Program Five: LGBTQ Role Models and Allies: Solidarity Among Movements

Materials ● Pictures of 5 civil rights movements (to be found by instructor)

Opening Activity 1. Students will respond, on a large post-it note, to the journal reflection: Describe a situation where you had to stand up for someone. How did this experience make you feel? a. Students will discuss responses in pairs and then in a large group.

Mini-Lesson/Warm Up:

1. Students will be introduced to current allies making a difference in the community by speaking out in favor of the LGBTQ community. a. Brandon Ayanbadejo: Brandon is a professional football player who has been vocal about his support for LGBTQ rights and access to marriage equality. b. Barack Obama: On May 9, 2012, Obama expressed his public support for marriage equality and, as a whole, has been the single most “gay friendly” president to date. c. Kristen Bell: Bell is an actress best known for her series, “Veronica Mars.” She and her husband Dax Shepard have been outspoken supporters of marriage equality and have taken a vow to remain unwed until rights are extended to their friends. 2. Students will discuss other movements that have used allies as an important part of their social acceptance. a. Civil rights movement: The civil rights movement, while founded and upheld by racial minorities, included numerous allies of different racial identity. Many white American’s joined racial minorities in rallies, sit-ins, and protests. Students will be introduced to Bayard Rustin and his contributions as an LGBTQ individual to the civil rights movement. b. Women’s rights movement: While a female-based movement, the women’s rights movement required that, in order to advance, it needed to rely on the support of men. “Working within the cage” is defined as navigating within an institution.

Live Out Loud Role Model Introduction

1. Students will be introduced to former Baltimore Ravens linebacker, Brandon Ayanbadejo. 2. Students will watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z1fTufwtDA and reflect on the following questions. a. What does solidarity mean? b. Do we have to be members of a specific group in order to understand what they’re going through? c. What other instances in history have allies been important for the fight towards inclusion and equality? d. Does Brendon Ayanbadejo have the authority to speak for the LGBTQ community? e. What might make Brendon, and allies like him, a role model to LGBTQ youth? 3. Students will be introduced to Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard, two actors who have been outspoken about marriage equality. 4. Students will watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if3A_sbwwLo 1. What makes Kristen and Dax allies of the LGBTQ community? 2. Does refusing to get married define Bell and Dax as activists? 3. What message might their support send to LGBTQ youth?

Activity

1. Students will split into groups of 3-5 2. Students will each receive a series of 5 photos that depict different social movements--Civil rights movement, women’s rights movement, immigration reform movement, LGBTQ movement, and workers rights movement. 3. As a group, students will discuss some of the connections and differences between the images. a. What do you notice about the identities of individuals in each photo? b. Do you think they felt pressured to stand up and be an ally? c. What kind of challenges do you think allies might face when standing up? d. How can we be allies to other communities? How can our GSA be an ally to other clubs?

Discussion/Share 1. Students will share their groups reaction to each of the photographs .

TakeAway Actions 1. Create a coalition with other clubs in your school--ask them to come to your GSA meetings and vice versa. Put on a school-wide assembly about being an ally! Team up to make a difference. 2. Utilize the Tyler Clementi Foundation’s “Upstander Campaign.” Go to their website: http://www.tylerclementi.org/ and download the poster to hang around your school! 3. Write a letter to the editor explaining your approval and/or objections to the stop and frisk policy. 4. With Live Out Loud’s help, ask “Athlete Ally” to come to your school and share their perspective on being an ally to the community! 5. Contact your district council person and set up a meeting with them! Ask them to visit your GSA and share their thoughts on being LGBTQ in NYC and the stop and frisk policy.