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January 13, 2012
GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE
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newsbriefs
Study finds zero child abuse among lesbian parents
Los Angeles-An ongoing, 24-year study of lesbian families in the United States, reports that 17-year-old children of lesbian couples reported a zero percent rate of physical or sexual abuse.
That is significantly lower than 26 percent of teens who report physical abuse and eight percent who report sexual abuse in the general population.
The Williams Institute report on findings from the United States National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study, which has been running for 24 years, was published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior.
"The absence of child abuse in lesbian mother families is particularly noteworthy, because victimization of children is pervasive and its consequences can be devastating," wrote the authors. "To the extent that our findings are replicated by other researchers, these reports from adolescents with lesbian mothers have implications for healthcare professionals, policymakers, social service agencies, and child protection experts who seek family models in which violence does not occur."
They had claimed that they owned the church buildings because they paid the bills and the mortgages; however, Episcopal doctrine states that congregations hold church property in trust for the diocese. The court sided with the diocese.
While the schism in the Episcopal Church, the United States branch of the Anglican Communion, came to the fore following the selection of V. Gene Robinson, an openly gay, partnered man, as the bishop of New Hampshire, it goes back even further. Some conservatives in the church still have problems with the ordination of women, and believe the Episcopal Church is too liberal.
Many of the breakaway congregations have joined the Anglican Church of North America, which formed after Robinson was elevated. Episcopal dioceses in other states have also won lawsuits to retain the church buildings.
The four other Ohio Diocese churches that might be sold are Akron's St. Luke and Church of the Holy Spirit, St. Anne's-in-theFields in Madison and Transfiguration in Cleveland.
Diocese gets back 5 church buildings Bay Village, Ohio-After reclaiming Kristy McNichol comes out
five church buildings from breakaway congregations, the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio plans to re-grow St. Barnabas Episcopal Church and sell four others.
The diocese took back the churches in November, after a Cuyahoga County Common Pleas judge ruled in favor of the diocese in September. The breakaway congregations, which left the denomination because of its pro-gay stances, moved out in November.
Los Angeles-Kristy McNichol fulfilled the teen fantasies of a generation of lesbians on January 6 when she came out of the closet publicly in an interview with People.
The 49-year old former actress, who won an Emmy Award for her role in the television show Family and later appeared in the sitcom Empty Nest, retired from acting after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
She is now living with her partner, Martie Allen, and raises miniature dachshunds.
communitygroups
New GLSEN team to give LGBT safe schools training
by Gary DiBianca
Cleveland-The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network of Northeast Ohio will host a three-day training on March 23, 24 and 25 at Case Western Reserve University for future facilitators interested in assuring that K-12 schools are safe for all students. Unfortunately, even though today's society is more socially accepting of LGBT people, relationships, and rights, some schools are still unsafe environments for students.
For this reason, professional development for K-12 educators and staff members is necessary. Ohio's Department of Education has mandated that school districts provide anti-bullying training yearly for teachers, yet this does not mean that LGBT students' welfare or safety is ever addressed.
With GLSEN Northeast Ohio's newly formed Educator Training Team, the organization will be able to offer the resources and trainings needed to help assure that students are not teased, bullied, or ostracized because of their gender expression, gender identity, or perceived or identified sexual orientation.
Fortunately, many schools in Northeast Ohio have made tremendous strides to create safe environments for their LGBT students and straight allies by establishing Gay-Straight Alliances and implementing strategies recommended by GLSEN's Safe Space Kit (www.safespacekit.com). The Educator Training Team's ultimate goal will be to guide schools on how to put the Safe Space Kit into practice.
Two new co-chairs announced
This year, GLSEN Northeast Ohio announced the leadership of two new co-chairs,
Jeff Bixby and Gary DiBianca, after the death of former chapter leader Gene Ashley.
DiBianca, a high school teacher, has been working with GLSEN Northeast Ohio for five years. He has organized the chapter's five youth conferences while also participating in educator trainings.
