Don't forget to vote. School levies in Washington State are on a Special Election ballot that can be returned through the mail and must be postmarked by April 26, or they can be deposited in a ballot drop box by 8:00 p.m. on that day.

 

In King County, Special Election ballots have been mailed to voters in the Tahoma and Snoqualmie Valley School Districts. In other counties, besides King county, click here: http://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/auditors.aspx to find out if you have a school levy on your local ballot.

 

 

Irish anti homophobic bullying advertisement, created as part of BeLonG To Youth Services annual Stand Up! LGBT Awareness Weeks. The campaign promotes friendship amongst young people as a way to combat homophobic bullying. Go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrJxqvalFxM

 

(Thank you, Ernestine and Ryan, for this one.)

 

 

Sexual Assault Awareness Month is in full swing.  The Be the Solution campaign is collecting postcards from across the state of Washington, asking people to share how they can be the solution.  How can we turn awareness in to action? Click here to see what they have to say: http://wasaam.org/index.php?id=index

 

Also on the Sexual Assault Awareness Month web site:

Follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook for updates on SAAM activities and for information on statewide and national efforts.

 

For this year's Take Action Awards Reception, the Education Committee has decided to try something new to incorporate more survivor voices into the program. So we are seeking poetry/spoken word submissions  by and about survivors of dating or domestic abuse. We will select one or more to be read/performed at our Take Action Against Domestic Violence Awards Reception to be held on October 27, 2011. All submissions not selected to be performed will be printed in the event program.

 

All submissions must include your name, email address, phone number and any safety concerns. Submissions are due by June 30, 2011. Please note: these submissions are meant to be read or viewed by the public, so please keep this in mind when making your submission. We will do everything possible to respect the privacy and safety of those submitting materials. Entries may be submitted via the following options:

 

E-mail:  kccadv@kccadv.org

 

Fax:  206-568-5454

 

or by mail

KCCADV

1419 S. Jackson St. #103

Seattle, WA 98144

 

 

Myth: The youth knew what she was getting in to.

 

Myth: The youth is a criminal.

 

Myth: The youth was paid for her (or his) services.

 

Myth: The youth has freedom of movement.

 

Myth: Victims trafficked within a state don’t qualify for federal victim assistance.

 

 

Dear Colleagues,

 

As some of you may already know, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will be holding a hearing on May 13 addressing inter-student violence targeted against LGBT youth. According to Commissioner Roberta Achtenberg, the event is historic as it will be the first time the Civil Rights Commission will host a hearing on an LGBT-related issue. Those who are scheduled to testify include Tammy Aaberg, who lost her son to suicide last July, and Russlynn Ali, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education.

 

We’ve received a specific request from Alec Deull, special assistant to Commissioner Achtenberg, to encourage our members touched by inter-student violence targeted against LGBT youth (and those perceived to be so) to share their stories in writing with the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights for inclusion in the public record of the Commission’s current efforts to address the issue. The Commission defines “inter-student violence,” as any verbal and physical assaults, teasing, bullying and any other form of harassment.

 

The goal of the story collection is to build a record from the contributions of people all across the country, which is why I am reaching out to you. If possible, please forward widely this information to your networks, or otherwise share it with anyone whom you think might want to contribute a story. These letters will be an invaluable means for helping the Commission understand the nature, pervasiveness, geographic spread, and negative outcomes of such violence.  Stories shared in this way will help to set the stage for testimony and filings by a number of social science, mental health, and legal experts who are contributing to these efforts from their professional perspectives.

 

The letters need not be formal or in any particular format.  Each author is encouraged to write in their own voice and to tell their story in the terms in which it was experienced.  The Commission should learn of the personalities of the kids and families involved, the way things happened (or are still happening), what types of people were involved (other students, school staff, and/or others), and what outcomes are being experienced for the student and for the rest of the family. Thoughts about what types of intervention might be helpful to address the causes could be important as well.

 

In order to humanize this issue as strongly as possible, families and individuals who are comfortable doing so are encouraged to attach a picture to the front of the letter. For those contributors who are not comfortable sharing their identity openly, they should use at least one initial to identify themselves and any people relevant to their stories since the letters will be submitted to the public record.  It would be extremely helpful if writers who are maintaining anonymity could at least identify a region of a state in which they live ("eastern Texas," or "northern New York State," for example).

 

Letters should be sent, if possible, by May 1, 2011 for introduction into the Commission's record in advance of the May 13 hearing in D.C. The letter itself should be addressed to:

Kim Tolhurst, Esq., Acting General Counsel

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

624 Ninth St., N.W., Washington, D.C.  20001

 

Please note that the envelope should be addressed and mailed to Commissioner Achtenberg’s special assistant, Alec Duell at :

c/o Alec Deull

3102 Krueger Road

North Tonawanda, NY  14120

 

If you would like more background about the hearing, or if you have any questions regarding the story solicitation request, please contact Alec Deull at duellusccr@gmail.com or 716-694-1114, cell 202-607-6900.

 

Many thanks,

Rhodes

____________________________________________________

 

J. RHODES PERRY, MPA|  Associate Director of Policy and Programs

PFLAG National | 1828 L Street NW, Suite 660  |  Washington, D.C. 20036 

P: (202) 467-8180 ext. 221 | F: (202) 349-0788|E: RPerry@pflag.org | W: www.PFLAG.org