When the Drama Club is Not Enough Lessons from the Safe Schools Program for Gay and Lesbian Students

by Perrotti, Jeff; Westheimer, Kim

• ISBN13: 9780807031315
• ISBN10: 0807031313
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-08-16
• Publisher: Beacon Press

Summary

When the Drama Club Is Not Enough presents the work of two young activists who have been at the forefront of the successful Safe Schools Program for Gay and Lesbian Students in Massachusetts, a model for states and school districts nationwide. They give concrete, hard-won, and often inspiring lessons on integrating gay and lesbian issues to create powerful change for school communities. The book discusses the previously undiscussable--gay and lesbian identity and self-esteem at the middle and elementary school level, and gay and lesbian issues in school sports. It tells the story of a high school junior who, at the end of one of Jeff Perrotti's workshops on school sports, raised his hand and said he was a football captain and wanted to come out and needed help, and uses this dramatic narrative of personal courage to show step-by-step how gay and lesbian issues can be a catalyst for transformation of schools. The authors speak directly to those who want to change school climate--parents, teachers, administrators, and students concerned about harassment and safety. They offer seasoned and often humorous advice on dealing with controversy--even if it occurs in the context of a school presentation on sexual orientation attended by angry and disruptive parents. When the Drama Club Is Not Enough includes chapters on "Getting Started" and "Race and Gender" and sections on school policies and students' legal rights in order to ensure safe schools.

Author Biography

Jeff Perrotti and Kim Westheimer have each served as the director of the Safe Schools Program for Gay and Lesbian Students, a nationally recognized initiative of the Massachusetts Department of Education

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(8)
Three Schools	9	(11)
Strategies for Change	20	(26)
What Do Race and Gender Have to Do with It?	46	(27)
Sports, Sexual Orientation, and School Climate	73	(25)
Elementary and Middle Schools	98	(19)
Controversy: Challenge and Opportunity	117	(26)
Nuts and Bolts	143	(26)
Sustaining Your Spirit	169	(20)
Appendix A: Addressing Sexual Orientation and Gender Stereotypes with Elementary School Children	189	(4)
Appendix B: Model Antiharassment Policy	193	(9)
Appendix C: Resources	202	(14)
Acknowledgments	216	(2)
Index	218