Photo by Katharine Kimball
For more information about NMGSAN please contact:
Cooper Lee Bombardier
NMGSAN Program Coordinator
(505) 983-6158 x 21
cooper@santafemc.org
Check the NMGSA website for the most up-to-date listings of our on-going events and programs!
www.nmgsa.org
New Mexico Gay Straight Alliance Network
The Challenges Faced by LGBTQ Youth
It is a well-reported fact that our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Questioning Youth are at a greatly elevated risk for missing school, drug and alcohol abuse, suffering from bullying and violence in school, and suicide. The GLSEN (Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network) 2007 National School Climate Survey found that of 6,209 middle and high school students, nearly 9 out of 10 LGBT students (86%) experienced harassment at school in the past year, 61% felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation and about a third (33%) skipped a day of school in the past month because of feeling unsafe.
Additionally, GLSEN reported that due to a hostile school climate and its effects on academic achievement 86%M of LGBT students reported being verbally harassed, 44% reported being physically harassed and 22% reported being physically assaulted at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation and 74% heard derogatory remarks such as "faggot" or "dyke" frequently or often at school.
What is a GSA?
Gay Straight Alliance Clubs (GSAs) have existed on high-school campuses since 1989, where the first club to call itself a GSA was started in Massachusetts. GSAs started as a support group and safe space, but were unique because they included Straight Allies. Today, a Gay Straight Alliance is a student-run club, typically in a high school, which provides a safe place for students to meet, support each other, talk about issues related to sexual orientation, and work to end homophobia and transphobia. Many GSAs function as a support group and provide safety and confidentiality to students who are struggling with their identity as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning.
In addition to support, some GSAs work on educating themselves and the broader school community about sexual orientation and gender identity issues. They may bring in outside speakers to cover a particular topic such as LGBTQ history. They may organize a "Pride Week" or "LGBTQ Awareness Events" and offer a series of educational workshops, panels, and pride celebrations. Many participate in the Day of Silence, a day when participants remain silent all day as a way of acknowledging the silence induced by homophobia in our society. Some GSAs organize a "Teach the Teachers" staff development day which focuses on teaching school staff how to be better allies for LGBTQ students.
When we conducted the 2008 NMGSAN School Climate Survey, we found that of students surveyed, 75% of students hear "Gay" used as a way to say something is stupid, weird, or bad at least once daily, 91% of students hear anti-LGBT slurs directed at specific students, staff, or teachers at least once a month, 32% of students surveyed were harassed or bullied on school property because they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender or someone thought they were at least once in the past 12 months, 42% of students report that teachers and staff "sometimes" step in to stop students from harassing others based on sexual orientation and gender identity, while 31% report that teachers and staff "never" step in.
The good news? 76% of students reported that their GSA club was a safe place for them to go, 73% stated that they were more able to fight homophobia and transphobia as a result of participating in their GSA, and 71% felt more confident to express their identity after being part of their GSA Club!
What is the New Mexico Gay Straight Alliance Network?
The NM Gay Straight Alliance Network (NMGSAN) is a youth-led project that connects school-based Gay Straight Alliances (GSAs) to each other and community resources. Through peer support, leadership development, and training, the NMGSAN supports young people in starting, strengthening, and sustaining GSAs and builds the capacity of GSAs to create safe environments in schools for students to support each other and learn about homophobia and other oppressions, educate the school community about homophobia, gender identity, and sexual orientation issues, and fight discrimination, harassment, and violence in schools. We use several means to achieve these objectives, including a Youth Council, Regional Leadership Trainings, the School GSA Conference, the All Colors Youth Summit, Activist Camp and annual Youth Pride Events. Our Program is youth-driven, with most trainings and workshops led by our youth leaders.
We are pleased to report that we KNOW our program is working; our events are well attended, and our evaluative data indicates we have exceeded our measurable outcomes. Last year, we delivered 377 client service days to LGBTQ and Straight Ally youth. Overall, 93% of all NMGSAN participants reported feeling more confident in expressing their identity and 85% felt an increased sense of belonging as well as that other participants and staff cared about them; 88% felt they learned the skills they needed to be activists and 85% now better understand how oppression affects young people; 91% reported feeling that they could be stronger leaders in their school GSAs and 84% felt more confident of their leadership skills in general; and 83% felt more confident in their abilities to make change at their school and 82% reported an increase in their ability to fight homophobia and transphobia in their schools.
