President Barack Obama commemorated the 40th anniversary of the birth of the modern gay rights movement by welcoming its leaders to the White House and reaffirming his commitment to their top priorities. He reminded the audience that he has called on Congress to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and reiterated his support for repealing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that allows gays and lesbians to serve in the military as long as they don’t disclose their sexual orientation and/or act on it.

Investigations are being done into the raid that occurred at a gay bar in Fort Worth Texas on June 28.  This date marks the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riot in New York City, which is widely considered to be the start of the gay rights movement. Seven patrons at the Rainbow Lounge Bar were arrested using “incredibly excessive and brutal force.” One patron, Chad Gibson, is reportedly in intensive care for head trauma that allegedly occurred when he was thrown to the ground by police.  Gibson spoke with CBS News 11, saying “It shouldn’t have happened to me and it shouldn’t happen to anyone else.”

A panel of N.Y. National Guard officers ruled that Lt. Dan Choi, the Army National Guardsman and Arabic translator, should be discharged from the military because he announced he was gay on national television. Choi has become a national spokesman against the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and has recently been showing up at gay rights rallies. Choi has declared that they are firing him: “for nothing more than telling the truth about who I am.” However his discharge is not definite as it must still be approved by the commander of the U.S. 1st Army.

WASHINGTON (July 9, 2009) – The Trevor Project, the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth, submitted testimony to the United States House of Representatives Subcommittees on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education and Healthy Families and Communities of the Committee on Education and Labor, emphasizing the potentially deadly effects of bullying and harassment in schools, especially among LGBTQ youth. The Trevor Project called for the passage of the Safe Schools Improvement Act, which would require that states, districts and schools develop policies and programs to prevent and appropriately respond to instances of bullying and harassment as a condition of receiving federal funding.

During the Strengthening School Safety through Prevention of Bullying hearing on July 8, The Trevor Project provided a detailed statement, which also highlighted the importance of implementing anti-harassment policies that include enumeration based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

“The July 8 hearing was a step in the right direction as we increase awareness among policymakers about the vitality of ensuring that our country’s schools are safe, inclusive places that are free of discrimination and harassment for all young people,” said Charles Robbins, executive director and CEO, The Trevor Project. “We remain committed to working toward the enactment of the Safe Schools Improvement Act, which we are certain will be an integral part of suicide prevention initiatives in schools.”

The Safe Schools Improvement Act, sponsored by Calif. Rep. Linda Sanchez and 60 bipartisan co-sponsors, would also require that schools receiving Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act funding implement comprehensive anti-bullying and harassment policies that include enumeration categories such as sexual orientation, gender identity, race and religion.

Youth who identify as LGBTQ are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers due to a myriad of increased social challenges and risk factors, including being subjected to anti-gay sentiments and bullying at school, at home and in public. In April, two 11-year-old boys, Carl Walker-Hoover and Jaheem Herrera, died by suicide in isolated instances after enduring relentless anti-gay bullying at their separate schools. The mothers of both boys complained to school administrators to no avail. Sirdeaner Walker, Carl’s mother, testified in the same hearing as The Trevor Project on July 8.

 “I know that bullying is not a gay issue, or a straight issue,” Walker said in her testimony. “It’s a safety issue. It’s about what kind of learning environments we want for our children and how far we’re willing to go to protect and teach them.”

To read the full testimony submitted by The Trevor Project to the Strengthening School Safety through Prevention of Bullying hearing, click here.

This morning, Sirdeaner Walker, the mother of 11-year-old Carl Joseph Walker Hoover who died by suicide this April after enduring relentless anti-gay bullying in his school, testified before two congressional subcommittees and called for the passage of the Safe Schools Improvement Act, a federal anti-bullying bill introduced May 5 in the House of Representatives. The Trevor Project was proud to join members of the National Safe Schools Partnership in supporting this vital act.

Watch the video of Sirdeaner Walker’s full testimony, or click here to read the transcript from our friends at GLSEN.

We applaud Carl’s brave and inspirational mother for her tireless efforts to make schools in this country safe for all students. “After Carl died, I could have stayed home and mourned him, but instead, I’ve chosen to get involved, to speak out about bullying – and I have learned a lot in a short time,” she says in her testimony. “And the most important thing I’ve learned is that bullying is not an inevitable part of growing up. It can be prevented. And there isn’t a moment to lose.”

You can join us in supporting the passage of the Safe Schools Improvement Act by signing GLSEN’s online petition.

Sirdeaner Walker testifies before two congressional subcommittees this morning.

Job Title: West Coast Program Intern

To apply, please send resume and cover letter to Phoenix Schneider, Program Director, at: Phoenix.Schneider@TheTrevorProject.org by July 15, 2009.

Job Location: West Hollywood, CA

Classification: Internship in our Los Angeles office, stipend up to 30 hours weekly. This is a temporary, part-time position. College credit if applicable. Internship is for the summer and fall 2009, with possibility of extension. College students or anyone interested in gaining experience with a nonprofit focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning) youth are encouraged to apply.

Position Summary: The Program Intern participates in programmatic activities and provides administrative support to the Program Department.

