THERAPEUTIC RECREATION RESPONDS TO LGBTQ BULLYING

1. THERAPEUTIC RECREATION RESPONDS TO LGBTQ BULLYING Sandra Wolf Klitzing, Ph.D., CTRS Illinois State University

2. Learning Outcomes • Understand incidence & impact of bullying & harassment on LGBTQ youth • Identify national responses to bullying • Identify what therapeutic recreation can do to decrease bullying or the impact of bullying

3. White House Conference on Bullying Prevention • A Call To Action by President Obama • Growing movement to make schools and communities safe for all. • “Putting an end to bullying is a responsibility we all share.”

4. Overview • What is bullying • Who is bullied • Roles in bullying • Effects of bullying • TR responses to bullying • National responses to bullying • Other things TR can do

5. What Is Bullying? • A person is bullied when he or she is exposed repeatedly over time to negative actions by 1 or more others, excluding cases where 2 children of similar physical and psychological strengths are fighting. • Olweus, 1994

6. What Is Bullying?Involves • Imbalances of power • Uses power to control or harm • People being bullied may have a hard time defending themselves • Intent to cause harm • Actions done by accident are not bullying • The person has a goal to cause harm • Repetition • Happens to same person over & over • By same person or group

7. What Is Bullying? Types • Verbal • Name-calling, teasing • Social • Spreading rumors, exclusion, breaking up friendships • Physical • Hitting, punching, shoving • Cyberbullying • Repeated use of technology to harass, humiliate, or threaten

8. Test Your Bullying KnowledgeFact or Myth • People who bully have power over those they bully. • FACT • Spreading rumors is a form of bullying. • FACT • Only boys bully. • MYTH

9. Test Your Bullying KnowledgeFact or Myth • Bullying usually occurs when there are no other students around. • MYTH • Bullying often resolves itself when you ignore it. • MYTH • Reporting bullying will make the situation worse. • MYTH

10. Test Your Bullying KnowledgeFact or Myth • Teachers often intervene to stop bullying. • MYTH • Nothing can be done at schools to reduce bullying. • MYTH • Parents are usually aware that their children are bullying others. • MYTH • www.stopbullying.gov

11. Who Is Bullied?

12. GLSEN The 2009 National School Climate Study

13. GLSEN The 2009 National School Climate StudyHostile School Climate for LGBT Students • 84.6% were verbally harassed • 40.1% were physically harassed • 18.8% were physically assaulted • 52.9% were cyberbullied • 88.9% heard “gay” used in negative way frequently • 72.4% heard other homophobic remarks (e.g., dyke, faggot) frequently • 61.1% felt unsafe at school

14. Think Back….. • I was not involved & never saw it happen • I was not involved but saw it happen sometimes • I would sometimes join in bullying others • I would attempt to stop the bullying or befriend the kids that were bullied • I would sometimes get bullied by others • I was both a bully & a victim

15. Roles in Bullying • Bully • Bullied/victim • Bystander

16. Effects of Bullying • Grades lowered • Increased absenteeism • Depression • Anxiety • Low self-esteem • Decreased life satisfaction • PTSD • Fear in school • Isolation • Loneliness • Vigilance • Dropping out • Substance abuse • Runaway • Homelessness • Victim of hate crimes • And more

17. Effects: Foster Care System • LGBTQ youth disproportionally represented in foster care system • 70% report physical violence • 10% report being harassed in group home • L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center

18. Effects: Suicide or Ideation

19. TR Responses to BullyingSurvey (Agree/Disagree) • I have heard clients/participants use slurs or derogatory words. • Bullying is a problem in my agency/program. • Participants feel comfortable approaching me about bullying. • I feel comfortable intervening when I witness bullying.

20. TR Responses to BullyingSurvey (Agree/Disagree) • Our agency has an effective anti-bullying policy. • The agency has a clear procedure for reporting acts of bullying. • Members of our staff work actively to create a safe and welcoming environment for all participants.

21. ThinkB4YouSpeak.comGLSEN Used Today on Twitter • Fag 1500+ • Dyke 1500+ • ..So Gay 1500+ • GOAL: 0 • It’s NOT OK to say “that’s so gay”

22. ThinkB4YouSpeak

23. GLSEN Projects Changing the Game Team Respect Challenge

24. Hudson Taylor • I pledge to lead my athletic community to respect and welcome all persons, regardless of their perceived or actual sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Beginning right now, I will do my part to promote the best of athletics by making all players feel respected on and off the field

25. GLSEN Projects No Name Calling Week Day of Silence

26. Human Rights Campaign National Coming Out Day Transgender Day of Remembrance

27. #SpiritDay

28. GLSEN Safe Space kit www.glsen.org

29. Other Campaigns The Trevor Project Give a Damn

30. Online Resources The ABC’s of Bullying LGBT Resources Evidence-Based Programs Research Papers Assessment Tools

31. More Resources PFLAG Teaching Tolerance

32. More Resources:http://www.operationrespect.org/

33. What Are You Doing????

34. Other Things TR (I) Can Do I am more aware of the various issues surrounding LGBT bullying. (Y/N) I will continue to review information and programs to stop bullying for LGBT. (Y/N) I will share this information with others. (Y/N) I will stop hateful speech and actions, when I hear them or do them myself. (Y/N) I will be an ally. (Y/N) I will incorporate some of what I learned in my programs/agency (Y/N --- Be specific)

35. Closure • What is bullying • Who is bullied • Roles in bullying • Effects of bullying • TR responses to bullying • National responses to bullying • Other things TR can do • Questions?

36. Learning Outcomes • Understand incidence & impact of bullying & harassment on LGBTQ youth • Identify national responses to bullying • Identify what therapeutic recreation can do to decrease bullying or the impact of bullying

37. Thanks!!!! slklitz@ilstu.edu