PPDE's VP of ED at SF Pride!

This year, I had the amazing opportunity to walk in the San Francisco Pride Parade in northern California as well as represent Planned Parenthood of Delaware at the Delaware LGBT Pride Festival in Rehoboth. Both experiences were deeply moving. It’s amazing how much love and acceptance one can feel when you are truly in a safe space. It’s even more powerful when each and every one of us is encouraged to celebrate the unique qualities of our fellow human beings. From coast-to-coast, it’s evident that more than ever we need to continue to fight for rights of all LGBTs to experience a life free of discrimination and bullying.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transsexual (LGBT) people need a place where they can feel included and SAFE. Safe spaces are especially important for LGBT youth because of the bullying and harassment that commonly occurs in schools and other youth-serving community organizations. In fact, a recent study found that 90% of LGBT youth have been the victims of harassment, including verbal and physical attacks. Sometimes, it can even lead to depression and suicide, which was the case for Tyler Clementi, an 18 year-old freshman at Rutgers University. Tyler took his own life after his roommate secretly taped and broadcasted him being intimate with another male student.

As important as it is to have safe spaces for LGBT youth, many schools and organizations have no regulated policies in place to protect these young men and women. On November 17, 2010, the Sexuality Education Training Institute of Planned Parenthood of Delaware addressed this issue in a workshop called “Safe Spaces for LBGT Youth: Creating an inclusive environment.” In addition to receiving training on combating discrimination and identifying risk factors for harassment and violence, participants in this professional development workshop learned strategies for becoming a visible ally to the LGBT community. Want to know more about what you can do to become an ally? Check out www.plannedparenthood.org as well as www.advocatesforyouth.org, www.hrc.org and www.pflag.org.