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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 2003)
r _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ — __________________ miwilm T1 Tnm J 1 — h 5 iTTTîTrïïTRTlnetus T eaching T ools 2003 survey conducted at Port land’s Madison High reveals that 96 percent of students who responded report hearing frequent queer slurs Equify Foundation's Safe Schools Summit offers lessons learned and homophobic remarks at school. Nearly half say other students don’t bother to to combat harassment of queer students by Timothy Krause intervene, though a teacher or staff person some times ikies. Because they felt uncomfortable or nomah County Commission on C hil unsafe, two out of three kids have skipped schixil. dren, Families and Communities and And according to a 1999 Oregon Health Division former Portland Public Schools hoard report, students who experience anti-gay harass president, served as rmxlerator for two ment are three times more likely to report a suicide panels that shared both advances and attempt than their nonharassed peers. advice. Scenarios like these, along with successes "I worry about those students that and strategies in com bating discrimination, don’t have anyone to talk to,” said harassment and bullying, peppered the discus panelist Paul Wagenblast, a high sion of more than 50 policy leaders, educators school student in The Dalles who and students from throughout the state attend described the challenges he and his ing the Safe Schools Summit on Nov. 4 at Nike colleagues faced when trying to form World Headquarters in Beaverton. a G SA last spring. Though the club is Launched in 2002, Equity Foundation’s Karla Wenzel moderates a panel on safe schools solutions now active, counselor Ayme Allison three-year Safe Schools Initiative recognizes Nov. 4 at N ike World Headquarters in Beaverton suggested that controversy might growing docum entation that queer and ques offered the summit’s keynote speech, addressing reappear next year when The Dalles’ two school tioning students— and those even perceived to districts merge under a new board. he— are frequent targets for bullying and harass his experience as the father of a lesbian student “No one is hard-wired to believe gay is wrong,” who didn’t feel comfortable coming out. Look ment. The nonprofit believes all students should contended Misha Isaak, who attends Reed Col ing hack, he said his daughter Katie, who now have the opportunity to learn in a safe educa lege and served as a student representative on the works for the Portland Police Bureau, asked tional environment. Portland Public Schixils hoard. Isaak called on him, “W ho could I tell?” The challenge, however, is to help adminis administrators and teachers to re-evaluate the Potter, a Portland mayoral candidate, offered trators and teachers understand that the problem environments they create because harassment suggestions to build hate-free schools, including is real and that there are effective ways to address and violence are symptoms of a larger problem. running for school hoard, working with univer it. To that end, Equity last year awarded $20,000 Portland Police Capt. Dorothy Elmore suggest sities that train teachers, being a mentor, writing to four Oregon organizations to support Gay ed that safe schools programming he intnxluced letters to newspaper and legislators, and “letting Straight Alliances as well as other methods to not only in secondary schix>ls hut also in elemen battle intolerance of queer students in education children know you will always love and accept tary schools. She recommended “dialogue circles” what they are, as they are.” He added, “If we al settings. The results are helping the foundation that address harriers preventing people from even can’t end discrimination and bullying in our develop a “blueprint for success" to aid educators talking to each other about particular issues. Like schools, we’ll never end it in our adult s<x:iety.” in implementing safe schixils programs statewide. Karla Wenzel, vice chairwoman of Mult wise, Layne Newton, a former student at Col Fortner Portland Police C hief Tom Potter A FOX AUTO • HOME LIFE • BUSINESS INSURANCE AGENCY me. A new face with some new ideas for the community! Proudly serving our communily since 1989 in personol .107% financing ow ner occupied . 100% financing on investor loans • Benefits of real estate investing Bicvcle & I v U U Jl I I Hala Gores, P.C. 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Representatives from grantee organizations included David 0 4 ton and Chris Enyeart of Madison High School, where a G SA has evolved from a vehicle for safety and visibility to one that embraces activism. Marion Malcolm, representing Springfield Alliance for Equality and Respect, was joined by Devin M cGeehan, a student and G SA founder at Springfield High School. Both spoke of the need to continue to develop G SA leadership and build on community partnerships. That sentiment was echoed by Joyce Lilje- holm, who discussed the accomplishments of the Oregon Safe Schools and Communities Coali tion, highlighting its recent conference in Eugene to train teams of adults and youth on working with educators and students in their hometowns. Another grantee, Salem’s chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, was rep resented by Gloria Holland Smith, who shared per sonal stories as Kith a PFLAG mom and a schixil- teacher, asking that educators and parents alike review everyday assumptions, even one as simple as households with two parents of the opposite sex. Equity executive director Linda Traeger says the Safe Schools Initiative s progress is on target. Grantees will continue teacher training, plan a statewide G SA network, conduct annual forms and implement an evaluation component to ensure replicable models. J D P O R T I A N I » A R F. A t C t l N i . l t ASSOCIATION 503 245-7258 Ask for Don, Joe, Jay or Christine - over $700! ~ , 503 2 9 2 -7 8 8 5 1730 SW Skyline Blvd, Suite 203, Portland, OR 97221 , Licensed in Oregon Washington California & Arizona Integrity, E xperience p R esu lts
