Local PFLAG takes action against bullying of LGBT teens

by Timothy A. Strother

Anti-bullying policies in one local school district may soon be expanded to include sexual and gender minority students thanks to the efforts of a local chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.

Joe Tomlinson, president of Butler County PFLAG, said he and several members of the organization have proposed a training program to administrators of the Butler Area School District specifically designed to help faculty and staff deal with bullying of sexual and gender minority students.

Tomlinson said the chapter, which was created last year and received its official chapter recognition in the spring, has approximately 15-20 school-age members who claim that bullying of LGBT students has become a widespread problem in their school.

“It was the contention of our youth members that antagonism and bullying of LGBT students is very prevalent; so it was definitely an issue we felt we needed to address,“ Tomlinson said.

He added that the organization first proposed the idea in the Spring after the parents of a transgendered teen addressed concerns over the issue to the high school principal and the school board.

The proposal was initially rejected because the district felt their current anti-bullying policies already covered LGBT students, Tomlinson said. Proponents of the training contended, however, that bullying of LGBT youth is a unique issue that requires special attention.

“We are certain that bullying of sexual minority students is a particular brand [of bullying] that is different from other types,” Tomlinson said.

He added that the sensitivity of issues concerning homosexuality and gender minority is one aspect of LGBT bullying that sets it apart from others.

“Bullying of LGBT students is especially unique because in most cases, it’s difficult to address. For example, a Hispanic teen can go home to their parents and tell them they are being bullied,” Tomlinson said. “Not all gay kids can do that.”

After the administration initially rejected the training proposed by PFLAG, Tomlinson said the organization continued to pursue the issue until they met with administrators again in August.

At that meeting, about two dozen PFLAG members, along with parents and students, addressed their concerns to administrators including Superintendent Ed Fink. The members cited specific incidents of bullying to support their contention.

Despite the district’s initial rejection, Tomlinson said his most recent meetings with school administrators were productive, and the administrators actually embraced the idea of reconsidering their original decision.

Superintendent Fink contacted the organization shortly after the Aug. 16 meeting to set up another date and time for district officials to discuss the possibility of offering the training to the district’s faculty and staff.

The district met again on Sept. 9, and Tomlinson said the meeting was once again productive.

“We are actually very pleased with how receptive the administration has been throughout this process,“ Tomlinson said.

“Our next step will be to introduce the proposal to the entire school board, who may have different opinions.”

Tomlinson also noted that whatever happens when the proposal is presented to the school board, Butler County PFLAG and supporters of the training are committed to seeing the entire process through to the end.

“It is our hope that the school board will see how important this is,“ Tomlinson said. “Slowly, slowly, step by step, we are committed to the process and confident that we can succeed.”

In an effort to address the issue effectively, Tomlinson said PFLAG recruited the assistance of other resources, including Ted Hoover, a representative from the Persad Center in Pittsburgh.

Hoover began a movement known as the Community Safe Zone Project, which is aimed at identifying, addressing and ultimately ending hate crimes against LGBT people at the community level.

Hoover credits Butler County PFLAG’s efforts to address the school’s bullying issue, and he said his role was to offer whatever support and resources he could.

“I basically represent Persad and the resources it has to offer,” Hoover said. “Although I’m basically just sitting on the sidelines, I’m there to offer any and all support that I can. Persad has a wealth of resources available to LGBT youth, and I want to provide them access to those resources if they become necessary.”

Hoover also noted that the Community Safe Zone Project is about five months old and is modeled after the campus Safe Zone Project, which is currently active in several colleges and universities.

His goal is to expand Safe Zone to the community level by working with law enforcement, social service agencies, and other facets within individual communities.

“The idea is getting entire communities to be save zones for their residents,” Hoover said.

Although no official decision has been made, Tomlinson pointed out that school administrators have maintained an open dialogue and expressed their good will throughout the process.

Butler Senior High School Principal Jeff Schnur said any opportunity to educate teachers and empower them with resources to address and prevent bullying is a worthwhile effort that should at least be considered.

“As a whole, I think our students and staff know we won’t tolerate people being treated poorly,” Schnur said.

“Although we already have training in place, I’m certainly open to at least considering any and all opportunities that might improve it.”

Schnur pointed out that educators are currently involved in OLWEYUS training, which is a nationwide, anti-bullying program aimed at reducing and preventing bullying problems among high school students and their peers.

Currently, Schnur said all faculty and staff undergo OLWEYUS training. Under PFLAG’s proposals, additional training specifically designed to educate faculty and staff about the bullying of sexual minority students would be provided to the district’s faculty and staff.

Although Schnur said he is confident that the district will seriously consider the training, he reiterated the school’s current efforts to address and prevent bullying problems.

“Our school currently has clear, anti-bullying and harassment policies in place, and they are enforced if and when the need for it comes up,” Schnur said.

“We may not be able to change the attitudes of bullies, but we can work on changing their behavior within the confines of our building and send a clear message that it won’t be tolerated.”

Schnur also said that bullying in general is an extremely serious issue that needs to be addressed to matter who the victims are, and LGBT students are no exception.

He added that he is confident that the district and the school board will seriously consider PFLAG’s proposal and implement it into the school’s current anti-bullying policies if necessary.

He pointed out the most effective tool in addressing bullying problems is communication and action on the part of victims, educators and witnesses.

“Whenever bullying problems arise, we need to say it, we need to address it, and we need to take action against it, no matter what the bullying is,” Schnur said.

“If a student or teacher witnesses any type of bullying, they need to come forward, say something about it, and say it again until the problem is properly addressed.”