic of this anti-LGBT bullying, though, is a much greater task than having an isolated safe space in the community for LGBTQ students to seek refuge. Common Roads also works to support student groups like gay-straight alliances that work to create safer school environments for LGBTQ students, and to train faculty and staff on how to create safe spaces for LGBTQ students in schools.

 

A group of community leaders in the Harrisburg area has been collaborating on an anti-bullying initiative in the Harrisburg School District. Representatives from the district, the LGBT Community Center, YWCA, Institute for Cultural Partnerships, Keystone Human Services, the City of Harrisburg, and are working under Rev. Monica Dawkins-Smith's leadership to address the epidemic of bullying in the district. The group is planning a series of programs and trainings for students, faculty/staff, and parents that will take place over the course of the school year with the goal of leaving sustainable systems in place for individual schools to continue the work of stopping bullying.

 

All of central Pennsylvania should be a safe space for LGBTQ youth to learn, live, and thrive, and it is the responsibility of our community to stop the epidemic of the bullying and harrasment of LGBTQ youth.

 

To support our critical efforts to create a safer central Pennsylvania for all students regardless of their real or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity/expression, click here.