Friday August 11, 2006 SGN.org |
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Volume 34 Issue 32 |
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Thursday, Jul 24, 2008
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HeartStrong embarks on its 17th outreach trip - To outreach to students at religious schools, education public |
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| HeartStrong embarks on its 17th outreach trip - To outreach to students at religious schools, education public | ||
| On August 11, 2006, the most extensive grassroots outreach effort in the history of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered movement will begin their 17th outreach trip. Seattle-based HeartStrong, Inc., is a non-profit educational organization which provides support to GLBT students in religious educational institutions and educates the public about the legal persecution which can and does occur.
"With the rapid growth in religious schools over the past ten years, our work is more vital than ever," executive director Marc Adams says. "There have only been increases in the numbers of students coming to us for help. However, we are celebrating our tenth year of outreach doing work that is not popular in any community" Like most countries, religious schools in the United States utilize religious freedom to expel any student for any reason as long as there are religious reasons to back up the disciplinary action. This includes Adams states, the harassment, discipline and expulsion of students who are perceived to be or actually are GLBT. "It's not a question of whether or not these schools have the right to treat students so horrifically, they do. But as history has always proven, just because we have the right to do something, doesn't always mean it's right to do." Students who come to HeartStrong for assistance share stories of public outings, electro shock therapy, exorcisms, and use of religious beliefs to shame them into restorative/reparative therapy. Many students have reported the use of the common religious theology of 'death for sin' proposed to them as divine punishment for their thoughts and actions. Since October, 1996, more than 950 students have come to HeartStrong for help. The journey to self-acceptance begins with any one of HeartStrong's 14 outreach programs. Many of those programs are put into action by the Outreach Team during their outreach trips. Founded in 1996 by author/activist Marc Adams, Todd Tuttle and Clint Kendrick, the HeartStrong Outreach Team has embarked on 16 prior outreach trips throughout the United States and parts of Canada. Additionally, their outreach has spanned the globe, assisting students in the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, Indonesia, India, Scotland and elsewhere. The HeartStrong Outreach Team first began traveling the road by car in October, 1996. Since then the team has driven more than 313,000 miles around the United States. The first portion of the Fall 2006 Outreach Trip takes the team through California, Nevada and Arizona. California is the state with the most religious schools and highest attendance in the United States. San Francisco County has the largest number of schools and highest enrollment figures. It is only fitting that the outreach trip begins in San Francisco with an educational forum hosted by PFLAG San Francisco. In addition to outreach efforts, more than 25 educational forums are scheduled through September 28, 2006. For additional information about HeartStrong, to recieve their newsletter or to make a tax deductible donation, please visit http://www.heartstrong.org A HeartStrong press release |
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International Readers |
REPORTS & MUSINGS FROM THE VETERAN GAY AND AIDS HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE
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