Dear Safe Schools Coalition Members and Friends:
Help needed in RED.
Next meeting: This coming Tuesday, Nov 16, 3-5 pm PST. For more information: Heather: 206-616-6361;
hmurphy@u.washington.edu
Safe Schools Coalition Meeting Minutes
10-19-2010, 3-5 p.m. PDT
Facilitating: Frieda Takamura; Recording: Penny Palmer
- INTROS. Frieda Takamura, Safe Schools Coalition Co-Chair; Penny Palmer, Safe Schools Coalition Intervention Specialist Coordinator; Stephanie Taylor; Briana Herman-Brand, Safe Schools & AFSC's Outspoken manager; Mo Lewis, King County Sexual Assault
Resource Center (KCSARC)
Phone: Gabi Clayton, Safe Schools Coalition Web Spinner; Tim McCloud, Planned Parenthood of the Great NW; Dave Glick, GLBTQ online
2. SHARING TIME - Mo Lewis
King County Sexual Assault Resource Center (KCSARC) is partnering with nine youth who are passionate about creating healthy community and enthusiastic about social justice on a 3-year project related to cybersafety for LGBTQ youth and their allies, with
a specific focus on the primary prevention of sexual assault (stopping violence before it starts.) This group recently came together for the first time for a day-long teambuilding retreat where members named the group and brainstormed ideas for how to reach
out to community members around this subject. The group's name is P.O.P!, which stands for the Power of Prevention. We're excited to start this work, and will keep you informed as we move forward!
3. DEEPER QUESTION - BIGGER PICTURE - Postponed
4. FISCAL REPORT
- Frieda for Beth & Kathy
- Thank you for the generosity of these recent donors:
- Linda and Tom Baker, in honor of Max
- Please help us raise much needed funds with a simple donation to our online auction. Items and services are welcome. We also need 3 volunteers, anywhere in the world, to work with her on obtaining auction items and publicizing it. Interested? Contact:
Michelle … mailto:michelle@safeschoolscoalition.org
- Thank you to Answer, for donating a free registration for their “iWhat?” webinar series on teens, sexuality and technology. It's a $175 value!
- Thank you to Kate Bornstein for donating three signed copies of her book “101 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks and Other Outlaws”
- Some good news: The Woodinville Taco Time has agreed to use SSC for their charity for the coupon booklets. The manager says they usually sell between $750-$1000 worth each year. No guarantee and won't be starting until Nov. but thank you Woodinville
Taco Time and thank you Penny Palmer for working with them to arrange it.
- Please donate right now, online: http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/donate.html !!!!
- Can you donate some airplane miles? We would really appreciate it. Contact Carmen: carmeny@lifelongaidsalliance.org
- SEATTLE SCHOOLS' LGBT FAMILIES' DINNER - Lisa Love
- Seattle Public Schools' Health Education Office, Office of Family and Community Engagement and Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson, invite you to join gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender families and friends for dinner and conversation at NOVA/SBOC
School the evening of Thursday, November 4th, 2010. Dinner and activities are complimentary thanks to community donations. WHO? All SPS students, staff and families are welcome at this event! WHEN AND WHERE? Thursday, November 4th from 6:00pm
to 8:00pm at NOVA/BOC (the old Meany Middle School, 301 - 21st Ave. E., Seattle 98112) in the Lunchroom. WHAT CAN I EXPECT? Dinner will be provided. Craft tables will be available for younger attendees. Members of the School Board and other District
staff will welcome you. WHO DO I CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO R.S.V.P? This will be a well-attended event, so reserve a space for you and your family today! Please reply no later than November 2nd. Questions and R.S.V.P. to Lisa Love at
252-0982 (let us know how many people are in your party).
- Seattle Schools has asked whether Safe Schools Coalition would make a small donation. Decision: We did not know how much we gave last year so it was tabled until we could get that information. (Editors' note: The Leadership Team subsequent to this meeting,
decided to donate $100)
- While Seattle Schools doesn't advertise the dinner as open to anyone outside the district, nobody's ID is checked at the door. If you feel isolated in your nearby district and would like a chance to meet other LGBTQ and allied families, you won't be turned
away. Please do RSVP.
- LIFELONG AIDS ALLIANCE'S ANNUAL AIDS WALK REPORT
- Penny
Thank you to Frank Couch and Heather Carter for sending and bringing their families to participate in the walk. We had 9 people representing SSC. LLAA made over $460,000 and had 4500 participating in the walk /run.
7. LAW & POLICY WORK GROUP REPORT
- Frieda
WA State HB 3026 (civil rights in schools law): The Specific language of the new rules is in the Attorney General's office being reviewed. All superintendents of state school districts except one have written letters of concern
over the law.
