-KNOW Homo-

LGBTQ* Advice, Insight and Education

How Educators Can Help:

1.) Treat the topic of sexual orientation as you would an other human difference

2.) Illustrate ways in which diversity has had a positive effect on our culture

3.) Do not allow students to use names such as “fag,” “butch,” “dyke,” “homo,” etc. in a negative fashion. Treat these words the same way you give notice to ethnic or racial slurs. Create a safe space for discussion.

4.) Let others show that derogatory gestures and jokes are not amusing — they cause pain

5.) Be away that some LGBTQ* students are very often uncomfortable, invisible, isolated and need acceptance from you 

6.) Some LGBTQ* students will probably not admit to being LGBTQ* due to denial, need to conform or personal acknowledgement. Don’t confront these students! Be an ally and allow them time.

7.) You can convey respect and show that each student is valued for characteristics within his/her control.

8.) Sexual orientation is a minor (but important) part of a person’s existence and should not be overly emphasized.

9.) When you speak to someone it is important to remember that that person may be indeed related to the “invisible” minority and can easily be hurt. Be a good friend. Do not use a student or fellow peer as examples without their permission.

10.) If a student tells you he/she is LGBTQ*, thank the person for trusting you and keep it to yourself. If a student needs help, the school psychologist or social worker will be available and the information will be kept confidential.

(Taken from a university Safe Haven manual. Picture source unknown.)

LGBTQ* Something For Everyone

- Above Graphic Depicts “Top Schools” For Various Reasons from GoCollege.com - 

(click graphic for enhanced view)

date of information unknown

LGBTQ* College, Education and Safe Spaces

America’s Gay-Friendly Colleges Ranked

(The best and worst schools for LGBT students — Article from Philly Mag ) 

The results are based on more than 120,000 surveys of students throughout the U.S. And not surprisingly some of the most gay-friendly schools also have top academic reputations and are located in major cities in the Northeast, while schools that don’t protect the rights of LGBT students tend to be religious-based (like Notre Dame that scores in the top 20 worst), often excluding sexual orientation and gender identity in any discussion about campus life. The worst schools also don’t provide any resources for LGBT students – no student center, no health services and certainly no social groups.

2011 Best Gay-Friendly Colleges 

The top 5 best:

1. New York University (New York, NY)

2. Stanford University (Stanford, CA)

3. Emerson College (Boston, MA)

4. Wellesley College (Wellesley, MA)

5. Bennington College (Bennington, VT)

2011 Worst Gay-Friendly Colleges

The top 5 worst:

1. Wheaton College (Wheaton, Ill.)

2. Grove City College (Grove City, Pa.)

3. Brigham Young University (Provo, UT)

4. Hampden-Sydney College (Hampden-Sydney, Va.)

5. College of the Ozarks (Point Lookout, MO)

LGBTQ* Insight, Advice and Icebreakers

(following from Engrade: Jump Start GSA Lesson Plan)

10 Steps Toward Starting a GSA

or Similar Student Club

Across the country, hundreds of students have started gay-straight alliances (GSAs) and similar clubs dedicated to making schools safer and more inclusive for all students. The 10 easy-to-understand steps below are commonly used in public secondary schools where other non-curricular clubs already exist and are allowed. Keep in mind that these are starting points; because situations and schools vary, no single process is applicable to every school.

1. Follow Guidelines
Establish a GSA the same way you would start any other group or club. Look in your Student Handbook for your school’s rules regarding clubs. Some schools require students to go through a process for establishing a club; this could include writing a constitution or showing student interest.

2. Find a Faculty/Teacher Advisor
Find teachers or staff members who you think would be supportive or who have already shown themselves to be allies around sexual orientation and gender-identity issues. Consult your school rules for more information on who can serve as a club advisor.

3. Find Other Students
Work with a diverse range of students who are interested in such a group. Check with existing clubs for students who might have an interest.

4. Inform Administration
Let administrators know right away what you are doing. It can be very helpful to have them on your side. They can work as liaisons to teachers, parents, community members and the school board. If an administrator opposes the GSA, provide them information about the Federal Equal Access Act (EAA).

5. Pick a Meeting Place
You may want to find a meeting place within the school that offers some level of privacy, yet is still easily accessible.

