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On October 2, 1999, Governor Gray Davis signed into law AB 537, the California Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act of 2000. Students, teachers, parents, community groups, and political activists had fought for five years for a law that would protect gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students from the harassment and discrimination so many faced on a daily basis at their schools. The law passed, but is the work done? On January 1, 2000, the new law took effect. Do schools magically become safe, respectful, diversity-embracing mini-nirvanas? Don't bet your life on it. But does that mean the cynics are right and nothing matters, nothing changes, and nothing will happen? Only if we quit working, and we're not going to. Make It Real is a project that focuses on training students to be activists, empowering them to take the lead in implementing AB 537 in their own school environments. We are here to provide you with the tools to create meaningful change in your lives, taking full advantage of the opportunities opened by AB 537. We hope to teach you how to report harassment and discrimination, to train you in activist strategies, and to provide you with a network of resources and support that will enable you to really make a difference. Imagine a school where anti-LGBT slurs and harassment are considered really stupid and unacceptable, and where teachers, students, and administrators respond to them strongly and make sure they intervene whenever they hear them... Imagine a school where two girls or two guys can hold hands, dance together, or even make out, and nobody even notices... Imagine a school where a boy can be feminine, a girl can be masculine, and where what matters about a person is not how much they fit into the predetermined boxes of masculinity or femininity, but their individuality and talent and humanity... Imagine a school where everyone feels safe... Imagine a school without hate... Imagine it, then Make It Real | ||
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