Chapter Activities

One of Metro DC PFLAG's primary goals is to help create a safe learning environment for all students in the schools of the District of Columbia and the Maryland and Virginia suburbs. We believe that everyone, including gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and questioning youth, has the right to attend school free of fear.

For many gay and lesbian teens, schools are not a safe place. Met with verbal abuse that is often ignored -- in some cases encouraged -- by teachers and administrators, gay teens face an environment so hostile, some of them find their ability to function as students crippled. Going to school can be unbearable.

The failure of federal, state, and local governments to enact laws to protect gay youth from harassment has contributed to what amounts to a green light for fellow students to tease, taunt and some cases physically abuse their peers. The statistics are staggering: 80 percent of gay and lesbian youth are victims of verbal abuse and two-thirds have been threatened with or injured by a weapon. Gay teens are up to six times more likely to attempt suicide. Thirty percent of them succeed.

But something can be done. Metro DC PFLAG is doing it.

In the past year alone, we have helped amend Fairfax County's Students Rights and Responsibilities handbook to include sexual orientation in it's anti-harassment laws. We have supported the growth of Gay Straight Alliances (GSAs) in area high schools, organized a book drive to place gay positive books in public high schools (see list), spoke before the Maryland State Board of Education to add sexual orientation to its multicultural regulations and formed an association with Horizon Theater to bring a play dealing with teenage homophobia to area schools. We also are working with the department of Student Intervention Services of the District of Columbia Public Schools to design a workshop for teachers and counselors.

This is just the beginning. If you'd like to get involved and help us in our efforts to make schools a safe place for all students, come to a Safe Schools Committee meeting. We meet every third Sunday at the Cedar Lane Unitarian Church, 9601 Cedar Lane Bethesda, MD at 2 p.m. Or email us at Safe Schools.

Book Drive

All 17 of the District of Columbia high schools will be receiving a set of books dealing with gay and lesbian issues. The books, both fiction and nonfiction, are being purchased through grant money and contributions. Our book drive will seek to expand to other school districts in the Metro DC area.

The list of books includes:

Non Fiction

"What If Someone I Know Is Gay?: Answers to Questions About Gay and Lesbian People," by Eric Marcus
"Black and Gay in America," by Keith Boykin
"Does Your Mama Know: An Anthology of Black Lesbian Coming Out Stories," edited by Lisa C. Moore
"The Shared Heart: Portraits and Stories Celebrating Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People," by Adam Mastoon
"Free Your Mind," by Ellen Bass and Kate Kaufman
"Becoming Visible: A Reader in Gay and Lesbian History for High School and College Students," by Kevin Jennings
"Out of the Ordinary: Essays on Growing Up With Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Parents," edited by Noelle Howey and Ellen Samuels

Fiction

"Rainbow Boys," by Alex Sanchez
"Two Teenagers in Twenty: Writings by Gay and Lesbian Youth," edited by Ann Heron
"From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun," by Jacqueline Woodson

To donate a book or a complete set, you can send a check to Metro DC PFLAG (address below). A gift of $10 will purchase one book; $110 donation will buy a complete set. Any and all contributions will be greatly appreciated. You also can order the books online at www.prideplanet.com and have them shipped to Metro DC at P.O. Box 66363, Washington, DC 20035-6363.

The books will be given to the schools along with PFLAG materials such as "Be Yourself" and "Read This Before Coming Out to Your Parents."

Gay Straight Alliance (GSAs)

Students report that they feel safer at schools with active Gay Straight Alliances (GSAs.) GSAs are school sponsored clubs made up of both gay and straight students. Each GSA has a faculty sponsor. One of PFLAG's goals is to support existing GSAs and help students form new clubs. This year, Metro DC PFLAG began sending speakers from our chapter to local GSA meetings. The chapter also helped Montgomery County's GSAs hold a dance. The dance was a rousing success! More than 70 gay and straight students attended a holiday masquerade party. The supportive, fun environment contributed to the students feelings of safety and acceptance.

Advocacy

In 2001, Metro DC PFLAG worked with members of the Gay, Lesbian, Straight, Education Network (GLSEN) to have sexual-orientation included in Fairfax County's schools anti-harassment clause. Members spoke before the school board and participated in an email and letter writing campaign to persuade the board to vote in favor of the addition. This year, the committee is working with the Fairfax County Coalition for Safe Schools to help pass an anti-discrimination clause. In Maryland, PFLAG members have spoken before the Maryland State Board of Education and written to board members to urge them to add sexual orientation to its multicultural regulations.

Horizons Theatre

Metro DC PFLAG recently formed an association with Horizon Theatre, which has produced a 45-minute musical play entitled "I Want to Tell You." The play, which is performed free at schools and community organizations, explores the fears that haunt many high school students as they struggle for acceptance. It particularly focuses on the overt and more subtle forms of homophobia rampant in high school.

The response from the schools who have hosted the play has been overwhelmingly positive. We believe it has opened the eyes and hearts of many students. After the performance, the actors join other panelists (including members of PFLAG) for a question and answer session. The post-show conversations have been remarkable! If you'd like to book the play at your school, please call our office at (202) 638-3852 or email us at info@pflagdc.org