AS A MATTER OF EQUALITY

October 27, 2010

Media Contact:
Raymond Sweet, Board President
Phone: 479-445-7553
Email: rsweet@nwacenterforequality.org

The NWA Center for Equality joins a growing number of Arkansans calling for the resignation of Clint McCance of the Midland School District in Independence County.  His recent comments regarding the bullying of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer students and related suicides are unacceptable and are a threat to the wellbeing of students not only in his district but around the state of Arkansas.

In light of recent youth suicides that were influenced by bullying at schools, Mr. McCance’s comments go beyond being merely insensitive.  As an elected official his conduct in forums like Facebook and his cheering on of youth suicide and death from HIV/AIDS are issues of public concern and are dangerous to the students of Arkansas.

The Arkansas Constitution calls for suitable public education for all the people of Arkansas. The State of Arkansas cannot possibly achieve this constitutional mandate while an elected official tasked with managing education in Midland School District is so cavalierly dismissing the lives of their students and seeking to oppress them.

The Arkansas Department of Education Rules Governing the Code of Ethics for Arkansas Educators specifically identifies “engaging in harassing behavior on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, religion or disability” as unethical conduct.  Though a school board member is not an “educator”, state law directs them to obey district policy and to visit classrooms while students are present.  A school board member is not merely an official hiring a superintendent and producing an annual audit; he or she has direct influence, access and responsibility to Arkansas students.

Though the decision to remove Mr. McCance is ultimately up to the voters of Midland School District, we urge his colleagues and community to protect all Arkansas students by calling for his immediate resignation.

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Since 2006 the NWA Center for Equality has been serving and advocating for the lesbian, gay bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) and straight ally population of Northwest Arkansas.  As a nonprofit community center we provide a safe and supportive space for community groups and programs serving the LGBTQ community.  Our support programs include outreach, education, peer-to-peer support groups, HIV/AIDS prevention, and social gatherings.  We advocate for full legal rights and social equality in our local communities and beyond.

The opinions expressed by our Contributors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the NWA Center for Equality, its Members, or any employee thereof. The NWA Center for Equality is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by the Contributors.

Recently CenterLink (a national association of LGTBQ centers) published their 2010 LGBT Community Center Survey Report.  This was the first year that the NWA Center for Equality has participated in the survey and we are glad to share the results.  The entire document is available for download (5.3 MB) and their press release is also online.  There is a wealth of data on what community centers across the nation are doing.

The report helps us look at how we compare to other centers, especially ones close to our own size.  The study separated out “large” centers from “small” centers that have budgets of less than $100,000.  NWA Center for Equality is very much a “small” center by that definition.  In fact, 30% of ALL the centers that reported had budgets of less than $50,000.  That is where the Center fits in as well.

Two-thirds (69%) of small centers don’t have ANY staff which shouldn’t come as surprise.  Even among small centers, NWA Center for Equality ranks very low on the size of our space.  The average size for a  small center was 2,281 square feet, far passing what we have at our 179 N. Church Ave location.  Just these few statistics show us something that many of already know: the Center, along with many small centers across the nation, are working on shoestrings budgets with highly dedicated volunteers to serve the LGBTQ community and achieve equality.

Like we have said before, we are small, but MIGHTY!

“In some communities, a center might be the only place where an LGBT person feels safe and accepted – or where that person can find essential legal or health care services.  This report reminds us that, in the current economic environment, these centers need our support more than ever.”

 

About CenterLink:

CenterLink exists to support the development of strong, sustainable LGBT community centers and to build a unified center movement. For more information, visit www.lgbtcenters.org

About MAP:

Founded in 2006, the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) is an independent intellectual resource for the LGBT movement that provides research, insight, and strategic analysis to help speed equality for LGBT people. For more information, visitwww.lgbtmap.org.

The opinions expressed by our Contributors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the NWA Center for Equality, its Members, or any employee thereof. The NWA Center for Equality is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by the Contributors.

This Guest Blog from Randi Romo and the Center for Artistic Revolution (CAR) cites new statistics on LGBTQ youth bullying but also addresses what is happening right here in Arkansas.

The 2009 National School Climate Survey from GLSEN,  the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network

“Let’s Make it Better TODAY”
A Vigil for the TEN Gay Identified Teenagers Who Killed Themselves Because They Were Bullied

October 8, 2010
6:30 pm
Unitarian Church – 1818 Reservoir Rd
Little Rock, AR
501-244-9690 / 501-258-3186
www.artisticrevolution.org

Billy Lucas (15) - Cody J. Barker (17) - Seth Walsh (13) -Tyler Clementi (18) - Asher Brown (13)

Harrison Chase Brown (15) - Raymond Chase (19) - Felix Sacco (17) - Caleb Nolt (14) – Alec Henrikson (18)

The Center for Artistic Revolution, CAR a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) centric organization working statewide for Fairness & Equality offers its deepest condolences to the families across the country  who have recently lost their children to suicide. In the month of September 2010, TEN teenagers ages 13-19, all gay identified committed suicide. Five of those deaths can be linked conclusively to having been bullied relentlessly.

These are TEN beautiful lives that will never see another sunrise, never be with their families again, their potential lost to us all forever; all because the bullying of LGBTQ kids or those perceived as LGBTQ is seen by too many as acceptable. And why not? LGBTQ people are constantly devalued in our society, denied full equality under the law, preached against from the pulpit and legislated against by lawmakers and ballot boxes. This message is driven home constantly to youngLGBTQ people.

GLSEN’s 2009 National School Climate found that of the 7,261 LGBTQ middle and high school students surveyed that 9 out of 10 had been bullied. Two thirds of them reported feeling unsafe in school and most had skipped school at some point due to feeling unsafe. LGBTQ youth are six times more likely to kill them selves.

LGBTQ students who are bullied are at a higher risk for: dropping out of school, decreased quality of life, substance abuse, mental health issues, risky sexual behavior, committing suicide and becoming homeless. The detrimental impact of bullying against LGBTQ youth is so much more significant given that quite often these students may not be out to their families. In some cases faculty members and school administrators have turned a blind eye or even been a part of the bullying. Not only are many LGBTQ students afraid of their bullies, they are afraid of the disapproval and rejection of their teachers, parents, families, pastors, peers and communities. This causes feelings of terrible isolation and hopelessness.

CAR’s work with its LGBTQ and ally youth/young adult program DYSC has brought these stories up front; close and personal. Right here in Arkansas, LGBTQ students have been shoved into walls and lockers, pushed down stairs, chased, slapped, punched, kicked, taunted, called the ugliest of names and savagely  beaten. They have despaired, tried to kill themselves. They have sat in classes where other students make anti-gay remarks and threats while teachers ignore it. They have been threatened to be banned from prom if they wore the wrong clothes and didn’t present the “right” gender, they have been threatened with the cancellation of prom if they brought their same gender dates.

No student should be afraid to go to school. Every student regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity/presentation, gender, race, ethnic origin, ability, size, religion, language, economic status, etc. should be equally protected in their schools and communities.

WE Must Make It Better TODAY!

The opinions expressed by our Contributors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the NWA Center for Equality, its Members, or any employee thereof. The NWA Center for Equality is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by the Contributors.