[Greyson]

This was a mailing from the Sacramento LGBTQI Center. I cannot make the Candle Light Vigil becasue will be at Butch Voices, Los Angeles. I will be at the training on October 23rd. Hope to see other Planeteers there.
__________________________________________________ _______________



Gay Teen Suicides - At Risk Teens in Sacramento

Five teenagers in the United States have taken their lives in recent weeks - all reportedly because they were openly gay or thought to be gay. These recent accounts have touched us all. We know the problem exists at all levels. Even though many incidents are never made so public, recent events have brought the issue to the mainstream. The names are out now.

Seth Walsh, 13 in Tehachapi, California; Asher Brown, 13 in Cypress, Texas; Billy Lucas, 13, in Greensberg, Indiana; Raymond Chase, 19, at Johnson & Wales University, Providence, Rhode Island, and Tyler Clementi, 18, at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

This clearly spans the bridges from middle school, to high school, to college. In response to the death of Tyler and the others, Ellen DeGeneres said last week that she is "devastated," and goes on to say: "Something must be done...This needs to be a wake up call to everyone that teenage bullying and teasing is an epidemic in this country, and the death rate is climbing."

Does this involve our Sacramento community? You bet it does. At the Center, we have recently been faced with the problem of gay homeless youth sleeping on the Center's back porch. That's right. There are a variety of circumstances, but the bottom line is they are afraid to use existing services and there are no existing respite services directed toward this population.

In a 2009 survey of more than 7,000 LGBT middle and high school students by Presgraves' Education Network, 84.6 percent said they were verbally harassed, 40.1 percent physically harassed, and 18.8 percent physically assaulted at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation.

What is being done and what can the Center do? The Center is already engaged in proactive activities to address the homeless
issues. In the short term, the issue will be raised at the Sacramento Region LGBTQ Leadership Coalition which meets monthly at the Center. Concerned local organizations, such as PFLAG, are represented there. This is not a problem the Center can tackle alone.

Longer term, the Center has taken on student interns this fall who are compiling information on area high school GSA's and community resources. The ongoing Center Youth Groups will use this information for contacts and outreach.

The Center is offering an all day workshop on October 23 for professionals entitled "Serving LGBTQ Youth in Today's Climate" at the Center with a speaker from Advocates for Youth in Washington, D.C. CEU credits are available for this timely program.

The Center is sponsoring our Queer Prom again in March of next year. This successful event attracted approximately 100 youth last spring and we are hoping to double that number by partnering with the local high schools and GSA's. One of the main goals of the Prom is to enhance self confidence and a positive self image.

The Center needs help with these activities. Become a member, or think about a donation of in kind services for one of our programs.

There are online resources for information and crisis intervention.
A 24 hour youth crisis intervention service is provided by
The Trevor Project, the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention among LGBTQ youth. Two college oriented organizations concerned with LGBTQ issues and bullying are Matthews Place, started by the Matthew Shepherd Foundation, and Campus Pride, based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Local Help Lines Include:

Diogenes 24 hour crisis line: 800-339-7177 - Diogenes Youth Services cares for runaway, homeless and at-risk youth. It is one of the only local non-profit agencies offering free comprehensive services focused primarily on 12 to 17 year-olds.

The Effort 24 hour crisis line: 916-368-3111 - The Effort is an established Family Services Agency providing medical care, drug treatment and comprehensive family care services in Sacramento and surrounding counties.

Sacramento County Mental Health Crisis Intervention Line -
916-732-3637





Stand Up to Youth Suicide:
Candlelight Vigil Friday Night



Equality Action Now, in partnership with local LGBTQ organizations and mental health specialists has organized a candlelight vigil to be held in the parking lot of McMartin Realty, 21st and K Streets, Midtown Sacramento, between 6:00pm and 7:00pm, Friday, October 8, 2010. The vigil will be held in conjunction with a nation-wide effort to, "Stand Up to Youth Suicide". Representatives of Equality Action Now and other LGBT organizations and mental health experts will be on hand to help with questions and concerns and to provide the community with resources to fight bullying in Sacramento area schools.