The Invisible Minority
GLBTQ Youth At Risk, 2nd Edition
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
FOREWORD
The United States prides itself in being a democratic society with strong traditions of justice for all. Civil and human rights are basic tenets of American life. We are proud that the Bill of Rights in our Constitution has established freedoms unknown in many other parts of the world. And many of us have worked very hard to ensure that our rights and freedoms extend to groups, which have historically been the victims of discrimination and prejudice, particularly on the basis of religion, race, ethnic identity, and sex. We understand that the protection of the rights of any one of us depends on protection of the rights of all of us.
We also pride ourselves on our diversity. Even when rights and opportunities are not applied equally, we recognize that the active participation and contributions of individuals of many different groups -- racial and ethnic, religious, male and female, social and cultural, of all ages --make our society more vital, productive, and satisfying. We know that if any of us is vilified, scapegoated, or made the subject of violence or discrimination because of his or her group identity, none of us is safe.
Discrimination and stereotypes based on sexual orientation have been among the most difficult human rights issues for many to acknowledge. Despite civil rights gains in other areas, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people still face major problems. Adults continue to face discrimination, particularly in jobs and housing. Students and adults alike face name-calling, taunting, hatred, and physical violence. Few, and particularly the young, have access to sympathetic support and guidance. Most young people in this minority group do not have family members who can help them cope. If homophobia continues unchecked and uninterrupted in the classroom or in the community, a message is sent that scapegoating and targeting is okay.
Gay teenagers are two to three times more likely to attempt suicide. Prejudice leads to harassment, ostracism, and, all too frequently, violence against them. These young people experience high rates of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, drug abuse, dropping out of school, and running away from home. Their very existence is generally ignored or even denied. Additionally, there are students who have a gay or lesbian parent, brother or sister, or other close relative. It is important that these students get the message that they are okay and that their family is valued and accepted. All children are entitled to protection, to honest information about all aspects of their lives, and to equal access to counseling, support, and educational opportunities. Educators committed to justice and human rights need to continue to examine their own responsibilities. There are students in almost every classroom who are or will be gay or lesbian. They need support and protection -- and the opportunity to mature into sensitive, confident, productive adults regardless of their sexual orientation.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
Basic information about sexual orientation is provided with guidelines that teachers can easily use for presentations in their classrooms. The information is helpful to all students, including those who are straight. It is especially needed for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (GLBTQ) youth in schools because they often face persecution and do not have family members who can help them cope. Nearly one-third of all teen-age suicides are related to persecution around the issue of sexual orientation. Every classroom contains one or more students who now or will eventually identify themselves as gay or lesbian. Information is provided for all grade levels and classes that teach sexuality as well as English and History. A dozen appendices provide more detailed information and references including Homosexuality and the Bible, Slurs, Facts and Statistics. Homosexuality is a normal variation that occurs in nature in many species and among most, if not all, of humankind''s various cultures. Homosexuality is a variation very much like left-handedness. Most of the population is right-handed. A significant minority of the population is naturally left-handed. Left-handed people are present in all occupations and have made important contributions throughout history. Similarly, most of the population is heterosexual.A significant minority of the population is naturally homosexual. Homosexual people are present in all occupations and have made important contributions throughout history Extensive research over the last 50 years indicate that about 10% of the population in the United States is exclusively homosexual. Kinsey''s research indicated that an additional 5% engage in homosexual behavior part of the time. These percentages have been confirmed by many scientists, but even if the numbers were much smaller, it does not change what needs to be done in schools to meet the needs of a vulnerable, invisible minority.
About the Author
Bob Latham taught high school chemistry and physics for 27 years and has been a part-time field supervisor for a university education department, mentoring intern teachers, for 10 years. He has been involved in working for GLBT rights during his career in education including
1. Doing a Mentor Project titled “The Invisible Minority—Meeting the Needs of Gay and Lesbian Youth” (1993-94).
2. Starting a Gay & Lesbian Caucus in his teacher union, which obtained Domestic Partner Health Benefits.
3. Initiating the National Education Association resolution on sexual orientation, which was passed in 1994 and 1995.
4. Organizing West Coast Conferences on GLBT Issues in Education in 1995 and 1996.
5. Acting as Volunteer Executive Director for BANGLE and GLSEN SF-EB, 1996 to 1999.
Bob Latham was born in California in 1939, attended Stanford University on scholarships, worked as a chemical engineer for DuPont, got a MChE degree from the University of Delaware, and worked for Chevron before switching into teaching. He designed and built a house in Point Richmond and retired early to study creative writing and work as a volunteer for GLBT organizations. Bob Latham had three long-term relationships: Marriage at age 20 to Linda (15 years, two children, divorced), then Stan (15 years, sudden death), and finally Alex (13 years, 7,000 miles apart). Many details of his unusual life are disclosed in Boysenberry Pie: A Memoir of Vignettes, published in 2004.
Bob Latham continues to edit a free monthly GLBT literary zine which is posted at www.Q-zine.com. The zine began in July 2001 and the website includes back issues.
In 2004, just as Boysenberry Pie came out, Bob Latham was diagnosed as having Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also commonly called Lou Gehrig’s disease. He is now (to use his words) a guinea pig for ALS research.