The Triangle Youth Alliance (TYA) strives to help develop safety support systems for and encourages networking opportunities among gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning young people who attend school and/or live in Lake County, Florida. TYA volunteers have worked in association with area high schools, middle schools, and the Lake County school district to create safer climates for all students. Principals, teachers and guidance counselors, as well as students, are encouraged to get involved in this all-important anti-bullying campaign. The TYA is an outreach project of The Triangle Connection, Inc., a nonprofit networking and social organization for GLBT adults in the Mount Dora-Eustis-Tavares area. In our anti-bullying efforts we have worked in cooperation with Be Real Inc., an Orlando-based nonprofit program which is now part of the new Zebra Coalition - www.zebrayouth.org. A key component of Be Real's programming has been the creation of "safe classrooms" in public middle and high schools in Orange and Seminole Counties. The rooms are staffed by volunteer teachers and counselors who pledge to be nonjudgmental when a young person needs to talk about issues ranging from bullying to gender identity. Stickers or magnetic signs are placed on a window or outside an educator's door to identify the teacher as a "safe" participant. For three years, the TYA has worked to establish similar programs for Lake County schools, but more members of the public (students, parents, teachers, counselors and concerned citizens) need to stand up in order to persuade the school system to act. Another component of our efforts has been to encourage students to create GSAs or Gay-Straight Alliances on their campuses, which are now mandated by federal law (if a group of students wishes to form one). Helping to structure these alliances is a key component of the work of Equality Florida as well as the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN), a national organization founded in the 1990's. Many schools in Orange and Seminole Counties already have such groups, but efforts are just beginning to get them up and running in Lake County schools. Interested students should contact us or Michael Farmer, network coordinator for Equality Florida: 407-462-9692; michael@eqfl.com. We also have been working with Equality Florida to strengthen the Lake County Schools’ anti-bullying policy to specifically include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected categories. Despite assurances in 2010 by school-system administrators that these categories would be added to their policy, as of this writing no official action has been taken. In addition to issues of safety in the schools, The Triangle Youth Alliance wishes to serve as a conduit for youth participants to plan their own alcohol-and drug-free social and networking programs. Let us know how we can be of assistance. Persons interested in participating in or assisting with any youth-related project should drop an email to: TriangleYouthAlliance@thetriangleconnection.com | Key Facts About BullyingNational statistics about the effects of bullying on GLBTQ students are startling.
Here's one more particularly frightful statistic:
Fortunately, more and more young LGBTQ people are realizing that life does get better as the massive international video campaign has demonstrated: www.itgetsbetter.org. But everyone – including heterosexual adults and young people – need to become involved and take to heart the campaign’s pledge: Please note that the TYA does not provide crisis intervention or counseling at this time, but encourages GLBTQ persons in dangerous situations to call the Crisis Helpline of The Zebra Coalition at 877-90-ZEBRA. | Resources for Young People877-90-ZEBRA Zebra Coalition is a Central Florida coalition of LGBTQ-activist groups that has recently opened a shelter for LGBTQ youth in downtown Orlando. The Zebra House is a 24/7 safe place for LGBTQ young people who may have been kicked out of their homes, or just may be dealing with circumstances out of their control. (407) 244-1222 (24/7 message line) The Orlando Youth Alliance (OYA) provides counseling as well as social and networking opportunities for young LGBTQ young people throughout Central Florida. It offers peer-based education, support, and referral services for GLBTQ youth ages 13 to 20. The OYA can provide someone who will listen to you, help in dealing with parents who don’t understand your sexuality, mediation at school and a safe place to meet friends. Contact Michael Slaymaker, president michael@orlandoyouthalliance.org 407-236-9177 (helpline) Equality Florida’s Gay Straight Alliance Network Helps students organize gay/straight student alliances on their campuses. Contact Michael Farmer, Network Coordinator 407-462-9692 The Gay Lesbian & Straight Education Network www.GLSEN.org Nationwide G/L/S Education Network with strong anti-bullying programs. |