Continue reading »]]> By Bobby Beverly

The Mesa group has continued to evolve and find its groove over the past couple of weeks with two sessions that could not have been more different. The meeting before last, our theme was “Coming Out Stories.” While designing this session, group leader Lora Pirie and I knew we wanted to learn more about the youth but were aware that with the growing number of those attending, leaving the topic open-ended would most certainly create time constraints. We also wanted to make the topic accessible for those whose identity as GLBTQ may not be fully integrated with other areas of their life, both public and private. With this in mind, we asked the youth to keep in mind that coming out is not one single instance but rather a continuing process and, with this mindset, to share with the group what they consider to be their definitive coming out moment. Some stories were quite humorous and rather drama-free; a testament to how much our culture has changed, while others however were more somber and indicative of how far we still have to go. The session served to help us get to know each other a little better, while also highlighting the uniqueness of our journeys as young gay, lesbian, bi, or trans people.

Our following session served as a stress-reliever of sorts with the theme of “Game Night”. What began as trivia of gay history, soon evolved into Pictionary and then charades of gay history (don’t ask). Overall it was a night reserved simply for social time so the youth could let off a little steam. Later in the month we will be having some really interesting themes with a presentation on the benefits of aromatherapy and a night devoted to the “Gay Alphabet” which will be run by Stacey Jay.

That pretty much brings us up to speed for the Mesa group, but before I conclude I want to mention, we have a new “one n ten Mesa” group on Facebook so check it out for fresh announcements. See you next time!

Continue reading »]]> By Avi Vieira
Glendale

This week West Valley one n ten was joined by our very own OUTdoors gay camp director Kado Stewart as stories were shared by youth and volunteers alike for new faces interested in this year’s upcoming gay camp in Prescott. With a number of youth having attended previously, they were encouraged to talk about their experiences in applying, being at camp, activities, participation, and favorite moments which seemed to be shared by many.

Kado then went on to premiere the promotional video for OUTdoors gay camp, and share a power point presentation which allowed new youth to learn about camp in greater detail including how to apply for camp, rules and guidelines, the number of other campers to expect, how the cabins assignments break down, and the type of activities to expect.

Finally, a Q&A session wrapped up the evening, where questions about cost (free for AZ youth) were answered as well as those about technology (no cell phones, etc allowed), and the process of how camp applications are reviewed. It proved to be an informative night, but also a fun one that allowed experienced youth to step up and encourage newer faces to apply to camp this year, which looks to be even more exciting than ever.

Continue reading »]]> By Avi Vieira
Glendale

This week one n ten West Valley had guest speaker Rochelle Elliott, a principal from a valley middle school share her experiences of not only growing up and coming out to friends and family, but in coming out to the students and staff at her school; the support and backlash that came with it, and the opportunity it provided in becoming a role model to and support for LGBT youth in her school.

Rochelle shared deeply personal stories of growing up in the valley in a family and community that did not look favorably on homosexuals, her early relationships with boys and girls, coming out to herself and participating in the LGBT community, and later as she became a school administrator with each step reflecting a more positive message of hope, respect, support, and community to the youth.

Our youth have grown up in a culture where openly LGBT individuals are to an extent seen in their lives. Actors, singers, designers; and more recently military personnel, activists, lawyers, police officers, and counselors. While the list continues to grow, LGBT educators have always been a quiet, often politicized population of our community that youth have not been exposed to, and are not often aware of, and therefore don’t see faculty or administrators as general support, let alone LGBT advisors. Tonight’s group allowed that exposure to that role, and not only help to make the youth become more aware of LGBT educators, but perhaps even inspire them to become educators themselves.

Continue reading »]]> By Avi Vieira
Glendale

This week, West Valley one n ten had the chance to experience martial arts as led by one of our own youth and special guests Javier and Nathan Gonzales from the Relson Gracie school of Jiu Juitsu spoke to the group about the philosophy of Brazilian jiu juitsu, demonstrated techniques, and shared stories of how it helped to build confidence as well as help defend when bullied.

The evening began with a round of question and answers how everyone got involved, what ages, and the popularity of the sport in the U.S. and Arizona. Other questions involved those of belt colors and ranks, and the differences between Japanese and Brazilian styles. After the question and answer session, demonstrations were given of several holds and take-down techniques that showed the philosophy of ending conflicts quickly and decisively.

The rest of the evening was devoted to social time and allowed the group to ask questions one on one with the guests and kindle their own interests in this and other martial arts. It made for a fun, active, and energetic evening for all.

