Caleb Laieski via Gays and Lesbians United Against Discrimination
By Brody Levesque (Washington DC) JAN 6 | A 15 year old queer equality rights activist has put the entire state of Arizona's school districts on notice that if efforts are not made to end bullying, he will take them to court. In December, Caleb Laieski, 15, a resident of suburban Phoenix- in Surprise, Arizona, e-mailed a letter to more than 5,000 school administrators, city-council members and state lawmakers demanding improved measures to fight discrimination.According to The Arizona Republic newspaper:
“The letters warn school officials that they must institute policies specifically prohibiting gay harassment by students, teachers and administrators,” reports the Republic. “Schools that fail to stop bullying will encounter ‘legal ramifications.’”Laieski, 15, founded Gays and Lesbians United Against Discrimination two years ago. Prior to making his demand of every school in Arizona, he successfully prompted the Dysart Unified School District, where he had endured antigay bullying, to revise its handbook to include language that prohibits bullying on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
"This is more not to threaten a lawsuit but to put resources out there," said Laieski, founder of Gays and Lesbians United Against Discrimination. "But if they don't want to cooperate, there's going to be consequences."The paper also reports Laieski, formerly a student at Willow Canyon High School, said he endured harassment at school and felt district officials should have done more to stop it. Laieski said he was shoved into lockers and received text messages with anti-gay slurs. Last March, the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona had offered to represent Laieski in a potential lawsuit against Dysart Unified School District. Before the litigation was filed, the school district revised the student handbook to include language prohibiting bullying of LGBTQ students.
"Overall, I think they did a great job in adding the protections and a better job enforcing," said Laieski, who is pursuing his high-school-equivalency diploma and plans to attend community college. "Obviously, there's always room for improvement."Bullying is "a very serious problem," said Arizona ACLU legal director Dan Pochoda, who told a reporter that he was not aware of Laieski's letter campaign nor would he comment on whether his organisation would be a party to lawsuits should Laieski's group initiate them.
According to the Republic, the letter campaign has netted responses from only a handful of officials, including two districts in the Phoenix area. Most acknowledged receipt of the letter but did not outline plans to take further steps.
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2 comments:
My congratulations to Caleb. I certainly wouldn't have had the nerve to even contemplate such action at that age. Hopefully the tactic will work to produce the results wanted, firm and fair action to curb the bullying. It is too bad the rod needs to be applied or at least threatened to have administrations do what is clearly needed in the first place.
I agree good job! My son is being bullied by the Cimarron Springs elementry vice principal. He is special needs and she thinks hes an easy target and Im not the only parent that has had problems with her, But no one will do anything about it. They all protect each other and lie for each other. These people have to much power and not enough accountability for their own actions. Its about time. If you need any help or another voice to help you fight. I am there for you!!
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