Sixth Former Ryan Palmer was recently presented with the 2014 Elise Frank Scholarship Award by the Greater Boston PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people) for his efforts to improve the School’s climate for LGBTQ youth and their allies and to create greater support and acceptance of LGBTQ youth. Ryan was honored for his work to amend the non-discrimination policy at this school to include protections for transgender and gender nonconforming students.
In addition to changing the name of the school’s Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) to Gender-Sexuality Alliance to further trans and gender nonconforming students, Ryan has organized trips to LGBTQ-focused conferences in the area and organized the school’s first Spirit Day.
Ryan was honored together with five other area high school scholarship recipients at Greater Boston PFLAG’s Pride and Passion event benefitting PFLAG’s work in creating safe school and family environments for LGBTQ youth.
Greater Boston PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people) is dedicated to fostering LGBTQ-inclusive families, schools and communities through support, education and advocacy. For over 21 years, Greater Boston PFLAG has provided award-winning, highly effective bullying and violence prevention services. Each year, Greater Boston PFLAG delivers over 200 educational programs statewide, reaching over 15,000 people in middle and high schools, religious organizations, colleges, corporations, and at conferences for healthcare, counseling, and prevention specialists. Greater Boston PFLAG helps change attitudes and creates an environment of understanding so that LGBTQ family members and friends can live in a world that is safe and inclusive.
The St. Mark’s Gender-Sexuality Alliance was involved with the recent observance of a “Day of Silence” at St. Mark’s, along with presentations by speakers on Gender Equity and LGBTQ issues. The Alliance comes under the umbrella of the SM Pathways organization, part of Community and Equity Affairs at St. Mark’s, which is collaboratively allied with the SM Global Citizenship Initiative.