White House action to prevent bullying and suicide among LGBT youth.

[Radical Activist]

There have been a few threads about Valerie Jarrett's speech to the Human Rights Campaign. I haven't seen any posts regarding the portion of the speech about the action already being taken on these two issues and how they're working with GLBT organizations. I was unaware of most of it.


http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/10/09/it-gets-better

No young person should have to endure a life of relentless taunts and harassment, just because they’re gay. On behalf of President Obama, I want to make clear that this administration is firmly committed to working with you and other advocates. For we all have to ensure that we are creating an environment in our schools, our communities, and our country, that is safe for every person, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Under Secretary Duncan’s leadership, the Department of Education is fundamentally changing the way we look at bullying. And they’re working on how we can do a better job of protecting vulnerable young people.

That’s why, last year, we created a new federal task force on bullying. And just this August they held the first National Bullying Summit, bringing in experts and advocates – including folks from HRC and GLSEN – to begin mapping out a plan to tackle this issue. We are working to replicate proven programs that have helped schools cut down on bullying. We must disprove the myth that bullying is an unavoidable fact of life for young people.

The Department of Education has reinvigorated the Office for Civil Rights to help stop harassment in our schools based on race, disability, sex – and bullying of LGBT young people who may not conform to gender norms.

The Department of Health and Human Services has announced an unprecedented National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. This alliance brings together a wide range of public and private partners. And it’s going to make sure people have access to help, and to resources when they are in crisis. One of its specific goals is preventing suicide in at-risk groups, including LGBT youth.

We must also recognize that creating a safe environment for LGBT youth also means doing more for young people who are forced to leave their homes. For the first time, we have a national strategy to fight homelessness. It specifically addresses the needs of LGBT youth who are living on the streets because they have been ostracized by their families, friends, and community. This includes figuring out whether it’s possible for these children to go home, and if they can’t, that we have safe and nurturing alternatives.

So when it comes to putting a stop to the bullying and harassment of LGBT youth, we are not going to let up. We are going to stand with you. We are going to stand with every single young person in this country who deserves the chance to grow up, learn, have fun, and live their lives without the constant threat of violence, or ridicule. Because although many turn a blind eye, and think that bullying is a harmless rite of passage – words matter. Bullying is simply cruel, abusive, and needs to be stopped. Now. And the work done on the ground by HRC, GLSEN, P-FLAG, the National Youth Advocacy Coalition, the Matthew Shepard Foundation, the Trevor Project and countless others, are crucial to this fight.

[jaxx]

1. Thanks, I hadn't seen this before.

It looks like they mean business in getting the bullying stopped.

K&R

[ZombieHorde]

2. Those are good things; unfortunately, President Obama's homophobic stance

stains this effort.

[Radical Activist]

3. You mean supporting full legal rights of marriage for same sex couples?

I agree that Obama should support also calling it marriage instead of civil unions, but I can't agree that his support for the next major advancement of GLBT civil rights is a "stain." After all, it's the same position many GLBT groups have advocated for years.

[ZombieHorde]

13. The stain is the homophobic stance. nt

[Radical Activist]

18. Again, what stance would that be?

Supporting the full legal rights of marriage for same sex couples, which many LGBT groups have advocated for years? Or is there something else I'm unaware of?

[Smashcut]

19. He doesn't support equal marriage.

Please stop trying to obscure his support for "separate but equal" discrimination.

[Radical Activist]

20. I agree that he should support calling it marriage instead of civil unions.

It's a simple fact that he supports extending the full equal legal rights of marriage to same sex couples. Equating that to the brutality of Jim Crow segregation is ugly and dishonest. You can argue that the position on civil unions which many GLBT groups spent years advocating for is homophobic but we'll have to disagree.

[Smashcut]

21. Please point out a mainstream gay rights group that supports civil unions

*to the exclusion* of full marriage equality, which is Obama's position.

Obama has echoed right-wing rhetoric against marriage equality ("sanctity" etc.). His statements were used by the pro-Prop 8 camp in their campaign to end marriage for gays and lesbians in California. No public statement on camera from him to counteract the damage he caused.

He has defaulted to the segregationist-era "state's rights" argument to avoid having to say that antigay discrimination in marriage is unconstitutional.

His surrogates are currently defending DOMA in federal court. No comment from him when the Olsen-Boies ruling was handed down, which was widely regarded as a watershed ruling in every major national publication including the New York Times.

No comment from him when marriage equality was repealed in Maine.

No change in his position when a New Jersey commission found that, in contradiction to your false claim, civil unions DO NOT offer nearly the same rights and benefits as marriage.

