Spirit Day 2015

So the 5th annual Spirit Day has come and gone! I remembered to wear purple yesterday to show my support.It really made me miss back in high school when my entire GSA would show up in purple and emit this whole "big happy family" aura all day. I definitely saw less purple around the campus at MCC, and even then it was impossible to tell if the person was supporting the cause or just happened to be wearing purple. 

Photo Credit: GLAAD

I've really been wanting to start a GSA type club at MCC (although I wouldn't call it that - I'm thinking something more inclusive of all LGBTQA+ identities and allies), and that just made me want to start it more. 

(On that note - if anyone else is interested and/or knows of a staff member who could be an adviser PLEASE contact me!!)

But despite the lack of participation around here, there was loads of support all around the world! Playstation, Target, Google, Twitter, MTV, the NBA, even The White House all expressed their participation - and it doesn't end there! Big names like Laverne Cox, Troye Sivan, U.S. VP Joe Bidden and many more were also there to support. You can check out the lists of other big names and businesses that participated here.

Photo Credit: GLAAD

But it's important to remember that the support CANNOT end here!! Bullying and discrimination is a problem every day of the year for LGBTQA+ individuals. Be a part of the solution, not the problem.

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GSA: Gay-Straight Alliance; a club frequently found in supportive schools for LGB individuals and allies.

LGBTQA+: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, asexual, plus

Allies: Straight cisgender supporters of the LGBTQA+ community

Power in Numbers

This post mentions harassment, assault, homophobia, homelessness, invalidation due to gender and sexuality, mental illness, cyberbullying, murder, racism, and suicide. If you are bothered by any of these things, please read with caution.

Photo Credit: Ashley Underwood

The 2nd most common reason for bullying in schools is a students' gender identity, sexuality, or sexual/gender expression. (GLSEN)

Almost 75% of LGBTQA+ students have been verbally harassed because of their sexuality, and almost a quarter for their gender identity. (GLAAD)

Over 15% of LTBTQA+ students have been victims of physical assault because of their sexuality, and over 10% for their gender identity, (GLAAD)

...these can be compared to only 27.3% of non-LGBTQA+ students being bullied or harassed either physically or verbally at school. (National Center for Educational Statistics)

Photo Credit: Laura Finley and Joseph Schroer

Over 60% of LGBTQA+ students who have reported bullying in school said no action was taken by school staff. (GLAAD)

Over half of LGBTQA+ students say they feel unsafe at school because of their sexuality, and nearly 40% because of their gender identity. (GLAAD)

32% have skipped school to avoid bullying. (GLSEN)

28% drop out of school altogether because of bullying. (Stop Bullying)

But it doesn't always end at school...

Photo Credit: UKnowKids

49% of LGBTQA+ students have experienced cyberbullying. (GLAAD)

35% of those effected are cyberbullied in the form of online threats (Bullying Statistics)

33% report sexual harrassment online, which is over 4 times as much as non-LGBTQA+ youth. (GLSEN)

...or online...

Becky Baker and Adam Torres from Degrassi, while telling Becky's father that she is going to continue dating Adam even though her family does not approve of him being transgender.

Photo Credit: Degrassi Wiki

Half of LGBTQA+ youth live in an unsafe, unaccepting environment. (PFLAG)

Nearly 30% get kicked out by their parents or guardians after coming out. (PFLAG)

Half of homeless youth identify somewhere within the LGBTQA+ communities. (PFLAG)

Nearly half of transgender people report a family breakdown after coming out (Stop Our Silence)...

...nearly 40% have family who will not speak to them since they began transitioning. (Stop Our Silence)

...or at home...

Photo Credit: Aricka Flowers

As high as 43% of LGBTQA+ people have experienced discrimination at their place of work (American Progress)...

... 40% have been verbally or physically harassed for their sexuality (American Progress)...

...and 90% because of their gender identity (American Progress).

Over 15% of LGBTQA+ adults have been terminated from their jobs due to their sexuality or gender identity. (American Progress)

...or at work...

90% of gay or bisexual cisgender males say they're often harassed or made to feel unwelcome in any public setting. (Stop Street Harassment)

Over 46,000 LGBTQA+ people avoid being out in public because they fear street harassment. (Stop Street Harassment).

Photo Credit: Chuck McFadden

Almost 50% of transgender people will not use public restrooms out of fear. (Stop Our Silence)

...and that's still not the last of it...

Photo Credit: Keithrtrottier

LGBTQA+ teens are three times more likely attempt to take their own lives than non-LGBTQA+ teens. (Stop Bullying)

When living with an unaccepting family, LGBTQA+ youth are eight times more likely to commit suicide. (Make Beats Not Beat Downs)

A third of youth suicide attempts are because of a sexual identity crisis. (Make Beats Not Beat Downs)

They say a trans-woman is murdered at least every 29 hours, and trans-women of color are especially frequent victims. (Planet Transgender)

Photo Credit: Samantha Michaels

Over half of transgender individuals  seek help for depression or anxiety (Stop Our Silence)...

...as well as 42% of LGB individuals (Stop Our Silence)...

...as opposed to 29% of straight and cisgender individuals (Stop Our Silence)...