8. WEB SITE(S) REPORT
- Gabi
Total Page Views September 2010: 53,478 and in 1999: 3,663
Total Visitors September 2010: 31,654 and in 1999: 2,006
Average Visitors per Day September 2010: 1,055 and in 1999: 122.1
September 2010 Visitors - Total 31,654 from these countries:
United States 24,689
Unknown 1,311
France 1,229
China 994
Russian Federation 503
Canada 400
United Kingdom 295
Sweden 282
Japan 189
Germany 163
Australia 162
South Africa 124
Switzerland 106
India 86
Singapore 81
Ukraine 66
Italy 60
Denmark 58
Netherlands 55
Korea, Republic of 53
Philippines 52
Spain 49
Taiwan 44
Brazil 41
Greece 37
Czech Republic 33
Hong Kong 32
New Zealand 27
Poland 26
United Arab Emirates 19
Romania 17
Argentina 16
1-3 EACH: Cyprus
Pakistan
Lithuania
Sri Lanka
Egypt
Tanzania
Peru
Belarus
Slovakia
Belize
Cuba
Syria
Oman
Azerbaijan
Aruba
Kuwait
Bangladesh
Eritrea
Nepal
Ethiopia
Senegal
Angola
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
Bahrain
Barbados
Bermuda
Slovenia
Nicaragua
Georgia
Panama
Fiji
Gibraltar
Macau
Namibia
Mongolia
Serbia and Montenegro
Paraguay
Costa Rica
Rwanda
Algeria
Myanmar
Iceland
Dominica
Last Week's summary for Safe Schools Coalition Facebook page:
- 86 monthly active users - up 17 since last week
- 573 people like this - up 25 since last week
- 2 wall posts and comments this week - up 1 since last week
- 96 visits this week - up 26 since last week
9. MEMBERSHIP REPORT - Gabi
- Renewed - thank you!
- Idaho Safe Schools Coalition
- University of Puget Sound - Multicultural Student Services
- PFLAG National
- New - WELCOME!
- Leander Middle School of Leander, Texas (27 miles North of Austin)
- Amber Foulk and Carrie Visger sponsor the Prejudice Awareness Club at the school. “We have been a ‘No Place for Hate' school for 4 years now. This year there has been a recent increase in anti-gay bullying. We want to continue to learn ways to keep all
our kids safe and educated.”
- If your organization has not renewed for 2010, please do. Go to http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/members_join-renew.html
- INTERVENTION TEAM REPORT - Penny
- We received a request from San Diego for information on how to get info to a principal.
- A HS student was being bullied but school is taking appropriate actions. The parent wants training to be proactive and prevent further problems.
- A middle school student was being bullied. Cultural issues may be contributing as clothing makes it appear to other students that the child is gay. Ann met with parent, child and school officials twice.
- WE received a call all from ERW to locate students for a newspaper interview.
- 4 volunteers who want to be intervention Specialists emailed SSC. 2 have indicated they will fill out application.
- 12 calls were received from the KCSARC line.
- SPEAKER'S BUREAU MANAGER REPORT - Briana
Speakers Bureau & Training Team
| Date: |
Location: |
Trainers: |
Audience Total: |
| 9/29 |
Gay City |
Briana Herman-Brand |
10 |
| 10/12 |
New Beginnings |
Heather Carter |
25 |
Upcoming: Adams Elementary (Oct.)
Vancouver WEA 11/11
Outreach
| Date: |
Location: |
Tablers: |
| 10/3 |
Temple Beth Am Info Fair |
Stephanie Taylor and Selam Gebrekidan |
Upcoming: SLGFF 10/20
Thurston County Youth Development Training Summit 11/1
LGBT Families Dinner 11/4
Homeless Youth Outreach Fair 11/12
International Bullying Conference 11/15-17
AFSC Panels
| Date: |
Location: |
Audience Total: |
| 9/23 |
YSPP Fundraiser |
75 |
*waiting on panel numbers from one facilitator
Upcoming: Bullied @ SLGFF 10/20
Emerald City Metropolitan Community Church 10/2
12. LISTSERV REPORT
- Stefanie for Beth
a) Welcome to new subscribers from:
Seattle, WA (3)
Spring Valley, CA
Chicago, IL
University Park, PA
Yakima, WA
Everett, WA
Washington, MD
Federal Way, WA
Bozeman, MT
Lacey, WA
13. ENTRE HERMANOS' CELEBRATION
We're Invited! To Entre Hermanos 15th anniversary celebration. We're having a Quinceañera! Join us to celebrate the work of our Latino LGBT community organization, promoting the health and wellbeing of our gay, lesbian, bisexual
and transgender Latino people. Saturday October 23 at 1 p.m. At the Yesler Community Center, on Yesler and Broadway, in Seattle. We'll have some of our founding mothers and fathers on hand, food, a slide show of our best moments over the past 15 years, birthday
cake, our Queens and Kings and a Quinceañera waltz! Yes this means you can dance with Miss Gay Latina or Mr. Gay Latino. How often do you get that opportunity? It'll be fun! Especially if you join us. This is a gathering of our community, including our colleagues
and allies (that's you!) Admission is free, and there will be an opportunity to support our continued work with a donation. This event is generously supported by the University of Washington's AIDS Clinical Trials Unit. Who can attend on behalf of Safe Schools
Coalition?
