Surprise Arizona Openly Gay Teen Caleb Laieski Puts State On Notice That Anti-Gay Bullying Will Not Be Tolerated

AZ Central reports on the determined, heroic openly gay Phoenix-area 15 year old Caleb Laieski, founder of Gays and Lesbians United Against Discrimination, who has e-mailed a letter to more than 5,000 school administrators, city-council members, and state legislators demanding improved measures to fight discrimination. The letter, sent in early December, states that gay and lesbian youth tend to face more bullying that their straight peers, and offer to refer officials to organisations and experts. The letter warns school officials that they must institute policies specifically prohibiting gay harassment by students, teachers, and administrators, and adds that school that fail to eradicate bullying will encounter “legal ramifications.” Laieski says “This is more not to threaten a lawsuit, but to put resources out there. But if they don’t want to cooperate, there’s going to be consequences.” Laieski formed the Gays and Lesbians United Against Discrimination two years ago at age 13 after he endured almost daily harassment and torment at Willow Canyon High School, and felt that school officials responding inadequately. In March, 2010 the American Civil Liberties Union Arizona chapter offered to represent him in a possible lawsuit against Dysart Unified School District, the threat of the suit enough that the district revised its student handbook to include language prohibiting bullying of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students. Laieski says that “Overall, I think they did a great job in adding the protections and a better job enforcing,” adding “Obviously, there’s always room for improvement.” The ACLU of Arizona was not able to comment on whether it would become involved in any and all lawsuits should Laieski and his group initiate them, legal director Dan Pochoda saying he was not aware of the letter campaign, adding that bullying is “a very serious problem.”