The Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition''

(MSSC) is an organization in Mississippi that promotes safe schools for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender,

Queer ''Queer'' is an umbrella term for people who are not heterosexual or cisgender. Originally meaning or , ''queer'' came to be used pejoratively against those with same-sex desires or relationships in the late 19th century. Beginning in the lat ...

, or young people who are mistakenly perceived to be queer. The group was founded in 2008 and has already hosted events such as: the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition Queer & Allies Summit and the Second Chance Prom. The Second Chance Prom was made famous due to Constance McMillan not being able to wear a tuxedo or take her girlfriend to the prom.

About

The Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition is a collaboration of people and organizations, who believe that no student should ever feel too afraid to go to school.

Harassment Harassment covers a wide range of behaviors of offensive nature. It is commonly understood as behavior that demeans, humiliates or embarrasses a person, and it is characteristically identified by its unlikelihood in terms of social and moral ...

bullying Bullying is the use of force, coercion, hurtful teasing or threat, to abuse, aggressively dominate or intimidate. The behavior is often repeated and habitual. One essential prerequisite is the perception (by the bully or by others) of an imba ...

, and unfair school policy can make schools into hostile places for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer youth or young people who are mistakenly perceived to be queer. MSSC trains students and allies to make schools safer, while fighting for long-term policy change. MSSC's work is made possible through a grant from the

Liberty Hill Foundation The Liberty Hill Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by Sarah Pillsbury, heir to the Minnesota Pillsbury baking fortune, along with Anne Mendel, Larry Janss and Win McCormack, in 1976. Its motto is "Change. Not Charity." The name of t ...

’s

Queer Youth Fund ''Queer'' is an umbrella term for people who are not heterosexual or cisgender. Originally meaning or , ''queer'' came to be used pejoratively against those with same-sex desires or relationships in the late 19th century. Beginning in the l ...

, making MSSC the first Mississippi LGBT youth advocacy group to receive foundation funding. The MSSC actively works in numerous ways to address bullying in Mississippi schools. During their 2010 Queer Youth and Allies Summit, MSSC screened the Southern Poverty Law Center film "Bullied: A Student, a School and a Case That Made History."

Mission

The mission of the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition is to ensure that all students have a safe learning environment by protecting students’ constitutional rights, ending

homophobia Homophobia encompasses a range of negative attitude (psychology), attitudes and feelings toward homosexuality or people who are identified or perceived as being lesbian, gay or bisexual. It has been defined as contempt, prejudice, aversion, h ...

, transphobia, sexism, and all forms of

discrimination Discrimination is the act of making unjustified distinctions between people based on the groups, classes, or other categories to which they belong or are perceived to belong. People may be discriminated on the basis of race, gender, age, relig ...

, and fostering acceptance of students regardless of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity through

public education State schools (in England, Wales, Australia and New Zealand) or public schools (Scottish English and North American English) are generally primary or secondary schools that educate all students without charge. They are funded in whole or in pa ...

and

advocacy Advocacy is an Action (philosophy), activity by an individual or advocacy group, group that aims to influence decision making, decisions within political, economic, and social institutions. Advocacy includes activities and publications to infl ...

Leadership

MSSC believes that it is impossible to make schools safe without giving young people a voice; for this reason, the coalition is entirely youth led. Our governing body is the

Queer Youth Advisory Board ''Queer'' is an umbrella term for people who are not heterosexual or cisgender. Originally meaning or , ''queer'' came to be used pejoratively against those with same-sex desires or relationships in the late 19th century. Beginning in the lat ...

(or QYAB). QYAB is made up of diverse high school and college age youth activists from across the state.

External links

Mississippi Safe School Coalition

Second Chance Prom Story

References

{{Reflist LGBT political advocacy groups in Mississippi Organizations established in 2008 2008 establishments in Mississippi LGBT and education