Acknowledgements
This resource manual was made possible by the generous financial support of the Harvard Gay and Lesbian Caucus’s Open Gate Foundation. Additionally, the following organizations provided expertise, resources, access to professional networks, and moral support: Bradley University Common Ground, Coalition for Education on Sexual Orientation, COLAGE, District 202, Family and Children’s Services, Fenway Community Health, Fringe Benefits, Gay and Lesbian Service Organization, GLBT Youth in Iowa Schools Task Force, GLSEN, Harvard College BGLTSA, Harvard Graduate School of Education PRIDE, Harvard School of Public Health, Health Care and Rehabilitation Services, Health Care of Southeastern Massachusetts Inc., Illinois Federation of Teachers, In Your Face Gorilla Theater, LaCrosse Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association Inc., McLean County AIDS Task Force, National Association of GSA Networks, NEA GLBT Caucus, Outfront Minnesota, Outright Maine, Outright Vermont, Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa, Prairie Flame, Safe Schools Coalition, Safe Schools NC, SDA Kinship International, Teaching Tolerance, Youth Alliance for Diversity, Youth and Shelter Services Inc., and Youth Guardian Services. I extend my sincere gratitude to the countless rural students, teachers, health professionals, religious leaders, program directors, social workers, researchers, and advocates across twenty-five states who shared the personal stories that made this project a success. Finally, I am indebted to Sarah for her creative contributions and Michelle for her wisdom and enthusiasm.
About the Author
Christopher J. Stapel is an openly gay high school math teacher and advisor at the Boston Community Leadership Academy, a pilot high school of the Boston Public Schools. He holds an Ed.M. in Education Policy and Management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education where he was a Conant Fellow. His research interests include rural college access, rural sexualities, and race and class inequalities in schools. A former student of rural public schools in west-central Illinois, Chris can be reached at cstapel@post.harvard.edu.