Rainbow Boys (27 page)

Nelson walked away from him, approaching Jason. “This is it,” he said. “Wish us luck.”

“Yeah,” Jason said. “Good luck.”

He watched Nelson walk down the hall toward the main office. The group of boys outside the office door jeered him: “Hey, faggot!”

“Homo!” “Queer!”

Jason started after Nelson, not with any intention of going to the meeting—just to help Nelson if the boys jumped him. But Mueller charged out of the office, yelling at the boys and spreading his arms, stopping any scuffle.

One boy noticed Jason and whispered something to another boy. Oh, shit, Jason thought. By fifth period it would be all over school.

He hesitated a moment, then continued past the boys, into the office, his heart beating wildly. He could always say he had an appointment with his counselor. But he wouldn’t. He wouldn’t lie. Not anymore.

He walked down the corridor to the counselors’ conference room. Through the glass window he saw Kyle moving extra chairs over to the table. Some girls sat on one side, MacTraugh and a group of boys on the other. Quite a crowd of people—more than Jason had expected.

His hand hesitated on the doorknob. He could still turn around.

Then Kyle looked up at him and smiled. He motioned to the chair beside him.

Jason took a deep breath, opened the door, and stepped inside.

FOR MORE

INFORMATION

ABOUT …

ORGANIZING A PEER GROUP

GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network)

121 West 27th Street, Suite 804

New York, NY 10001-6207

Phone: (212) 727-0135

Fax: (212) 727-0245

www.glsen.org (Please visit this Web site to find the chapter in your region.) The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network strives to ensure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. GLSEN believes that such an atmosphere engenders a positive sense of self, which is the basis of educational achievement and personal growth. Since homophobia and heterosexism undermine a healthy school climate, we work to educate teachers, students, and the public at large about the damaging effects these forces have on youth and adults alike. GLSEN recognizes that forces such as racism and sexism have similarly adverse impacts on communities, and we support schools in seeking to redress all such inequities. GLSEN seeks to develop school climates where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes in creating a more vibrant and diverse community. We welcome as members any and all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or occupation, who are committed to seeing this philosophy realized in K-12 schools.

GLSEN combats the harassment and discrimination leveled against students and school personnel. GLSEN creates learning environments that affirm the inherent dignity of all students, and, in so doing, teaches them to respect and accept all of their classmates—

regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. GLSEN believes that the key to ending anti-gay prejudice and hate-motivated violence is education. A nd it’s for this reason that GLSEN brings together students, educators, families, and other community members—of any sexual orientation or gender identity/expression—to reform A merica’s educational system.

GLSEN’s student organizing project provides support and resources to youth in even the most isolated of places, supporting students as they form and lead gay-straight alliances—helping them to change their own school environments from the inside out. A Gay-Straight A lliance (GSA ) is a school-based, student-led, noncurricular club organized to end anti-gay bias and homophobia in schools and create positive change by making schools welcoming, supportive, and safe places for all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. GSA s help eliminate anti-gay bias, discrimination, harassment, and violence by educating school communities about homophobia and the lives of youth, and supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students and their heterosexual allies.

VIOLENCE AND HATE CRIMES AGAINST GAYS AND LESBIANS

The New York City Gay & Lesbian A nti-Violence Project and the National Coalition of A nti-Violence Projects 240 West 35th Street, Suite 200

New York, NY 10001

Phone: (212) 714-1184

Fax: (212) 714-2627

Bilingual hotline based in the New York area: (212) 714-1141

www.avp.org (Please visit this Web site to find a branch and phone contact for your region.) The New York City Gay & Lesbian A nti-Violence Project (AVP) is the nation’s largest crime-victim service agency for the lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, and HIV-affected communities. For twenty years, AVP has provided counseling and advocacy for thousands of victims of bias-motivated violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, HIV-related violence, and police misconduct. AVP educates the public about violence against or within our communities and works to reform public policies impacting all lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, and HIV-affected people. The NCA VP is the nationwide network of anti-violence projects of which the New York’s A VP is a part.

Human Rights Campaign

919 18th Street, NW, Suite 800

Washington, D.C. 20006

Phone: (202) 628-4160

Fax: (202) 347-5323 www.hrc.org

A s A merica’s largest gay and lesbian organization, the Human Rights Campaign provides a national voice on gay and lesbian issues. The Human Rights Campaign effectively lobbies Congress, mobilizes grassroots action in diverse communities, invests strategically to elect a fair-minded Congress, and increases public understanding through innovative education and communication strategies.

HRC is a bipartisan organization that works to advance equality based on sexual orientation and gender expression and identity, to ensure that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender A mericans can be open, honest, and safe at home, at work, and in the community.

