Massachusetts Asian and Pacific Islanders (MAP) for Health
MAP promotes health in Massachusetts and New England Asian, South Asian and Pacific Islander communities convening community meetings and forums, conducting health outreach and workshops, and providing easy and confidential HIV counseling, testing and referrals by professionally trained staff.
Contact:
617-426-6755
map@maphealth.org
http://www.maphealth.org/
Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC)
MTPC is an advocacy, education, and community-building organization that works to end discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression. In addition to information on training and technical assistance services, the website provides an online transgender resource guide; updates on laws, public policies, and civil rights initiatives; and resources on education, employment, healthcare, housing, incarceration, and suicide prevention.
Contact:
617-778-0519
info@masstpc.org
http://www.masstpc.org
The Network/La Red
The Network/La Red is a survivor-led, social justice organization that works to end partner abuse in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, BDSM, polyamorous, and queer communities. Services include a hotline, safe home, support groups, and training
Contact:
Hotline: 617-742-4911
Office: 617-695-0877
http://tnlr.org/
SpeakOut
Offers educational speaking engagements on LGBT lives and issues.
Contact:
877-223-9390
info@speakoutboston.org
http://www.speakoutboston.org
Tapestry Health
Tapestry Health offers family planning and reproductive health care to often marginalized individuals in Western Massachusetts, such as young people, women living in poverty, recent immigrants, uninsured and underinsured persons, injection drug users, the homeless, and men and women with HIV/AIDS, regardless of their ability to pay. Tapestry Health encourages LGBT individuals to take advantage of its programs.
Contact:
413-586-2016
http://www.tapestryhealth.org/
Young Trans Support Group (BATS)
Based in the Boston area, a peer-run support group for transgender youth and young adults, inclusive of female-to-male (FTM) spectrum and male-to-female (MTF) spectrum individuals, of genderqueer persons, of intersexed folks, and of those questioning their gender identity.
Contact:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/boston-area-trans-support
Youth on Fire
A drop-in center for homeless and street-involved youth, ages 14-24, located in Harvard Square, Cambridge; provides support, referrals, health information, and services in a welcoming and non-judgmental environment.
Contact:
617-661-2508
yof@aac.org
http://www.aac.org/about/our-work/youth-on-fire.html
Youth Enrichment Services - Program of LGBT Community Ctr., NYC
http://www.gaycenter.org/youth
Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network - GLSEN
http://www.glsen.org
GSA Network
http://www.gsanetwork.org
Safe Schools Coalition
http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org
The Trevor Project (866-488-7386 - confidential 24/7 crisis helpline for LGBTQ youth
http://www.thetrevorproject.org
Fiction
Luna
by: Julie Ann Peters
Orphea Proud
by: Sharon Dennis Wyeth
Rosemary & Juliet by
by: Judy McClean
So Hard to Say
by: Alex Sanchez
Rainbow High
by: Alex Sanchez
Rainbow Boys
by: Alex Sanchez
The Realm of Possibility
by: David Levithan
Non-FictionBeyond Diversity Day: A Q&A on Gay and Lesbian Issues in Schools
by: Arthur LipkinWhen the Drama Club is Not Enough
by: Jeff Perrotti and Kim Westheimer
Marriage, A History
by: Stephanie Coontz
Side by Side: On Having a Gay or Lesbian Sibling
by: Andrew Gottlieb
And the Band Played On
by: Randy Shilts
Video
Out of the Past: The Struggle for Gay and Lesbian Rights in America
Looking for Langston
Silence = Death
Silent Pioneers: Gay and Lesbian Elders
Stonewall 25: Voices of Pride and Protest After Stonewall
Resources for Educators
We need to inform all students attending the more than 300 public high schools in Massachusetts that it is illegal to discriminate against LGBT students.
Educating students and faculty about the existence of the Massachusetts Student Anti-Discrimination Law, Anti-Bullying Law, and Gender Identity Law and about the rights they guarantee can help create a more supportive and affirming atmosphere in our public schools for all youth.
Resources and Recommendations
Board of Education Recommendations on the Support and Safety of Gay and Lesbian Students
http://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/GSA/safegl.html
An Act Relative to Gender Identity
http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/Sessionlaws/Acts/2011/Chapter199
Access to Equal Educational Opportunity: Laws and Regulations
http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/603cmr26.html
Guidance to Massachusetts Public Schools: Creating a Safe and Supportive School Environment
http://www.doe.mass.edu/ssce/GenderIdentity.pdf
Student Handbook and School Policies on Harassment and Discrimination
An essential way to implement and publicize the laws is to use them as a powerful tool to ensure that the language in the student handbook in your school reflects the reality of the law. School policies concerning harassment and discrimination exist in all schools. LGBT students must be included in these policies to be consistent with Massachusetts law.
If your student handbook is inconsistent with Massachusetts law, set up a meeting with your school principal to discuss changing the language. When the handbook and policies are changed, ask your principal to publicize the changes so that all students and faculty know about relevant laws and regulations.
Posters, Flyers, and Copies of the Law
Displaying a poster on a school bulletin board will ensure that hundreds of students will learn about the laws. Under the provisions of the Massachusetts Student Anti-Discrimination Law, you have the right to display a poster, as long as you follow the standard procedure for use of school bulletin boards and displays.
You can design your own flyer about the law using the language of the laws and other materials. Mass-produced flyers can be distributed in faculty mailboxes and handed out in homerooms, school clubs, and at school dances.
Handing out copies of the actual bills signed by the Governor is an excellent way of bringing the laws to the attention of students in your school. A copy of the signed bills could also be reproduced in student publications.
Other Suggestions
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Have a LGBT Awareness Day/Week to promote understanding of LGBT student rights.
