by Emily Bridges, Director of Public Information Services

Two news items from yesterday:

1) The Department of Education sent out a letter to schools that "clarifies the relationship between bullying and discriminatory harassment," observing that since homophobic bullying is gender-based, it violates the law, and schools must address and prevent it.

2) A school board official in Arkansas (Clint McCance) declared on Facebook that wearing purple to honor GLBTQ youth is stupid, because all "queers" should commit suicide.

The first item is great news.  I'm not a legal expert so I don't know what it means in terms of pending anti-bullying legislation, but the letter is crystal-clear that regardless of state bullying laws or school policies, anti-gay bullying is illegal.

by Nikki Serapio, Manager, New Media Initiatives

One year ago, Ugandan parliamentarian David Bahati introduced the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, a measure that seeks to impose the death penalty on LGBT HIV-positive citizens found to be having sex, as well as life sentences for LGBT Ugandans found to be (by a lay witness or the police) having sex.

First, the good news — the bill has stalled. Warren Throckmorton, a popular blogger and college professor who has followed the the Anti-Homosexuality Bill since its introduction, published an update today on the current status of the measure within the Uganda Parliament.

"...it remains under consideration by the [Ugandan Parliament's] Legal and Parliamentary Affairs committee. According to Charles Tuhaise, a researcher in the Parliamentary Research service, no public hearings have been scheduled. A second reading cannot be scheduled until hearings have been conducted and a committee report has been prepared. Time is running out; the Ugandan elections are coming and the current Parliament ends inn May, 2011. Hon. David Bahati, the mover of the bill, has not responded to my questions about where he takes the bill from here."

In part, the bill was stalled after outcry and pressure from the Obama administration, the U.S. Congress, and a number of human rights organizations (including Advocates for Youth).

by Abby Rosenstein, State Strategies Coordinator 

In light of recent high-profile suicides following severe bullying toward youth who were gay or perceived to be gay, school climate and harassment have commanded national attention. Not only are these issues in the media, but they are moving and changing state policies. In 2010, more than 10 states introduced legislation related to anti-bullying and safe schools, with a focus on GLBTQ students.

In Tennessee and Iowa, bills were introduced that would have been actively discriminatory against GLBTQ students. Thankfully, the “Don’t Say Gay” bill was defeated in Tennessee. The bill would have prevented all discussion of or materials relating to any sexual orientation other than heterosexuality in schools. In Iowa, a bill which would have removed protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity from the state’s existing anti-bullying law was not passed.

Happy Ally Week 2010!

To celebrate National Ally week, Advocates for Youth is working with a broad coalition of organizations to support straight allies across the United States and around the world as they "come out" in support of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth.

In addition to visiting our Ally Week 2010 page on Amplify, we invite you to join us in three important ways:

Help us take action:

1) Sign the Ally Pledge created by GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network at www.allyweek.org.

By doing so you demonstrate your belief that "all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression deserve to feel safe and supported" and pledge to:

- Not use anti-GLBTQ language or slurs.
- Intervene, if you safely can, in situations where students are being harassed.
- Support efforts to end bullying and harassment.

2) Publicly show your support by changing your Facebook or Twitter status. After all, the fight for equality cannot be the responsibility of GLBTQ people only. We're all in this together!

Add this as your Facebook status:
"This week I am coming out as an ally to the GLBTQ community because I believe all young people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression, deserve to feel safe and supported."

You can also click here to share this message on Twitter.