Tell me: WHAT exactly is Obama *doing*, in a concrete sense, to "support" equal rights for same-sex couples?

[Radical Activist]

32. Just to be clear.

Obama's position is in favor of a civil unions law which provides all the same legal rights as marriage, regardless of what the civil union bill in New Jersey did. Not all civil union laws are alike.

Obama has said in the past that he sees civil unions as a transition to marriage, and I believe it's likely that he still feels that way. Also, let's be clear that Obama opposed Prop 8 and said so publicly.
You brought up DOMA in the courts. GLBT rights advocates believe using the court system will be an effective strategy to repeal DOMA. Obama agrees with that position and is letting the process work its way to the Supreme Court. That's how the system works.

Obama needs to be more aggressive on GLBT issues, but if he were truly as awful as you make him out to be then you wouldn't have to spin and stretch so much.

[ZombieHorde]

Sorry for being vague, I am talking about marriage equality. nt

[Smashcut]

4. Why hasn't the president spoken about this himself?

About the large number of suicides of LGBT youth in the news recently? Or about the heinous hate crimes that just took place in the Bronx? The attack at Stonewall? The defamation of our community by Carl Paladino and Jim DeMint, timed not-so-perfectly with these assaults and deaths?

Instead, we have his underlings plagiarizing Dan Savage on their blog?

[Behind the Aegis]

5. +1

[great white snark]

6. -1

You want the President to address every social issue? Oh wait, you're a proud member of the professional left..if he did address it you would say it took too long to do so.

[Smashcut]

8. EVERY social issue?

People are DYING because of hate. Is that too much of a bother for you? You poor privileged trod-upon heterosexual?

Apparently he had time to go photo-opping with the kids from Waiting for Superman but not enough time to speak publicly AT ALL about any of this. You better check yourself.

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Radical Activist]

7. He spoke in person to the same group last year.

Obama has never been silent on GLBT issues.

[Smashcut]

9. He has been silent many times.

This is only one example.

And HRC isn't exactly a group I would characterize as useful in any way. When is he going to give an interview to a gay publication?

[Radical Activist]

11. You asked when he spoke about several GLBT issues himself and I gave you one of many examples.

Yes, I'm sure there are almost countless hours where he has talked about other issues, or even spent time sleeping, when he was silent.

[JNelson6563]

14. Ah-ha!!

There it is! He has spoken about other issues! That homophobe!!1!!

[Smashcut]

16. No, you made the claim that "he has never been silent," which is patently false.

This being just the latest example.

I asked why he hasn't talked publicly about the recent spate of deaths and assaults on gay kids that has been in the news, which he hasn't.

[boppers]

31. Obama is anti-Texan for not talking about the lake pirates.

He's also anti-Chilean for not talking enough about the trapped miners. Oh, and he's also anti-environment for not talking enough about drilling.

:sarcasm:

[Radical Activist]

10. Obama speaking about Stonewall, since you brought that up.

At his speech to the Human Rights Campaign last year. He says more about it later in the speech.

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2009/10/obama_human_rights_campaign_sp.html


It's the story of the Stonewall protests, when a group of citizens -- (applause) -- when a group of citizens with few options, and fewer supporters stood up against discrimination and helped to inspire a movement. It's the story of an epidemic that decimated a community -- and the gay men and women who came to support one another and save one another; who continue to fight this scourge; and who have demonstrated before the world that different kinds of families can show the same compassion in a time of need. (Applause.) And it's the story of the Human Rights Campaign and the fights you've fought for nearly 30 years: helping to elect candidates who share your values; standing against those who would enshrine discrimination into our Constitution; advocating on behalf of those living with HIV/AIDS; and fighting for progress in our capital and across America. (Applause.)

This story, this fight continue now. And I'm here with a simple message: I'm here with you in that fight. (Applause.) For even as we face extraordinary challenges as a nation, we cannot -- and we will not -- put aside issues of basic equality. I greatly appreciate the support I've received from many in this room. I also appreciate that many of you don't believe progress has come fast enough. I want to be honest about that, because it's important to be honest among friends.

Now, I've said this before, I'll repeat it again -- it's not for me to tell you to be patient, any more than it was for others to counsel patience to African Americans petitioning for equal rights half a century ago. (Applause.) But I will say this: We have made progress and we will make more. And I think it's important to remember that there is not a single issue that my administration deals with on a daily basis that does not touch on the lives of the LGBT community. (Applause.) We all have a stake in reviving this economy. We all have a stake in putting people back to work. We all have a stake in improving our schools and achieving quality, affordable health care. We all have a stake in meeting the difficult challenges we face in Iraq and Afghanistan. (Applause.)

