Date: Fri, 26 Jan 1996 06:30:32 -0800 From: jessea@uclink2.berkeley.edu (Jessea NR Greenman) Subject: OR: Beyond The Closet Rural Youth Project [gentle readers, we send this for several reasons: a. those in the pacific northwest can access the services and expertise of this project, which intends to address needs/issues in oregon AND neighboring states b. this seems to be a good model for others and so interested folks contemplating establishing such a project in their area may wish to network/consult with bruce and scott.] ---------------- From: Bruce_Amsbary@bendnet.com (Bruce Amsbary) Date: Thu, 18 Jan 96 21:20:54 PST Subject: OR: Beyond The Closet Rural Youth Project At the most recent meeting of Beyond The Closet - a rural based Oregon Queer organization - the board consensed to adopting a rural Queer youth outreach project. Belowe is an outline of the project, followed by a brief description of Beyond The Closet. ********************************* The mission of the "Rural Youth Project" of Beyond The Closet would be to work with rural community members to increase community awareness of issues faced by lesbigay [LBG] youth and to provide resources and information to professionals who work with them so they can be more effective and supportive in proving for this population. The project proposes to reach counselors, principals, district administrators, health department sexuality specialists and educators, and other professionals who work with youth in predominantly rural areas of Oregon, and adjoining states. LBG youth remain a largely unserved or under-served population. Although resources and information are increasing rapidly for these young people, their general invisibility and the hostile environment in which they experience their everyday lives make it very difficult to successfully connect them to appropriate services. Because of the general controversy surrounding fair treatment of gay and lesbian individuals, it is often difficult, if not impossible to publicly provide the services needed by youth who are questioning their orientation or who identify as LBG. The project proposes to abet this situation by helping to coordinate efforts through Beyond The Closet with PFLAG, Human Dignity Groups tied to the Rural Organizing Project, and interested individuals and professionals in communities who want to assist LBG youth achieve an equitable, safe environment. Education and assistance can occur, but not be limited by, the following methods: 1) working with councilors and principals to ensure that school environments are safe places for LBG youth. 2) setting up conferences and workshops that assist communities in identifying the issues faced by LBG youth and then developing services or directing youth to already available resources 3) providing ongoing educational presentations to various professional and interest groups or college classes that address LBG youth issues 4) serving as a catalyst to bring about change in general and to network with individuals and organizations to increase the efficient use of already existing resources and services and to help create new ones where needed 5) organizing and helping to staff information booths, especially at county fairs, to help increase public awareness about the LBG youth population and issues in general. At present, there are a couple of other resources and undertakings available which the RURAL Youth Project could work closely with to help achieve change. One is an ad-hoc committee attempting to solidify a push for the formation of a statewide commission, similar to Governor Weld's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth, which would investigate methods of how to make the school environment safe and equitable for LBG youth in Oregon. Chris Kryzan, director of the National Coalition for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Youth, has also worked extensively to develop a data base containing over 3,700 organizations and resources, which could be distributed on floppy discs to schools and youth agencies as an ongoing part of the project or by accessing the Internet. The outreach coordinator, Scott Thiemann, would travel by vehicle, mostly throughout rural Oregon and meet with local organizations and individuals who would be interested in taking steps in their communities in helping to create a safer and more equitable environment for LBG youth in our state. Scott has a degree in elementary education for Oregon State University and was the former director of "The Outreach to Rural Youth Project" for three years in eastern Washington, where over 4,500 youth adults, and professionals were reached through such strategies as listed above. Recent workshops include presentations to the Adolescent Sexuality Conference in Eugene last April, co-facilitation of a workshop with The National Council on Alcoholism/Juneau chapter in August 1995, and presenting at Blue Mountain Community College in Pedleton in September 1995. He was a planning committee member of the recent sexual minority youth conference which drew over 250 people from throughout the Northwest to Portland. He is also a steering committee member of the Odyssey Project which attempts to create a safer environment for all youth in Oregon by increasing their awareness of diversity, and their respect for others regardless of their differences. ********************** Beyond The Closet is a Queer educational, advocacy and support organization operating in the predominantly rural area of Central Oregon. Our work also extends to rural communities throughout Oregon. Formed in 1994 as a responce to a visible lack of long-term high profile education about gays and lesbians the mission of Beyond The Closet, as recently revised is: "Beyond The Closet, through education, is dedicated to promoting the awarness, understanding, and acceptance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people, embrtacing other groups and individuals to form alliances that work for social, enviornmental and economic justice." Our goals are to: a) provide services for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, their families, friends and supporters. b) promote the civil rights and spiritual, mental and physical health of the Queer community by fostering positive discussion of issues in the public arena. c) eliminate heterosexism and the homophobia it creates, both within and outside the Queer community. d) form alliances with others who work for economic, social and political justice. Our Accomplishments include: 1) the first ever gay and lesbian lecture series in rural Oregon, including Suzanne Pharr, Scott Nakagawa, Tim McFeeley, Kathleen Sadaat, Mel White, and Floyd Cochran. 2) hosting a two hour meeting between Mel White and area clergy. 3) organizing a month long tour of Oregon by the reformed Aryan Nations leader Floyd Cochran to 27 rural communities [see the May 2 edition of The Advocate]. 4) promoting "Solidarity Sunday" nationally and to ecumenincal churches in Central Oregon. 5) Many local firsts such as a Queer book sale; publication of a Queer newspaper for public distribution; a Queer film series, concerts by Cris Williamson & Tret Fure, Jamie Anderson, and Alice DeMicele; high volume media work including live and taped television and radio interviews, and guest colums in the local paper in the "Religion" section by our religious spokesperson, the Rev. Dr. Alex Nagy. Beyond The Closet is a membership organization which is open to anyone who supports the mission and purposes of the organization. Approximatly 50% of our dues paying members are heterosexual. Members are eligable to serve on and vote for the Board; attend all Board meetings, and participate in discussions leading to consensus by the Board; and receive a monthly update of our activities along with political analysis, and action suggestions. - ------------------------------ Bruce Amsbary, President Beyond The Closet PO Box 9174 Bend, OR 97709 541-317-8966 *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ YOU MAY RE-POST. Jessea Greenman The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project*; ph/fax: 510-601-8883, 586 62nd St. Oakland, CA 94609-1245 Gopher to "gopher.outright.com" Web sites: http://www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/ http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/glb/person.html/ http://www.pride.net/pridenet/person The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project is *always* looking for volunteer organizers. Please cc us (for our files) on correspondence you send or receive re our action alerts. *Public Education Regarding Sexual Orientation Nationally.