14. PROTEST IN SPOKANE
The LGBT Center in Spokane is organizing a large protest in response to Rev. Phelps' visit to the area. SSC sent brochures and ERW is teaming with them to do a postcard campaign. Donations sent to the LGBT center or ERW will
generate a postcard sent to Phelps thanking him for helping unite our community. The event went well and there were several large groups of protesters along many points on the route through Spokane.
15. ADDING GENDER IDENTITY ITEM TO THE CDC'S “YOUTH RISK BEHAVIOR SURVEY”
GLSEN is asking SSC support to allocate resources to ensure the development of a question, for use on national youth based survey instruments, that can distinguish transgender youth. All voted “yes”. Details are in FAQ form,
below. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Alison Gill at the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) at 202-621-5821 or
agill@glsen.org.
16. ACLU report tabled until next meeting.
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UPCOMING MEETINGS … contact the chair if you have agenda items to suggest or if you need instructions about attending (in person) or calling in (by conference call). All are welcome - you do NOT need to be a Coalition member to attend.
November 16th, 3-5 pm, Pacific Time. Heather Murphy facilitates and Heather Carter records (traded with Penny). Heather: 206-616-6361; hmurphy@u.washington.edu
December 21st , 3-5 pm, Pacific Time. Kyle facilitates and Frank records. Kyle:
kyle@safeschoolscoalition.org (Editors'
note: Kyle has stepped down as co-chair of the Coalition. Another December chair TBD.)
Jan 18th, 3-5 pm, Pacific Time. Stefanie facilitates and Heather Carter records. Stefanie: 206-930-5174;
stefaniefox@gmail.com
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FAQ: Transgender Youth Advocacy Regarding National Student Health Surveys (for citations, see PDF, attached)
Studies show that a poor school environment and lower academic achievement are linked for transgender youth. Nationally, 65% of transgender students report feeling unsafe in their schools because of how they express their gender. However, the federal
government does not currently gather any data relating to transgender youth. It is therefore vital that the federal government research and develop a question to identify transgender youth for inclusion in national student health surveys, such as the Youth
Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), and embrace efforts to ensure this question is asked in as many states/localities as possible.
What is the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)?
The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is a survey tool managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to measure various health-risk behaviors among students, such as tobacco use, alcohol use, sexual behaviors, and unhealthy diet choices.
The YRBS is administered biannually at the state and local level, and states have a great deal of flexibility regarding which questions to include in their surveys. While the CDC has approved two optional questions for use on the YRBS related to sexual orientation,
there are currently no approved questions that allow for transgender students to be identified that are applicable to transgender students.
Why do transgender youth need to be counted in the YRBS?
Schools that include questions about transgender identity on the YRBS are better situated to understand the depth and breadth of the problems faced by transgender youth and to create programs and policies that meet their particular needs and improve
their academic success. If a school's YRBS has no way to identify transgender students, this vulnerable population of students remain invisible.
Why is understanding the situation of transgender students important?
Transgender youth have been shown to suffer from disparate rates of substance abuse and school violence. These increased risks are often the result of, and in reaction to, negative environmental stressors transgender youth face in their schools, homes
and communities. Recent research also shows that transgender youth suffering from bullying and harassment are at greater academic risk than are other youth.
What will the question look like?
There are several different ways that the question could be written in order to garner relevant and statistically viable information about transgender students. Part of the CDC's process will be to coordinate with researchers, community advocates, and
students to develop a question that will allow for an accurate assessment of the dire needs of these marginalized youth.
Which states/localities already ask questions about transgender identity in the YRBS?
Because the CDC has not developed a question related to gender identity or transgender students, only a few states or localities, such as the District of Columbia, currently include a question about transgender students in their YRBS.
Once developed, how will states/localities administer this question?
Ultimately, states and localities have the ability to choose which optional CDC questions are asked on their YRBS. Therefore, after an optional question is developed and approved by CDC, advocates will need to encourage states and localities to include
the transgender student question in order to garner and compare data across the country.
How can the results from these questions assist schools to improve academic success for transgender youth?
Research shows that efforts that systematically eradicate and redress homophobia and transphobia among students and faculty, promote education inclusive of transgender students, and foster a safe school environment free of bullying, harassment or abuse
- including bullying based on gender identity or expression - can help transgender youth remain healthy and ultimately be successful in school.
State or local data obtained by adding a transgender question to the YRBS can help school districts to identify the depth and breadth of the health needs of transgender students in their schools, share that information to raise awareness among key stakeholders
such as departments of health, community-based organizations, parents and educators; and use the data to apply for public and private grants to fund programs that redress these specific needs, and track progress over time.
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Or mail this form with your check made to "Safe Schools Coalition":
Safe Schools Coalition c/o Lifelong AIDS Alliance
Attn: Carmen Yau
1002 E. Seneca
Seattle, WA 98122-4203
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