6. Advertise
There are many ways to advertise; think about how you’ve seen other clubs advertise. Use a combination of your school bulletin, announcements, flyers or word-of-mouth. If your flyers are defaced or torn down, don’t be discouraged. Plan to check on them throughout the day and replace them if necessary. Eventually, whoever is tearing them down will give up or be reprimanded by the school. Besides, advertising your group and having words up such as “gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender” or “end homophobia” can be part of educating the school and can actually make other students feel safer—even if they never attend a single meeting.

7. Plan Your Meeting
Of course you want to have a good meeting, so plan ahead of time. There are tons of things you can do, from discussions to inviting speakers, holding workshops and playing games. Dozens of possible activities are described within The GLSEN Jump-Start Guide.

8. Hold Your Meeting!
You may want to start with a discussion about why people feel the group is needed or important. You can also brainstorm projects that your club could do this year.

9. Establish Ground Rules
Creating ground rules helps ensure that group discussions are safe, confidential and respectful. Many groups have a ground rule that no assumptions or labels are used about a group member’s sexual orientation.

10. Plan for the Future
Develop an action plan. Brainstorm projects. Set goals for what you want to work toward. (All of these steps are covered in The GLSEN Jump-Start Guide.) If you haven’t already done so, contact GLSEN’s Student Organizing Department so that you may share ideas, resources and information. Also look into local GSA networks in your town or city.

LGBTQ* Literature To Keep On Your Radar

Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman

Egyptian-born Aciman is the author of the acclaimed memoir Out of Egypt and of the essay collection False Papers. His first novel poignantly probes a boy’s erotic coming-of-age at his family’s Italian Mediterranean home. Elio—17, extremely well-read, sensitive and the son of a prominent expatriate professor—finds himself troublingly attracted to this year’s visiting resident scholar, recruited by his father from an American university. Oliver is 24, breezy and spontaneous, and at work on a book about Heraclitus. The young men loll about in bathing suits, play tennis, jog along the Italian Riviera and flirt. Both also flirt (and more) with women among their circle of friends, but Elio, who narrates, yearns for Oliver. Their shared literary interests and Jewishness help impart a sense of intimacy, and when they do consummate their passion in Oliver’s room, they call each other by the other’s name. A trip to Rome, sanctioned by Elio’s prescient father, ushers Elio fully into first love’s joy and pain, and his travails set up a well-managed look into Elio’s future. Aciman overcomes an occasionally awkward structure with elegant writing in Elio’s sweet and sanguine voice. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

(http://oregonstate.edu/lgbtqqia/question9)

— Roommate Questions/Answers

Questions for Roomates

In the residence halls
In a residence hall environment, we interact daily with a wide variety of people. Statistics have shown that at least 10% of the general population consider themselves to be lesbian or gay, and many more consider themselves to be bisexual. It is very likely that you will meet individuals who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) during your time at OSU. This page was developed to hopefully answer some of the questions you may have. Remember, you may ask these questions of your Residence Life staff as well.

Why do they flaunt their sexuality?
“What people do in their own bedrooms is their own business, but I saw two guys walking across campus holding hands.”

One of the worst forms of oppression for a human being is to be denied emotional expression. Curiously, it is called “expressing love” when heterosexuals hold hands, but “flaunting” when LGBT people express their love. How would heterosexuals react if they could not hold hands, kiss, dance together, go to romantic dinners, or be married? LGBT people who are open with their affections are not trying to shock others, but are just doing what is natural to them and others.

What should I do if a friend tells me that he or she is gay? What does that say about me?
Most LGBT people who “come out” would like the same sincere acceptance and encouragement you might want when you tell a friend something special about yourself. Because of many people’s “homophobic” attitude (fear and derision of same sex relationships), many gays are afraid of rejection from their friends. You might first honestly ask yourself how you feel about this news and then discuss it as a caring friend.

Some people who find out a close friend is LGBT wonder “What does that mean about me?” This is a natural reaction. What it probably means is that your friend trusts you very much. However, liking someone gay does not make you gay any more than liking someone smart makes you smart.

If my roommate “comes out” to me, does that mean that he or she thinks that I’m gay too?
There is a big difference between “coming out” and “coming on.” As discussed above, most gay people who come out want to be accepted, not hassled. Sometimes a gay person might “come on” to you, tell you they are attracted to you, or want an intimate relationship with you. You can handle it in the same manner that you would handle a heterosexual approach. Gay love is as serious and legitimate as heterosexual love. Again, you should discuss it with your friend.

