Administrators, building principals and teachers from at least 50 school districts throughout the United States will gather in Fort Lauderdale from May 12 to 15 at the Bahia Mar Hotel to focus on LGBTQ inclusive curriculum and GLBTQ student safety as part of the 2015 Stonewall National Education Project. For the third year, the Stonewall National Museum & Archives, 
headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, is bringing together school district representatives to share best practices and policies for LGBTQ students.
This year, delegates will represent more than 4.5 million school children and 200,000 educators. The Stonewall National Education Project symposium is sponsored by Comcast/NBC Universal, GSA Network, GLSEN, HRC Welcoming Schools, Bohnett Foundation, Trevor Project and Gender Spectrum. District administrators representing grades 7-12 are invited to attend. For more information, visit stonewall-museum.org/education/national-symposium/.
“Current research conducted by GLSEN and The Trevor Project indicates that one in five LGBTQ children have been physically assaulted in the past year. With 60% of children reporting that teachers and administrators do not intervene when observing negative remarks about gender expression occurring in the classroom, it is no wonder that these staggering statistics exist,” remarks David Jobin, the executive director of the Stonewall National Museum & Archives.
Stonewall National Museum & Archives enters the national conversation which revolves around 
the need to create safe and productive learning environments for LGBTQ children, as an organization that has preserved and shared LGBTQ history for the past forty-one years.
“Because we know that LGBTQ children’s self-esteem is directly affected by witnessing positive LGBTQ role models, Stonewall is also introducing through its network, curriculum and lesson plans intended to provide teachers the opportunity to teach and discuss LGBTQ history,” Jobin continued. “But for all our talk about policies, procedures and curriculum, the Stonewall National Education Project is ultimately about kids’ lives. The sobering statistics around LGBTQ bullying, suicide and drop-out rates are a rallying cry for change and the Stonewall National Education Project is a powerful response on a national level.”
LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum, policy and LGBTQ student safety will be explored in sessions tailored for school districts at the forefront of the LGBTQ-inclusive education movement, in addition to those that are just getting started in their efforts. Honored presenters include 
Honored presenters represent a robust background of nationally known talent in LGBTQ youth advocacy. Presenters include Caitlin Ryan, director of the Family Acceptance Project; Leslea Newman, author and conference keynote speaker; Robert Kim, from the U.S. Office of Civil Rights; Jennifer Levi, director of the Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD); Jama Shelton, director of Forty to None; Jazz Jennings, nationally-recognized youth advocate, author and star of forthcoming TLC reality series All That Jazz; and Zeam Porter, nationally-recognized youth advocate.
The range of school districts hosted by SNMA includes Los Angeles; Oakland; New York City; Washington, D.C.; Chicago; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Fort Worth and Houston, Texas; Philadelphia; Minneapolis; Miami; Portland, Oregon; San Francisco; Fulton County, Georgia; Lansing and Ann Arbor, Michigan; Charlotte, North Carolina; Madison, Wisconsin; Cleveland; Clark County, Nevada; Franklin Central, Vermont; the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth, and more, including Broward County, Florida.
About Stonewall National Museum & Archives
Now celebrating 41 years, Stonewall National Museum & Archives (SNMA) promotes understanding through preserving and sharing the proud culture of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their significant role in society. SNMA presents an ongoing schedule of exhibitions, including author readings and movie screenings on LGBTQ topics, writer’s and book discussion groups, and other special events.
Information on programs at Stonewall National Museum – Wilton Manors Gallery, Stonewall National Library & Archives and programs organized through Stonewall National Education Project is available at stonewall-museum.org. Find SNMA on Facebook: stonewallmuseum and on Instagram: @stonewallarchive.