ISSUES WITH PARENTS

PFLA G: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays

1726 M. Street, NW, Suite 400

Washington, DC 20036

Phone: (202) 467-8180

Fax: (202) 467-8194

www.pflag.org (Please visit this Web site to find the chapter in your region.) Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered persons and their families and friends through support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity. PFLA G is a national nonprofit organization with a membership of over 80,000 households and more than 440 affiliates worldwide. This vast grassroots network is developed, resourced, and serviced by the PFLA G national office, located in Washington, D.C., the national Board of Directors, and the Regional Directors’ Council. The parents, families, and friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered persons celebrate diversity and envision a society that embraces everyone, including those of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Only with respect, dignity, and equality for all will we reach our full potential as human beings, individually and collectively. PFLA G welcomes the participation and support of all who share in, and hope to realize, this vision.

HIV (HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS) AND AIDS (ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME)
Centers for Disease Control

National A IDS Hotline: 1-800-342-2437

www.cdc.gov/hiv/hivinfo/nah.htm

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recognized as the lead federal agency for protecting the health and safety of people at home and abroad, providing credible information to enhance health decisions, and promoting health through strong partnerships. CDC serves as the national focus for developing and applying disease prevention and control, environmental health, and health promotion and education activities designed to improve the health of the people of the United States.

Behavioral science has shown that a balance of prevention messages is important for young people. Total abstinence from sexual activity is the only sure way to prevent sexual transmission of HIV infection. Despite all efforts, some young people may still engage in sexual intercourse that puts them at risk for HIV and other STDs. For these individuals, the correct and consistent use of latex condoms has been shown to be highly effective in preventing the transmission of HIV and other STDs. Data clearly show that many young people are sexually active and that they are placing themselves and their partners at risk for infection with HIV and other STDs. These young people must be provided with the skills and support they need to protect themselves.

TEEN SEXUALITY

A dvocates for Youth

1025 Vermont A venue, NW, Suite 200

Washington, DC 20005

Phone: (202) 347-5700

Fax: (202) 347-2263

www.advocatesforyouth.org

There is much to do to improve adolescent reproductive and sexual health in the United States and in the developing world. Recent declines in teenage pregnancy and childbearing are threatened by growing political battles over adolescent sexuality. Societal confusion over sex and a growing adult cynicism about youth culture further fuel the debate. To date, conservative forces have successfully censored sexuality education in over one-third of A merican schools, confidential access to contraception is under attack in the United States and routinely withheld from adolescents in the developing world, and adolescent access to abortion is almost a thing of the past. Concurrently, poverty, homophobia, and racism continue to confound the battle against HIV, leaving gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) youth, youth of color, and young people in the developing world particularly vulnerable to infection.

A dvocates envisions a time when there is societal consensus that sexuality is a normal, positive, and healthy aspect of being human, of being a teen, of being alive. A dvocates for Youth believes that a shift in the cultural environment in which adolescents live—from one that distrusts young people and their sexuality to one that embraces youth as partners and recognizes adolescent sexual development as normal and healthy—will yield significant public health outcomes for youth in the United States and in the developing world. To ultimately have the largest impact on improving adolescent sexual health, A dvocates believes its role is to boldly advocate for changes in the environment that will improve the delivery of adolescent sexual health information and services.

GAY AND LESBIAN TEEN SUICIDES

The Trevor Helpline: 1-800-850-8078

The Trevor Helpline is a national 24-hour toll-free suicide prevention hotline aimed at gay or questioning youth. The Trevor Helpline is geared toward helping those in crisis, or anyone wanting information on how to help someone in crisis. A ll calls are handled by trained counselors and are free and confidential.

The Trevor Helpline was established by the Trevor Project in A ugust 1998 to coincide with the HBO airing of Trevor, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres. Trevor is the award-winning short film about a thirteen-year-old boy named Trevor who, when rejected by friends and peers as he begins to come to terms with his sexuality, makes an unsuccessful attempt at suicide.

When Trevor was scheduled to air on HBO, the film’s creators began to realize that some of the program’s teen viewers might be facing the same kind of crisis as Trevor, and they began to search for a support line to help them. When they discovered that no national twenty-four-hour toll-free suicide hotline existed that was geared toward gay youth, they decided to establish one and began the search for funding.

GAY AND LESBIAN TEEN SERVICES ON THE INTERNET

Youth Guardian Services

8665 Sudley Road #304

Manassas, VA 20110-4588

Phone: 1-877-270-5152

Fax: (703) 783-0525

www.youth-guard.org

Youth Guardian Services is a youth-run, nonprofit organization that provides support services on the Internet to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, questioning, and straight supportive youth. A t this time the organization operates solely on private donations from individuals.

The YOUTH e-mail lists are a group of three e-mail mailing lists separated by age groups (13-17, 17-21, 21-25). The goal of these lists is to provide gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning youth an open forum to communicate with other youth. The content ranges from support topics in times of crisis to “chit-chat” and small talk. Each list is operated by a volunteer staff made up of members who are in the same age group as the list subscribers.

The newest addition to the YOUTH Lists is the STR8 List for straight and questioning youth aged twenty-five or younger who have friends or family members who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, or questioning. The list provides a safe space and supportive environment to talk with other straight youth in similar situations about the unique issues facing straight youth who have friends or family members who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, or questioning.

YOUTH ADVOCACY

National Youth A dvocacy Coalition