The Gay Deceiver: I'm shamelessly, and without apology, appropriating the following ...

Thursday, October 7, 2010

I'm shamelessly, and without apology, appropriating the following ...

... which had been posted recently at a LGBTQ Peer-support Forum where I, and the author, are both members. I have done so because it bears repeating, here, and everywhere else imaginable; not just once but, as many times as is practicable. I edited his worthy text, to include Region-specific "Links" only, which are largely missing in the original document and correct syntax where appropriate

Many years ago, the erstwhile Ten Commandments became the Ten Suggestions.

I give you here, ten suggestions on how you might personally contribute to improving the lives of members of the LGBTQ community. I didn't come up with these suggestions: I found them in my inbox under the heading "Ten Things You Can Do". Since they were originally intended for Jewish recipients, I have taken the liberty of editing them to make them more appropriate for a general readership. They won't all be appropriate to your situation; but, many of them will be.

1. Ask your pastor, priest, elder, rabbi, imam, monk to give a sermon (or write your own) about the tragic events of the past month and our responsibility as human beings to speak out and work to end homophobia. Here you'll find an example from a rabbi in The United Kingdom. You could use it as a base: I'm sure he would be delighted:.

2. Speak out the next time you hear someone say "That's so gay", telling that person why those words are so hurtful and just how it is that they can have disastrous consequences.

3. Make your support visible. Post a LGBTQ Safe Zone sticker in your church, mosque, synagogue, temple, classroom, camp bunk, office, or web-site.

4. Take action for equal rights. Contact your legislator (if you live in U.S.A) to support ENDA, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and elsewhere where legislation is either non-existent, or pending which would prevent people from being fired or discriminated against at work for being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered.

5. Keep youth safe and supported. If you are an educator or administrator at an educational institution, provide training and resources for your staff on how to create safe, inclusive spaces for LGBT and Questioning youth. Help start a Gay-Straight Alliance in your school or college.

6. Come out as an ally. October 11 is "National Coming Out Day". If you are a straight community leader, let people know that you are an ally to LGBTQ people and keep the messages of support coming.

7. Come out. If you identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and/or queer, come out and keep coming out. This simple act will help others.

8. Talk to your children. Middle and high school students witness homophobic and transphobic bullying and teasing and abusive behaviours each and every day. Tell your children that you support them and that all kids deserve to be treated equally with respect and kindness.

9. Tell your story. Whether you are queer or a straight ally, upload a video to The "It Get's Better" Project and share your story with young people who need to hear your message. Visit both The "Make It Better" Project and "I'm From Driftwood" web-sites to see and read powerful stories about what young queers and allies are doing right now to help improve their lives, schools and communities.

10. Seek support and counseling/give support. If you, or someone you know, is struggling with issues around sexual orientation and/or gender identity, know that you/they are not alone. 24/7/366 "Crisis Support" is available (in the U.S.A.) through The Trevor Project (dial 1-866-4-U-TREVOR, 1-800-498-7386), and (in Canada) through The Kid's Help Phone (dial 1-800-668-6868); or if you prefer, seek help by calling one of the teen suicide hotlines: (in the USA) the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (dial 1-800-SUICIDE, 1-800-784-2433) or alternatively, the National Hopeline Network (1-800-273-TALK, 1-800-273-8255) and (in U.S.A. and Canada) The Boys Town National Hotline(dial 1-800-448-3000). Additionally, whether you are the victim, a witness, a parent, a teacher or a neighbour, and you reside in Canada,to report an instance of bullying go to Stop A Bully and file a report; all, or anyone, with information are welcomed in lodging complaints.

Warren C. E. Austin
The Gay Deceiver
Toronto, Canada

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My reproducing such copyrighted materiél has been, and is, intended strictly for reference and information purposes, and thereby should be considered to be "Fair Use" without infringing upon any rights held to be true by the authors of the given content.

Kid's Help Phone (Canada Only)

Stop A Bully (Canada Only)

From a concept developed in 1999 initially by British Columbian Secondary School Teacher Trevor Knowlton, the STOP A BULLY programme has become Canada's premier school violence reporting service available to students, parents and schools. This system allows both victims and witnesses of violence to safely make a report, to prevent future bullying and harassment. By using this service schools make it clear to their students that they are PROACTIVE in trying to stop violence & cyber bullying within their school. This is a private service supported by donations, intended to provide assistance in the challenge of reducing bullying in our schools.

Youth Without Shelter (Toronto and Edmonton)

Youth Without Shelter (YWS) is an emergency residence and referral agency serving homeless youth aged 16 to 24. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, YWS believes in second chances, building confidence and teaching life skills to empower youth to break the cycle of homelessness. It provides the basic necessities of life - but it also steps well beyond the basics, to offer support and training programs and a unique educational opportunity for youth who want to finish school. Our vision is ending homelessness... one youth at a time, one step at a time.

The Trevor Project Helpline (U.S.A only)

Established in 1998 to coincide with the Time/Warner Specialty Cable Channel HBO's airing of the award winning gay-themed short-subject film, "Trevor", hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, The Trevor Helpline is the only nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention helpline for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. The Trevor Helpline is a free and confidential service that offers hope and someone to talk to, 24/7. The Trevor Helpline's trained counselors will listen and understand without judgment. If you or someone you know would like to talk to one of our highly trained counselors, dial 1-866-4-U-TREVOR.

I'm From Driftwood

Here you'll find gay stories from every corner of the Earth which should be, and are being, told. "Why?", you may ask, "What does it mean?" To gay teens struggling to come out and deal with their sexuality, who to this day still attempt suicide 4 times more than straight kids, it says “You are not alone.” Other people have dealt with similar situations, families, communities and churches, and have overcome and are now living happy lives. It can happen for you, too. It will, can, and does get so much better.All any of us can ask is that you hang in there; and to the people who don’t support equal rights, it says we’re not all that different afterall. We all have stories and problems and loves and lives just like everyone else. So maybe we should all be treated like everyone else, too.

Anti-Bullying Alliance (U.K. Only)

No Bully (U.S.A. Only)

The mission of No Bully® is to make school a place where every student feels included by their peers and accepted for who they are, so that we create a world where every adult is accepted and valued for who they are. No Bully helps schools and school districts to develop an anti-bullying policy and implement campus-wide programs to address bullying. But we don’t stop there. Our goal is for all students to develop the social and emotional intelligence that will give them greater success in their peer relationships, their academic performance and in their adult lives. We offer a choice of powerful workshops, trainings and consultation to make this happen.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

I'm shamelessly, and without apology, appropriating the following ...

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