There is a parents-only meeting every month. Call the helpline, and the meeting coordinator will get back to you ASAP.
Cyber Bullying: A New Frontier in Harassment
With more youth coming out in early high school and even middle school, PFLAG chapters are seeing younger and younger parents who are dealing with issues many of us have not encountered before. One of those issues is cyber bullying. Chapters should be prepared with information and resources if a parent or youth encounters this new form of bullying.
Cyber bullying has been defined by the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use to mean, "being cruel to others by sending or posting harmful material using the Internet or a cell phone."
New technologies have revolutionized communication and information, particularly for young people, and although the cyber world has been a great friend to the LGBT community by helping students gain access to information and support, it has also created new opportunities for bullying and harassment.
Cyber bullying may seem like the same old behavior using different means, but because this form of bullying can be done anonymously, it can take on very different qualities. Perpetrators, victims and bystanders have somewhat different roles in the process. The ability to resend emails and text messages create confusion about what has happened.
Terminology you should know:
According to Pew Research, about one-third (32 percent) of all teenagers who use the internet say they have been targets of some form of cyber bullying that ranged from receiving threatening messages, having their private emails or text messages forwarded, to having an embarrassing picture posted or rumors about them spread online.
The cyber world is not going to go away so let's make sure it brings more benefit than harm into our kids' lives.
What schools should do:
Here are some resources to get more information on cyber bullying:
Over 40 Scholarships, 1 application to complete
Pride Foundation and GSBA have over 40 different types of scholarships available, but students only need to fill out one application. Many of the scholarships available at Pride Foundation have criteria that are determined by the donor who creates the particular scholarship. For this reason, the scholarships cover a diverse range of educational interests, types of student, and geographic regions. [MORE]. Support for those coming out http://www.pflag.org/index.php?id=84Accepting Your Gay or Lesbian Child, by John Panel (audiotape) http://www.pflag.org/index.php?id=211
Family Stories http://www.pflag.org/index.php?id=90
Out of the Closet, Into Our Hearts, ed. Siegel/Olson, 160p. http://www.critpath.org/pflag-talk/celebrations.html
Our Trans Children (online edition) http://www.youth-guard.org/pflag-tnet/booklet.html
Guidelines for working with youth http://www.pflag.org/fileadmin/Guidelines_for_Working_with_Youth.pdf
Publications at PFLAG National
http://www.pflag.org/index.php?id=297:- Our Daughters and Sons: Questions and Answers for Parents of Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual People. One of our most popular publications, this is a "must read" for parents who are forming new and honest relationships with a loved one who has come out to them. This booklet answers several commonly-asked questions about having a gay child. It includes a list of related resources. (23 pages)
- Nuestras Hijas y Nuestros Hijos: Preguntas y respuestas para padres de gays, lesbianas y bisexuales (Spanish translation of Our Daughters and Sons). A culturally appropriate translation of "Our Daughters and Sons," this booklet is a valuable resource for Spanish-speaking families coming to terms with homosexuality and bisexuality. The booklet answers commonly asked questions about having a GLBT loved one, and includes English and Spanish language resources. (27 pages)
- Be Yourself: Questions and Answers for Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Youth. Today's youth face more social pressures than ever, especially since young people are coming out at increasingly younger ages. This publication offers a supportive approach to common questions asked by teens who may be questioning their sexual orientation. It also provides hotline numbers for teens and a list of resources. (22 pages)
- Faith in Our Families: Parents, Families and Friends Talk About Religion and Homosexuality. Discovering that a loved one is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered can pose new questions about your faith and may prompt you to re-evaluate beliefs that you previously took for granted. By using personal experiences, this publication provides examples for reconciling your faith with the knowledge that a loved one is gay. includes an updated list of gay and lesbian religious and spiritual groups to watch out for. (25 pages)
- Bisexuality Resource Packet: Bisexuality is a commonly misunderstood and misrepresented concept. Thie packet provides facts about bisexuality, commonly-asked questions, resoucre lists and a set of articles.
- From Our House to the Schoolhouse: A Safe Schools Publication: Making schools safe for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered youth is an important part of PFLAG's work. Facts about anti-gay harassment in schools and important legal landmarks are detailed in this booklet for educators. Resources and a "safe schools checklist" are also included.
- Opening the Straight Spouses' Closet: Finding out a spouse is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered can be difficult. Questions about sexual orientation, fidelity, self-esteem and fear often go unanswered. This recently updated and expanded publication provides insight into issues facing spouses, including coping stages, identity crises, concerns about children and support avenues. (19 pages)
Many more publications, vidoes and training materials are available: http://www.critpath.org/pflag-talk/library.html
GSA Grant program
Does your youth have a GSA (Gay Straight Alliance)? In Lane County? Does it need funding? PFLAG Eugene/Springfield provides grants.25 Ways PFLAG Makes Schools Safer Every Day
- Meeting with school administrators
- Organizing and participating in sensitivity trainings for school personnel and students
- Supporting Gay/Straight Alliances
- Donating books on sexual orientation and gender identity to school libraries
- Participating in community Safe Schools Coalitions
- Meeting with school counselors
- Providing college scholarships to LGBT students
- Advocating for state legislation that protects LGBT students
- Writing letters to the editors of our local papers about Safe Schools Issues
- Helping diversity schools' curricula
- Meeting with school nurses and other health workers
- Sponsoring proms for LGBT youth
- Forming and supporting community groups for sexual minority youth
- Speaking in colleges and universities to future teachers and school personnel
- Lobbying school boards for nondiscrimination policies that include sexual orientation and gender identity
- Speaking out about Safe Schools issues in the broader community
- Supporting legal action to ensure that our loved ones are safe in school
- Focusing our Safe Schools efforts on LGBT youth, as well as others perceived as "different"
- Supporting families whose LGBT loved ones committed suicide or ran away due to unsafe schools
- Participating in educators'conferences
- Monitoring schools' compliance with nondiscrimination policies
- Supporting LGBT teachers and staff, and advocating for fair personnel policies
- Running for school board seats or other elected office to make a difference from within
- Distributing research and publications on LGBT youth issues
- Working with PTAs and other groups
Active with a local human rights nonprofit?
Be aware that PFLAG may be able to help you with your human rights program. See our general grant application form.PFLAG scholarship programs
PFLAG Scholarships provide an important, positive statement to a group of young people that is coping amazingly well in an often adverse school environment. They are marginalized and subjected to harassment and discrimination in many parts of the country, not only at school but also often in their own families. We have found many of them to be articulate, accomplished scholars with great promise for future contribution to our society in general and to the cause of rights and recognition for GLBT people in particular.
Scholarships are available at the national level and are awarded by many of the local chapters. Youth can receive both awards if eligible.
Click here for information about the PFLAG National Scholarships Program, or here for a list of scholarships available from local chapters. If you are an employee of Dow Chemical and would like to donate to the Dow Scholarships, click here
For more information or if you have questions, please contact the scholarships administrator.
updated 6/12/08 risa b
