Speak Truth to Power: Youth Action Team Will Jumpstart State

On Thursday, May 21st at 3:30pm youth leaders will hold a press conference to share their ideas about improving school climate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and ally youth. They will meet at the Legislative Office Building in Room 1C. Youth across Connecticut will speak about their personal struggles with bullying and share tactics that anyone can use to create safer school climates. Chelesea Jenkins, a 17-year-old senior at Capitol Preparatory Magnet High School in Hartford, has studied the importance of strong youth leadership in Gay Straight Alliances as her senior project. “Harassment happens everywhere.” Chelesea said. “There are policies in place, but what are the students doing to make it better? It starts with the students. They have to come together and act to make these policies be enforced.”

The program will be facilitated by Minh Leu, 16, a junior at Hall High School who has volunteered with Love Makes a Family, helping them pass groundbreaking marriage equality legislation in Connecticut. “Telling legislators is important because bullying is an issue that effects virtually all Connecticut Highs Schools, thus hindering the educational climate for many youth“, Minh said. ”So, I think that spreading awareness through a press conference, and calling for action by our legislators would make a huge step in reducing the negative climate for the youth.” Speak Truth to Power will use the press conference to empower youth, parents, teachers, administrators, and legislators to prevent the disproportionate harassment of LGBT youth as reported by GLSEN’s 2007 School Climate Survey. GLSEN reports that “The survey of 6,209 middle and high school students found that nearly 9 out of 10 LGBT students (86.2%) experienced harassment at school in the past year, three-fifths (60.8%) felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation - and more than 80% felt unsafe due to their gender identity or expression.”

The Speak Truth to Power Press Conference is co-sponsored by: GLSEN Connecticut, True Colors, The City of Hartford Commission on LGBT Issues, Representative Beth Bye, Safe Harbor Project at the State Department of Children and Families, The Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund, Love Makes a Family, and the Anti-Defamation League of CT

About Speak Truth to Power

Speak Truth to Power is a youth-driven leadership training program sponsored by True Colors: Sexual Minority Youth and Family Services. Youth from six different Connecticut high schools have come together for the past seven months to work on a project that they know will make positive change for their community.

To RSVP or learn more about True Colors and Speak Truth to Power contact Caroline Rober at 860.649.7386 x202 or email cnrober@gmail.com