Bixby is the former co-chair and founder of GLSEN Cincinnati and the co-chair of the American Federation of Teachers' LGBT Caucus. Upon retiring from 30 years as an elementary school teacher in Cincinnati Public Schools, he returned to Northeast Ohio and has served on the board of CANAPI, the Community AIDS Network and Akron Pride Initiative, and now joins GLSEN Northeast Ohio to continue the work he has done for the LGBT community at both the national and regional level.
Since September 2011, GLSEN Northeast Ohio has hosted a youth conference, established a youth leadership team, and provided professional development opportunities for area school districts and preservice teachers. With the development of the Educator Training Team, the organiza-
tion will extend GLSEN's mission of making even more Northeast Ohio schools safer places for all students.
To become part of GLSEN Northeast Ohio's Educator Training Team and attend the Training Session on March 23, 24 and 25, send an e-mail to gary@glsen northeastohio.org.
For more information about GLSEN Northeast Ohio, see www.glsen.org/ northeastoh.
Gary DiBianca is a co-chair of GLSEN Northeast Ohio.
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However, after the spate of teen suicides over the last couple of years and highprofile bullying cases, she felt the need to live openly, to present a positive role model to young people who might be struggling to come to grips with their sexual orientation. Drum major dies in hazing incident
Orlando, Fla.-Witnesses reported that a drum major who was literally hazed to death may have been targeted for more extreme treatment because he was openly gay, because of his opposition to hazing, and because he was a candidate for chief drum major.
Robert Champion died after a hazing ritual on the bus that drove the Florida A&M University team to Orlando in November. Champion and other members of the marching band went back aboard the bus after playing in halftime, where he was beaten severely. He died of shock caused by blunt force trauma and severe bleeding.
Band members have traditionally taken new members onto the bus to be hazed during the annual game against archrivals Bethune-Cookman University.
Three band members are facing charges in a separate incident for beating a female bandmate. Her thigh was broken in the incident.
While a hazing death is a third-degree felony, no charges have yet been filed in the Champion case. His parents are suing the bus company, alleging negligence. They say that the bus driver, who says he was helping band members unload equipment, should have known what was going on in his bus when he allowed them to reenter it. While the Champions have to follow a months-long process before they can file a
suit against the university because of Florida laws on suing public entities, the suit against the bus company allows them to begin collecting depositions and interviewing wit-
nesses.
Skaters Weir and Voronov marry
New York City-Champion figure skater Johnny Weir married fellow skater Victor Voronov on New Year's Eve, and plans a big wedding celebration later in the year.
The two have known each other for years, but reconnected over the summer and had a whirlwind romance.
After competing in the 2006 and 2010 Olympics, Weir kept fairly quiet about his sexual orientation until last year, when he released an autobiography.
Cardinal is sorry for linking gays, KKK
Chicago Cardinal Francis George on January 7 apologized for comparing gay activists to the Ku Klux Klan in a Christmas Day interview.
In the TV appearance, he had expressed concern about the Chicago Pride Parade's new route and schedule making it difficult for parishioners to get to a church for morning Mass. The route of the decades-old parade was changed after last year's event, when overcrowding endangered spectators. It now takes the procession in front of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. Organizers agreed to delay the start of the parade to avoid disrupting the service.
George, however, still criticized gay advocates who view the Catholic Church as the enemy, comparing them to the KKK. "I am truly sorry for the hurt my remarks have caused," George said. "Particularly Continue on page 7
tri-cpresents Joe Goode Performance Group The Rambler
Don't miss the Ohio premiere of The Rambler, Joe Goode's new evening-length dance theater piece that examines the restless cowboy-wanderer, the iconic American character who roams at the edge of society. Once again collaborating with Basil Twist, who created the stunning set design, Goode proves he is a master of combining movement, music and visual imagery
Saturday, February 11, 2012 8:00 p.m.
Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare Tickets $10/$20/$30
216-241-6000 or tricpresents.com
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