Continue reading »]]>

Jorge Salazar • Special to College Times - Tyler, a student at the new PHX high schools, works on a computer.

By Jorge Salazar • College Times

High school is hardly a walk in the park for most teenagers. Acne, bad fashion choices and heartbreaks plague memories of many past and present student bodies. But for some, such worries pale in comparison to the harsh reality experienced by LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning) youth in the American public school system.

Almost a third of LGBTQ students drop out of high school because of harassment related to their sexual orientation, according to research by the American Psychological Association.

A Valley organization made it its mission to provide such students an environment through which they can experience the highs and lows of high school without the added fear of homophobia and bullying.

One n ten, a nonprofit dedicated to assisting LGBTQ youth in the Valley for nearly 18 years, held a ribbon cutting ceremony in on April 13 to commemorate an historic event for Arizona: the opening of Q High, the first LGBTQ high school program in the state.

Mayor Greg Stanton, along with fellow supporter Councilman Tom Simplot, praised the venture and the organization at the ceremony.

“So many kids that participate in one n ten are kids [who] have overcome incredible adversity in their own lives,” Stanton said. “And this organization supports that they find the right way in some of the most difficult days of their lives so that they can provide the leadership for our city, community and state moving forward into our future.”

Linda Elliott, executive director of the organization, can attest to the struggles of the youth the program strives to support.

According to Elliott, a third of the youth the center supports is comprised by dropouts, half of which are homeless. When she began her work with the organization, she decided action needed to be taken. If the LGBTQ youth that frequented the center were to have a future, they would need to get their high school diploma. Elliott knew that the youth had dropped out of school because they had been bullied and did not feel safe in a public school setting.

“They felt safe here,” she said of one n ten. “They felt welcomed here. So we needed to get the school in our environment so that they would come back to school and get their degree.”

One student’s story

Safe isn’t a feeling 16-year-old Tyler uses when describing the experience of public high school.

The androgynous youth does not want to be labeled as gay, straight or lesbian, nor as a girl or a boy. Furthermore, the LGBT teen does not want a last name printed for fear of attracting negative attention.

A self-described LGBT youth, Tyler encountered bullying issues freshman year of high school after coming out. The teen was routinely confronted and used as subject of gossip at school, as well as prevented from accessing certain school areas by bullies.

Tyler said that being LGBT prevented school officials from being supportive or proactive in stopping the bullying, even when threats of violence had been made.

“Every time I went to them, they wouldn’t do anything,” the teen said. “I really think that if a straight student had come to them, it would have been different.”

The bullying continued in the hallways, even after notifying school officials, culminating in a public shaming session.

“One [girl] threatened to beat me up,” Tyler said. “She got in my face screaming about me being an LGBT student. It was humiliating and terrifying.”

According to the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network’s 2009 National School Climate Survey, over 80 percent of LGBT students reported being verbally harassed and approximately 40 percent reported being physically harassed because of their sexual orientation. Nearly two-thirds of students surveyed said that they felt unsafe in school because of their LGBT identity.

When the school failed to address the bullying, Tyler began receiving threatening phone calls at home from a classmate.

“I was afraid to go to the school campus,” Tyler said. “No kid should have to be scared to walk around their school.”

Today, Tyler isn’t afraid of hallway bullies or inattentive school officials.

As part of Q High’s pilot group, the LGBT youth has found the safe school environment public school couldn’t provide.

Tyler spends roughly five hours a day at the one n ten facility’s classroom doing schoolwork from Tuesday to Saturday. Through Q High’s online schooling program, Tyler is able to cover all the course material an Arizona public school student needs in order to graduate thanks to a partnership with the Arizona Virtual Academy.

Tyler gets help from staff and volunteers, as well as a lunch break and recreational options just as one would in a typical high school setting. The difference lies in the environment.

“You walk into the building and there’s six people saying ‘hi’ to you as you walk to the classroom,” Tyler said. “It’s so great to be in this center where everyone is so friendly and helpful.”

Tyler does not regret the move from traditional schooling to one n ten’s program.

“I prefer going to Q High,” Tyler said. “It’s a safe environment and I’m not bullied. Nobody is calling me names, and I don’t need to be stressed about where I am. I can be comfortable and do my school work without distractions.”

The program

“We started this program so that our youth could actually get their high school diploma and have an equivalent to a diploma instead of just having a GED,” said one n ten Program Coordinator Kado Stewart.

Stewart said the idea of Q High came to fruition six months ago, but that the effort to assist one n ten’s youth members scholastic achievements began earlier.

“Our youth have been telling us for the17 years that one n ten has been around that they’d been bullied in school,” she said. “A lot of them dropped out of high school or their families kick them out for being LGBTQ.”

