FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. - On this National Coming Out Day, there is a call to remember the six young people who took their own lives in recent weeks across the country due to gay bullying. Sunshine Cathedral and the Pride Center at Equality Park, Ft. Lauderdale, are among those holding prayer services tonight.

The Rev. Dr. Robert Griffin, director of justice and media ministries at the cathedral, says nine out of 10 LGBT youth report being verbally harassed at school; 44 percent say they have been physically harassed; and 60 percent say it is useless to report abuse because they don't trust that anyone will actually help protect them.

"These are serious things that we're facing right now, because these are young people who are taking their lives. We don't need just political air given to it, we need political muscle put behind this, with people who can make our schools and our community a safer place."

Griffin says while bullying should not be tolerated in any case, it is especially prevalent against those perceived to be LGBT.

"They do feel like they're the only one, and if it's found that they are gay or lesbian or even questioning their sexuality, it can be outside what other kids are used to and it's difficult for them. (:10) There's a lot of pressures on kids in school to begin with, then this just becomes one added pressure."

The problem is getting attention nationwide. The cast of the television show, "Glee," announced last week they will showcase gay bullying in upcoming episodes, and journalist Dan Savage has started a You Tube project called "It Gets Better" to let gay and lesbian students know they are not alone. Griffin says it's time for other adults and role models to echo the message.

"It does get better and it will get better, and there are people out there that you can turn to talk to. You know, we want to be there, be that stop-gap measure for people before they go to that step of saying suicide is their only option out."

A survey found lesbian, gay and bisexual youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. Griffin is calling on Congress to take action on the pending Student Non-Discrimination Act and the Safe Schools Improvement Act - both of which provide tools, resources and guidelines for schools.



On this National Coming Out Day, there is a call to remember the six young people who took their own lives in recent weeks across the country due to gay bullying. Gina Presson reports.

Gina Presson reporting

Griffin can be reached at 954-462-2004 ext 206; Tonight's Vigil will be held at Sunshine Cathedral at 7:30PM, 1480 SW 9th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL. Troubled teens can call the Trevor Project lifeline at 1-866-488-7386. or watch http://www.youtube.com/itgetsbetterproject. Suicide risk statistics from the 2007 Massachusetts youth risk survey.




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Representatives from the building and design trades will gather this weekend to showcase their professions to Minnesota youth.

Organizers want to establish a pipeline of future industry leaders, including those from underserved communities.

Minnesota's job vacancy rate for construction is near 4%.

It's not as high as other sectors, but officials say they're still trying to overcome longstanding challenges in getting more young people to enter the field.

Brian Kelley is the founder and director of the Young Builders and Designers Program - and said as teens consider their futures, it's worthwhile to let them know more about in-demand jobs with steady incomes, such as plumbers and electricians.

"These are trades that are always needed," said Kelley. "There's work there, there's work in those environments."

Kelley said while these jobs might not seem glamorous, making these connections helps youth realize skills they might not know they possess.

His program hosts a convention this Saturday afternoon at Kenny Elementary School in South Minneapolis.

Partner organizations will sponsor up to 100 low-income youth to attend, so they can learn about opportunities that might help them overcome economic disparities.

For disadvantaged youth who might not be able to attend college, Kelley said a career in the trades could make a huge difference when entering the workforce.

"If a young person is 18- or 19-years-old and they're migrating themselves into a job where they may make $25 or $30 an hour," said Kelley, "that's the difference between renting an apartment and owning a home."

Through its outreach, the Young Builders and Designers Program emphasizes career exploration and entrepreneurship.

Kelley said it's not just learning about construction tools, noting the workshops also teach kids about design work, architecture, and engineering.

He added that they incorporate cultural and historical information to help shape the minds of kids considering these professions.




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A Hungarian-born girl who grew up in Terre Haute is reminding Hoosiers only they control their destiny - by sharing her inspirational story in celebration of International Women's Day.

Long before Cheyenne Stewart found her stride in school, she felt alone, bullied and shy.

She was not alone. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2021 found 57% of U.S. teen girls reported feeling persistently sad or hopeless.

However, Stewart found her place of belonging - and more importantly she found her voice, when she joined her high school's Key Club.

"I started getting used to feeling like a lone wolf who was just managing things on their own," said Stewart. "Key Club really was the first safe haven that I experienced getting me past day-to-day school experience to working for a much bigger cause."

Stewart found refuge in Key Club, a student-led, non-profit organization.

Her star quickly rose from being a new member to overseeing operations for more than 100 Key Clubs in Indiana, and embodying the spirit of International Women's Day.

Stewart learned firsthand the transformative power of community and resilience, when she was elected one of 13 students on the Key Club's international board of trustees.

"Twelve of us were women, selected by about 2,000 people, at the international convention," said Stewart. "It's a testimony to show how impactful women can be for an international perspective as well."

Stewart's impact extends far beyond her leadership roles. She helped start a program to underscore the importance of intergenerational connections by pairing Key Club students with elderly people in Terre Haute.

A program which continues today.

Stewart is currently a sophomore at the University of Notre Dame where she continues to emphasize the importance of finding similar people and embracing leadership potential.




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The newly released 2024 Kids Count Data Book finds the well-being of Indiana is better this year than last.

More than 1.5 million children live in Indiana, where research showed fewer of them live in poverty, face food insecurities and are involved in behaviors like underage drinking and illicit drug use.

Tami Silverman, president and CEO of the Indiana Youth Institute, said the findings shed light on the realities and experiences of Indiana's younger generation.

"We rank 13th for education, 16th for economic well-being, 29th for health and 31st for family and community," Silverman outlined. "When we're looking all around, we're at 24th, so we know that the 'state of the child' in Indiana is good. 24th is still in the middle."

Silverman pointed out there is more work to do as Hoosiers grow up in a rapidly changing world marked by disruptions, from the global pandemic to finding their way through a world where technology and social media can heavily weigh on them.

She noted while the state is moving the needle in the right direction in several categories, the indicators for youth mental health are alarming.

"The percentage of high school students who felt sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks was up to 36% in 2022," Silverman reported. "Indiana ranks 10th for children at risk of depression; we're 15th for youth at risk of suicidal ideations."

Indiana has seen a decline in teen birthrates but infant mortality is on the rise.

Silverman added the state is also working hard to improve literacy, especially for third graders.

"Fifty-nine percent of them can't read at a level that they're comfortable with," Silverman pointed out. "In fact, there's some pretty large initiatives focused on that. And right now, there's a goal the state has set that 95% of third graders will be able to read by 2027."


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