Advocacy groups have always inhabited a distinct place in society for being a resource when something needed to change for the betterment of a community or communities. It has just been announced that long-standing pro-rights group Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) has partnered with the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) to build a supportive bridge for LGBT students to report harassment, bullying, discrimination, and any other uncomfortable experience having to do with their status as LGBT students to the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Education Department.

GLSEN's 2009 National School Climate Survey found that nearly 9 out of 10 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students report being harassed in school in the past year due to their sexual orientation or how masculine or feminine they are in appearance or behavior. The study findings prompted leaders of both gay rights advocacy groups to take a stand.

GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard has high hopes for the Claim Your Rights Campaign. “With fewer than 1 in 5 LGBT students saying their school specifically protects students from anti-LGBT bullying and harassment, it comes as no surprise that nearly two-thirds of LGBT students who experience harassment do not report the incident to school staff. The Claim Your Rights campaign provides students a safe way to report bullying and harassment.”

Jody M. Huckaby, PFLAG National Executive Director added, “When students and teachers, parents and allies make reports of bullying, harassment, or discrimination directly to the Education Department, they are building a record that will confirm what we know through research and personal narratives alike: bullying and harassment is widespread, pervasive, destructive, and must be addressed.”

Huckaby anticipates that the United States government, especially President Obama, will take notice and then take action. “It is our hope that our colleagues within the Obama Administration and our elected officials will take action immediately to remedy these disparities that far too many LGBT students experience daily.”

PFLAG reports that hate crimes occur in our society more than we may even realize. Their website states:

Hate crimes against our LGBT loved ones are tragically common today. In fact, according to the most recent FBI data available, there was almost one hate crime in America every hour in 2008 – a total of almost 7,800 reported bias-motivated incidents.  And, sadly, many of these attacks are against out LGBT loved ones. There are tragic stories of many LGBT people, both locally and nationally, who have experienced extreme physical violence and even murder. Despite the increased acceptance and movement toward achieving full equality for LGBT individuals, hate crimes are still an unfortunate reality for too many people.

A basic toolkit for the Claim Your Rights Campaign can be accessed by visiting the PFLAG website and the GLSEN website.

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