By Ian S. Thompson, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 4:20pm
The ACLU has been invited to offer our civil liberties and civil rights recommendations to the Democratic National Committee’s “platform drafting committee,” which is currently meeting in Minneapolis to begin the process of putting together the 2012 Democratic National Platform. While the ACLU is a nonpartisan organization, we welcome opportunities to infuse a respect for and commitment to civil liberties in the political process. We would also be pleased to offer our views to the Republican National Committee’s platform drafters.
By Ian S. Thompson, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 1:42pm
Like football fans around the country, I'm anxiously awaiting the official start of the 2011 NFL season and another exciting Super Bowl run for my favorite team — Here We Go Steelers!
In addition to the start of a new football season, fall marks the return of millions of students to schools across the country. Sadly, one group of students in particular, those who are or are thought to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT), remain uniquely vulnerable to discrimination, harassment and abuse in public schools across the country. While numerous professional baseball teams and individual athletes have stepped up to deliver video messages of hope and support to these young people through the It Gets Better Project, it remains to be seen which NFL team will be the first to produce an It Gets Better video.
By Elizabeth Gill, ACLU of Northern California at 1:45pm
Seth Walsh was a sweet, intelligent boy who loved his family and did well in school. He was also gay. And for this, he endured years of relentless bullying and verbal abuse at his Tehachapi, California, school. On September 19, 2010, Seth Walsh hanged himself from a plum tree in the family's backyard. He was on life support for nine days before he died on September 28. He was only 13 years old.
Wendy Walsh, Seth's mother, teamed up with the ACLU to help make a difference in the lives of LGBT youth facing harassment. "Schools need to take harassment and bullying seriously when parents or students tell them about it, and when they see it in the halls," she told the ACLU.