[TriMera]

12. Yes, but what does he have to say

about the most recent happening at Stonewall? http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/police_bar_men_arrested_for_bias_RjLbQnvDvBS76h9xMoAazL

In case you hadn't noticed, there's been an upward trend in violence and open bigotry against the LGBT community. The history lesson was nice, though.

[Radical Activist]

17. It looks as though

having one of his top advisers deliver a message for him at a major event is the response for now. I haven't listened to all of his recent speeches so I don't know if he has said more. It would be good if he said something soon. What do you hope that would accomplish beyond the actions mentioned in the speech?

[Smashcut]

15. I was talking about the attack that took place there last week.

One recent episode in the rising tide of antigay violence in this country while "leaders" like Obama stay silent.

BTW, I love that in the last paragraph you posted he says "it's not for me to tell you to be patient" and then goes on to list the other issues he considers more important than LGBT-specific causes. Meanwhile, the useless HRC suits ate more pressed chicken and yukked it up.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[_ed_]

25. The beatings will continue

until morale improves.

[treestar]

26. So who are we to vote for?

And how are we to get that person into office?

[donheld]

22. k & r

[firedupdem]

27. K&R

Thanks for posting this.

[MineralMan]

28. Thanks for posting. I hadn't been aware of this.

It's sad to see that some posters are opposed to an expression of support for GLBT youth who are being bullied to the extent that they are committing suicide. I can't understand how anyone could object to this position, as expressed by an Obama Administration spokesperson, especially when specific details of the support from the Administration are outlined.

I simply don't understand any objection to this. It smacks of something ugly, in my opinion.

[Number23]

29. You're awesome, RA.

"We must also recognize that creating a safe environment for LGBT youth also means doing more for young people who are forced to leave their homes. For the first time, we have a national strategy to fight homelessness. It specifically addresses the needs of LGBT youth who are living on the streets because they have been ostracized by their families, friends, and community. This includes figuring out whether it’s possible for these children to go home, and if they can’t, that we have safe and nurturing alternatives."

Brilliant. Happy to rec.

[Radical Activist]

30. Isn't that an encouraging thing to learn about?

It's amazing what you don't hear about in the press.

[Duncan Grant]

33. Dan Savage's response: "Fuck you, you pack of co-opting cowards."

Confidential to the White House
Posted by Dan Savage on Mon, Oct 11, 2010 at 12:48 PM

Fuck you, you pack of co-opting cowards.

Seriously. You can do a lot more than offer hope. You have the power to make it better. Right now. Suspend enforcement of DADT. Don't appeal the decision by a federal judge that declared DADT unconstitutional. Stop defending DOMA in court. Keep your promises. Make it better. And if you're not going to keep your promises or do what you can to make it better, White House, then you could at least have the simple human decency to shut the fuck up.

State-sanctioned discrimination against LGBT people legitimizes the kind of anti-gay attitudes and beliefs that lead directly to anti-gay bullying at the ballot box and anti-gay bullying in schools. You can do more. Enough with the speeches. Enough with the pretty words—particularly the lifted ones.

Fuck you.

Here's the link.

[Radical Activist]

34. Yeah, really weird.

Most issue activists are excited when their messages and slogans gain more traction and are even adopted by those in power. Jarrett was obviously paying tribute. Maybe Savage doesn't have much experience as an organizer beyond his writing.
He also seems to lack understanding of how the Justice Department actions on DOMA are part of a process that will lead to repeal by the Supreme Court. We WANT that to happen.

[Duncan Grant]

35. Savage has a legitimate critique. The administration can do more.

Jarrett would have gained more credibility if Savage had been acknowledged as the originator of "It Gets Better". Savage's response to the LGBT teen suicides in September was generated organically (from within the LGBT community) -- to great success. It's a pity that the administration can't emulate the immediacy of LGBT responses as well as our messages and slogans.

[Radical Activist]

36. Sure, they can do more.

But I think it was obvious to the HRC crowd who she was quoting. Taking offense to that is odd. And I don't know why he chose to ignore what she said about the action already being taken that I posted above.

[jonnyblitz]

38. Dan Savage is CORRECT!." FUCK YOU!!!"

:applause:

[canetoad]

37. Good news k&r

Unfortunately many posters in this thread are putting the cart before the horse.

LGBT youth need to live long enough to reach a marriagable or even civil union age.