Thank you, Mr. President, and Malia and Sasha!

Iowa Pride Network is thrilled to have President Obama vocalize his support for marriage equality. It’s a big moment for the LGBT community—especially for young LGBT people and their allies.  

Knowing the President believes that they should be treated equally and that their relationships are just as important helps young people envision a world that is more just and the courage to make it a reality.

A key part of the President’s personal story has been the influence his two girls, Sasha and Malia, have had in helping him understand how fundamental equal marriage is to a fair and just society.

It is yet another example of how important young people are in influencing national dialogue and how powerful their voices can be.

Everyday, young people are changing the world. Thank you Malia and Sasha!

IPN Hails Obama's Endorsement of SSIA & SNDA

IPN HAILS PRESIDENT OBAMA’S ENDORESEMENT OF SAFE SCHOOL LAWS PROTECTING AMERICA’S STUDENTS

Des Moines, Iowa– April 20 – Iowa Pride Network is hailing President Obama’s endorsement of the Safe Schools Improvement Act (SSIA) and Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA). The two pieces of legislation are currently pending in Congress. Both acts are designed to address the bullying and discrimination thousands of American students face on a daily basis, including those that are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.

“President Obama’s support of these two life-saving bills is crucial. Our students deserve nothing less than schools that support and protect them so they can learn. We commend the Obama administration for its commitment to help end bullying and discrimination,” stated Ryan Roemerman, Executive Director of Iowa Pride Network.

Iowa Pride Network is a statewide nonprofit organization working to make schools and colleges safe for all students by empowering students to combat bullying, homophobia, tranphobia, and hate. The network has become a nationally recognized leader in student leadership development and safe school policies.

Iowa Students Respond to the Death of Kenneth Weishuhn, Jr.

Des Moines, Iowa– April 18 – Iowa Pride Network’s Leadership Team, made up of high school and college students from across Iowa issued a statement today regarding the tragic death of 14 year-old Kenneth Weishuhn, Jr. of Primghar, Iowa.

 

The death of 14-year-old Kenneth Weishuhn Jr. is heartbreaking. Kenneth’s classmates began to bully him at his South O'Brien High School and online after he came out earlier this year. As lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied (LGBTA) students, we are heartbroken that this persecution and tragedy has taken place. Many are outraged and are asking the question, why is this happening? How could this happen here?

From what we know, Kenneth frequently experienced verbal harassment and cyber-bullying. According to reports, Kenneth’s sister Kayla Weishuhn, a sophomore, stated "A lot of people, they either joined in or they were too scared to say anything." Unfortunately, what Kenneth experienced in school and online is not uncommon, as Iowa Pride Network’s School Climate Survey reveals:

• 78.4% of Iowa LGBT students report being verbally harassed because of their sexual orientation
• 93% of Iowa LGBT students are more likely to have considered suicide if they were verbally harassed because of their sexual orientation
• 59% of Iowa LGBT students are more likely to report having considered suicide if cyber-bullied because of their sexual orientation

This tragedy has shown the need for our peers to stand up for one another—to care for one another—to realize the cost of silence is the lives of our generation. As young people, we need to vocalize what is happening in our schools and communities.

We have the power to make things better. We must stop bullying in that classroom, at that desk, in that lunchroom, and on that playground. If there is bullying, we must report it to school officials. If you are being bullied or harassed, you are not alone. Iowa Pride Network is a resource for you and so is The Trevor Project, a confidential hotline where you can talk with a trained counselor by calling 1-866-488-7386.

As the details of this tragedy become clear, it is our hope that the lessons learned will create an environment where all students are treated with dignity and respect and where all students feel safe. Our hearts and thoughts go out to Kenneth’s family.

Benjamin Alley, University of Iowa                                                   

Hollie Wilson, Southeast Polk High School

Sean Hernandez, University of Iowa                                               
Dane Buchholz, Iowa State University 
Alan Toussaint, University of Iowa

Joy Dannelly, Roosevelt High School                                               

Nicholas Muntz, University of Iowa                                            

Brittany Banks, Waldorf College

Stephen Boatwright, DMACC                                                           

Sara Puffer, University of Iowa

2012 Campus Climate Survey is now live!

Iowa Pride Network is asking all Iowa high school and college students to take this quick, confidential 5-7 minute survey.

>>>>>>https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/climatesurvey12<<<<<<


The Iowa Campus Climate Survey is the first and only statewide survey to document the experiences of LGBT and straight allied students as well as the levels of racism and sexism in Iowa’s high schools, colleges and universities.

The survey is open to ALL students in Iowa's high schools and colleges/universities - LGBTQ or straight, freshman to senior, traditional or nontraditional, undergraduate or graduate - we want to hear from you! If you are a student, please take a few minutes to fill it out. If you are not a student but work with one, parent one, or interact with one in any other capacity, please spread the word! Those who complete the survey will have the option of entering their names in a random raffle drawing.

Please help us educate our state and communities about what it’s like to be in school in Iowa . Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences!

Roger F. Wendt Award - Nominate someone today!

