Model Programs
Coalition for Education on Sexual Orientation (CESO)
Established in 1998, this 43-member coalition is a network of Illinois schools, social service organizations, health care providers, and municipal governments that works to protect students perceived as GLBT from verbal and physical harassment. In targeting rural, “downstate” communities, CESo has worked hard to network member organizations. By first identifying existing programs for GLBT youth in rural Illinois, the Coalition successfully initiated a statewide Youth Leadership Summit. The gathering not only brought students from otherwise isolated communities together for a healthy social experience, but also allowed GBLT advocates to disseminate information to rural students about local organizing, legal protections, health and wellness, and Gay/Straight Alliances. The end result is a more efficient network of rural Illinois GLBT youth and better equipped young people and advocates in local communities who will further advance CESo’s objective of training educators and social service providers.
Youth Guardian Services (YGS)
Technology is a tremendous tool in serving sexual minority youth in rural areas. YGS capitalizes on this growing communication medium by supervising email YOUTH lists that connect sexual minority youth from throughout the world. This entirely internet-based organization (http://www.youth-guard.org/) not only facilitates the fostering of relationships between young people, but also works to put them in contact with social service and crisis response organizations in their own communities. The feedback YGS has received indicates that it serves large numbers of rural young people and is one of very few resources those students have to connect with other GLBT young people from similar communities. The YOUTH lists are often forums for young people to share their stories of activism and organizing so that youth are mobilized in their home locales. In addition to the lists, YGS staffs crisis lines and sponsors youth leadership exercises. The importance of YGS to rural kids is invaluable, as evidenced by one young girl from rural Texas who says “I live in rural America and really the only thing that I can honestly be free about being lesbian in is the list.”
An International Perspective:
Outlink Network : http://outlink.trump.net.au/index.htm