Stewart’s story is similar to that of one n ten’s youth visitors.

Growing up in what she calls a “tiny town” in Wisconsin, Stewart was routinely bullied during high school. Stewart said she was a target of constant harassment for being an out lesbian when she was 16 years old. Nevertheless, she started her high school’s first Gay Straight Alliance and has been involved in LGBT advocacy since.

Steward joined one n ten five years ago, starting one of the largest summer camps in the world for LGBTQ youth, Outdoors Camp.

“When I first started doing work with one n ten and with Outdoors Camp, it was really about trying to help create a safe space for other youth” she said.

Today, as a program coordinator, Stewart oversees Q High along with the rest of the one n ten staff, calling it a “big team effort.”

Stewart explains that Q High is an online high school diploma completion program through Arizona Virtual Academy.

The program adheres to state curriculum, like any other high school online program. The main difference is that the program is housed in the organization’s downtown facility.

While the students can do their work from home, they are required to log in 25 hours of schoolwork a week. The facility is open 45 hours a week, so students can choose their own schedule and pace when it comes to their course load.

All of the work is online, as are the teachers. While they don’t have physical teachers in the facility, youth and community volunteers, as well as teachers from neighboring schools do attend the school to help students with any questions or tutoring requests.

The opposition

The positive mission of the program has not come without its fair share of detractors.

Stewart and Tyler said there have been arguments against an LGBT-focused school. Critics have argued the program is a means of segregation or shielding the youth from the real world.

“I know for a fact that our youth have experienced more real worlds than a lot of people have or ever will in their lives,” said Stewart.

“The reason that they’re here is so that they can do their math, English and geometry,” she continued. “So that they can get out of high school, get their diploma and get out in the world and do whatever they want to do.”

Stewart said that the perception that most people get bullied is a poor excuse to not to offer an alternative school where students feel safe.

“We’re not going and saying, ‘You’re gay so you have to come to our school,’” she said.

Stewart said the center is an alternative that provides safety, and is not solely geared toward LGBT students. Q High has straight students in its current class.

“You can come here and do boring math problems and not get beat up for it,” she said.

Despite the criticism, Stewart thinks the future for Q High looks bright.

“We have 14 youth enrolled right now,” Stewart said. “We’ve had another nine or 10 students already contact us from out in the community who want to transfer to Q High next semester.”

The school will be closed for the summer, like many public high schools.

“Our capacity for the spring semester is 25, and I think we’ll have that filled very quickly,” said Stewart.

Jorge Salazar • Special to College Times Tyler, a student at the new PHX high schools, works on a computer.

Continue reading »]]>

Joseph Amodeo
Catholic researcher

Allow me to retell a well-known story from the Gospels:

Jesus was entering a town when homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!” Jesus ignored the young people and his disciples encouraged him to send them away. For a moment in the story, Christ turns to his disciples and aligns himself with them saying that he only came for the house of Israel. As the young people are ignored, they become persistent in calling out to Christ and finally Christ stops ignoring their cries for help, turns to the young people, and says, “O young people, great is your faith!”

Now perhaps you’re wondering where these words are in the Gospels, but we need only look at the story of the encounter between Jesus and the Canaanite woman to see that Christ stands with those in need. The story of the Canaanite woman is of particular relevance to the current situation involving Cardinal Timothy Dolan and the invitation for him to meet with homeless LGBT youth to hear their stories and dialogue with them. It is in the light of this Gospel reading from Matthew (15:21-28) that I hold great hope that Cardinal Dolan will follow the example of Christ and that even amid calls from others to simply “look the other way,” he will turn and stop ignoring the cries of young people in need.

The welcoming and all-inclusive message of Christ is further seen in the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19: 1-10). When Jesus calls out to Zaccahaeus and tells him that he would like to stay at his home, the crowd refers to Zaccahaeus as “a sinner”; however, Jesus does not succumb to their words of condemnation, but rather sees Zaccahaeus as a “descendent of Abraham.”

Both of these stories remind me that the Church is at its core a welcoming and affirming assembly dedicated to living the message of Christ in a way that reaches the most vulnerable among us. The experience of the Canaanite woman demonstrates that even religious law is not always right and just, but rather sometimes we are called to witness truth in the present moment. In the case of Zaccahaeus, we are taught that Christ sees each of us as being created in God’s image and likeness.

