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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 4, 1995)
1 2 ▼ a u g u s t 4 . I M S ▼ ju s t o u t local news HAWAIIAN SUMMER SPECIALS HONOLULLL.air and 2 day car...$356.00ppdo* w/7 nights hotel...$498.00ppdo~ MAUI 7 nights, hotel Si car...$634.00 ppdo* KAUAI 7 nights, hotel Si car...$657.00 ppdo** A lesson for educators MEXICO Portland P-FLAG embarks on an effort to create more supportive schools for gay and lesbian youth PUERTO VALLARTA RT air...$364.00 ppdo with 7 nights hotel...$540.00- CRUISE SPECIALS HOLLAND AMERICA...$699.00*e* FALL CARR1BBEAN W1NDSTAR CRUISES TAHITI $1,598.00./- by Inga Sorensen NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINES EASTERN CARRlBBEAN...$828.00v~ EXOTIC CARRIBBEAN...$878.00"/- SOUTHERN CARRIBBEAN...$ 1,158.00»/- n 1992, Massachusetts Gov. William Weld, Education Association— Portland P-FLAG has a Republican, appointed a statewide Com compiled and distributed informational packets to mission on Gay and Lesbian Youth. Its the counseling departments of nearly 200 high mandate was to work to end all forms of schools throughout Oregon. The packets include discrimination against gay and lesbian the Massachusetts commission report, a 1989 fed youth, with an emphasis on preventing suicide and eral study addressing youth suicide as well as two violence. After holding hearings, the commission issue papers on the same subject, and other P- FLAG materials. concluded that “the prevailing unsafe climate de nies equal educational opportunities to lesbian and “I don’t believe the public realizes that gay and lesbian youth are at such high risk for suicide or gay youth. Virtually every youth who testified before the commission cited the need for action to drug and alcohol abuse. These kids are up against so much because society puts a lot of pressure on change their school environments.” The panel said them,” says Bliss. “I look back and can now see it was imperative that school be a place “where all that my own son was struggling—by himself— students might learn, free from fear and intimida when he was younger. No one should have to go tion” and maintained that state government had a through that.” responsibility to ensure that that happened. While many commission reports seem to dis She adds, “I think the least we can do is get the word out to counselors and educators—people that appear into oblivion, Weld studied this one and young people often turn to.” announced in May 1993 the first-ever statewide Bliss says she has asked effort to train educators about •'* ! P-FLAG members to per lesbian and gay issues. His sonally deliver the packets advocacy did not end there. A Sr' »> to schools. “Some are afraid few m onths later, W eld nam** m* «.»•Mth.-- to, so we mail the packets,” pushed for the passage of a she says. “But we have par controversial bill protecting ents who have delivered the gay and lesbian public school packets to schools in Bend, students from discrimination Redmond, Sisters and Eu and harassment. He was suc Voice o n gene. In Salem the school cessful. On Dec. 10, 1993, district is delivering them to Weld signed the bill—the first counselors, and we provided of its kind in the nation—into 56 packets to Portland law. school officials, which were “It’s just a marvelous suc handed out during [district] cess story. It’s something we trainings.” should all be striving for,” says “This is wonderful in 56-year-old Anne Bliss, presi formation that I am sure will dent of the Portland chapter of prove very useful to coun Parents, Families and Friends se lo rs,” says C arolyn of Lesbians and Gays, a na Sheldon, assistant director tional support and educational of student services for Port organization for families and land Public Schools. “In the friends of gay men and lesbi past we’ve distributed bits ans. and pieces of the informa Like most people. Bliss tion, but never has it been offered in such a compre had viewed herself as a relatively well-informed hensive fashion. It’s great.” and fair-minded citizen. But five years ago, her Sheldon says she realizes there may be some then-23-year-old son told her he is gay. negative reaction prompted by P-FLAG’s actions, “Up until that point, I had never thought about “but quite frankly,” she says, “it’s time to get over homosexuality. I didn’t have bad feelings towards this. I know many of our counselors have been gay people. I didn’t have positive feelings. I just approached by gay youth and we have an obliga hadn’t thought about it before. Suddenly all of tion to meet the needs of all of our students.” these feelings rushed to the surface. First and According to Sheldon, Portland Public Schools foremost I was afraid for my son. I was afraid he plans to offer—for the first time— a school-spon would be hurt by others. I was fearful of what could sored support group for gay and lesbian youth at happen to him,” she says. the high school level this upcoming school year. Bliss, a life-long Republican who grew up in “In the past we’ve referred gay and lesbian southern Oregon, spent the ensuing months grap youth to outside organizations that could assist pling with her feelings around her son’s identity. them," she says. “This year we plan to have a “But it wasn’t until Ballot Measure 9 that I support group for gay and lesbian students,” she really began educating myself about what it means says. “We already have groups designed to meet to be a gay person in this society. I got involved in the needs of other students, for example, those who the No on 9 campaign and became exposed to are dealing with divorce.” many gay men and lesbians, as well as many "Sometimes I think things are getting better, supportive nongay people. It’s amazing to look but then you look at the comments Jesse Helms back and see how much I didn’t know,” she says. recently made about people with AIDS and you She adds. “One of the things that I had never realize that we still have a long way to go,” says known before—because the information was never Bliss. “P-FLAG is going to do whatever it can to readily out there—concerned the high suicide rate make a difference, and we hope these packets do among gay and lesbian youth. When I found out that.” that nearly a third of youth suicides involved gay Bliss invites the public to attend Portland P- and lesbian young people, I was shocked. I really FLAG meetings the fourth Wednesday of each think if the public knew this they would want to month from 7 to 9:30 pm at the First United help change it.” Methodist Church at Southwest 18th Avenue and So Bliss has embarked on a campaign to get the Jefferson Street in Portland. For further informa word out. 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