| Monthly Meeting: Most 3rd Mondays, First Congregational Church,
1050 E. 23rd, 6:45 p.m.
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Cyber Bullying: A New Frontier in
Harassment
With more youth coming out in
early high school and even middle school,
PFLAG chapters are seeing younger and younger
parents who are dealing with issues many of
us have not encountered before. One of those
issues is cyber bullying. Chapters should be
prepared with information and resources if a
parent or youth encounters this new form of
bullying.
With more youth coming out in
early high school and even middle school,
PFLAG chapters are seeing younger and younger
parents who are dealing with issues many of
us have not encountered before. One of those
issues is cyber bullying. Chapters should be
prepared with information and resources if a
parent or youth encounters this new form of
bullying.
Cyber bullying has been defined by
the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet
Use to mean, "being cruel to others by
sending or posting harmful material using the
Internet or a cell phone."
New technologies have revolutionized
communication and information, particularly
for young people, and although the cyber world
has been a great friend to the LGBT community
by helping students gain access to
information and support, it
has also created new opportunities for bullying
and harassment.
Cyber bullying may seem like the same old
behavior using different means, but because
this form of bullying can be done
anonymously, it can
take on very different qualities.
Perpetrators, victims and bystanders have
somewhat different roles in the process. The
ability to resend emails and text messages
create confusion about what has happened.
Terminology you should know:
- Flaming- online verbal attacks or
fights via electronic messages, (e.g., in
chat rooms) and using hostile and vulgar
language.
- Harassment- repeated messages of an
offensive or derogatory nature directed to a
target.
- Cyber stalking- repeated messages
of an intimidating character that make a
person feel afraid for his or her physical
safety.
- Denigration- online "put-downs,"
including sending or posting hurtful gossip
or rumors to cause the target embarrassment.
- Impersonation- using someone's
email account to send out messages,
supposedly from the account holder, that
reflect badly on that person and may cause
trouble, shame, or embarrassment.
- Outing and Trickery- disclosure of
someone's private information online, sending
or posting embarrassing images, or deceptions
leading another person to reveal personal
details about him or herself.
- Exclusion- deliberately keeping
someone out of an online group such as a
buddy list or game.
Although much of the education
can and should be done at home (or in your
chapter!) there is also a role for schools to
play. Find out what your school policy is and
what they do to educate students on
appropriate behavior.
According to Pew
Research, about one-third (32 percent) of all
teenagers who use the internet say they have
been targets of some form of cyber bullying
that ranged from receiving threatening
messages, having their private emails or text
messages forwarded, to having an embarrassing
picture posted or rumors about them spread
online.
The cyber world is not going to go
away so let's make sure it brings more
benefit than harm into our kids' lives.
What schools should do:
- Add cyber bullying to existing
anti-harassment or bullying policies.
- Provide training and education for
students, teachers and parents.
- Take cyber bullying seriously.
Here are some resources to get more
information on cyber bullying:
Youth resources
Our weekly drop-in group for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and
Questioning youth ages 13 - 18 meets Fridays from 4 - 6 p.m. at Amazon
Community Center, 2700 Hilyard in Eugene.
It's a great opportunity to talk, make friends, get information and
support, and have fun. The group is confidential, free of charge, and adult-led.
For more information, please call 684-3466. Or, if you're a GLBTQ
teen, drop in!
But what about right now?
We do have a help line, which is the number to the top right of your screen. But if it would help to talk with someone supportive right now, call one of
these free numbers -- they answer 24/7:
- National hotline for GLBTQ youth: toll free 1 800 850-8078
- In Eugene: White Bird (GLBT-friendly counselors): 687-4000
- In Eugene: Looking Glass Station 7 (crisis help & housing): 689-3111
Your parents may also wish to call the helpline. There is a parents-only support group!
Over 40 Scholarships, 1 application to complete
Pride Foundation and GSBA have over 40
different types of scholarships available,
but students only need to fill out one
application. Many of the scholarships available
at Pride Foundation have criteria that are
determined by the donor who creates the
particular scholarship. For this reason,
the scholarships cover a diverse range of
educational interests, types of student, and
geographic regions.
[MORE].
GSA grant program
Do you have a GSA (Gay Straight Alliance)? In Lane County? Need funding? PFLAG Eugene/Springfield
provides grants.
Active with a local human rights nonprofit?
Be aware that PFLAG may be able to
help you with your human rights program. See our
general grant application form.
Websites to visit:
Great Books to Read:
For youth, parents, and teachers --
For teachers and counselors --
PFLAG scholarship programs
updated 6/12/08 risa b
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Help Line Number:
(541) 302-4422
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Community Calendars:
PFLAG Vision
We, the parents, families and friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered persons, celebrate diversity and envision a society that embraces everyone, including those of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Only with respect, dignity and equality for all will we reach our full potential as human beings, individually and collectively. PFLAG welcomes the participation and support of all who share in, and hope to realize this vision.
PFLAG Mission
PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.
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