I currently have an internship at local highschool in North Carolina with a teen prevention program that aims to give students to skills to make good decisions and become peer educators (like me!) in their communities and to students in the local middle schools.

These are all kids in 10-12 grade, so when we talk about sex I get all kinds of questions and I am grateful to be able to give them medically accurate information. (I hear some crazy stuff) However, today the topic of homosexuality came up.

One student, asked me "Miss. Amara, if a guy performs oral sex on a guy because he just wants to try it... doesn't that make him gay?" Before I could answer, she continued "And if a girl does it to another girl, she is just experimenting or is she bi (bisexual)?" I smiled. Everyone was listening intentally, closer then they had all class period. I told them that no one can tell anyone else what their sexual orientation is. Only YOU can make that decision, it is not up to anyone but themselves. If they want to experiment that's fine (as long as they protecting themselves) but no one can make that decision for them but them. I encouraged them to be careful about how they identify other people because again that isn't their decision and as peer educators you have to encourage others to educate themselves.

I may have gotten a little radical, had a small flashback to Creating Change. By saying "You realize that these identities that you speak of such as performing a certain behavior makes you a certain way, someone else created those and they (whoever they are) do the same to people based on their race and class. So remember that before you tell someone who THEY are. Don't play a part in the same oppression that oppresses you.

Love.

 This past weekend, I attended the LGBT Equality Conference: Creating Change. I must say that it was one of the GREATEST experiences of my life. I learned a lot, I listened even more and the things I saw were incredible. On my flight going to Baltimore around this time last week I was hoping to find something to dedicate my passion to and as I expected I came back home to North Carolina full of inspiration and motivation. The human rights movement is an amazing one. Hearing Ben Jealous, President of the NAACP, spoke volumes to me. I realized I have responsibility to my NAACP chapter at home and the greater community to speak up on the issues of education, jobs, housing, immigration, marriage, and the right to love, dignity, and respect. All these things affect all of us regardless of whether we are black, white, purple, gay, transgender, rich, poor and everything in between. Once we start to realize that we are one human race, I guarantee we will be better off. But honestly, if we knew that I wouldn’t be posting this blog nor would there be a need for Creating Change.

To anyone reading this, you don’t have to go to a conference or travel anywhere to get involved in a movement. Find something to be passionate about whether its LGBT rights or the DREAM Act. Make sure that it comes from the heart and I promise everything will fall into place. There are an abundance of organizations, that specialize and do advocacy work in ALL areas. We live in an era where the world is literally at our fingertips (those who have that privilege… conversation coming in my next blog). Don’t let ANYONE deter you from your goal… the work isn’t easy nor will it happen overnight but it can be done. Like my mother tells me all the time “The world is yours, take it”

Go out and Create Change.

The proof that one truly believes is in action. –Bayard Rustin

With Black History Month, quickly approaching (tomorrow)… take the time to attend events highlighting the achievements of African-Americans not the Martin Luther Kings or Malcolm X’s. But those who helped them get where they are in history. Find your passion and find a spot for yourself.

A couple weeks ago, the Daily Pennsylvanian reported that the University of Pennsylvania, one of the country’s oldest and most prestigious Universities, would become a pioneer in providing a LGBT new member education program to fraternities on campus. The programs are designed to encourage a sensitive atmosphere for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students that are involved in the Greek system at Penn. Several organizations at Penn such as the LGBT Center, the Interfraternity Council, and the Lambda Alliance are all in involved to create a curriculum to demonstrate acceptance to their brothers who identify as LGBT. Although, the current program is designed for fraternities there is also a program in the works for a sororities also. However, there has been opposition to the creation of the education. On campus, members of several Greek groups feel as though their organizations already do “a great job fostering relationships and instilling brotherhood.” There is also the fear that the implementation of the program may encourage some homophobia. In opposition to that several students feel as though applying the program will “make freshman aware of our mission as an organization developing good citizenship.” As a student currently, I feel as though the program can only bring positivity to the University especially as a freshman who may be having problems coming out. The last thing an incoming freshman should have to worry about is becoming a part of a brotherhood and having a fear that they won’t accept him and preventing the ideals of that organization from showing. In addition to that I feel that a lot of miscommunication and ignorance comes from not being educated and Penn’s education program solves that problem. I just hope that other Universities will follow suit. As a student, prospective student to a University or alumni how do you feel about the education program? I would love to know. No wonder its called the City of Brotherly Love. :)

Peace and Love.
thedp.com/article/fraternities-adapt-lgbt-focused-member-education

What a big success with the efforts to repeal the ban of lesbian and gay soliders serving in the United States military! With a 250 to 175 win! Read about it!

WASHINGTON — The House on Wednesday handily approved a repeal of a ban on gay men and lesbians serving openly in the military, ratcheting up the pressure on Senate Republicans who have resisted holding a vote on procedural grounds...

I don't want to post it all... read the article!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/16/us/politics/16military.html

Over the past several week I've been hearing more and more of the phrases "No Homo" and "That's Gay." When I hear people say "that's gay" I make an effort to explain to them how it can be offensive to say when that whenever they think something is bad or stupid. However, with the phrase "no homo" I did a little bit more research and found that the phrase began in the hip-hop community by Cam'Ron and artist formally on Roc-A-Fella and apart of the Diplomats. This YouTube video explains it all in a very comical yet serious way. It allows you to realize how much the phrase is used. And in the African-American community how it has become a quick fix for anything remotely feminine ,"soft", or for any complicated situation fo that matter. The video shows examples of artists contradicting what they say. Very interesting. I don't wanna give it all away. Just watch and see. I hope you enjoy it. Watch what you say.

October 18-22 was GLSEN's  (Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network) Ally Week. I personally loved the efforts of the organization to celebrate and support the work of Allies in our schools, colleges, and universities around the nation to eliminate anti-LGBT language, harassment and bullying. Students had the opportunity to organize activities to inform students of the issues that surround the LGBTQ community, know and understand the work Allies do and most importantly ways to get involved as Allies. There were several messages from celebrities and even President Obama endorsing support of the LGBT youth around America during this week.  GLSEN encouraged everyone to sign their Ally Pledge (and add it to their Twitter and Facebook) which stated:

I believe all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression,
deserve to feel safe and supported. That means I pledge to:

1. Not use anti-LGBT language and slurs;
2. Intervene, if I safely can, in situations where other students are being harassed;
3. Support efforts to end bullying and harassment.

All and all GLSEN provided all the resources(training guides and manuals, online workshops, films, and several tips) for Ally Week to be the success it was intended to be. However, I must say that locally I didn't see the same efforts that were seen on a national level.  I was very disappointed that all of GLSEN's resources were not taken advantage of in my own community of Greensboro, North Carolina. I attend the most diverse university in the North Carolina university system with over 50% of the campus population identifying at LGBTQ. Where was the support of those who support us the most? And moreover, where were the Allies? I hoped that the week would be more successful in light of the recent suicides around the country as a result of the negative language, harassment, and bullying around the country. We, as youth have the BIGGEST opportunity to make change in this world. So why are we hiding? What are YOU going to do different next year? Be the change you want to see.