THE ROGER F. WENDT EDUCATION AWARD

Recognizing & Honoring those who Champion Efforts that Better the Lives of Students in Iowa

-NOMINATION APPLICATION FORM -

APPLICATION DEADLINE April 2, 2012

Iowa Pride Network’s Roger F. Wendt Education Award serves to recognize and honor those who champion efforts that better the lives of students in Iowa.  The award is named after Representative Wendt, a lead sponsor of Iowa’s historic Safe Schools Law which protects students from harassment and discrimination. The individual’s or organization’s achievements to date will be key to the selection committee’s appraisal; promise for ongoing advancement of their work will be considered.

Nominee Criteria and Eligibility:

• Award winners will have an exceptional record of substantive, innovative contributions in educational initiatives that have bettered the lives of students in Iowa.
• In keeping with Iowa Pride Network’s mission, award winners will support the full equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
• Award winners must be nominated by a third party.
• Award winners must participate in Iowa Pride Network’s awards ceremony at the annual Spring Soiree and Honors Benefit on April 26^th, 2012 in downtown Des Moines.
• Nominations must be received no later than April 2^nd, 2012

Click HERE to nominate an individual or organization online. 

IPN Releases Statement on Dunkerton Assembly

Iowa Pride Network, Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, One Iowa, Iowa Safe Schools and the ACLU of Iowa have released a statement (see below) to schools about the need for due diligence anytime a school invites outside groups to present.

***

Re: Groups Seeking to Hold Public School Assemblies in Iowa
March 13, 2012

Dear School Administrators and Staff,

We are writing to inform you of a group working in Iowa to invite itself into your school to hold an assembly for your students. We have concerns about this group and their presentations as a presentation given at a public school assembly last week sparked criticism and concerns from students, parents, teachers, and administrators. Iowa schools work hard to create environments where all students feel safe and welcome, where bullying is not tolerated. However, Bradlee Dean’s Junkyard Prophets and You Can Run But You Cannot Hide presentations undermine those goals as they are sectarian and divisive.

In hindsight, administrators of the school acknowledge they wish they had completed a more thorough check on Dean and his organization and the school district has since apologized for the assembly. But it is hard to undo some of the harmful effects the event had on students. It is clear Bradlee Dean’s group was not forthcoming in revealing what they would present. School administrators thought the subject matter of the assembly would be “provocative lyrics in music and making good choices.” Instead, the group focused on its personal religious and highly controversial views about the Constitution, Christianity, sexual orientation and gender identity, and teen sexual activity.

You can view a KWWL-TV news story about the school assembly HERE.

The message presented at assemblies such as this can make students feel uncomfortable, unaccepted, and unsafe. Holding a school–sponsored assembly of this nature also creates the appearance that the school itself is endorsing the message given to students. From both educational and constitutional standpoints, such an endorsement is inappropriate, given that statements made by the group reflected the beliefs of a particular religious sect to the exclusion of others. Both the U.S. and Iowa constitutions prohibit such an endorsement.

Bradlee Dean, Junkyard Prophets, You Can Run but You Cannot Hide and their real purpose can be found easily on the Internet. We urge you to continue to gather necessary background information about any group wishing to come into your school and hold assemblies for students.

Assemblies like the one last week have no place in our public schools.

Sincerely,

Iowa Pride Network
Iowa Safe Schools
Interfaith Alliance of Iowa
American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa
One Iowa

IPN Applauds Landmark Anoka-Hennepin Decree

IOWA PRIDE NETWORK APPLAUDS

LANDMARK DECREE BETWEEN U.S. & MINNESOTA’S ANOKA-HENNEPIN SCHOOL DISTRICT

Landmark case makes clear harassment based on nonconformity with gender stereotypes is a violation of Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

Des Moines, Iowa– March 6 – Iowa Pride Network is applauding the landmark consent decree reached by the U.S Departments of Justice and Education, six private plaintiffs and the Anoka-Hennepin school district to resolve claims of pervasive bullying and harassment of students who did not conform to gender stereotypes in district schools.

Six students sued the Anoka-Hennepin school district last summer for its “neutrality policy”—a policy that singled out lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students and, some say, barred teachers from intervening when anti-LGBT bullying occurred in classrooms and hallways. Within the past two years, nine students committed suicide, a number of them having identified as LGBT.

“Today’s settlement sends a clear message—all students deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. It also highlights how important it is for Iowa’s school districts to enforce Iowa’s own Safe Schools Law,” stated Ryan Roemerman, Iowa Pride Network Executive Director.

Iowa Pride Network is a statewide nonprofit organization helping make schools and colleges safe for all by empowering students to stop bullying, homophobia, transphobia, and hate. It was one of a handful of organizations that fought to secure Iowa’s Safe Schools Law.

Adopted in 2007, the law defines bullying and harassment and addresses the prevention, reporting, investigation, and consequences of any bullying or harassment incidents, as well as the need for accurate data collection and public reporting of those incidents.

“The tragic events that led to the lawsuits in Anoka-Hennepin are a reminder of why it was so important for Iowa to have passed our law and the continued need for schools to implement it with fidelity,” Roemerman said.

###

© Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Minneapolis Star Tribune/ZUMApress.com

A candlelight vigil in Minneapolis for the victims of gay bullying

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/one-towns-war-on-gay-teens-20120202#ixzz1oJJqF4G7