Out For Democracy

DC Gay, Lesbian, Bi Students 10 Times More Likely to Have Used Meth

Gay, lesbian, and bisexual students in DC public schools are 10 times more likely to have tried crystal meth than their peers, according to a new fact sheet released by DC Public Schools. 23.5% of self identified GLB identifiedstudents have used meth compared to 2.48% of heterosexual students. The fact sheet, available on the DCPS website, documents widespread and significant health disparities faced by Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual (GLB) high school students. Information about transgender students was not collected in this survey.

The data comes from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), conducted every two years by DC Public Schools in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2007 marked the first year that the local version of the survey asked questions about GLB identity. Questions about sexual orientation and/or gender identity and expression have been included in YRBS surveys in more than a dozen states.

The DC fact sheet does not explain what accounts for the numerous health disparities including crystal meth use, but is likely in part related to a school climate that can be hostile and unsafe. An analysis of similar data collected in Massachusetts found that "at-school victimization" is associated with differences in health risk behaviors. (Bontempo DE, D'Augelli AR. Effects of at-school victimization and sexual orientation on lesbian, gay, or bisexual youths' health risk behavior. J Adolesc Health. 2002 May;30(5):364-74.) GLB students in DC Public Schools reported similar concerns about safety:

* 26.3 percent of GLB identified students in DC Public Schools report that they have stayed home from school one or more days in the past month because they felt unsafe in school or on their way to school.

* 30.6% of GLB identified students were bullied at least once on school property in the last year.

More information about the survey is available on The DC Center Website.

Online GLBT Donor Community Expands Role

eQualityGiving (www.eQualityGiving.org) is the online donor community focused on achieving legal equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Americans. Its membership is limited to major and mega donors, their political advisors, the executive directors of organizations, and pro-equality elected officials or candidates. This very selective group uses the web to discuss how to give strategically to achieve legal equality for the LGBTQ community.

Building on its proven success, eQualityGiving is now expanding its reach by using similar technology as MySpace and Facebook, but applied to grow and support a donor community.

In describing this expanded online donor community, Dr. Juan Ahonen-Jover, cofounder of eQualityGiving stated "To get legal equality that some people oppose you need extraordinary focus and dedication." He continued, "eQualityGiving provides tools to all of those determined to reach legal equality faster."

eQualityGiving provides a safe online community in which donors can interact with other donors and thought leaders without any pressure to donate. Donors are able to read confidential reports, vote online regarding different issues, respond to articles written by experts, participate in conference calls, vote online on different issues, and blog about their strategy for giving.

Dr. Ken Ahonen-Jover, co-founder of eQualityGiving, explains "Our members know that their giving is not tracked and that they can participate without disclosing their private information to others. This creates a safe and strategic online donor community empowered with all the necessary tools to achieve legal LGBTQ equality through a shared conversation."

So far, 48 authors have written exclusive articles for this online community including Ambassadors, major and mega donors, executive directors and other thought leaders. More articles are continuously being added. Articles are considered as the reference material on a topic and authors have the capability to update the article in real time from their own computer, providing unique freshness to the information.

Some of the authors include:

• Ambassador Michael Guest writing about workplace discrimination in the Federal Government
• Chip Arndt, gay winner of The Amazing Race, writing about winning the race and becoming a strategic donor and fundraiser
• Robert Raben, president of the Raben Group, inducting Barney Frank as an Equality Hero
• Charlie Rounds, president of RSVP vacations, writing about his LGBT giving strategy for 2008

In addition, eQualityGiving continues its role of endorsing pro-equality politicians based on a rigorous, objective criteria, which is a model for the community.