Special Interest Groups Rally Behind QUILTBAG

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Recommended: Politics in education

Politics dictates how a government or state based system is run, and if its parts are functioning at maximum capacity. At its core, the structure and unspoken hierarchy of politics and religion in the educational system decrees how educational institutions respond to a number of issues including bullying, harassment, and assaults. The goal of politics and to an extend public policy, and special interest groups interested in anti-bullying and QUILTBAG (Queer, Undecided, Intersex, Lesbian, Transgender, Bisexual, Agender, Gay) education is to identify the minority, define their specific needs, and to create a structure to allow a safe and inclusive learning environment. Political special interest groups allow for educators to focus on the task of teaching youth, while offering resources to those that may be victims of bigotry or violence due to gender identity or expression.

The definition of a safe space has been adopted into a program well past its pilot stage, implemented in schools across the country, known as the Safe Schools initiative. It has been created by one of the most high profile special interest groups: GLSEN (Gay and Lesbian Straight Education Network). GLSEN includes political and structural tools in its training material, such as: “Concrete strategies for supporting LGBT students, educating about anti-LGBT bias and advocating for changes in your school.” (“GLSEN”) this training is key to understanding how politics and targeted special interest campaigns can change or charge social issues at even a community level to broaden GLBT youth acceptance, as “Advocacy groups often attempt to educate the general public as well as policy makers about the nature of problems, what legislation is needed to address problems,...

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...LSEN Safe Space Kit." GLSEN. GLSEN, 2012. Web. 4 Mar 2012.

Hatzenbuehler, Mark. "The Social Environment and Suicide Attempts in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth ." Pediatrics. 0031. (2011): 1. Web. .

Kilpatrick, Dean G. "Definitions of politics and the Law ." n. 1. Web. .

Mucciaroni, Gary. Same Sex, Different Politics: Success and Failure in the Struggles over Gay Rights (Chicago Studies in American Politics). Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2008. 9. Print.

Uribe, Virginia. "Project 10: A School-Based Outreach to Gay and Lesbian Youth ." High School Journal. 77.1 n. page. Web. 4 Mar. 2012.

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