More About Minnesota Gay Bullying Situation

More info from the American school counselor Association and a blog:
"This morning I heard a report on the high school district in Minnesota where nine people either Gay or suspected of being Gay, have been harassed or bullied to the point where they have committed suicide. Meanwhile the district has rules that basically prevent school counselors from supporting or even discussing the topics with students. The congresswoman representing the district voted against a bill to ban bullying in the schools.
ASCA should start a year long campaign fighting school districts imposing a gag on counselors from talking to students on any subject but particularly sexual identity issues"
More to come

Have You Heard About Minnesota?

I have been hearing all week about the district that Michelle Bachman comes from in Minnesota.  I have heard different stories but on the news last night I've heard that there have been 9 suicides by students in that area.  Some of these were definitely related to bullying of gay people, and the students in that area do not feel supported or safe in that district, as Bachman and her Christian counseling husband believe in the anti-gay therapy - we can all be saved if we get aversion therapy.  Hmmm. I will be doing more to check on these facts. I am appalled as a school personnel and am concerned about the situation around the country.  Could you imagine if she becomes president - we'll all have to go to aversion therapy, or to be counseled out of our attractions to same-sex and probably go back to it being illegal.  And of course, lets spend government money on this that does not work and breeds discrimination, and harassment.  Already, her husband receives government money for these services.

Gay Marriage New York!

So, I believe since I was here last, New York began with gay marriages.  I watched a newscaster and the comment from both sides was "This is very personal for you." I don't know if that meant she was gay, but the atmosphere, just in the newscast, was electric.  She was so overwhelmed and that carried through to the interviewer.  There were couples in there 80's getting married. some of them had been together forever. Touching in the same way if heterosexual couples had been together forever and could now get married. But, I know when this happened in California, there were couples who never thought it would happen in their lifetime.  Progress. I'm feeling that we need to keep our eyes forward.  I get mired down in all the bad news and it's easy to get depressed. Today I also saw an ad on tv and a young female actress was correcting some girls who were saying "That's so gay." in a derogatory manner. She corrected and explained what they were really doing. As a school counselor, this is a biggie. Had me wondering what I can do when I go back to school soon.
Enjoy. Help us all move forward.  Do what you can in your little way. Let's all help stop the bullying and the suicides.

I'll Try To Stay In Touch

I'll do my best to make comments and add posts, but I do have 2 jobs, and I'm hoping to expand my private practice with more glbt clients, but I work in a school as a counselor - pay the benefits, you know.  Life can be hard, can't it?  Anyway, I understand many scenarios and have skills to be a counselor, but I wasn't an out gay person as a teen-ager, and I'm missing that piece.But I can be compassionate and supportive. i have 3 children who have gone through adolescence, I myself am gay and have had the experience of "coming out" to people and have to continue doing so all the time.  I know the more history and posts a blog has, the better. I also am working on changing this blog name!!!! can't master it yet. 
Check out one site - the "It Gets Better" site which offers affirmations for teens letting them know that they will NOT always feel the lack of support or abandonment that they may feel now.  I have seen their commercials on tv.  Please know WE are a gay-friendly site.  We are not trying to convert anyone to be non-gay.  It is not a choice but it is who we love and are attracted to.  I myself believe I was attracted to a man long ago, but as I got older, I moved along that continuum as my life changed, and I am ONLY attracted to women.  Perhaps because I'm old enough and back then, I didn't even think of the gay lifestyle. But I also think I was meant to have my children, as they help make the world a better place and are very accepting people.  When I told my son about me, he said "Cool."

I'm Making Progress!!

I am a counselor, I am a lesbian who came out later in life, and I am a school counselor.  I am doing this blog and website and other projects because I know there is a great need for support for people, especially young people who are being bullied.  I also hope to educate others, especially young people, about words they use and how they treat people with differences.  One drop at a time.....
My goal is to also provide further counseling services with people experiencing their own questioning.