Arizona teen warns school officials: stop anti-gay bullying or face consequences

 

Crosspost from America Blog Gay

This is great! This is what motivated and supported young person can do.  

Posted by Joe Sudbay (DC) at 1/04/2011 12:12:00 PM

Love this. Caleb Laieski isn't messing around:

A teenage activist has notified officials at every school in Arizona that they need to put a stop to bullying of gay and lesbian students or face a lawsuit.

Caleb Laieski, 15, e-mailed a letter to more than 5,000 school administrators, city-council members and state lawmakers demanding improved measures to fight discrimination.

The letters, sent to school and government officials in early December, state that gay and lesbian youths face more bullying than their heterosexual peers and offer to refer officials to organizations and experts.

The letters warn school officials that they must institute policies specifically prohibiting gay harassment by students, teachers and administrators. Schools that fail to stop bullying will encounter "legal ramifications."

"This is more not to threaten a lawsuit but to put resources out there," said Laieski, founder of Gays and Lesbians United Against Discrimination. "But if they don't want to cooperate, there's going to be consequences."

The article reports that Laieski already has a winning track record on anti-bullying issues.