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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 16, 2004)
aprii 16.2004 • nTiTTTTTTT^newsbrie/s “It is with overwhelming pride and excite ment that GLSEN once again prepares to coordinate the Day of Silence,” executive director Kevin Jennings said. “All of us at GLSEN are moved and inspired by the record-setting number of students who will he silently, yet powerfully, standing up for them selves, their peers and the ideals of safe and effective schools for all.” Students will have the opportunity, to break their silence later that evening during the second annual Night of Noise rally from 5 to 8 p.m. in Pioneer Courthouse Square. The event, which is organized by Basic Rights Oregon’s Youth Action Caucus, will allow sexual and gender minority youth to speak about their personal and political experiences and will fea ture information tables, performers and speeches from adult allies who have made contributions to the sex ual minorities community. Every one is welcome to attend to edu cate, learn and cheer about creating safer schools and communities. daughter’ or ‘Ching, Chang, Chong,’ I just get this fire inside of me that I can’t put out and I just get really angry. But at school, nothing really happens. I can’t get anything to happen.” Let’s Get Real is the latest release from the Respect for All Project, which also made 2000’s That's a Family!, a film for kids about family diversity that was screened at the White House, and 1996’s It’s Elementary — Talking About Gay Issues in School, one of the most hotly discussed documentaries ever to air on public television. For more information visit ivww.respectforall.org. For more information call program coordinator Melissa Shepherd at 503-222-6151. F ilm D ocuments S tudent B ullying A groundbreaking documentary on bullying— solely in the voices of youth—will screen 3 p.m. May 2 at Hollywood Theatre, 4122 N.E. Sandy Blvd. The 35-minute Let’s Get Real will be followed by a one-hour ques- tion-and-answer session with pre- Anthony Romero is the first Latino and openly gay man senter Sima Teherani. Love Makes a to serve as executive director of the American Civil Family outreach and education Liberties Union director. Admission costs $3. “Let’s Get Real lets students speak for them N ational ACLU C hief selves about the dangers they face in the class room,” said Jerry Newberry, National Educa Is C oming to P ortland nthony Romero, the first Latino and tion Association Health Information Net openly gay man to serve as executive work executive director. “This film should be required viewing for anyone interested in pro director of the American Civil Liberties Union, will make his inaugural visit to Ore viding safe schools for young people.” Let’s Get Real is part of a national cam gon next month for the E.B. MacNaughton paign to prevent violence in junior high Awards Dinner. The benefit starts 6 p.m. May 26 at the schools. The film, directed by Oscar-winning documentarian Debra Chasnoff, is designed Hilton Hotel, 921 S.W. Sixth Ave. Dinner will to support students speaking up both to their be served at 7. The keynote speech will be delivered by peers and the adults in their lives and to encourage empathy in order to prevent acts of Romero, who took the helm of the ACLU in September 2001, a week before the attacks on aggression and violence. The NEA estimates that 160,000 children the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. miss school every day because they fear attack Under his leadership, the organization has or intimidation by other students. According stood up for civil liberties and maintained to the U.S. Secret Service’s 2002 report Safe that it is possible to be both safe and free. School Initiative, many of the youth involved Romero, an attorney with a history of public in school shootings cited bullying as a con interest activism, has also presided over the most successful membership drive in the tributing factor to their violent behavior. “Bullying should not be accepted as a rite ACLU’s history. This year’s MacNaughton Award will honor of passage,” co-producer Helen S. Cohen said. “Let’s Get Real can help fuel the move former Oregon Supreme Court Justice Betty ment of educators, youth service providers, Roberts, who solemnized the state’s first same- parents and caregivers who realize that in sex marriages March 3. According to the order to address this complex problem, we ACLU, she has been a consistent and effective must listen to youth—and allow them to leader in preserving and expanding the basic speak honestly for themselves— about its root rights of all Oregonians throughout her public career as a state legislator and jurist. causes.” Tickets cost $125. For an additional $75, Unlike other resources on the topic of bul lying, Let’s Get Real does not shy away from donors will be able to attend a hosted reception the sensitive social issues that often fuel con with Romero at 5:30 p.m. flicts at school. The students in the film speak directly, for example, about racial tension, To reserve tickets contact Soudary Kittivong- Greenhaum at 503-227-3186 or sk/^aclu-or.org. anti-gay taunting and sexual harassment. As Tina, a sixth-grader featured in the Continued on Page 13 film, says: “When they call me ‘Bruce Lee’s WHETHER YOU'RE STARTING A FAMILY OR CREATING ONE AS YOU GO. A H human K It . 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