In Context: 5 Web Perspectives On A Story In The News

Pepperdine refuses to recognize LGBT group

(Malibu Patch) The administration of Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., decided against recognizing Reach OUT as an official university club. The group's mission is against the university's conservative beliefs on sexual morality, according to school officials. The "gay-straight alliance" group stated it has no position on sexual orientation, but the university believes it isn't possible for an LGBT student organization to maintain neutral. A petition was started by students to demand the administration to change its decision. More than 4,000 students have signed the petition so far.

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Promoting LGBT health and wellbeing through inclusive policy development

International Journal for Equity in Health
Canada's International Journal for Equity in Health stresses the importance of inclusion of gender and sexually diverse populations in policy development. People marginalized by their orientation are often excluded from health promotion research, practice and policy. Also, an ill-based focus, such as HIV/AIDS, is often used as an approach, instead of broad health and wellbeing issues that LGBT people face. The continuing discrimination and not being included negatively affects the ability to feel part of a community and sustain supportive relationships.

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Personal: Accepting your own sexuality, regardless of family's negative response

Independent Online, South Africa - Relationship column
Although her family wasn't supportive and her dad thought she should see a doctor, a former student in South Africa writes that what helped her the most was approaching a gay and lesbian community, as she could comfortably talk about her feelings. Ashika Maharah believes people's attitudes about LGBT issues should change. Religious events and even chances for jobs sometimes work against her. She says one day everyone will be treated equally, as sexual orientation is just a small part of who we are.

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YouTube: Launching a project to reduce LGBT youth suicides

YouTube: It Gets Better
The It Gets Better project was launched in 2010 by sex columnist Dan Savage and his husband Terry Miller after a string of suicides amongst LGBT youth. They sent a message about the struggles of coming out and the harassments that follow. But also that things will "get better," even awesome, after some time. LGBT youth, corporate companies, celebrities and politicians followed by posting their videos on the web to inspire hope for happiness, positivity and potential for young LGBT people. www.itgetsbetter.org

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Using language to support LGBT youth (2007)

Research
All young people are affected by homophobia, according to the Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre. With statistics, they prove the importance of communities working together to educate citizens about LGBT people, to avoid discrimination or even suicide (attempts). The use of open and inclusive language makes people more comfortable, instead of using homophobic terms or other language that excludes people from feeling accepted. When words like "fag" and "homo" are used to describe something else, it can have a negative and harmful effect on an LGBT people.

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Churches and gay youth

Religion & Ethics - news weekly (video)
Religion and sexual orientation often clash. In a video, three young gay men talk openly about their struggles with their sexual orientation while growing up in religious families. Being LGBT violates the way God intended us to be, says Baptist pastor Bob Perdue in the video. He says being gay is not a choice, but acting upon it is, and therefore a sin to God. Lutheran pastor Heidi Neumark, however, says that the church's condemnation has led to harmful discrimination and suffering of LGBT youth. She says churches have to teach tolerance, as homosexuality becomes more accepted by society.