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February 28, 2011

PFY Joins It Gets Better!!

By Becca Harrington, Social Work Intern ‘Faggot,’ ‘dyke,’ ‘that’s so gay,’ ‘no homo’ are just a few examples of verbal harassment endured by Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) youth in schools, on the bus, and on Facebook everyday. But it doesn’t stop there. Homo-, bi- and transphobia take many forms and are daily promoted in the media, in magazines, in religious organizations, and even in our laws. It is no wonder, according to the Massachusetts Youth Risk Survey (2007) that LGB youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than youth who identify as heterosexual. Transgender (T) youth are especially targeted for harassment. Sixty-one percent report experiences of harassment, assault, and/or expulsion from school as a result of their transgender identity (The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force & The National Center for Transgender Equality, 2011). Fortunately, the media has recently picked up on the epidemic of suicide among LGBT youth and people are starting to take action. In September 2010, after a string of completed suicides by LGBT identified youth, including Tyler Clementi of Rutgers University, syndicated columnist and author Dan Savage and his partner Terry started the It Gets Better Project. They simply made a video sharing their experiences growing up as gay, how difficult it was, and yet how positive their lives have turned out. Fellow LGBT folks and their straights allies were so inspired by this emotionally-driven outreach that thousands of people--including celebrities, elected officials, and youth organizations--joined in the cyber movement with their own inspirational videos. In November, PFY Director Pete Carney suggested that our agency should join the movement and make our own It Gets Better video. As an intern at Pride for Youth and a person who has personally struggled with harassment and isolation as a lesbian-identified, gender queer person, I happily offered to film, edit, and produce a video. Secretly, I always wanted to be a filmmaker of some sorts so I thought “this could be my big break!” But in all seriousness, making this film was a fulfilling and enjoyable task. I work with the staff at Pride for Youth on a regular basis and it’s easy to forget that we all struggled in the face of adversity in order to one day reach a point of stability and tranquility in our lives. And even after all the hardships, we want nothing more than to serve as a supportive outlet for the next generation of LGBT youth. To say the least, making this film has been one of the most fulfilling projects I have completed in my short six months at Pride for Youth. It is incredible to know that I work with a staff of people who are passionate and dedicated to eliminating the prejudice and hatred that has led to too many completed suicides by young LGBT people. I truly believe that the honesty and openness of the participants in the video has the potential to seriously empower and enlighten many LGBT youth who have considered or attempted suicide. The message I want to send with this video, and I think I speak on behalf of Pride for Youth, is that LGBT youth are not alone in their struggle, they are worth saving, and it will get better. I hope you enjoy the video.

February 22, 2011

My Princess Boy by Brittany Fischer

A video called "My Princess Boy" was recently posted to YouTube. It’s a clip from a show called "New Day" and talked about a new book that a mother wrote after son Dyson began showing an interest in wearing woman's clothing and acting like a princess. Dyson’s family was very accepting and responded to the situation in the best way they could have. His school was also accepting and made sure that Dyson felt comfortable and safe at school, seeing the situation as an opportunity to teach children about diversity. Sadly, the video received many nasty comments on YouTube. Here’s one: "If they were my neighbor I would had beat the f@#$ out the father and mother…[they] should be in prison, then put them in hospital for having dysfunctional brain, the father is bitch in man body." Here’s another: "F#$&@# White Devil!!!!, only he encourages this kinda homosexuality. Lord knows that boy's gonna be gay, but I prey that he can turn his fascination around and use it to attract all the little girls in all his days of school to come. I'm gonna have to prey for his father as well, because I'm sure that once him and his family starts making a decent amount of money, he's gonna kill her and take it all, and make his son do drugs and lose his virginity @ 8." One comment even accuses the parents of child abuse: "This is child abuse! This mother probably wanted a lil girl because she already has an older boy. The father seems like he could careless. The mother coaches this kid on every talk show. Little kids want what they see around them they gravitate towards familar things which is basic early childhood developement. No one plays with dolls in his house (according to the mom) and there are NO female children around him (according to the mom) so where is the influence? His MOM. child abuse!" These comments really disturbed me. I am a sophomore in college, and I have studied the developmental domains and norms of children. What Dyson decides to wear doesn't mean anything about his gender identity or sexual orientation. Children don't understand gender roles or what is deemed acceptable in society. The way people are responding to this is disgusting! In my opinion, Dyson is lucky to have accepting parents rather than some of the ignorant people in this world who wouldn't accept him for who he is. There should be no problem with a boy wearing a dress, or pink, or sparkles. There should be no problem if he wants to be a ballerina or a baker or a nurse. If a girl wants to wear baggy clothes and have short hair, she should be able to and if she wants to be a police officer or a fire fighter, she should be allowed to pursue these interests. Resorting to violence because a child innocently picks up something that sparkles and is pretty is horrible. It is natural for a child to respond positively to something that sparkles and glows. I have seen many children playing with "girly" clothes and costumes and toys and to say that all of these children are going to end up being gay or transgender is ridiculous. If Dyson’s parents told him he couldn't wear "girl” clothes, it wouldn't have stopped him from liking it. It would make him feel insecure and unaccepted. Many people who commented on the video said it’s a parent's job to control their children. This is not exactly true. Children develop important aspects of their personality at different ages, and you are supposed to let a child do what they want naturally while making sure they are safe. Dyson is at the age where children begin to discover who they are, and it’s important that he receive positive feedback on how he expresses himself in order to develop in a healthy manner with self-esteem. To the people who say Dyson will regret this when he is older, I disagree. If I were Dyson, I would be proud of my parents for standing up for me, allowing me to be myself, and educating others so that other children will not feel alone and they will know there are people who love them for who they are. I think it was a great idea to make the story of this child into a book, and I hope to get a copy of it to have in my classroom one day. We need more children’s books that promote acceptance and equality. Some people responded negatively to the video because of their religious beliefs. My understanding is the bible says god loves all his children and that murder is wrong. God is the only one who has the right to judge because no one is perfect. I'm not a religious person, but I believe that god would want people to be who they are. I also believe that god would want everyone to accept others for who they are and treat them with kindness and respect, even if they don't agree with how that person may be acting. No one deserves to be treated poorly and criticized and discriminated against because they dare to be themselves. Everyone is different, and special, and unique, and no one should be ashamed of who they really are on the inside. If you wish to view the video "My Princess Boy" you can follow the link below. Let me know what you think! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBBffc0Rtc8 Brittany Fischer is a sophomore at SUNY College at Fredonia and has been an active member of PFY’s Coffeehouse since ?. The article above reflects the writer’s viewpoint and not necessarily the viewpoint or position of Pride for Youth.

February 8, 2011

Macy's Supports MPowerment

Pride for Youth recently received $2,000 from Macy’s in support of Mpowerment. This money will be used to pay for program incentives and transportation reimbursement so that more young men can participate. Macy’s Corporate Giving program provides millions of dollars annually to charities across the country. The company’s focus areas are arts and culture, education, the environment, HIV/AIDS and women’s issues. This contribution will go a long way, and we thank Macy’s for their very generous support!