Gay Youth News Blog

Looking for a source of up-to-date news relevant to the lives of LGBT youth? We at the Ugly Ducklings Campaign have discovered the informative Gay Youth News Blog: News for LGBT Kids and Their Allies. This very active blog highlights the latest news and events from around the world and also includes occasional editorial entries. Here you will read about schools, parents, organizations, communities, celebrities, politicians, and youth whose actions and policies are having a significant impact, be it positive or negative, on the lives of LGBT youth. So stay informed and keep up the good work!

Check out the Gay Youth News Blog

Lawrence and His Caterpillar

Two weeks ago, on February 12, 15 year-old Lawrence King was shot to death in his school’s computer lab by a 14 year-old classmate.

A picture that accompanied the New York Times article showed Lawrence in December 2006 tenderly cradling a caterpillar in his hand. I looked at Lawrence gently sheltering his little green friend and thought, “Where was the culture of acceptance and reverence-for-life that should have protected Lawrence?” Where was the common voice to say, violence is not acceptable? Where was the common hand to take the gun away from 14 year-old Brandon McInerney with the words: We do not resolve our fear or anger by shooting people?

Tragically, there was no such voice and there was no such hand. We live in a culture that glorifies violence and spreads blatant and covert messages of homophobia, transphobia, racism, sexism, along with intolerance against a myriad of other groups based on religion, class, and cultural heritage. Violent media and sentiments of targeted hate do not cause physical acts of violence in a simple, connect-the-dots manner. However, we must seriously examine what overall effects a culture of intolerance and glorified violence has on all of us, especially our children.

Since last fall, Lawrence had been living at Casa Pacifica, a center for abused and neglected foster care children, and I can only image what difficulties and trauma Lawrence had already faced in the course of his young life. Yet, despite the hardships, Lawrence graced his community with a warmth and effervescence that endeared him to classmates and administrators alike. “He had a character that was bubbly,” said Marissa Moreno, a fellow 8^th grader. “We would just laugh together. He would smile, then I would smile and then we couldn’t stop.”

Not only did Lawrence have the courage to share love with others in a violent culture, he had the courage to openly love himself. According to classmates, Lawrence publicly stated that he was gay and had since been enduring harassment from a group of male schoolmates. “They teased him because he was different,” said Moreno, “but he wasn’t afraid to show himself.” Lawrence continued to wear make-up and jewelry to school and didn’t hesitate to tell people where he bought his favorite high-heeled boots, which he wore to school almost every day.

I hear many adults say that the hostile sentiments of their communities prevent them from speaking out against anti-LGBT language and sentiments. But this excuse is just not good enough. There are amazing children like Lawrence in every community who are brave enough to wear their favorite boots in the face of violent harassment. But this violence must not be acceptable and these children must have our protection and support. As long as this blog is filled with stories of children who have died because they live in a hostile world, our conviction to forge a safe world for these children must not fail.

Find out how the Ugly Ducklings Campaign is taking a stand against the harassment of LGBTQ youth, and learn how you can support the Campaign.

Read the complete New York Times article, "Boy's Killing, Labeled a Hate Crime, Stuns a Town."

Gay & Lesbian are Not Lewd or Rude

Symbols of smut?
On December 10th 2007, Bethany Laccone, a senior at a Virginia high school, was threatened with suspension if she did not cover up a bright red t-shirt that expressed her pride in being a lesbian. Laccone was told by staff at I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, VA, that her shirt violated a section of the school’s dress code prohibiting “bawdy, salacious or sexually suggestive messages.”

And what was the “bawdy,” “suggestive” image on Laccone’s shirt? Two interlocking symbols representing the female gender. There were no eroticized body parts, nor any explicit language. According to Norcom staff, the mere representation of two females joined in a lesbian relationship was, in and of itself, sexually explicit.

Recognizing the pattern
Sadly, Ms. Laccone’s story is not unique. In December, the Ugly Ducklings Campaign was locked out of our account for a week because another member of the blogging community flagged this blog as being possible spam. I can only assume this happened due to our “excessive” use of the words lesbian and gay, as we received a similar spam warning when drafting our e-news. The message advised us that our newsletter, which often contains LGBTQ and its root words, might be blocked from delivery in some in-boxes due to: Use of words common to pornography (porn, xxx, voyeur, etc.)

Enough is enough!
GAY does not equal porn and LESBIAN is not sexually explicit. At the root of both Ms. Laccone’s harassment and our own spam problems is the same bigoted notion that homosexuality is inherently deviant and raunchy. It seems farcical to imagine a young woman getting in trouble for wearing a “Boy Crazy” shirt to school, doesn’t it? Join the Ugly Ducklings Campaign in deconstructing heterosexual privilege in our schools and communities, and vocally celebrate LGBT people for their whole, nuanced selves!

Read more about Bethany Laccone and her super shirt

This Commission Will Make a Difference

Yesterday I attended my first meeting of the Maine Children's Cabinet LGBTQ Youth Commission. What an inspiring day!

The Maine Children's Cabinet believes that all youth and young adults should be able to participate in their schools and communities without concern for discriminatory actions, harassment, and/or violence, because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

The Cabinet believes that all Maine citizens should appreciate individual differences and ensure that Maine communities are free from any discrimination, harassment and violence, based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

The LGBTQ Youth Commission is to recommend practical, actionable strategies to reduce and eliminate anti-LGBTQ discrimination, harassment and violence that can be implemented by individuals and systems in Maine that interact with children, youth, and young adults. Witnessing this group of passionate, highly accomplished LGBT leaders and allies sharing deep insights and important research, I have no doubt that the Commission will succeed in this vital charge!

Please read more about the history and mission of the Maine Children’s Cabinet and its partner organizations.

Do you have any Best Practices for forging safe space for LGBTQ youth? Share them with us by posting a response to this blog!