LGBTQ+
RESPECTfully is a social norms campaign designed to speak to teens directly with key messages that articulate everyone deserves mutual respect in relationships, and today’s tips were sourced from them. Youth-serving individuals and organizations can encourage parents and caregivers to be aware of the signs of unhealthy behaviors, educate teens on what respect looks like, and have clear conversations about consent. Parents, teachers, coaches, and caregivers can help increase the capacity for teens to experience…
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Inclusivity in education means creating an atmosphere where all students have the opportunity to participate and learn. Inclusivity is essential in education because every student deserves to experience and learn in an atmosphere of respect, where they can develop and maintain friendships with other students and teachers in their schools and communities. Inclusivity in education proposes that all children have a right to the same education. It’s not something that can or should be earned, and it’s not something that a child…
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Commemorated each year in the month of June, LGBTQ+ Pride Month honors the 1969 Stonewall uprising in New York City. In June of 1969, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn staged an uprising to resist the police harassment and persecution to which LGBTQ+ Americans were commonly subjected. This uprising marked the beginning of a movement to outlaw discriminatory laws and practices against LGBTQ+ Americans. Today, LGBTQ+ Pride Month celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties,…
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Supporting the LGBTQ+ community is crucial for creating a more inclusive and equitable society where everyone can live freely and authentically. It’s about recognizing that LGBTQ+ individuals are individuals with unique experiences and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, free from discrimination. LGBTQ+ charities are a great place to start. Let’s take a look at some organizations worth supporting on their missions to uplift and support LGBTQ+ folks. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender…
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Human Rights Campaign’s post-election survey of more than 50,000 youth reveals that on the eve of the Trump Administration, LGBTQ+ youth report a troubling spike in bullying and harassment, and say they are afraid and anxious about what their futures might hold. They also tell us that young people are being targeted based on race, religion, immigration status, and LGBTQ identity, a deeply alarming fallout from the November election. It’s important to acknowledge these fears…
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Adolescence is a time of intense learning and adaptation when we forge our sense of who we are and who we want to be. Throughout this remarkable period of development, we begin to explore the world and create new relationships with our peers and communities. Young people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) are often tackling these developmental tasks with the added challenges of discrimination and victimization from their communities,…
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Oftentimes, individuals may not believe they have the tools, resources, or influence to be an ally. They may fear saying or doing the wrong thing, or may feel that they do not have the knowledge needed to contribute meaningfully to a conversation. Being an ally doesn’t have to mean starting a campaign, kicking off a new initiative, or organizing an event (although these are all great efforts). It is often through our smallest day-to-day interactions…
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Lawmakers in state houses across the country continue advancing a record-breaking number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills in state legislatures, and this weaponization of public policy has been driven by extremists that have a long history in working to oppress the existence and rights of LGBTQ+ people. Now more than ever, folks who identify as LGBTQ+ may need help. Boston Tutoring Services has put together a list of resources, and we hope they will find those in…
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Everyone deserves to live in a welcoming, loving world, and organizations like the Trevor Project strive to help make it so. The Trevor Project is an American nonprofit organization focused on suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth. If you are interested in learning more about being an ally to LGBTQ+ youth, please read on for excerpts from the Trevor Project’s guide for allies. The first step to becoming an…
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