Help Stop Bullying

(FOX Providence) - John Reis (Ret. Lt.), Director of PAVE and Volunteer Coordinator & Trainer for the Hope 2 Grant at Silver Lake Community Center, and James Robinson, Executive Director of Youth Pride are on The Rhode Show this morning to discuss the Hope 2 Grant and how to prevent hate crimes by raising public awareness.

John Reis worked with a group of teens and volunteers from Youth Pride and with WPRI/WNAC to develop a commercial for the Hope 2 Grant. Watch the video clip to view the commercial!

The Hope 2 Grant is aimed at supporting victims of hate crimes based sexual orientation or the perception of sexual orientation. The grant was meant to develop mentoring programs; awareness through and development of a public service announcement; and, finally a musical performance titled “Bully” that will be performed at 10 local high schools this fall.

The Hope 2 Grant – The Hope for Victims of Hate Crimes (HVHC) project provides support, knowledge, awareness and education to victims of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) -related hate crimes. The HVHC project focuses on the prevention of re-victimization of project participants.

Some facts:

i. Nearly 46% of students between the ages of 16 and 18 said they are prejudice against homosexuals

ii. 2 out of 5 youth did not feel safe in their school because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning

iii. According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, one hate crime is reported to the police every 69 minutes. The 2004 FBI Crime Report places sexual orientation as the second cause of hate crime incidence, just behind race.

iv. Teen suicide among LGBT youth is catastrophic. A youth Risk Behavior Survey sponsored in cooperation with the national CDC found that gay teens had suidice rates nearly double those of their peers.

v. In 2007, the National Coalition of Anti-violence Programs reported that the number of hate and bias incidents again LGBT individuals rose nationally by 24% from 2006.

If anyone wants more information or has been a victim of a hate crime or knows someone that has been a victim of hate crimes please contact Youth Pride at 401.421.5626 or log onto www.youthprideri.org for help.

Through the HVHC grant, Kaleidoscope Theatre will do 10 performances of BULLY--the High School Musical at the following schools throughout the 2009-2010 school year:

LaSalle Academy
Veterans High School
Pilgrim High School
Tollgate High School
Tolman High School
East Providence High School
Barrington High School
William M. Davies Technical High School
Shea High School
Lincoln HIgh School

These performances will address issues of bullying and sexual orientation.