Running head: Cultural Immersion

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware

LQBTQ
Sheliah E. Smith
Wilmington University

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Populations History and Major Milestones
The history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) can be traced back to the
same sex love and sexuality of ancient civilizations. The lesbian and Gay history was founded
in 1979 to promote the study of homosexuality in the past and present state. Since the mid-1970s
students at high schools and universities have organized LGBT groups, often called Gay-Straight
Alliances (GSAs) at several schools. These groups form to provide support for LGBT students to
promote awareness of LGBT issues in the local community. Several public schools have opened
with a specific purpose to make a safe place for LGBT students and families.
In 1994 the annual observance of LGBT History Month begins in the US, and it has since
been carried out in our countries. They cover the history of the people, LGBT rights and related
civil rights movements. It is also observed during the month of October as well in the United
States. This to include National Coming out Day dated for October 11th. In the United Kingdom,
it is observed during February, to go along with a major celebration of the 2005 abolition of
Section 28, which had prohibited schools from discussing LGBT issues or counseling LGBT or
questioning youth.
In 2012, for the first time, two American school districts celebrated LGBT History
Month; the Broward County school district in Florida signed a resolution in September in
support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans, and later the year the Los Angeles
school district, Americas second - largest ,also signed on.

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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware (BBBSDE) is a non-profit agency that has
implemented a new program of mentoring that is aimed at Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and
Transgender (LGBTQ) youth in Delaware. The Q stands for questioning. This mentoring
program matches adult mentors with youth who are in middle or high school. Mentors work with
a group through a schools Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) or diversity club that is matched with a
young person who is interested in individual mentoring.
The program started last September and consists of two forms of mentoring. The first is
individual mentoring where one Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBTQ)- identified
young person and one LGBTQ or ally adult are matched as a Little and a Big. The Bigs and
Littles most often meet 2-4 times per month for a minimum of one hour. The second form of
mentoring that Big Brother Big Sisters offer is Gay- Straight Alliance (GSA) mentoring. This
form of mentoring, the agency matches a Gay- Straight Alliance with one or more volunteers.
GSA volunteers work with students in local Delaware schools during their activity period when
their GSA meets to provide them with support and information on the projects the group
undertakes, to act as a mentor that the students can turn to for advice, and to advocate for the
students needs when necessary.
The reason for this new shift of mentoring service through Big Brother Big Sister of
Delaware (BBBSDE) is due to Delawares Anti-Bullying Taskforce (House Bill 268). As a result
of this bill, schools are required to make judgment about whether bullying incidents were due
partly because of someones race, age, martial status, creed, religion, color, sex, disability, sexual
orientation, gender identity or expression of national origin.

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In New Castle County, the agency has 19 Gay-Straight Alliances in some capacity.
Currently 11 of those groups are matched with one or more mentors through the LGBTQ
mentoring program. The direct supervision of the program is the New Castle County Program
Manager, Monet Horsey. Above Monet is the Executive Director, Mary Fox. There are two
additional staff members who handle the LGBTQ mentoring program which are Colleen
Dougherty in New Castle and Linda Gregory in Kent and Sussex Counties.
The case managers for the program provide ideas for activities as well as books, movies,
lessons plans websites, and other resources to volunteers an advisors to help educate and
promote awareness of LGBTQ issues in whichever way the group or individual choose to use
that knowledge. For example, a GSA may choose to devote a meeting to LGBTQ people in the
media. If they need additional help or resources, they may reach out to a program manager for
suggestions of activities or a movie to show. This is also where GSA advisors and volunteers
play a very key role in helping to shape a GSA meeting. As individuals who are older and more
experienced, they may know of a specific resource that will be of interest to the students or help
to shape the meeting into a productive use of time with a topic that is very broad and could easily
stray off topic.
Assessing the Field Work Agency/Community
Big Brother Big Sisters (LGBTQ) program works regularly with other agencies and
organizations to ensure that all of the families and students are accessing the best services.
However, the main site for Big Brother Big Sisters agency is not located near local hospital,

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retail stores and social service locations. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBTQ)
programs are located throughout several host sites at local schools throughout State of Delaware
(New Castle, Kent and Sussex Counties). New Castle has a total of 18 schools there are also 3
private schools and in Kent and Sussex Counties there are 9 schools total.
Access
For the GSA mentoring program, most events or meetings are held during or after school
at the school building. Students within the GSA advertise meetings and events to the school
community and make it clear that all students are free to join. For the one on one mentoring
program, volunteers pick up the young person from their home, take part in an activity that they
plan together, and then the volunteer drops the young person back at their home. Big Brother Big
Sisters does not typically provide transportation to families, volunteers, or students, but will
accommodate individuals by traveling to the persons home or a convenient location, especially
for the families that are homebound or to schools to meet GSAs
Receptivity
GSA meetings are typically held in a teachers classroom or a multipurpose room in the
school. Inside the classroom are typically white with wall decorations and hangings of posters
and wall art of some kind. Match activities between an individual young person and a volunteer
can vary, and so the location can also vary. Part of the application process for the volunteer
include a home visit, where a case manger visits a volunteers home to ensure that the
environment is safe and appropriate for a young person to be in.

