Tag: anti-bullying

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October 15 Is Spirit Day!

From Harold Moss, Creative Director at FlickerLab, who created the video here.

I was thrilled when GLAAD approached me to make a short animation to get the word out about Spirit Day 2015, the day when millions of people around the world will wear purple to stand up against bullying of LGBT youth. This is an issue that hits very close to home for me.

I had too many of my own experiences with bullying growing up, although they grew more out of the general odd-ballness that creates animators rather than my sexual identity. For a couple of years, I was the kid with a special seat on the bus so I wouldn’t get beat up every day.

Bullying creates real despair and desperation. It can take a lot of years to shake it off. And some kids don’t make it that far. Layer on top of that someone trying to figure out their sexuality, and the fact that teachers and family might actually be part of the bullying, and it gets pretty grim. That’s why standing up to this kind of bullying is so vital for everyone to do, every day.

But it’s also incredibly important that the folks who are getting bullied know they’re not alone in this. That sense of isolation and helplessness can, I think, be the worst part of it.

That’s why Spirit Day is such a big deal, it makes the support visible. Let’s all give a big purple shout out to everybody facing this kind of bullying and say, we got your back. We’re with you.

I can only hope this short animation we created will get that word out to a few more people, and help Spirit Day make a bit more of a difference.

Now go take the pledge, y’all!

Spirit Day is October 15th – make sure you wear your purple and take the pledge!

To take the pledge, click here.

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Ben Cohen Launches New Fragrance For Men

Hunky, handsome retired rugby champ and LGBT ally Ben Cohen has launched his own fragrance, Ben Cohen For Men.

Because, let’s face it, don’t you want to know what he smells like?

Now, at least YOU can smell like him.

From Herald & Post:

“I never thought I’d be one day launching a fragrance, but here I am! And I’m glad I am.

“It has been a great journey doing this – from being approached by a company to launch my own fragrance, through to choosing a scent and then seeing the finished product.

“I really like the fragrance because the company that created it have delivered what I want – which is a fresh, woody and cirtrusy smell.

“In fact, I am using it all the time now – like water! Well, maybe not like water, but I do use it a lot.”

The 36-year-old’s new fragrance has been described on the Superdrug website as having a ‘fresh aroma that is both rugged but mellow, with top notes of citrus and an underlying woody scent it has been designed to appeal to men of all ages’.

And just to remind you… 🙂

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Nevada: State Legislature Approves Anti-Bullying Bill

A school anti-bullying bill, strongly supported by Gov. Brian Sandoval, has passed in the state Assembly by an overwhelming 36-6 vote, and now heads to the governors desk for his signature.

From the Las Vegas Review-Journal:

Senate Bill 504 creates the Office for a Safe and Respectful Learning Environment within the Department of Education. It also sets specific requirements on how school officials must deal with incidents of bullying. Administrators, principals and other school officials who knowingly or willfully fail to meet the requirements could be subject to discipline, up to and including dismissal.

The anti-bullying campaign is part of the Republican governor’s education agenda. His budget includes a new program called Social Workers in Schools, which would provide $36 million in grants to combat bullying. Another $300,000 in each of the next two years is also included in the governor’s budget to establish the Office for a Safe and Respectful Learning Environment.

The bill includes protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Nevada will become the 20th state plus the District of Columbia to have specific laws that protect LGBT students from bullying.

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After Ten Years, Montana Finally Has Anti-Bullying Law

Ten years in the making, Montana Governor Steve Bullock on Tuesday signed the state’s first anti-bullying bill into law.

The new law defines bullying as any repeated harassment, hazing or threatening in person, or in writing including electronic communication. As proposed, it would have directed public school districts to adopt certain policies addressing the issue of bullying. The final version simply prohibits students and teachers from bullying any student in a public K-12 school. It does not explicitly refer to cyberbullying, but the law would forbid it under the general bullying ban.

Parents and local authorities can also go after bullies, schools or education officials who break the law.

Prior to Tuesday’s signing, Montana was the only state in the US without a law addressing bullying.

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GLSEN Celebrates “No Name-Calling Week” January 19-23, 2015

GLSEN celebrates No Name-Calling Week January 19-23, 2015

From the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN): Be one of the brave, and join us in celebrating No Name-Calling Week January 19-23, 2015.

Whether you’re a teacher, student, guidance counselor, coach, librarian or bus driver, show you care by organizing a week of activities at your school aimed at ending name-calling once and for all.

No Name-Calling Week was inspired by the popular young adult novel entitled The Misfits by popular author James Howe.

