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 . H 1 S
..M r.
..
We invite your family to join ours.
From now until December 31. 2004
when you buy or lease any new Volvo, we will donate $ 5 0 0 to H R C .* To learn more
about the special offer cell 1-800-862-7782. H't our way of letting you know, we care
for the people you care about.
VOLVO
for life
'AM donatom flint be acconpanied by an official bft& /V o*o coupon and I m e or punA as* aoreement C 2 0 0 S
Vobo Oar* of Monti Artr.ni-a U.C yotvocarscom
JIM FISHER VOLVO
HERZOG-MEIER VOLVO
21 st & W. Burnside, Portland
503.295.5571
www.jimfishervolvo.com
139th & Canyon Rd., Beaverton
503.644.9121
www.herzogmeier.com