<p><strong><em>A safe, educational environment for <a href="https://esme.com/resources/c/lgbtq" target="_blank" class="wordlink">LGBTQ</a> youth</em></strong></p><p>In 2013, a <a href="http://www.glsen.org/nscs" target="_blank"><u>National School Climate Survey</u></a> revealed a stark reality for LGBTQ youth in schools:</p><ul><li>55.5% of LGBTQ students felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation, and 37.8% felt unsafe because of their gender expression. </li><li>Nearly a third (30.3%) of LGBTQ students had missed at least one entire day of school in the previous month because they had felt unsafe or uncomfortable, and more than a tenth (10.6%) had missed four or more days in the previous month. </li><li>More than a third of LGBTQ students avoided gender-segregated spaces in school because they felt unsafe or uncomfortable</li></ul><p>Clearly, for the health and wellbeing of our nation’s LGBTQ youth, something needs to change. </p><p>Organizations such as <a href="https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbt-rights" target="_blank"><u>ACLU</u></a>, <a href="http://www.glaad.org" target="_blank"><u>GLAAD</u></a>, and <a href="http://www.glsen.org/nscs" target="_blank"><u>GLSEN</u></a> work to protect students’ rights, raise awareness about the dangers of bullying, and ensure safer spaces within our public schools. <a href="http://hmi.org" target="_blank"><u>Hetrick-Martin Institute</u></a> (HMI), and similar organizations, have a different approach.</p><p>Nearly two decades ago, HMI and New York City Department of <a href="https://esme.com/resources/c/education" target="_blank" class="wordlink">Education</a> began to envision “a public school where some of the city's most at-risk youth—those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ)—could learn without the threat of physical violence and emotional harm they faced in a traditional educational environment.” </p><p>The result, <a href="http://schools.nyc.gov/SchoolPortals/02/M586/default.htm" target="_blank">Harvey Milk High School</a> (HMHS), opened its doors in 2003. The school’s mission reflects the values of inclusivity as well as quality education: </p><p>“The <span>mission of Harvey Milk High School</span> (HMHS) . . . is to establish and promote a community of successful, independent learners by creating a safe educational environment for all young people. The school strives to provide all students with a rigorous academic experience for college and career readiness that emphasizes critical thinking skills and student collaboration. This nurturing educational setting at HMHS not only challenges and promotes academic success, but it also fosters and supports a diverse, self-respecting, confident community.” </p><p>Located within HMI’s facilities, in the heart of New York City’s East Village, HMHS is open to students who have attended at least one year of high school elsewhere, and who want to continue their education in an alternative, small school environment. During the 2014-15 school year, HMHS had more than 70 students, and nearly 60% of 2015 graduates went on to advanced programs or college. </p><p>Students enrolled in a NYC public school who are interested in applying to HMHS can <a href="http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/07132CDD-8778-4241-9627-1F619D314683/166582/APPLICATION1.pdf" target="_blank"><u>click here to find an application.</u></a>. </p><p>In addition to its standard New York Department of Education curriculum, HMHS offers an average 1:12 teacher to student ratio and unique onsite after school programs sponsored by HMI, including academic achievement, arts and culture, health and <a href="https://esme.com/resources/c/wellness" target="_blank" class="wordlink">wellness</a>, and mental health and counseling services.</p><p>Some educators question the value of segregating LGBTQ students within a school system. Ritch Savin-Williams, a developmental psychology professor and director of the Sex and Gender Lab at Cornell University, told <em>The Los Angeles Times</em>, “In general, I'm not in favor of separate but equal. I don't want to sacrifice kids to make a political point. I just hate to let public schools off the hook. That's the dilemma.”</p><p>HMI acknowledges this point, “In an ideal world, all students who are considered at-risk would be safely integrated into all NYC public schools. But in the real world, at-risk students need a place like the Harvey Milk High School.”</p><p>While schools across the nation struggle—and often fail—to protect their most vulnerable students, institutions like Harvey Milk High School provide safe haven for LGBTQ youth.</p><hr><p><span style="font-size: 11px;">Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com</span></p>