Reports to: Program Director

Responsibilities:

• Building and managing our resource database for LGBTQ youth
• Contacting educators and distributing our Trevor Survival Kit and educational tools, benefitting thousands of young people nationwide
• Coordinating and conducting TrevorSpace Administrator Trainings
• Writing content and assisting with coordination of TrevorSpace initiatives
• Participating in Lifeguard Workshops for middle school, high school and college students
• Tracking Dear Trevor correspondence
• Assisting the Program Team with the coordination of volunteer trainings and in-services
• Assisting the Program Director with Youth Advisory Council activities

Qualifications

• Strong writing, internet and data entry skills
• Knowledge and understanding of issues affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth
• Positive and outgoing personality, enthusiasm and dedication to teamwork

Founded in 1998, The Trevor Project is a non-profit endeavor established to promote acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, and to aid in crisis and suicide prevention among that group.

The Obama administration is making a very clear statement that transgender people won’t be discriminated against as it drafts guidelines to offer new protections for transgender federal workers. The guidelines will be in an updated federal handbook for managers and supervisors and will list transgender people as among several groups protected by antidiscrimination laws.    

Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd has reconsidered his previously hostile remarks about same-sex marriage as he is now advocating for full marriage equality.

The North Carolina Legislature approved a bill that would require public schools to set forth anti-bullying rules that spell out the characteristics of potential targets, including gays and lesbians. There are 11 states that already have laws on the books designed to protect gay, lesbian and bisexual and transgender students from bullying.

Census Bureau officials have announced that married same-sex couples will be included in 2010 Census data. The Bureau said on Sunday that same-sex couples should “report the way they see themselves” which may indicate that the 2010 data will include same-sex couples who are not legally wed, but still consider themselves to be married.

Charles Robbins

Tune into SIRIUS Satellite Radio on the OutQ 109 station this week to hear three separate interviews with Charles Robbins, The Trevor Project’s Executive Director & CEO! Catch him on the following programs:

The Derek & Romaine Show - TONIGHT (Tuesday, June 23, 2009) at 7:05p.m. EST/4:05p.m. PST.

The Michelangelo Signorile Show - This Friday, June 26, 2009 at  3:30p.m. EST/12:30p.m. PST.

The Morning Jolt with Larry Flick - Monday, June 29, 2009 at 9:00a.m. EST/6:00a.m. PST.

Charles will discuss the important, lifesaving work of The Trevor Project and our upcoming East Coast fundraising gala, Trevor NY! To listen, simply tune into SIRIUS Satellite Radio, channel 109. You can sign up for a free seven-day trial by visiting the OutQ Web site.

In honor of LGBTQ Pride, GreatNonprofits wants to know which organizations YOU think are doing the best job serving the LGBTQ community. Please support The Trevor Project by posting your review to our GreatNonprofit profile and help us win the 2009 Pride Choice Awards!

Contest Deadline: June 30th.

All reviews will appear on both GreatNonprofits.org and on GuideStar.org, the premiere site for philanthropic research. Plus everyone who writes a review is eligible to win fun prizes such as delicious Alter Eco fair trade chocolate, a subscription to Stanford Social Innovation Review, a getaway at Kimpton hotels and more!

http://www.greatnonprofits.org/reviews/the-trevor-project-inc/

On Wednesday, marriage equality was achieved in New Hampshire when Gov. John Lynch signed the legislation reflecting revisions to the same-sex marriage bill approved by the state legislature. New Hampshire is now the sixth state to let gay couples wed. Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson, the Episcopal church’s only openly gay bishop, rejoiced in New Hampshire’s vote, but also pointed out that there is much work ahead in order to get churches to fully embrace gay marriage and gay people.

President Obama issued a proclamation Monday officially declaring June “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month. “I continue to support measures to bring the full spectrum of equal rights to LGBT Americans,” Obama says in the proclamation. “As long as the promise of equality remains unfulfilled, all Americans are affected,” he adds.

On May 28, two radio show hosts on KRXQ-FM radio station out of Sacramento, CA, made defamatory and dehumanizing comments regarding transgender children. Rob Williams and Arnie States were the hosts making such comments, which included advocating child abuse of transgender children. In response to these highly inappropriate and offensive comments, companies including Sonic, Snapple and Chipotle removed their advertising from KRXQ programs.

Please join us at The Trevor Project’s annual summer gala Trevor NY

At Capitale
130 Bowery Street
New York, NY 10013

6:00pm – 8:00pm · Guest Arrivals, Hosted Bar & Silent Auction
8:00pm – 10:00pm · VIP Dinner & Show
10:00pm -12:00am · Titanium Celebrity After Party

Event Co-Chairs
Brian Dorsey and Joel Flatow

VIP Table Hosts

Titanium
Colin Higgins Foundation, Brian Dorsey, Bill Lucia & John D’Angelo

Platinum
Jeffrey Fishberger, Ned Lustbader, Brad Lamm & Scott Sanders

Gold
Brian Bish & Jack Winn, Troy Cassel & Zeke Stokes, Warren Cohn, Glenn Finn, Erik Groves
James Lecesne, Jenny McGinley, Josh Moss, Participant Media, Jamie Ranieri

Silver
Joel Flatow, James Lecesne, Adam McInroy, Kevin Myers, Ruben Ramirez,
Vicky Sharp & Center for Comprehensive Care, Keola R. Whittaker

–RESERVE A TABLE OR PURCHASE TICKETS–