Here's an email that our homie *Dametora has received about the Student Non-Discrimination Act:
“We are all asked to sign a number of petitions each year in relation to various advocacy efforts. This petition for H.R. 998, the “Student Non-Discrimination Act”, is extremely important for the welfare of LGBT youth across America. Please sign and share.

You can also send a note to your United States representative or senator at POPVOX."

We all really recommend that everyone send a personal letter via the POPVOX link. You have to sign up with the site but it’s worth it. Especially since most people are opposing this legislation (on the site). Please, please, send a personal letter. It really seems to help to let one's story out.

Here’s *Dametora's letter:

    I support H.R. 998: Student Non-Discrimination Act of 2011 because I know the problems bullying can have, especially in regards to the ideas of sexuality and gender.

    When I was a young girl, I was constantly mocked for being “too much like a boy” and called a “dyke” and other nasty things, and had no friends because of it. I am bisexual, sure, but I never realized it until my adulthood - I refused to let myself feel towards anybody, especially other girls. I have a hard time connecting with the people around me because of my experiences with bullying, not just because of the attacks on my gender and perceived sexual orientation but also for other reasons. I think it’s time to take a stand on bullying, which is a real problem.

    I’ve studied extensively into the fields of Sociology and Psychology. In a textbook, a study was cited where boys were ruthlessly attacked based on “fagginess”, and so in turn the boys would sexually harass and assault the girls to “prove their manhood” and try to stop other boys from bullying them. It’s time to put a stop to this kind of behaviour which teaches our children dangerous things that have a serious impact on society when they reach adulthood.



Everyone that submits a letter should not just talk about their experience but also the impact on society this sort of crap makes. Talk about suicide and depression rates, talk not only about bullying in students but also in teachers, talk about how people are hurt based on “not acting like they should” even if they are cis and straight, talk about all kinds of bullying, talk about the impact it has on our now cynical and brutal society, talk about things that will appeal to everyone not just the LGBT-sympathetic. Maybe everyone can relate on such a topic better if it's more widely spread.
Although we are a GSA, we encourage support for lots of things. Things that rightly deserve it. It's not really my place to say what can be judged or not but I do find that this very theme is something that deserves to be treated like a real and serious.. thing.
Feelings ARE important. Share your thoughts and maybe someone will pay a little more mind to such tender subjects. Thanks.

Sorry for my awkwardness and thank you to *Dametora for this journal