The Santa Fe Mountain Center has a solid history of collaborating and partnering with other agencies. The NMGSAN has nine official Collaborative Partnerships: Equality NM (EQNM), Albuquerque PFLAG, Santa Fe PFLAG, Santa Fe Public School District, the Albuquerque Public School District, the Santa Fe Rape Crisis and Trauma Treatment Center's YODA (Youth Organizing Diversity For All) Program, Albuquerque Safe Zones, EarthCare International/SFMC Emergence's Youth Allies, and the California GSA Network. The NMGSAN, along with EQNM, is one of the key entities in the statewide Youth Bullying Prevention Coalition, including the NM Department of Health, Public Education Department, and Children, Youth and Families Department. The NMGSAN is also a member of the National Association for GSA Networks, connecting organizations endeavoring to positively affect LGBTQA youth and GSAs in thirteen states throughout the nation.
The Future of the NMGSAN
With thirty-one GSA clubs registered statewide and counting, the number of clubs registered has more than doubled since 2007! Now in its 5th year, the NMGSAN is stronger than ever. We are looking forward to the beginning of fiscal year 2010, and continuing our popular and strong programming with LGBTQ and Straight Ally Youth and our collaborative partners. We are going to continue our work on Safe Schools legislation in partnership with EQNM as well as the Safe Schools Coalition we began in 2008 to enthusiastic and strong response, and are modifying and updating some of our regional programs for 2010 so that they may bring the greatest benefit to students who are harder to reach in places beyond Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
How Can You Help?
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT to continue the critical services the NMGSAN provides to LGBTQA youth in New Mexico. In these trying economic times it is even more crucial to diversify and bolster our foundation grants with private donations. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to the NMGSAN: A contribution of $1,500 would pay for one of nine monthly Youth Council Meetings; $5,000 would pay for the All Colors Youth Summit; $8,000 would pay for the overnight Activist Camp; $10,000 would pay for all four Regional Leadership Trainings; and $30,000 would pay for the staff outreach, preparation and GSA visits.
Our success is the result of hard work, support, and passion from the children we work with, our staff and board, the communities and schools we work in, and by the invaluable financial support of the foundations and private donors who make this important work possible. We currently have the financial support of the Gill/Tides State Equality Fund, the New Mexico Community Foundation, the Calamus Foundation the Children, Youth and Families Department.
What Our Participants and Parents Say
"Thank you for being there for all of us. Having people who understand and are totally non-judgmental to talk to is truly amazing. Before getting involved with the GSA Network, I was ashamed of who I was. I had just come out to my family and I was scared. I am now confident in who I am and the experiences provided by the network are largely responsible"
— NMGSAN Youth Council Member
"I just want to thank you all for the amazing program that was held this weekend. [My daughter] was so very excited when she came home. It was an experience that she will remember her entire life. Her exact words were, 'this was the most amazing weekend of my life.' As many, if not all, of you know, it's not always easy being a teen who has chosen to live their truth. And then to compound matters further my daughter is also African-American and Native American...she never shies away from herself, and I applaud you and the program this weekend which gave her an opportunity to stand tall amongst others equally brave. God Bless You All..."
— Mother of a GSA Youth Council Member
— Adult Member of PFLAG Albuquerque
"Through his work with the SFMC my son has met a variety of youth and adults. He has had numerous opportunities to become involved in the community. He has learned about issues facing the LGBTQ community. He has had training at the Mountain Center and then had the opportunity to go on and actually use his training and knowledge to work with and teach others. He is involved in anti-bullying training and has worked hard at the State Capital to lobby for Domestic Partnership. He has learned first hand how bills are passed. He has gained valuable knowledge about how our government works. He now plans to stay involved in local government throughout his life. He has learned, through his work and training at SFMC, that he can make a difference. He was active in the last election, and plans to be even more so in the next one. I can think of nowhere else where he has had such great opportunities to learn and grow as a person."
— Mother of a GSA Youth Council Member