Focus on the Family, a conservative Christian media ministry organization, asserted in published accounts that gay rights advocates are forcing their viewpoints (their so-called “gay agenda”) in schools in the guise of bullying prevention.

Focus on the Family spokesperson Candi Cushman asserted that gay activists are the real schoolyard bullies while conservative Christians are the victims. “We feel more and more that activists are being deceptive in using anti-bullying rhetoric to introduce their viewpoints, while the viewpoint of Christian students and parents are increasingly belittled,” Cushman said.

I have been gay most of my life, probably all of my life, and I have been involved in community organizing for the past 40 years, and I still don’t understand this term “gay agenda.” If you talk to two random “gay activists,” you will most likely find multiple viewpoints toward social change.

If making schools safe and welcoming spaces for students, faculty and staff of all sexual identities and gender expressions (as well as racial, ethnic, socioeconomic class, religious, ability backgrounds, ages, everyone), then yes — this is certainly part of my “gay agenda.” Let us look at the reasons why this must be part of all of our agendas, including that of Focus on the Family.

Ryan Patrick Halligan was born in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., in 1990. His parents described him as a rather shy boy growing up, who early on exhibited developmental delays in his speech, language and motor skills. The family moved to Essex Junction, Vt., where, by the fifth grade, his peers bullied him at school on a regular basis. Rumors soon circulated throughout the school that Ryan was gay. By seventh grade, his classmates continually teased and harassed him on school grounds and extended their taunts over email for having a learning disability and for allegedly being gay. On Oct. 7, 2003, feeling that he could no longer live with the constant abuse, Ryan Patrick Halligan took his life. He was 13 years old.

Reports indicate that Ryan displayed many of the symptoms of youth targeted by face-to-face and online bullying: He spent long hours on his computer, and he was secretive regarding his interactions on communication and information technologies. His parents saw him manifest a number of changes in his behavior: He increasingly lacked interest in engaging in social activities that included his peers, and he exhibited a pronounced change in his overall attitude, his appearance and his habits.

Ryan’s father, John P. Halligan, established a website in loving tribute to his son as a clarion call to prevent what happened to Ryan from impacting the lives of any other young people. John Halligan expressed his hope:

“This site is dedicated to the memory of our son Ryan and for all young people suffering in silence from the pain of bullying and having thoughts of suicide. We hope young people become less ashamed to ask for help when feeling suicidal. We hope adults gain knowledge from our tragedy. As a society, we need to find better ways to help our young people through their most difficult growing years.”

The American Psychological Association passed a resolution in 2004 calling on educational, governmental, business and funding agencies to address issues of face-to-face and online bullying. In the resolution, they particularly addressed acts of harassment “about race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.” In addition, the resolution specifically emphasized the high rate of bullying around issues of sexual identity, gender expression and disability:

“[C]hildren and youth with disabilities and children and youth who are lesbian, gay or transgender, or who are perceived to be so may be at particularly high risk of being bullied by their peers.”

Though too late to help Ryan Patrick Halligan, as someone with a disability and who was perceived as gay, this resolution can possibly assist in developing policies and can ultimately help in the reduction of bullying behaviors.

Students who are the targets of harassment by their peers are associated with higher rates of mental health problems. Risk factors for those targeted include increased school absenteeism, school difficulties including slipping grades and dropping out of school. Also, they have increased risk of alcohol and drug use and abuse, as well as psychosomatic symptoms. They are also linked to serious mental health problems including depression, anxiety disorders, increased fear and withdrawal from family and peers, post-traumatic stress disorder, low self-esteem, poor body image and suicidal ideation, attempts and completion.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are integral members of families throughout this nation and the world. If Focus on the Family is seriously concerned with improving the quality of life and is truly focused on families, they will join us in this effort to work to secure the safety and the equity of educational outcomes for all people, including our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth.