Starting in 2014, the Boy Scouts will welcome openly gay and bi youth! Congratulations to the Boy Scouts and to all who worked to make this important progress happen. With the ban on openly gay adult members still in place, the struggle will continue, but this first step is still huge and is worth celebrating. Related link: The Boy Scouts' Proposed Policy on Gays: Questions and Answers MK … [Read more...]
Marriage Equality Momentum in the U.S. and Abroad
Posted on May 17, 2013
[See the end of this post for May 20 updates.] In light of some recent encouraging poll numbers on marriage equality, I’ve updated a March 27 post that summarizes data from a series of 2013 surveys on the issue. You can find that update here: 2013 Polls: At Least Two Thirds of Young Americans Support Marriage Equality. Of course, the recent good news on marriage hasn't come only from the polls. Just this month, three states—Delaware, Minnesota, and Rhode Island—have enacted … [Read more...]
Gay-Straight Alliance Updates: Lake County, Polk County & Fort Worth
Posted on May 4, 2013
We've got three updates this weekend about gay-straight alliances and safe-schools efforts in Texas and Florida, including information on how you can speak out for LGBT youth and their allies in the ongoing controversy in Lake County. … [Read more...]
Lake County School Board Member Questions 14-Year-Old Student’s Sexual Orientation
Posted on April 29, 2013
A member of Florida's Lake County School Board questioned the sexual orientation of a fourteen-year-old student in his district in an email sent last Friday. A 2012 message from federal Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. The Lake County School Board should listen. The Board member's disturbing comment came in a written exchange with musician, blogger and LGBT-youth advocate Katy Bourne, who had sent an open letter to two members of the Lake County School Board criticizing their … [Read more...]
The Latest LGBT-Equality Legislation: Info & Links
Posted on April 26, 2013
As some readers are likely aware, members of Congress have recently introduced important legislation affecting the LGBT community. I hope to blog more in-depth about the legislation in the near future. In the meantime, I've added a page about federal legislation to the Resources section of this website. This new page, which I'll continue to expand, now includes basic information about the Student Non-Discrimination Act, the Safe Schools Improvement Act, and the Employment Non-Discrimination … [Read more...]
John Paulk & Progress in the Struggle Against So-Called “Reparative” Therapy
Posted on April 25, 2013
Though it took a long time, John Paulk—one of the most famous self-proclaimed "ex-gays" in recent history—has finally renounced the "ex-gay" movement and apologized for his past support of so-called "reparative" therapy. Paulk enjoyed the media's spotlight on "ex-gay" issues for several years, particularly when he appeared with his wife Anne on the cover of Newsweek in 1998. LGBT advocates, journalists and bloggers, as well as "ex-gay" activists, have all known for some time that Paulk … [Read more...]
Can and Should Middle Schools Allow Gay-Straight Alliances?
Posted on April 25, 2013
Under the federal Equal Access Act, public high schools must allow students to form gay-straight alliances (GSAs) if the schools receive federal funds and allow any other extracurricular clubs on campus. The First Amendment provides similar protections. But as students in younger grades increasingly speak out for LGBT equality, a new issue arises: Do public middle school students have a legal right to form GSAs too? Courts haven't directly addressed the issue, making it difficult to give … [Read more...]
Joe Bell Set to Begin Epic Journey Across the U.S.
Posted on April 19, 2013
Joe Bell sets out tomorrow from La Grande, Oregon, on an ambitious journey: He will walk from Oregon to New York to raise awareness about bullying and to support anti-bullying programs. Joe will also share the story of his openly gay son Jadin, who died earlier this year. You can follow and support Joe's Walk for Change through the website of Faces for Change, an organization that supports anti-bullying efforts. Jadin Bell's family and friends formed the organization in Jadin's memory and … [Read more...]
Thumbs Up for Gay Youth in Boy Scouts, Thumbs Down for Gay Leaders?
Posted on April 19, 2013
Breaking news: In a surprising (and strange) move, the Boy Scouts of America is reportedly considering a policy to allow gay youth but not gay adult leaders. According to the Washington Post and other sources, a resolution proposed by the national organization—which still needs to receive approval at a May meeting of national council members before going into effect—provides that "no youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or … [Read more...]
Audio of Court Arguments Available in California Conversion-Therapy Case
Posted on April 18, 2013
Audio recordings are now available on-line for the oral arguments heard by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday in the cases involving California's new conversion-therapy law. The law, not yet in effect, would ban state-licensed professionals from engaging in sexual-orientation conversion therapy with minors. I will post some comments on the issues later on. In the meantime, readers interested in hearing the details of the legal arguments can follow this link (first half of argument) … [Read more...]
The Day of Silence is Almost Here
Posted on April 17, 2013
The Day of Silence is this Friday! Best wishes to all those who are participating. It's not too late to get involved: For a compilation of resources, click the Events & Days of Action section on LGBT Youth Allies' rapidly expanding Resources page, or visit www.dayofsilence.org. By the way, if you have suggestions for our Resources page, send them along! MK … [Read more...]
Another Teen Places Eagle Scout Status at Risk to Fight Anti-Gay Policy
Posted on April 15, 2013
Yet another brave teen has placed his membership in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) at risk by coming out as gay and speaking out against the organization's anti-gay policy. Sixteen-year-old Pascal Tessier, who is close to earning the Eagle Scout honor, also recently organized a protest against the BSA's policy. As this local story from a Maryland television station reports, Tessier's "honesty could get him booted out of the organization." … [Read more...]
Did Firing of U.K. Teacher for his Anti-Gay Comments Violate his Rights?
Posted on April 12, 2013
A court in London has upheld a decision banning school teacher Robert Haye from teaching for at least two years. The case arose after Mr. Haye told a class of 15- to 16-year-old students that gay people live "disgusting" lives. He told an even younger class that "anyone who worships on Sunday is basically worshiping the devil." Mr. Haye belongs to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which observes Saturday as the Sabbath. Mr. Haye said in response to the court decision that "Christians are … [Read more...]
Partial Victory for Student in Lambda Legal’s Day of Silence Lawsuit
Posted on April 10, 2013
Lambda Legal has won an important, partial victory for sixteen-year-old Amber Hatcher in a federal case involving the Day of Silence. The Day of Silence is an annual day-of-action when students across the country take a vow of silence for all or part of the school day to bring attention to the silencing effects of bullying faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. Related Link: The Day of Silence is Almost Here As her legal complaint explains, Amber, an openly lesbian … [Read more...]
Margaret Thatcher, LGBT Equality, and Today’s Section 28s
Posted on April 8, 2013
The United Kingdom's Margaret Thatcher, who served as prime minister from 1979 to 1990, has died of a stroke at age 87. BBC provides ongoing coverage here. As on many other issues, Thatcher was a divisive figure when it came to gay rights. … [Read more...]
Good News from Texas (and a Closer Look at an Anti-Gay Amendment)
Posted on April 5, 2013
I'm pleased to pass along some good news for LGBT youth from the Lone Star State. Bill Zedler, a Texas state representative, has dropped his push for an anti-gay amendment to a state appropriations bill (for now, anyway), and a transgender teen has won the right to wear a dress to her school prom. [UPDATE: More good news! The Texas A&M student body president has vetoed an anti-gay student bill. Details below.] This post will take a particularly close look at Zedler's amendment, in part … [Read more...]
Updated Questions & Answers about the Boy Scouts’ Policy on Sexual Orientation
James Dale The Boy Scouts' National Council votes this week on proposed changes to the organization's discriminatory membership policy regarding sexual orientation. For an in-depth look at the issues, check out this newly updated post: The Boy Scouts' Proposed Policy on Gays: Questions and Answers. MK … [Read more...]