If I accept my LGBT roommate, will he or she bring in lots of LGBT friends and push me out?
A formerly taboo subject will be out in the open. You may feel uncomfortable from a lack of experience dealing with gay people who are not “closeted.” The LGBT friends should respect non-LGBT people just as LGBT people expect to be respected. Visits by LGBT folks are a good opportunity to learn about this large and diverse segment of the population. However, be cautious about presuming that all your roommate’s friends are LGBT. His or her best friends may be straight.

Won’t my friends or parents think I’m gay if I have a gay roommate or friend or defend equal rights?
Defending equal rights for gays is often a courageous stance to take. Some people may conclude that such a person has a vested interest to do so. It is up to you whether you feel that the people you are defending are worth the risk of occasional accusations or assumptions by others. Remember that a word from heterosexual friends and allies in defense or support of gay rights can go a long way to help change people’s minds.

Now that I know my roommate is gay, I don’t feel comfortable about nudity, dressing, showering, etc.
More than likely, you have been living together long enough to trust each other. There is no reason for the trust to diminish now. Your roommate has been gay or lesbian all along! Bear in mind that gays are not always comfortable with non-gays, either. Gay people, just like straight people, are attracted to certain types of folks. Most gays and lesbians are not sexually interested in heterosexuals, just as the reverse is true.

USC LGBTQ Allies

from former Ally Project:

http://sait.usc.edu/lgbt/allies/come-out-as-an-ally.aspx

Website: http://www.campusclimateindex.org/?gclid=CNmR2Z6jkZ8CFcx25QodggfohQ

A breakdown of LGBTQQIAA campuses in the USA. Scholarship, Tuition, In-State/Out-of-State Information, etc.

Taken From About.com

Your Education IS Important - and there are people/organizations who want to help support you (financially and personally) for the amazing LGBT person you are!

1. The Point Foundation - LGBT Scholarship

The Point Foundation provides not only money for tuition, books room and board, but also has a leadership program to help LGBT scholars succeed. From their website: “We pay particular attention to those students who have lost the financial and social support of their families and/or communities as a result of revealing their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

2. League Foundation at AT&T LGBT Scholarship

LEAGUE at AT&T Foundation Scholarships are available to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender U.S. high school seniors who have demonstrated achievements in:

• a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• significant involvement in community service
• acceptance to an accredited U.S. college or university

League offers $1500 scholarships and several special $2500 scholarships in honor of Matthew Shepherd and Laurel Hester.

3. Live Out Loud Scholarship

The Live Out Loud Foundation provides GLBT students positive role models in careers and education. For graduating seniors, or those who have put off college for one yeear from the New York Tri-State area, including New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey the Live Out Loud Foundation offers three $2500 scholarships.

4. LGBT Journalism Scholarship

The National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Association Leroy F. Aarons Scholarship Award is for LGBT students pursuing a career in journalism.

5. Colage LGBT Children Scholarship

COLAGE (Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere) has four $1,000 scholarships to support the undergraduate studies of students with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender parents.

6. Malyon-Smith Scholarship Award for Graduate Psychology Students

For graduate students studying psychology the Maylon-Smith scholarship annually awards up to $1000 graduate students in psychology to advance research in the psychology of sexual orientation and gender identity.

7. National Gay Pilot’s Association Scholarship

Planning on learning to fly? The National Gay Pilot’s Association wants to help. Applicants must be pursuing a career as a professional pilot and must demonstrate that they make a contribution to the gay and lesbian community.

8. NWSA Lesbian Studies Scholarship

Lesbian and Social Work go together like, well lesbians and Birkenstocks. If you are pursuing a career in Social Work and are interested in studying lesbians the National Association of Social Workers Lesbian Caucus Award can set you up with a $500 research award to continue your work.

9. Queer Foundation Scholarship Fund

A yearly essay contest for queer youth could yield you $1000 towards college. And best of all, if your essay is selected, it could end up in high school English classes across the country as a way to promote acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer issues.

10. LGBT Heart Scholarship for Health Professionals

The LGBT HEART Scholarship Fund is for students in the health professions seeking to promote the health and well-being of the LGBT community. Scholarships are available on an annual basis to out LGBT students pursuing advanced (Masters level or higher) degrees in the health professions.