And we offer you the support and backup you need to make the program a success. The materials can also be broken out into sections to allow you to tailor the workshops, focus on specific parts, or delegate responsibility for some sections to other groups. The Need For lesbian and gay teens, school is often a nightmare. Harassment from classmates is common-place, particularly in many schools where teachers and principals tolerate it. Peer support is difficult to find because lesbian and gay student groups are often discouraged or even prohibited.
Survival often means painful self-denial for lesbian and gay youth.
Indeed, schools rarely offer supportive programs for gay youth. At the ACLU, we see first-hand the need to address these problems. Parents and students contact us to tell painful stories of harassment and abuse, followed by persistent complaints to administrators who do not even try to stop it. Over and over, we hear the frustration and anger of students who wish they could convince their school authorities to be more sensitive and responsive. With this program, we can offer a tangible suggestion for help before the problem escalates to the point of litigation.