GLSEN: ‘Student Advocate of the Year’ Noms

Courtesy of GLSEN:

GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is now accepting nominations for Student Advocate of the Year, an award generously sponsored by AT&T for the second consecutive year. The student advocate chosen will be presented the award at the seventh annual Respect Awards – New York on Monday, May 24 at Gotham Hall.

GLSEN’s Student Advocate of the Year is awarded annually to a high school student who has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to GLSEN’s mission of ensuring safe schools for all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. Eligible students must be in the 9th-12^th grade and be able to attend the Respect Awards – New York. All expenses will be paid by GLSEN.

The deadline for nominations is April 2. The nomination form can be found at my.glsen.org.

The inaugural Student Advocate of the Year Award was presented to Austin Laufersweiler during the fifth annual Respect Awards – Los Angeles for his leadership in building a strong Gay-Straight Alliance club and his overseeing of safe-space seminars for educators at a neighboring middle school.

About the Respect Awards

GLSEN’s Respect Awards, held annually in Los Angeles and New York, recognize individual and corporate leaders who have helped propel GLSEN’s efforts to ensure safe schools for all of America’s students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

About GLSEN

GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. Established in 1990, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. GLSEN seeks to develop school climates where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes to creating a more vibrant and diverse community. For information on GLSEN’s research, educational resources, public policy advocacy, student organizing programs and educator training initiatives, visit www.glsen.org



Plans for GLBT High School in ChiTown Nixed

From the SunTimes.com:

Mayor Daley on Thursday put the brakes on the Chicago Board of Education’s controversial plan to open the city’s first high school serving gay and lesbian students.

One day after his handpicked school board put off a vote on the School for Social Justice Pride Campus, Daley explained why — by expressing his misgivings.

“You have to look at whether or not you isolate and segregate children. A holistic approach has always been to have children of all different backgrounds– in schools. When you start isolating children and you say, ‘Only 50 percent here, 40 percent here’ — same thing we went through with the disabled — then you want to do that when they’re adults,” Daley said.

“It’s controversial. Some people are for it. Some are against it– The Board of Education has to make the decision whether it’s good for isolating children. I don’t know– I’m just saying that’s one of the problems– You start identifying them.”

Daley insisted he was not behind the board’s decision to put off a final vote on Social Justice High until Nov. 19. The school would serve a 50/50 population of gay and straight students.

But he said, “It’s something that the Board of Education has to work out and really understand what it’s trying to do.”

Schools CEO Arne Duncan had hoped to open the school in the fall of 2010 to offer parents and students more choices and a feeling of safety. He has argued that gay and lesbian students have higher drop-out rates because they feel ostracized