The book tells the story of four best friends trying to survive the seventh grade in the face of all too frequent taunts based on their weight, height, intelligence, and sexual orientation/gender expression.

The friends create a new political party during student council elections and run on a platform aimed at wiping out name-calling of all kinds. The No-Name Party in the end, wins the support of the school’s principal for their cause and their idea for a “No Name-Calling Day” at school.

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Today Is StandUp Day

From rugby legend & LGBT ally/hero Ben Cohen and his StandUp Foundation:

November 14th marks the day that Ben’s father Peter passed away from injuries he suffered while protecting someone that worked for him.

It is this day that Ben and the StandUp Foundation have chosen to declare as StandUp Day each year.

We hope you will join us on November 14th in memory of Peter Cohen and in support of the anti-bullying work that is being supported by this Foundation.

In addition to donating either in the US or in the UK, what can you do to recognize this important day?

1. Wear your StandUp branded shirt or wristband
2. Change your profile picture to the StandUp Day Pledge Photo
3. Introduce as many people as possible to the StandUp Foundation and invite them to honor this day
4. Post the StandUp website on Facebook/Twitter with messages of support that link to our home page
5. Share/post your stories/pictures

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Calendar: Ben Cohen 2015 Teaser

Via OutSports, Ben Cohen – the founder of the anti-bullying Stand Up Foundation – gets a little wet and hits the showers for his first ever centerfold.

Ben Cohen’s StandUp Foundation today released the cover image of the rugby World Cup champion’s 2015 calendar, a perennial favorite for gay sports fans worldwide. The cover was shot by Chicago celebrity photographer, Bret Grafton.

The real story though, is buried inside – a centerfold of Cohen in a locker room shower (see it in the gallery above), exclusively released to Outsports. It is the first time the calendar has offered a centerfold, and the first time Cohen has shot one. It was captured by Los Angeles photographer Edwin Santiago. What is fully revealed won’t be known until the 2015 calendar ships, closer to the holidays. It is available for pre-orders through his StandUp Foundation shop at www.standupfoundation.com.

Cohen also released new additions to his sold-out underwear line: briefs and trunks in the StandUp brand’s signature blue, produced by Blue Buck.

“It’s all cheeky fun,” said Cohen, “if you will pardon the pun. But, mostly, that fun is done for a serious cause that I feel incredibly passionate about, and I am glad the products help us do so much good.”

Proceeds from Cohen’s products under the StandUp mark benefit his Foundation, the world’s first dedicated to anti-bullying and LGBT equality in sports.

Check out the hunky and anti-gay bullying advocate Ben Cohen below:

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Empire State Building Goes Purple For Spirit Day – October 16th

Emmy-nominated actress Laverne Cox will have the honor of lighting up the Empire State Building in purple to recognize GLAAD’s annual anti-bullying Spirit Day.

Spirit Day, which will take place on October 16, inspires millions to wear purple or “go purple” online in a united stand against bullying and to show their support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth.

Each year, Spirit Day draws the participation of celebrities, corporations, media outlets, sports leagues, schools, faith institutions, national landmarks, and individuals.

Spirit Day is made possible by the generous support of its national partners PepsiCo and Wells Fargo, as well as official partners Comcast-NBCUniversal and Google, and supporting partner American Eagle Outfitters.

“By recognizing National Bullying Prevention Month and lighting in purple for Spirit Day, the world’s most famous office building is supporting countless kids across the world,” said GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “At a time when eight in 10 LGBT youth are harassed at school, it’s critical that we let them know it’s okay to be who you are.”

(via press release)

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Today is the National Day of Silence to create safer schools for students

The National Day of Silence is a day of action in which students across the country vow to take a form of silence to call attention to the silencing effect of anti-LGBT bullying and harassment in schools.

Founded in 1996, the Day of Silence has become the largest single student-led action towards creating safer schools for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. From the first-ever Day of Silence at the University of Virginia in 1996, to the organizing efforts in over 8,000 middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities across the country in 2008, its textured history reflects its diversity in both numbers and reach.

Unfortunately, many “Christian” parents campaign against the event saying they don’t want their children exposed to “gay propaganda.”

What they call “gay propaganda” I call action for equality and a movement to end bullying.

Read more about the National Day of Silence at GLSEN.

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New PSA narrated by Sir Ian McKellen urges you to “not be a bystander” to bullying

New PSA narrated by Sir Ian McKellen warns on the dangers of what children learn at an early age.

“What we learn as children, can last a lifetime.”

The campaign, by Stonewall, urges people to call out bullying and not be a bystander.

The film “will be shown at the British Film Institute’s Flare (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) festival on 25 March,” Campaign Love reports.