GONE TO SOON Oct 7 2003 Ryan Halligan

GONE TO SOON… Oct. 7, 2003, Ryan Halligan of Essex Junction, Vt. Aug. 23, 2008, Alexa Berman, 14, of Brookfield, Conn Brandon Elizares, a 16 -year-old from El Paso, TX Septempter 22, 2010, Tyler Clementi, 18 years old, Piscataway, NJ

TWO MEN, TWO DIFFERENT WORLDS Tony, 6 th Grade friend Junior, Best friend

LGBT STATICS NATIONAL YOUTH ASSOCIATION GBT Bullying Statistics: 9 out of 10 LGBT students have experienced harassment at school. LGBT teens are bullied 2 to 3 times as much as straight teens. More than 1/3 of LGBT kids have attempted suicide. LGBT kids are 4 times as likely to attempt suicide then our straight peers. LGBT youth with “highly rejecting” families are 8 times more likely to attempt suicide than those whose families accept them.

THE TEACHER ROLE Encourage kids to be who they are If you see something like kissing don’t segregate it Let the children know you are open to talk about anything Help them understand what bullying is Show them how to treat others with respect

OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS What is something you can do if you spot bullying or gay bashing on the play ground? How can you make the subject not seem segregated? What can teachers do if they suspect bullying inside and outside of the classroom?