Resolution on Heterosexim
National Association for Multicultural Education
WHEREAS
heterosexism is the exclusion of lesbians, gay males, bisexuals, transgender,
and queer people (LGBTQ) in every aspect of the individual, cultural, and
institutional aspects of life, and in policies, procedures, events and
activities; and,
WHEREAS heterosexism creates an
environment of violence and hatred towards LGBTQ people and their allies, where
83.2% of LGBTQ students report being verbally harassed because of their sexual
and/or gender identity; and,
WHEREAS
heterosexism is the institutionalization of a heterosexual norm or standard,
which establishes and perpetuates the notion that all people are or should be
heterosexual; and,
WHEREAS
heterosexism hinders the growth of individuals by confining all people to rigid
roles of gender and sexual orientation; and,
WHEREAS
heterosexism excludes the needs, concerns, cultures, and life experiences of
LGBTQ people; and
WHEREAS
heterosexism contributes to violence in schools contributing to the increasing
risks of the LGBTQ youth population where 58% of LGBTQ youth have substance
abuse problems and where 30% of all youth who complete suicide are LGBTQ people;
and
WHEREAS
heterosexism is oppression;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED
that the National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME) condemns the
use of the United States Constitution and the Constitutions of the States within
the Union to deny people any rights on the basis of sexual orientation; and
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED
that members of NAME are committed to eliminating heterosexism through the
development and implementation of educational material and programs promoting an
inclusive society; and,
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED
that members of NAME will actively seek to create safe schools for all students;
and,
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED
that NAME partners with other organizations active in the promotion of a
multi-sexual oriented society.
Adopted by the NAME Board of Directors on October 30, 2004 at
the NAME Board Meeting in Kansas City, MO.
Reaffirmed by the NAME Board of Directors on Feb. 4, 2006 at the NAME Board
Meeting in Phoenix, AZ.
The National Association for Multicultural Education is the leading international and national organization in the area of multicultural education. For additional information, contact NAME at name@nameorg.org or visit the website at www.nameorg.org. The NAME office is located at
NAME, 5272 River Rd, Suite 430, Bethesda, MD
20816 and can be reached by phone at (301) 951-0022 or by fax at (301) 951-0023
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