BRO and OSERA Day of Action
Posted by dporta on 8th February 2009
Posted by Debra Porta, Vice-Chair, Multnomah County GLBT Caucus.
On Friday, March 6, Basic Rights Oregon, in partnership with the Oregon Students Equal Rights Alliance (a statewide organization of college students representing LGBTQ students across Oregon) will be converging on the capitol in Salem, in support of equality, and specifically the Oregon Safe Schools Act. This act will strengthen Oregon’s current anti-bullying laws for K-12 schools. Why do we need this? Well, let’s see:
Students of color – In 1999, African‐American students were most likely to be bullied in middle and high school. Between 1999 and 2001, bullying of all students of color increased more than 60%. And 24% of children ages 8‐11 report that race‐related bullying takes place at their school either occasionally or often.
Rural students – Rural students are 26% more likely to experience bullying than their urban counterparts.
Students with disabilities – Students with developmental, psychological and physical disabilities are at substantially higher risk of being bullied.
Harassment is listed as the number one reason why students drop out of school.
Gay and transgender students – Gay youth are three times more likely than straight students to drop out of school, to find themselves homeless, and to attempt suicide (and more likely to succeed)—and those numbers jump even more drastically for transgender youth and gay and transgender youth of color. Currently, only 15% of Oregon school districts advertise bullying policies protecting gay youth from bullying, and only 1% advertise bullying policies protecting transgender youth.
Pretty much anyone who has attended a K-12 school, or has a child who has, knows that these numbers have not improved, and in some cases are worse.
Current Oregon law has little to know “bite” when it comes to institutionalizing anti-harassment policies and procedures. This law addresses that and is a simple way to help to ensure that our youth are educated and have the opportunities that this society claims to want for them.
Contact BRO to get connected to the Day of Action. Contact your legislators and let them know how important protecting Oregon’s youth is to the future of our state..and to you.
Tags: anti bully, gay lesbian bisexual transgender, oregon legislature
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