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Invite a speaker to your school to talk about the law at a school assembly or forum. Speakers could be from the Commission on LGBT Youth or the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
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Write an article about the law for your student newspaper, school yearbook, or your town newspaper.
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Work with students on projects about student rights in general, including rights for LGBT youth.
Resources for LGBT Youth
MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Formerly DOE
The DESE website provides helpful information and resources for schools:
LGBT Student Rights in Massachusetts Public Schools
Access to Equal Educational Opportunity: Laws and Regulations
Guidance: Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity
DESE also houses the Safe Schools Program for LGBT Students , which provides training, technical assistance, and professional development to students, staff, and administrators on issues related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and school climate. The Safe Schools Program also hosts workshops and connects students through the Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA) Network.
For more information on training and technical assistance, contact:
Jeff Perrotti
617-547-8046
jmperrotti@aol.com
Pam Chamberlain
pamnicki@ix.netcom.com
MA Department of Public Health (DPH) - Safe Spaces for GLBTQ Youth
Fosters collaborations with other state and community agencies to maximize the use of resources and help achieve program goals relative to the safety and support of LGBT youth throughout Massachusetts. Safe Spaces funds programs outstanding in their community-based focus on specific racial, cultural and class enclaves of the LGBT youth community, which include homeless LGBT youth and transgender youth programs. Many of the Safe Spaces programs focus on violence, suicide and injury prevention while addressing a range of other critical public health issues affecting each population.
Contact:
Steven Smyth
Program Director
Safe Spaces for GLBTQ Youth
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Division of Violence and Injury Prevention
250 Washington St. - 4th floor
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 624-5490
steven.smyth@massmail.state.ma.us
http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/programs/community-health/dvip/violence/safe-spaces.html
Fenway Health
Fenway Health provides medical and mental health services to LGBT communities. It runs the Sidney Borum, Jr. Health Center for young adults ages 12-29. It also operates a toll-free helpline and peer listening line that offer safe places to call for information, referrals, and support:
LGBT Helpline: 888.340.4528
Peer Listening Line: 800.399.PEER
Contact:
http://www.fenwayhealth.org/
617-267-0900
GLAD - (Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders)
Offers expert legal information on the rights of LGBT students in Massachusetts public schools, and advice on how to proceed if you believe such rights have been violated.
Contact:
Legal Info Line:1-800-455-GLAD
GLAD Office: 617-426-1350
gladlaw@glad.org
http://www.glad.org/rights/topics/c/students-schools
The GLBT Youth Group Network of Massachusetts - Managed by The Boston Alliance of GLBT Youth (BAGLY)
The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth Group Network of MA is a statewide support and development partnership of community-based direct service organizations which exist to ensure that queer and questioning youth from the Commonwealth have access to a broad array of supports, services and opportunities. These groups, located across Massachusetts, offer safe, non-exploitative environments where youth can make friends, discuss experiences, and get support, info and referrals about sexual and gender identity and other issues of concern.
Contact:
Jessica Flaherty
617-227-4313
jflaherty@bagly.org
http://www.bagly.org
For a program near you, visit http://www.bagly.org/programs/youth-group/find-an-agly
The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth Support Project- A program of Health Imperatives
The GLBT Youth Support Project provides training, technical support, and resources for educators, school administrators, and community-based health and human service providers who are working to support LGBT youth.
Sign up for the newsletter, request materials, or get information about resources, trainings, meetings, conferences and events at http://hcsm.org/glys/home.htm or 800-530-2770.
Contact:
Missy Sturtevant
Program Coordinator
800-530-2770 x229
msturtevant@healthimperatives.org
GLSEN/Massachusetts
Offers a comprehensive selection of programs designed to support schools and individuals on a number of different levels, including teacher and staff training, student trainings, GSA support, a comprehensive professional development program, workshops focused on specific issues, retreats for educators, an annual conference which provides networking, skill building and curriculum training opportunities, and the National Day of Silence initiative.
Contact:
617-684-5736
massachusetts@chapters.glsen.org
http://chapters.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/massachusetts/home.html
Greater Boston PFLAG - Safe Schools and Communities Project
The Greater Boston Chapter of Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays, Bisexuals & Transgender People offers monthly group meetings, confidential telephone and parent-to-parent support, and powerful speaking engagements on LGBT issues in schools and/or community settings.
Contact
Pam Garramone
781-891-5966
Email: info@gbpflag.org to book or to find your nearest PFLAG chapter
http://www.gbpflag.org
Hispanic Black Gay Coalition (HBGC)
HBGC is a Boston-based nonprofit that works to inspire and empower Latin@, Hispanic and Black LGBTQ individuals to improve their livelihood through activism, education, community outreach, and counseling.
Contact
617-417-5779
Email: Info@HBGC-Boston.org
http://www.hbgc-boston.org/
JRI Health - Boston GLASS Community Center
Boston GLASS provides counseling, advocacy and referrals for health care services and housing to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning teens and young adults, many of whom are youth of color. GLASS offers a drop-in space five days a week, support groups, counseling services, youth leadership development, community education, and HIV testing and counseling and STI and Viral Hepatitis screenings.
Contact
Ismael Rivera
Email: irivera@jri.org
617-266-3349 x215
http://www.jri.org/services/health-hiv-lgbtq-services/health-and-prevention-services/boston-glass
Resources for Legislators & Policy Makers
Annual Policy Recommendations
The Commission issues annual policy recommendations to state agencies and the Legislature for the adoption of policies, programs, and resources that will enable LGBT youth to thrive. The Commission's recommendations for Fiscal Year 2014, including model programs and policies and a resource appendix, are available online: http://www.mass.gov/cgly/commission_on_lgbt_youth_policy_recommendations_fy14.pdf