The voices of youth matter, and they can make a big difference.
Today, the Portland Press Herald wrote an excellent piece on Mt. Ararat High School Senior Danielle Smith, who will receive the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network's (GLSEN) Student Advocate of the Year Award. Here's what the Press Herald had to say about Smith's work:
"While many try to keep their heads down and avoid the problem, Danielle Smith decided to do something about it. Even before entering Mount Ararat High School in Topsham, she got involved with the school’s gay-straight alliance. Later, she took an active role in the southern Maine chapter of the national Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.
'I feel passionately everyone should have the same rights,' said Smith, 17, who is straight. 'And I’ve been lucky enough to know some older students who felt the same way, who were sort of mentors to me.'"
At the ACLU of MAINE's annual dinner, Mary Beth Tinker, plaintiff in the landmark Supreme Court Case Tinker v. Des Moines, urged youth to stand up for their rights and the rights of their peers. When Tinker stood up for her right to express her political opinions at school, it prompted the Supreme Court to acknowledge that students do not leave their rights at the schoolhouse gates.
Smith recognizes the detrimental effects bullying has on LGBT youth. In public schools across America every day, students who are (or are thought to be) lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender are subjected to pervasive discrimination, including harassment, bullying, intimidation and violence. Discrimination based on a student’s sexual orientation or gender identity has been shown to contribute to high rates of absenteeism, dropouts, adverse health consequences and academic under-achievement. When left unaddressed, such discrimination and harassment can lead, and has led, to life-threatening violence and suicide.
Fortunately in Maine, our anti-discrimination law includes important protections for LGBT students. This isn't the case in every state, though. Congress has an opportunity to fix this problem. The Student Non-Discrimination Act will help to ensure that every student, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, is afforded the opportunity to attend school and learn without the fear of being targeted for harassment and discrimination simply based on who they are. Take action here to encourage your Representative to support the Student Non-Discrimination Act. Hopefully efforts by youth like Smith will secure an equal education for all youth regardless of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.