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December 2, 2004

GLSEN in the News |
GLSEN's research is used to inform this article that discusses a school play set to talk about homophobia in schools. Also the Tucson chapter of GLSEN is heavily quoted.

ARIZONA DAILY STAR - Nov. 29, 2004
"Play to Help Teens Address Gay Issues" by Jennifer Sterba

THE NEW YORK TIMES - Nov. 27, 2004
"Gay Students Force New Look at Homecoming Traditions" by Sarah Kershaw
Kevin is quoted in a recent NYT article discussing the growing trend of LGBT students participating in their homecomings and proms at the high school and university level. A fantastic article and a fantastic opportunity for GLSEN!!

Tempe Diversity Talk: Homeless Community |
Given the high rate of homeless and runaway LGBTQ youths, please consider this event.

December 1, 2004 - "Who's Your Neighbor?"
A Brown Bag Lecture Series on Cultural Awareness
Contact: Ginny Belousek, Diversity Specialist
Telephone: (480) 350-8979

The Homeless Community

Monday, December 13 - Noon to 1:00 p.m.

TEMPE, Ariz. - The City of Tempe Diversity Office is offering a
program entitled, "Who's Your Neighbor?"- A Brown Bag Lecture Series on cultural awareness. This quarterly program is a series of presentations focused on learning about who lives, works, and plays in the Tempe community. While individuals may know their own culture, traditions and lifestyles, some people may not know about or understand their neighbor's. The purpose of the lecture series is to create a greater understanding of each other in an effort to eliminate biases.

The program will be presented from noon to 1:00 p.m. on Dec. 13, in
the Tempe City Council Chambers, 31 E. 5th Street, Garden Level. The speakers will be Theresa James, Homeless Coordinator for the City of Tempe and Shawn Croskey, Program Coordinator at the Tumbleweed Day Resource Center. We will attempt to answers questions such as: Who are the homeless? How did they become homeless (choice or circumstance)? Where/how do they live? Should we really unroll our windows to give money to the people at the freeway exits? And how can we as individuals help?

This program is offered free, and no registration is necessary.
Participants are encouraged to bring a brown bag lunch, and dessert is provided.

GLSEN National Benefits From Sale of 80's Clocks |

GLSEN National benefits from sale of 80’s clocks, as seen in The Advocate

Stay Healthy in Face of Anti-Gay Campaigns |
Contact:
Glenda Russell - (734)485-0318
Lee Badgett - (413)577-0145

New report outlines ways gay community can stay healthy during anti-gay campaigns

Amherst, MA---Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender people and their
heterosexual allies can take concrete steps to resist feelings of
isolation, stress, and sadness in the face of anti-gay campaigns,
according to a new publication by the Institute for Gay and Lesbian
Strategic Studies. Communities in eleven states enacted divisive
anti-gay referenda in this month's election. In the course of these
campaigns to limit the rights of gay people, well-publicized stereotypes and hostility became dominant themes that challenged the psychological well-being of GLBT people.

"I've heard many stories about fear, sadness, and a sense of loss from people all over the country," noted Dr. Glenda Russell, author of the report. "Putting the civil rights of one group to a vote takes an enormous psychological toll on members of that group, as well as on communities and on families."

After Michigan voters amended the state constitution to ban same-sex
marriages, Greg Varnum saw this impact first-hand at Eastern Michigan University. He described the aftermath of the vote: "In my role as
student coordinator of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Resource Center, I have seen people dealing with surprise, anger, and sadness, with a sense of powerlessness and a desire to want to know what to do next."

The report, entitled "Surviving and Thriving in the Midst of Anti-Gay
Politics," presents three primary strategies: analysis, action, and
allies. GLBT people should analyze the homophobia present in the
campaign, take action to resist anti-gay efforts, and draw on the support of heterosexual allies. Russell noted that heterosexual allies play a particularly important role in reducing feelings of isolation in addition to the value of their political support.

"The research on how people get through the tough political times shows that these strategies work," according to author Glenda Russell, a psychologist and IGLSS senior research associate. "Although you can't shut out the negative messages about gay people that blanket a community during a campaign, we can respond to them in constructive ways."

The new report outlines strategies for individuals and for organizations. Community organizations of all kinds can provide important outlets for individuals to work through their feelings productively.

"Since the federal marriage debate is likely to pick up again," predicted Lee Badgett, IGLSS research director, "this new report should be essential reading for activists everywhere."

Dr. Russell also leads workshops on strategies for surviving anti-gay
politics. Last weekend she led participants at the National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force Creating Change conference in a discussion of these strategies.

The Institute for Gay and Lesbian Strategic Studies is a nonprofit,
independent think tank based in Amherst, Massachusetts. IGLSS provides policy-oriented research on issues of importance to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. All IGLSS publications are available at www.iglss.org.

Institute for Gay and Lesbian Strategic Studies
P.O. Box 2603
Amherst, MA 01004
413-577-0145

Teen Wire - Queen & Questioning Youth Resources |
teenwire.com