WORKING TOGETHER TO PREVENT YOUTH SUICIDE AND BULLYING
The world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) organization and the nation’s second-largest school district have joined forces to prevent youth suicides, combat bullying, and make life better for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students. At a press conference today, the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) announced a joint initiative—a project that has united an unprecedented coalition of community partners—that is making LAUSD schools safe and welcoming for LGBT students.
Pictured above is the press conference where Center CEO Lorri L. Jean and LAUSD Board of Education President Monica Garcia spoke about the importance of project SPIN, which stands for Suicide Prevention Intervention Now, an initiative with more than 20 partnering agencies.
“We are committed to creating safe, respectful campuses for LGBT students—and that is exactly what we are doing with Project SPIN,” Garcia said.
“For too many young LGBT people, the ringing of the school bell connotes suffering instead of learning,” Jean said. “Many feel they must hide who they are, while others face merciless harassment and bullying—even violence—on the playground, in the classroom and in the locker room. By collaborating with LAUSD, which includes 1,160 schools and more than 664,000 students, we’re working to change the often intolerant, bullying culture of schools so that all kids feel safe.”
Bullying, which is widely associated with LGBT youth suicides, can contribute to young people feeling depressed or isolated. However, other factors, such as being rejected by family, play just as significant a role. That’s why SPIN’s work includes not only students themselves but also teachers, administrators and parents. One of the most important components of SPIN is its training sessions (in English and Spanish) for these groups.
Supported by experts from many of the partnering organizations, SPIN trains and educates people on issues ranging from LGBT sensitivity and awareness to suicide prevention and much more. Each training is tailored to the specific needs of its audience.
LINKS:
Project SPIN
SPIN community partners include: Trans Youth Family Allies; Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Division of Adolescent Medicine; Los Angeles County Office of Education; Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health; Gay-Straight Alliance Network; Gays and Lesbians Initiating Dialogue for Equality (GLIDE); Los Angeles Police Department; Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services; The Trevor Project; ACLU of Southern California; Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG); Our Family Coalition; Colors LGBTQ Counseling Center; Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN); Latino Equality Alliance; The Village Family Services; and Teen Line; MALDEF; the United American Indian Involvement (UAII); and Project 10.