When I launched the petition calling upon Cardinal Dolan to meet with homeless LGBT youth, hear their stories and dialogue with them, I did so because I believe the time has come for the Church to no longer ignore the stories of LGBT people, but rather to encounter and discern them. The notion that we live in a country where 30 percent to 40 percent of homeless youth are LGBT, should be startling enough to awaken the hearts of Catholic leaders so as to work with the community to solve this epidemic. The Church must recognize its role in creating an environment that is safe and affirming for all youth without exception. This is the Gospel message of inclusion.

In light of this call upon Cardinal Dolan, the reality is that the vast majority of Roman Catholics support their LGBT sisters and brothers. I have visited a number of parishes throughout the United States, where I have seen firsthand communities of faith living the message of inclusion. This is what we are calling upon the American hierarchy to witness — witness the prophetic voice of those in the pews and those who courageously preach the Gospel’s message not of law, but of peace and love. The petition to Cardinal Dolan does not challenge Church teaching, but rather it asks the Cardinal — and others in the American hierarchy — to look into the faces of homeless LGBT youth and in doing so look into the face of Christ. This petition is not a political statement nor a profession of faith, but rather it is a contemplative action that represents a society-wide prayer: a prayer that one day we might come to see the dignity that is inherent in every human being.

I hope you will join me, and nearly 2,000 other people of faith, in asking Cardinal Dolan to follow the humble example of a man who nearly 2,000 years ago stopped ignoring a woman because of laws, turned to her, listened and witnessed the great faith she exhibited. This same man sought a place to rest in the home of person that others deemed a sinner, but Christ saw as a righteous man in the eyes of God. It is with this understanding of Christ, that I launched the petition inviting Cardinal Dolan to enter into a dialogue with those most in need, so as to begin to understand the LGBT experience and see the dignity of the human person. Perhaps at that moment, Dolan will turn to our community and say, “My gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender sisters and brothers, great is your faith” and “Today salvation has come to this house because LGBT people are descendants of Abraham.”

This post was originally written for Believe Out Loud’s blog.

Follow Joseph Amodeo on Twitter: www.twitter.com/josephamodeo

Continue reading »]]> By Avi Vieira
Glendale

Blending the humor of last week’s coming out stories with the excitement for Pride, one n ten West Valley hosted a Gay Movie Night full of laughs and rainbow colored snacks as the group was shown “In & Out”, the 1997 gay romantic comedy starring Kevin Kline as a high school teacher about to get married to his longtime fiancée (Joan Cusack), when he is outed by a former student during a speech after winning an academy award and thanking his teacher, adding “and he’s gay”. Hilarity ensues as Kline’s character first tries to deny his homosexuality, move ahead with his wedding plans, and even use a self-help take to “restore his masculinity” before coming around and admitting to himself and those around him that he is indeed gay.

The movie proved to be both touching and funny, often at the same time where chuckles and sighs could be heard by the group. None of the youth had ever seen this film before, and were unaware of it breaking ground in the late 90’s as a film that depicted homosexuality in mainstream America while at the same time separating the sex from sexuality. It was fun to watch reactions to the famous 10 second kiss (which seems 3 times as long) between Kevin Kline and Tom Selleck.

It made for a lighthearted evening that touched on the more humorous stories of coming out as shared by youth last week, and allowed them to just relax without a serious discussion or agenda this week as everyone turns their attention to pride with anticipation.

Continue reading »]]> Greetings one n ten supporters! We have had an eventful past couple of weeks at our Mesa satellite group. In preparations for Pride, we had a blast making tee shirts that the youth could wear at the festivities. With an array of stencils, spray paint, and the like, the group made some pretty excellent creations; many of whom displayed an artistic flare that put the volunteers to shame (namely myself). After the preceding session where we discussed the history of Pride, it was nice to switch gears and partake in activities that demonstrate part of what Pride is all about: expressing yourself. Our next meeting however took on a more serious tone. We were joined by Frank Garcia and Cherie Key, victim advocates with the City of Phoenix Human Services Family Advocacy Center. They have been making an increased effort on behalf of their department to reach out to the LGBTQ community and let us know about the resources available to gay and transgender victims of domestic abuse. Through the police, they have noticed and increase in incidences of abuse in our community, yet there has not been an increase in individuals who utilize these services which can help prevent these worst case scenarios. In addition to presenting the services they provide, they also gave the youth tips on recognizing the signs of an abusive relationship and advice for how to maintain a healthy one. We greatly appreciate them taking the time to speak to us, and though it is not an enjoyable subject to address it is a necessary one nonetheless.

Continue reading »]]>

Rosenstein family
Sawyer Rosenstein with his father, Joel, and mother, Cheri, on a family vacation in Scottsdale, Ariz., in 2011.

