April 19th Safe Schools Roundtable: Reducing Student Bullying and Homophobia

SCHENECTADY, NY (04/08/2011)(readMedia)-- Local schools committed to reducing student bullying and homophobia are getting help from Planned Parenthood educators and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

"We're presenting the Safe Schools Roundtable this spring for teachers, administrators and parents to ensure schools are safe places of learning for all students," states Darren Cosgrove, LGBT* program coordinator for Planned Parenthood Mohawk Hudson (PPMH).

PPMH and the office of Senator Gillibrand are co-hosting this discussion to focus awareness on the bullying that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) students experience in schools, and how to protect against this violence and discrimination.

LGBT youth are bullied two to three times more often than their heterosexual peers. This harassment deprives students of equal educational opportunities by increasing their likelihood of skipping school, underachieving, and dropping out. It is also detrimental to their mental and physical health.

Senator Gillibrand sponsored the Student Non-Discrimination Act that prohibits discrimination on the basis of real or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools.

Join in the discussion April 19th, 5:30-8:30 p.m. in the College Union at Fulton Montgomery Community College in Johnstown.

* LGBT refers to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender