NEWSLGBT YOUTH

More than 75,000 people have joined a campaign on Change.orgcalling upon the Union-Scioto School District in Chillicothe, Ohio, to pass an anti-bullying policy that includes sexual orientation and gender identity following the on-campus assault of a gay 15-year-old student was caught on video. Bret Thompson launched the campaign on Change.org after learning about the assault, which no one stepped in to stop. The 15-year-old’s attacker initially received a three-day suspension, which the school adjusted following public outcry.

“I started this petition on Change.org because I know Ohio, and this attack does not reflect our values,” said Thompson. “Every child has the right to learn in a safe environment, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

“It is inspiring to see so much support for my petition on Change.org,” Thompson continued. “Now it is time for the school district to respond to the 75,000 people who want all students protected in the Union-Scioto School District – including LGBT students.”

The Union-Scioto School District has adopted anti-harassment policies that include sex, race, color, national origin, religion, and disability, but has not specifically moved to protect against harassment or bullying based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Following the on-campus assault of a gay 15-year-old student caught on cell phone video, more than 4,000 people have joined a campaign on Change.org calling upon the Union-Scioto School District in Chillicothe, Ohio, to pass an anti-bullying policy that includes sexual orientation and gender identity.

Bret Thompson launched the campaign on Change.org after the assault, which no one stepped in to stop. The 15-year-old’s attacker received only a three-day suspension for the assault.

“I started this petition on Change.org because I know Ohio and this attack does not reflect our values,” said Thompson. “Every child has the right to learn in a safe environment, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

The Union-Scioto Ohio School District has adopted anti-harassment policies that include sex, race, color, national origin, religion, and disability, but have not specifically moved to protect against harassment or bullying based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

“The school administrators should be ashamed of their response,” said Thompson. “If they won't send a message to their student body that this is unacceptable, we'll just have to send a message to them.”

More than 80,000 people have joined a campaign on Change.org created by the Gay-Straight Alliance Network’s Make It Better Project and the Tennessee Equality Project, calling for the principal of Sequoyah High School in Madisonville, Tennessee to be investigated for an alleged physical and verbal assault on a student who supported a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) club at the school.

After denying more than 150 student requests to establish a GSA at Sequoyah High School, Principal Maurice Moser allegedly assaulted a student, 17-year-old senior Chris Sigler, who wore a homemade T-shirt to school that read ‘GSA: We’ve got your back.’ Principal Moser reportedly shoved Sigler, grabbed his arm, and bumped him in the chest while shouting “Who’s the big man now!” at the student.

GSA Network and the Tennessee Equality Project, two organizations working to build safe schools for all students, launched the campaign on Change.org after allegations of Principal Moser’s assault were made public. GSA Network had already been monitoring the situation at Sequoyah and working with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to advance student efforts to establish a GSA club. According to the ACLU, authorities at Sequoyah High School have until this Tuesday to respond to an ACLU letter inquiring about efforts to start a gay-straight alliance at the school.

Yesterday, the Baltimore Orioles released an “It Gets Better” video, becoming the eighth team in professional sports to join the campaign in taking a stand against anti-gay bullying and homophobia and the fourth to release a video. The Giants, Cubs, and Red Sox have all made “It Gets Better” videos after being petitioned by their fans to do so on Change.org, and the Phillies, Twins, Mariners, and Nationals have announced that they are making videos as well.

“The Orioles are proud to support the It Gets Better Project and the Trevor Project,” said Orioles Director of Communications Greg Bader in a statement. “Bullying of any kind, for any reason, is unacceptable to our organization, and we are pleased to have our players speak out against this behavior in the hope it will provide encouragement to LGBT youth, and all children, who are facing hatred and prejudice.”

Apple has removed their iTunes store from the “Christan Values Network” (CVN.org) after more than 22,000 people signed a petition on Change.org started by Ben Crowther, a student and Apple customer concerned about CVN’s funding of anti-gay, anti-women organizations like Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council.

The Apple campaign, which picked up significant momentum after 13,000 AllOut.org members signed another petition on Thursday, follows Microsoft’s decision to leave CVN two weeks ago, prompted by another customer-driven campaign on Change.org. Several other companies have removed their online stores since then, including REI, Macy's, Delta Airlines, BBC America, and Wells Fargo.

“From the beginning, I knew that once this issue was brought to Apple's attention, they would not want to be a part of CVN because it funds anti-gay hate groups like Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council,” said Change.org petition starter Ben Crowther. “Apple is a fair-minded business. I'm glad this petition helped make Apple aware of this issue, and I am thrilled that they removed iTunes from CVN.”

Crowther is no stranger to anti-gay bullying. It started in high school when he and his boyfriend were only the second gay couple to come out to their classmates. “The harassment got so bad I had to go to the principal,” Crowther told Change.org.

In college, Crowther's dorm room door was regularly vandalized with anti-gay slurs. “I no longer live in the dorms because the bullying was so bad,” he said.