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DONATE NOW to bring this bullying prevention program to Kentucky! For far too long, all students, but especially LGBT students, have had to live their lives daily in fear of being taunted, harassed or harmed while trying to attend school. No longer will we stand for this intolerance and freedom to bully. Lexington Fairness is taking a stand to stop and/or prevent bullying in our schools with its Project Speak Out program. And you can help make it come to reality.
- 84.6% of students were verbally harassed at school because of their sexual orientation
- 52.9% of LGBT students were harassed or threatened by their peers via electronic mediums, known as cyberbullying
- 88.9% of students heard "gay" used in a negative way frequently or often at school
- 62.6% of students heard negative remarks about gender expression (not acting "masculine enough" or "feminine enough") frequently or often at school
- 72.4% of students heard homophobic remarks frequently or often at school
- 61.1% of students felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation
- 62.4% of students who were harassed or assaulted in school did not report the incident to school staff, believing little to no action would be taken
We hear consistent and constant stories of students being bullied for who they are, who they were born to be. And in too many cases (one is too many), we hear of suicides or suicide attempts from those bullied children who feel condemned. Students who feel they are no longer safe living as they are. Children who feel they need to look no further than to end their life in order to stop the pain of harassment and abuse. These stories are so heartbreaking and destructive to the diverse fabric of our nation. We can no longer sit on the sidelines and watch as children have to fight for themselves, deal with the hurtful words and actions of bullies and struggle to live in our society.
We know the bullies do this from learned behavior. No child learns how to bully without being ingrained with intolerance. The adults (parents, educators, family friends, celebrities, etc.) put forth notions of injustice and discrimination which the child sees as normal. With this normality, and possible lowered self-esteem and self worth, bullies are born. We already know it’s hard to change the minds of an adult, but children can learn that right is right, discrimination is wrong and acceptance (not necessarily approval) is what makes our world peaceful and just. With Lexington Fairness’ Project Speak Out, we will bring nationally-renowned professional trainers to Central Kentucky. These trainers will help educate a core group of community volunteers, whether they are part of our LGBT community or not. There will be no restrictions on helping educate those who want to make a world of safe and secure schools for all students. From these volunteers, a grassroots training program will be instituted, visiting schools, holding forums for teachers and counselors, providing safe school resources to everyone who wants them. We are determined to provide AT LEAST, but hopefully many more, safe school allies in each and every school, giving all students, LGBT or not, the ability to feel they have an ally who will not tolerate bullying, discrimination and the disgrace so many of our children feel.
We hope you will join Lexington Fairness in bringing Project Speak Out to reality during the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 school years. We will make a difference. We will provide allies to bring a safe and secure learning environment to our schools. We will help make the world a more just and fair place to live, no matter your sexual orientation or gender identity. For more information on you can help and get involved with Project Speak Out's anti-bullying program, contact
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or call 859-951-8565. We are honored to announce Project Speak Out as a 2011 recipient of a Cliff Todd Endowment Grant from JustFundKY. With this grant and continued support from the community, Project Speak Out will change the lives of youth in Kentucky.
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