...yet 41% of these LGBT people say they were not treated well when they sought help. (Stop Our Silence

Both asexuals, non-binary people and bisexuals are often told their sexuality or gender identity is "just a phase", "unnatural", they're "confused" or "doesn't exist" (Gay Star News) ...

...and asexuals are often invalidated with "You're just a late bloomer". (Gay Star News)

In fact, if you go to type in "non-binary bullying" or "asexual bullying" into Google, the recommended search result is "non-binary/asexual bullsh*t". (I found this one out on my own)

Photo Credit: Amygdala

Gender neutral pronouns such as they/them/their, xe/xem/xyr, ze/zir/zes are often called "improper", "ridiculous", or "made up". (Everyday Feminism)

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Gender Identity: A person's personal perception of their own gender

Sexuality/Sexual Identity: A person's sexual orientation, preference, or capacity for sexual feelings

Sexual Expression: The way a person presents themself as a sexual being; sometimes wrongfully thought to be visible by actions, words, voice, clothing, etc.

Gender Expression: The way a person externally presents their gender identity, or concept of masculinity vs. femininity.

LGBTQA+: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, asexual, plus

Coming Out: "Coming out of the closet"; when someone tells another or many others that they are LGBTQA+

Transitioning: Typically thought of as the time when someone stops identifying as the sex they were assigned at birth and starts identifying with their gender identity; may or may not include hormones, surgeries, etc.; can mean something different to every transgender person

Gay: Someone who identifies as male and is sexually attracted to other males, or an umbrella term for anyone who is sexually attracted to their own sex

Bisexual: Someone who is sexually attracted to both males and females

Transgender: Someone whose gender identity does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth

Trans-woman: A transgender woman, also called as MtF (Male to Female)

Straight: Someone who is attracted to the opposite gender

Cisgender: Someone whose sex assigned at birth aligns with their gender identity

Asexual: Someone who does not desire or experience sexual attraction

Non-Binary: A gender that is not specifically male or female

Gender Neutral Pronouns: Pronouns applicable to any or all genders

October 7th, 1998

This post mentions assault, guns, homophobic actions and slurs, hate crimes, gore, death,

 and murder. If you are triggered by any of these things, please read with caution.

Photo Credit: Philip N. Cohen

A memorial for Matthew Shepard.

Photo Credit: US Civilization

Matthew (Matt) Shepard was only 21 when he was killed.

 Aaron McKinney and Russel Henderson, both also 21, abducted Matt on the night of October 7th, 1998 and left him to die tied to a split-rail fence in the desolate town of Laramie, Wyoming after brutally beating him with the butt of a pistol. It is estimated that the attackers hit Matt over 18 times in both the face and the head, cracking his skull and the bones at his right ear and completely destroying his brain-stem. Cuts covered his face, face, and neck and his airway was blocked by the blood that filled his mouth. It took almost an entire day for Matt to be found by a bicyclist passing by who originally mistook his unconscious, blood covered, and mangled body for a scarecrow. In critical condition, Matt was taken by medical staff to a hospital in Colorado where his condition was called too severe for any sort of treatment. He remained in a coma on full life support until he took his final breath mere days later. 

Matthew Shepard was a hard-working student at the University of Wyoming. He was studying political science, foreign relations, and linguistics, a passion brought on by the teen years he spend living in Switzerland. At both the American School in Switzerland and the high school he attended until his junior year in Wyoming, he was elected Peer Counselor by his classmates. Those who knew him have described him as friendly, a good listener, well liked, easy to converse with, and passionate about the well-being and equal treatment of others. Matt had friends all over the world.

And yet the news of his death was not met by sorrow for all. What was supposed to be a private, family-and-friends only funeral to mourn Matthew's life was bombarded by protesters. Men, women, and young children gathered with signs saying things like "Matt in Hell" and openly supporting the two men who murdered him. They argued that Matt deserved what happened to him and that the actions taken Aaron McKinney and Russel Henderson that night were completely justified by the fact that Matthew Shepard was gay.

  

A protester outside of Matthew Shepard's funeral.

Photo Credit: Syracuse University Magazine     

   Fred Phelps Sr., founder of Westboro Baptist Church, protesting in favor of Matthew's death.

Photo Credit: Daniel Beekman

To Be Continued...

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Gay: Someone who identifies as male and is attracted to other males, or an umbrella term for anyone who is sexually attracted to their own sex.

Spirit Day 2015 is Only 6 Days Away!

October 15th of this year we celebrate the 5th annual Spirit Day, a day dedicated to showing support for LGBTQA+ youth that are victims of discrimination and bullying based on their gender identity or sexuality.

In honor of Spirit Day I want to spend the next few posts focused specifically on the topics of bullying, discrimination, and intolerance in the LGBTQA+ community...and I'm turning the blog purple. :)

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Spirit Day - An annual occurrence on the 3rd Thursday of October that dedicates the day to showing support for LGBTQA+ youth that are victims of discrimination and bullying based on their gender identity or sexuality.

LGBTQA+ - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Asexual, +

Gender Identity - A person's personal perception of their own gender 

Sexuality - A person's sexual orientation, preference, or capacity for sexual feelings