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Administration and Staff Training
The staff at Big Brother Big Sisters (LGBTQ) program all take part in a workshop that
discussed the various issues that Lesbian , Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBTQ) youth can face
from discrimination to bullying to issues at home when they come out. Big Brothers Big Sisters
staff encouraged to attend professional development opportunities whenever they arise. The
agency offers the volunteers in-person and online trainings on a variety of topics, including
issues specific to LGBTQ youth.
Funding
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware (BBBSDE) is a private, non-profit organization. The
agency receives funding regularly as well as through independent grants. One of the funding
sources that the agency utilizes is the United Way of Delaware. In partnership with United Way
of Delawares its mission is to maximize the communitys resources to improve the quality of
life for all Delawareans. Thanks to the funding from United Way (UMD) and the Jessie Ball
DuPont Fund and many other major corporate and non profit partners these funds will help to
promote the new mentoring program Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBTQ). In
addition, sponsoring many of the annually events such as Bowl for Kids Sake and other
fundraising events will help to continue the efforts in providing funding for the agencys
program.

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Staff Sensitivity
The volunteers are sensitive to the students needs through the LGBTQ program. The staff
members at Big Brother Big Sisters are very caring and understanding of diverse communities as
well. All of the volunteers are screened carefully to ensure that they are sensitive to the needs of
the population, even if more specific education may be needed. If the staffs are not knowledge
about a specific identify or group, the volunteers along with staff will work to broaden their
scope of knowledge through trainings or other forms of education. Volunteers are matched with
a young person based on the preference regarding the sexual orientation or gender identity of the
other person involved in the match, but most often these individuals simply prefer to work with
someone who has similar experiences and interest so that they can build the best relationship
possible.
Effort
Big Brother Big Sisters (BBBSDE) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBTQ)
program has made many efforts in the community to involve input about the program and
administration. The program initially was started with the help from United Way of Delaware
LGBTQ affinity group, the PRIDE Council, which is comprised of community members
statewide.
Quality
One of the most important skills you can develop when operating a program inside a
school setting is the ability to understand and effectively respond to the needs and concerns of a

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person. The quality of service that is available to the population is very good and the frequencies
with which the groups meet and events are held are good for the needs of the students. Big
Brother Big Sisters (LGBTQ) program has an ongoing commitment to listen, service students
and consistently keep their interest to foster relationships.
Effectiveness
Few evaluations methods were used to measure the programs effectiveness. One of the
most effective uses of methods was surveys to students, advisors and volunteers to receive
feedback and input on the program. The agency also welcomed regular feedback from all other
individuals as well. Big Brother Big Sisters LGBTQ program want to ensure that all of the
families and students are getting the best and most of the services from the program.
Efficiency
The agency has reached out to the community resources to help coordinate the needs of
the population of service. Some of the Big Brother Big Sister (LGBTQ) referral sources and
resources are New Behavioral Network, Delaware Guidance Services, Children and Families
First, Christiana Care, Bayhealth and Equality Delaware. Additionally, BBBS will distribute a
survey to students, advisors, and volunteers to receive feedback and input on the program.

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LGBTQ News and Entertainment Outlets/Magazines

The Advocate: http://www.advocate.com/ A news site featuring articles and opinion

pieces geared specifically towards the LGBTQ community.
After Ellen: http://www.afterellen.com A pop culture news site aimed at LGBTQ
women.
After Elton: http://www.afterelton.com A pop culture news site aimed at LGBTQ men.
Autostraddle: http://www.autostraddle.com A news and pop culture site aimed at
LGBTQ women.
Curve: http://www.curvemag.com/ A monthly lesbian publication that covers various
issues, including news, politics, social issues, pop culture, and travel.
Philadelphia Gay News: http://www.epgn.com/ The Philadelphia Gay News is an
LGBTQ newspaper with the mission to serve as a forum for community discussion and
communicating LGBTQ issues with the mainstream media, especially in the
Philadelphia area.

LGBTQ Book
Fiction: High School and Up
37 Things I Love (In No Particular Order) by Kekla Magoon (ISBN-13:
9780805094657) Ages 14+ Ellis only has four days of her sophomore year left, and
summer is so close that she can almost taste it. But even with vacation just within reach,
Ellis isnt exactly relaxed. Her father has been in a coma for years, the result of a
construction accident, and her already-fragile relationship with her mother is strained
over whether or not to remove him from life support. Her best friend fails even to notice
that anything is wrong and Ellis feels like her world is falling apart. But when all seems
bleak, Ellis finds comfort in the most unexpected places. Life goes on, but in those four
fleeting days friends are lost and found, promises are made, and Ellis realizes that
nothing will ever quite be the same.
LGBTQ Movie
The Truth About Jane (2000) Drama; Not Rated Made-for-TV Lifetime movie
featuring a young lesbian struggling with her sexuality, her first relationship, coming out
to her family, and bullying from peers.

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Interview
Date of Interview: December 1, 2014
Interviewee: Brenda Behrens
Major Themes: Sexuality (Lesbian)
Q. How old were you when you first came out?
A. I knew at the age of 14 but didnt come out till the age 35.
Q. How did your family /friends react when you came out?
A. My family was very accepting most of my friends didnt care. Two of my vey close friends
took them a while to understand why I was gay.
Q. Have you ever had a hate crime done against you?
A. No
Q. Did you coming out affect your relationship (parents, siblings, and friends) in a negative way?
A. Not really, didnt lose anyone in my life.
Q. Why do you think people are homophobic?
A. They are taught this or they dont understand whats happening so they fear the unknown.
Q. How do you feel when people are insistent that this is a choice that people make?
A. I want to ask them if being straight was their choice?

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Reference

Behers, B. (2014, December 1). Milieu Supervisor. (S. Smith, Interviewer)

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware. (2014, 9 22). Retrieved from Big Brothers Big Sisters of
Delaware: http://www.BigBrothersBigSistersofDelaware.com
Gregory, L. (2014, November 2). LGBTQ Case Manager. (S. Smith, Interviewer)
LGBT. (2014, December 3). Retrieved from LGBT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/lgbt
Wells, O. (2014, 10 2). Kent County Program Manager. (S. Smith, Interviewer)