august 2Q. 2004 »
because of a history of queer faculty being fired.
Teachers also worry that they will become inef
fective if they are out to their students.
For the past three years, Love Makes a Fami
ly has conducted an anti-bullying program called
the Middle School Transitions project, which is
geared at educating junior high students. The
presentations initially focused only on sexual
minority issues, but the program faced less resis
tance when the workshops were broadened to
address all kinds of bullying.
With regards to the states progress Tinker
notes, “We’ve just begun to scratch the surface
and are still getting major resistance.” A middle
school outside Portland invited the program in
to do an anti-bullying workshop for all sixth
graders. When administrators found out that it
would include queer issues, they canceled the
entire program.
The Middle School Transitions project is on
hold because AmeriCorps, a federally nin
agency, did not renew funding.
more than 84 percent of gay, lesbian, bi and
trans students reported being verbally harassed
because of their sexual orientation. More than
90 percent regularly hear anti-queer comments
at school. In some cases, verbal abuse escalates
to a physical level. Almost 40 percent of gay,
lesbian, and bi students and 55 percent of trans
students who participated in the school climate
survey reported being physically harassed.
Queers are not the only students who are
affected by homophobic attitudes in school.
Kids with queer parents often need the most
support because they are called gay themselves.
Those who are straight tend to overcompen
sate by behaving in extreme, stereotypically
heterosexual ways.
Bullying can have a lasting impact. It affects
students’ ability to focus on their education and
can make school unbearable. The National
Mental Health Association reports that queer
he anti-bullying credo used to be the
familiar saying, “Sticks and stones may
break my bones but words can never hurt
me.” Recent studies prove that to be untrue—
words can hurt, and queer students in particu
lar are affected. A survey sponsored by the
National Mental Health Association revealed
that “Nine out of 10 teens (93 percent) hear
other kids at school or in their neighborhixxl
use words like ‘fag’, ‘homo,’ ‘dyke,’ ‘queer’ or
‘gay’ at least once in a while, with 51 percent
hearing them every day.”
In addition, a National School Climate Sur
vey conducted by GLSEN in 2003 revealed that
Oregon s report card in GLSEN’s State of the
States 2004 assessment. The left column
indicates the number of points possible; the right
column shows Oregon’s points per category.
students, compared to their peers, are more like
ly to skip school because of fear of harassment
and that 28 percent will drop out of school—a
number that is three times higher than for het
erosexual students.
The Portland-based Equity Foundation
reports, “In 1999, an estimated 20,000 7-12
grade students in Oregon reported that they had
been targeted with anti-gay harassment at
school or traveling to and from school.”
Even more sobering, the National Mental
Health Association estimates that “gay, lesbian,
and bisexual youth are two to three times more
likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual
counterparts."
GENERAL EDUCATION
Student/Teacher Ratio
(20): 11
(5). 1
Teacher Salary
(5):
4
Per pupil Expenditure
(5):
4
Graduation Rate
(5).
2
STATE SAFE SCHOOLS LAW
Sexual Orientation inclusive
(30):
(24).
0
0
Transgender Inclusive
(6):
0
STATE
NON-DISCRIMINATION LAW
Sexual Orientation Inclusive
Creating safe schools
Words do hurt
(20): 0
(16): 0
Transgender Inclusive
o combat those statistics, Joyce Liljeholm,
who worked as a school counselor for 32
years, helped start the Oregon Safe Schools
and Communities Coalition. The all-volunteer
group’s mission is to “create safe schools and
communities where every family can belong,
every educator can teach and every child can
learn regardless of actual or perceived sexual ori
entation or gender identity.”
“Ultimately,” says Liljeholm, “I’d like to see
state legislation embrace sexual orientation and
gender identity as categories where students are
protected.”
T
“There is a tremendous confusion between
sexual activity and sexual identity”
—Joyce Liljeholm
just out 23
H).
□
(15):
5
(5):
5
Statewide Requirement
lo Teach Sexuality Education
(10):
0
LOCAL
SAFE SCHOOLS POLICIES
Sexuai Orientation inclusive
(15); 12
(12): 12
SEXUALITY EDUCATION
Statewide Requirement to
Teach HIV/STD Education
Transgender Inclusive
(3).
0
SCHOOLS LAW THAT
STIGMATIZES LGBT PEOPLE (-10): 0
TOTAL: 28
Continued on Page 25
The Intelligent Choice...
The Right Choice
OCEANSIDE
"Carmel of the Oregon Coast"
9 mi. west of Tillamook.
Seven units with spectacular ocean
views and large private decks.
Full kitchens in six units.
All units are equipped with
TVs, VCRs and microwaves.
Six units have fireplaces.
$70-$175 Two night minimum
Pets welcome at most locations.
FHA/VA
100% F inancing
R everse M rtg
• E quity L oans
• C ommercial
R obert H ogg ,
Mortgage Broker
Retired Air Force MSC
503-233-4363
www.benderproperties.com
503/781-4181
www.hoggloans.com
Bi GOODl.lN 1 1NANC1AL GKOLT
C uban
S b -F-T aught
A rtists
www.ncnm.edu
503.552.1551
OUR PLANTS ARE 6
ON THE KINSEY SCALE
ATTENTION!
• GAY, LESBIAN, 81, TRANS FRIENDLY
• COMPANY RETIREES
• CURRENT EMPLOYEES
Medical • Dental • Rx
*34.95 - »109.95/™
ENTIRE FAMILY!
Imagine
Doctor» that treat your whole person
C uban culture , daily life and spirituality
A ugust 26-O ctober 26, 2004
O n ? a A rte L atina
2215
ne
A lberta « 503.4931909
The clinicsol
clinic* dt*
National College of
ti.ro par hi
;■
Medicine
; . ■ -'M p-.
Honoring the Healing Pon er of Na hire
ClSTUS NURSERY
All Pre-Existing Conditions Okay
22711 NWGII.LIHAN ROAD
SAUVIE ISLAND WED-SUN 10-5
CALL 1-800-228-0305