<p><strong></strong><em><strong>Sorting through rights and challenges for <a href="https://esme.com/resources/c/lgbtq" target="_blank" class="wordlink">LGBTQ</a> families</strong></em></p><p>During the last decade, there has been increasing visibility of families headed by lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ) parents and Solo Moms. LGBTQ parents are as diverse as the general public and include all races, ethnicities, income levels, and <a href="https://esme.com/resources/c/education" target="_blank" class="wordlink">education</a> levels, as well as rural, suburban, and urban dwellers. Similarly, the issues that LGBTQ parents and single moms face are just as diverse and affect their parental rights. Just as noticeable are detractors of the LGBTQ community, especially those who focus on LGBTQ individuals’ rights to marry and become parents. However, several rights remain in question for LGBTQ parents and single moms, such as the right to form a family, adopt, have custody of their children, and become foster parents. Given these issues, it is important to understand how they affect LGBTQ parents and single parents.</p><p><strong>Right to form a family</strong></p><p>This right is directly tied to the former denial of LGBTQ individuals to legally marry. The institution of civil marriage functions as the entry to social rights, benefits, freedoms, and protections that are exclusive to this legal relationship. Until very recently, marriage was one right that was denied to the LGBTQ community, yet the recent Supreme Court decision supports LGBTQ marriage, the first step in forming a family.</p><p><strong>Second-parent <a href="https://esme.com/resources/c/adoption" target="_blank" class="wordlink">adoption</a></strong></p><p>When the right to second-parent adoption is denied, there is only one legal parent even though two people may equally parent the child and consider themselves as coparents. The status as a legal parent is automatically conveyed to the parent who has a biological connection to a child, such as a biological mom. Similarly, although some couples raise an adopted child together, only one of them may have officially become the adoptive parent because some agencies prohibit same-sex couples from adopting together but permit a solo parent to adopt. </p><p><strong>Child custody</strong></p><p>For LGBTQ parents who are legally ending their unions, there are some challenges because the law—both as it is written and as it is practiced—can be unfair to same-sex parents. In addition, these legal rules change frequently. Like other custody cases, compromise with an eye toward resolution should be the goal, so a custody mediator may be needed or even required. The issues of legal and physical custody and visitation are of greatest concern and can be the source of great distress. In several states, a parent’s sexual orientation cannot solely prevent a parent from receiving custody of or visitation with their child, or from receiving spousal and child support; however, LGBTQ parents in those states may be denied custody or visitation. This is because judges, when considering what’s best for the child, may be motivated by their own or community prejudices and may find reasons other than the lesbian or gay parent’s sexual orientation to deny custody or appropriate visitation.</p><p><strong>Becoming a foster parent</strong></p><p>The implied prejudices associated with child custody issues of LGBTQ parents and single moms also affect LGBTQ people who want to become foster parents. Many states have or have had bans on LGBTQ people becoming foster parents. Nearly a year ago, two congressional republicans introduced the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act because they wanted to shield adoption and foster-care providers from an “anti-faith bias.” The true goal of the act is to abolish state-level laws requiring child welfare services to let gay couples adopt children. Religious adoption agencies in some states have closed their doors rather than allowing LGBTQ people to adopt or foster children. The sponsors of the act contend that adoption agencies that take a courageous stand against gay adoption deserve federal protection. Some states have not embraced those beliefs and ideals. In March of 2015, Nebraska abandoned a contentious 20-year-old policy that barred gays and lesbians from becoming foster parents. Hopefully, this trend will continue, and other states will relax or nullify laws that keep LGBTQ individuals from becoming foster parents.</p><p>Rights for LGBTQ parents are evolving and ever-changing, so it’s necessary to understand the issues that affect their rights. Understanding their needs allows people and communities to respond with appropriate support, guidance, and information. Currently, some states support LGBTQ families while others are working to dismantle strides seen in other parts of the country. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court set the stage for progress, and it seems most of the land will comply. </p><p><br></p>
<p><em><strong></strong></em><em><strong>Follow the stories of Zay and Jacob</strong></em></p><p>Do you have questions about raising transgender kids? Meet Zay, Jacob, and their wonderful parents, who love the boy and girl living inside their girl and boy. Then watch the fascinating TED Talk by Zay’s doctor, endocrinologist Norman P. Spack. </p><p>To see a video about Zay: watch <a href="http://www.cincinnati.com/longform/news/2015/02/21/transgender-cincinnati-childrenshospital-hormone-therapy-enquirer/23697339/">Raising Zay: A Family's Journey with a Transgender Child</a>. </p><p>To see a video about Jacob, watch <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/transgender-kids/jacobs-journey-life-transgender-5-year-old-n345131">Jacob's Journey: Life as a Transgender 5 Year Old</a>. </p><p>For Dr. Spack’s Ted Talk, <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/norman_spack_how_i_help_transgender_teens_become_who_they_want_to_be?language=en#t-8465" target="_blank">click here</a> or view below.</p><iframe src="https://embed-ssl.ted.com/talks/norman_spack_how_i_help_transgender_teens_become_who_they_want_to_be.html" scrolling="no" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640"></iframe><hr><p><span style="font-size: 11px;">Photo credit Screenshot NBC News “Jacobs Journey: Life as a Transgender 5-Year-Old”</span></p>