When Sawyer Rosenstein was 12, a punch from a bully changed his life forever, leaving him paralyzed, and at times, near death from the complications of his condition.

Now, six years after the assault, the New Jersey school board in the district where he was a student has agreed to a $4.2 million settlement.

“It feels really great to finally have just a sense of closure … that this really difficult part of my life is behind me,” Rosenstein, an 18-year-old freshman majoring in communication at Syracuse University, told msnbc.com. “I can actually focus on all of the successful things that I am doing now and all of the successful plans that I have for my future.”

The Rosenstein’s lawyer, Jeffrey Youngman, said the settlement was “absolutely unique.”

“I see stories virtually, if not daily, every other day on bullying and … it’s one of the first stories where there actually was a result that’s positive and truly helps the family,” he told msnbc.com, noting that the Ramsey Board of Education does not admit liability.

“But the facts surrounding this case are unbelievable, I mean they’re dramatic in that you have a child who actually was pro-active” about dealing with the bullying, he said.

Youngman was referring to emails written by Rosenstein to officials at Eric Smith Middle School – a guidance counselor, an assistant principal – about the harassment.

“I would like to let you know that the bullying has increased,” he wrote to his guidance counselor three months before the assault that left him paralyzed, in an email that was reported by The Record. “I would like to figure out some coping mechanisms to deal with these situations, and I would just like to put this on file so if something happens again, we can show that there was past bullying situations.”

On May 16, 2006, a bully punched Rosenstein so hard that he fell to his knees. Two days later, he screamed out at home.

“We picked him up and called an ambulance,” his father told the newspaper. “He hasn’t walked since.”

Rosenstein was paralyzed from the waist down due to a clot that had formed after the blow in a major artery above his abdomen. When the clot moved down to his spine, it burst, leaving him paralyzed. Complications resulting from his paralysis, such as scoliosis, led to 19 surgeries and a complete spinal fusion. He almost died several times, Youngman said.

Rosenstein said he turned the corner during one of those hard days thinking “why me” after one of the many surgeries in which he considered his options.

“For me, I saw it as a challenge to say, ‘Okay, in your face, society. I’m going to take this and I’m going to hand it right back at you. You give me lemons, I’m going to throw a lemon tree in your face,’” he said.

He missed a year of school but still graduated on time and made the honor roll every semester, Youngman said.

“The way that he carries himself is just amazing, he’s an inspiration,” he said.

In 2009, the Rosensteins filed their lawsuit against the school board, various administrators, other individuals and the boy who punched Sawyer; the settlement was agreed to at the end of March. Part of the family’s case included claims that school officials knew or should have known that Sawyer’s attacker had violent tendencies, Youngman said, citing prior punching incidents with others. The family settled with that student two years ago. The terms are confidential.

“What the school was doing was just indicative of what the schools do in these instances: they just have policies and don’t know how to enforce them,” Youngman said. “You can have a written policy all you want, but if it is not put into effect and it’s not enforced effectively, you’ve got a policy in name only.”

In a statement, the Ramsey Board of Education said that after three years of depositions and pre-trial discovery, its insurance carriers agreed to the settlement.

“There has been no admission by the Board or by any of its employees of a violation of any law or duty owed to the Plaintiffs,” the statement said.

The board denied allegations that it or its employees had “failed or compromised its responsibility to develop and to implement effective policies and procedures to protect the safety and rights” of the school community, the statement continued, noting that the district “prides itself for the role which it has played in recognizing and developing an awareness of the dangers of bullying, intimidation and harassment in the school setting.”

Cheri Rosenstein
Rosenstein at the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum where he met the crew of the final space shuttle mission, STS-135.

Sawyer Rosenstein only recently shared his story publicly after much long discussion with his family, deciding to do so to raise awareness. Otherwise, he doesn’t like telling his story.

“I don’t want it to be ‘woe is me’ and sympathy. I want it to be more of a story of success, that even with all this, I was still able to prevail,” he said. “I want people to root me on in whatever I’m doing and help me through it.”

He encouraged anyone suffering from bullying to document it as he had, believing it was a key factor in making his case. Though he was constantly bullied and remembered how much he wanted it to stop, he wanted others to know that it does end.

Today, Rosenstein, who wants to be a news reporter, hosts and edits a podcast he helped to co-found called Talking Space. He said he attended the final space shuttle launch as the youngest ever accredited reporter at 17.

What he hopes that people will get out of his story is that they understand “this is an issue, this is something that needs to be taken care of, and this kid has taken something terrible and made something great out of it. I can do the same.”