FARGO, N.D. -- A new report details how North Dakota students who identify as LGBTQ+ often struggle with the environment within their schools, and advocates said the findings demonstrate the importance of doing more to protect the children and make them feel welcome.

Through the Community Uplift Program, the North Dakota LGBTQ+ School Climate Report showed nearly 60% of LGBTQ+ students say they've been bullied on school grounds.

But only 13% of responding districts require staff training on LGBTQ+ culture.

Barry Nelson, interim director of the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition, feels the approach is too broad in addressing harassing behavior.

"It's fine to talk about it in generalities, but we know that it is particularly poignant within the LGBTQ population in the school," Nelson asserted.

The report's author noted only one in six young people who identify as queer will turn to an adult when feeling empty, sad, hopeless or angry. A lack of meaningful infrastructure can prompt other issues, from missing school to experiencing homelessness, and even suicide.

The report said districts have many resources available, including guidelines from the North Dakota School Board Association.

The report said 61% of LGBTQ+ youth in North Dakota have seriously considered suicide.

Samantha Christopherson, area director of the North Dakota Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, said it is a reminder for educators and parents to not delay in responding to warning signs.

"Talk, behavior and mood," Christopherson outlined. "If you notice any changes in your loved one, in a student, it's time to have a conversation."

The report also suggested comprehensive anti-bullying policies can reduce rates of harassment by 10%. Nelson added anyone in the community reaching out and lending a welcoming voice can be helpful.

"That I, as an individual, can be a very important part of literally, again, saving a young person's life by becoming a positive influence in their life," Nelson remarked.

A New Mexico, LGBTQ civil rights group says a debunked claim by the Trump-Vance presidential campaign that "sex changes" are taking place in schools is being repeated by some state candidates.

Trump has regularly promoted claims that educators are "grooming" or "indoctrinating" children to become gay or transgender.

Equality New Mexico Executive Director Marshall Martinez said the fear tactic also is being used by a handful of Republican New Mexico candidates, who frame transphobic messaging as support for women.

"Regardless of the political stance that people have on trans folks and the issues they face," said Martinez, "when these lies are told in our communities, it hurts the trans people in that community."

Republican former member of Congress Yvette Herrell, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez - D-Las Cruces - has been accused of using coded anti-transgender rhetoric.

She has denied the allegation, stating that "pro-woman" is not anti-LGBTQ.

But Herrell previously voted against bipartisan legislation to protect marriage equality, and supported an abortion ban without exceptions for rape or incest.

Martinez said that research done by Equality New Mexico found 53% of state residents have a close personal relationship with someone who is transgender.

"When these politicians or candidates are spreading lies about surgeries," said Martinez, "and about forcing young people to become trans or pushing an agenda, what they're doing is attacking those close personal relationships we all have."

There is no evidence that gender-affirming surgery has ever occurred at a public school in the U.S, or that a school has sent a student to receive the surgery elsewhere.

Already about half of U.S. states ban transition-related surgery for minors - and where it's legal, it's still very rare.

Transgender young people who experience discrimination have been linked to suicidal ideation and self-harm.

OutNebraska's Prairie Pride Film Festival returns for its 14th year this week.

Johnny Redd, communications manager for OutNebraska, said the festival was started because of a lack of cultural events in the Midwest focused on LGBTQ+ stories. Festival changes this year include adding two additional locations and more fiction films.

Redd noted storytelling through films is both entertaining and one of the most impactful ways to shed light on issues.

"Facts and logic can only go so far, and sometimes just being receptive to a story can really be impactful," Redd explained. "We really love the idea of film as an agent of social change and empowerment, and also just celebration and seeing ourselves on the big screen."

The film festival will be in Lincoln on Oct. 17, followed by Hastings and Omaha on Oct. 19 and Oct. 20, respectively. Redd believes one documentary, "Seat 31," will resonate with Nebraskans because of its parallels to the contentious 2023 Nebraska legislative session. It features Zooey Zephyr, Montana's first openly transgender state legislator, who was censured for her outspoken opposition to a ban on gender-affirming care for minors.

Seat 31 shows what the film's publicity describes as Zephyr's "shocking, funny and joyous" experiences on the bench she makes her "office" after being barred from the floor of the Montana House. Redd called the story timely, saying wounds still linger in Nebraska from the passage of Legislative Bill 574.

"I think it's a very inspiring story," Redd emphasized. "She still wanted to be able to do her job, even if she wasn't allowed on the legislative floor. I think this will be pretty healing, to see a story from another state that went through something very similar to us."

As of 2020, there are more than 270 LGBTQ+ film festivals worldwide.

The legal process for a person to change their name can feel complicated. A workshop in Boise walked people through it.

The Wrest Collective, a community-funded law firm, and the Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence held the clinic to help people with name changes and changing the sex marker on their birth certificates with the state of Idaho.

Casey Parsons, an attorney and cofounder of Wrest Collective, hosted the clinic.

"A lot of folks do feel intimidated and uncertain about how to do it. So, that's part of the purpose of the clinic - to demystify that process and what it takes," Parsons said.

About 30 people attended the workshop, which was called Reclaim Our Names. The name-changing process costs about $300 and the Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence raised funds to cover the name-change costs for some of the people who attended.

Parsons said there are many benefits to someone changing their name.

"Having your documents reflect your identity is important for a lot of people legally, but also personally I think it's important, because it's essentially asking the state to recognize you to be who you are," Parsons explained.

Parsons also noted the event was important for reasons beyond the legal aspects.

"There's a lot of value in holding queer-oriented spaces in a city like Boise to make people feel supported, and so that they can see and know that, while things are bad here, we're not alone," Parsons added.


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