Gay Teen Bullying & Suicide in Central Oregon

Tune in Wednesday at 5:00pm!

 Three gay Central Oregon teenagers will share their personal stories about harassment and bullying on 106. 7 KPOV’s “Open Air” program Wednesday, November 17 at 5 p.m. “Open Air” host Dawn Newton will explore how harassment and bullying impacts teenagers in school, in church, and in their communities.

• Lesbian, gay and bisexual youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers, according to PeoplesWorld.org
• Almost 85 percent of LGBTQ teenagers are harassed in high school because of their sexual orientation, according to PeoplesWorld.org, with 61 percent of gay youth reporting that they felt unsafe in school and 30 percent staying home to avoid bullying.

YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS!

STREAMING ON-LINE AT http://www.kpov.org/

Previous Guests...part I

I'd like to introduce you to some incredible people...

Greg Mortenson - Bestselling Author Three Cups of Tea & Stones Into Schools

I have to admit...I had absolutely no idea who Greg Mortenson was until it was announced in the fall of 2009 that he would be coming to Bend in the spring of 2010. It was such an honor to meet this incredibly humble (..and very tall!!) man!  This is a guy who simply wanted to 'give back'...to say 'thank you'.  For those of you who are familiar with Greg Mortenson...you know there's a whole heckuva lot more to his story than just 'giving back'! Greg Mortenson has dedicated his life to promote education, especially for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. http://www.gregmortenson.com/



Mariah Crawford - Spiritual Counselor & Psychic Medium

Mariah Crawford

Ok...here's the deal. For those of you familiar with John Edward...as in Crossing Over with John Edward...Mariah Crawford is the female version of John Edward. No lie! I've attended her 'Spirit Speaks' sessions (Mariah brings messages from our loved ones who have gone 'home' to the world of Spirit), I've sat with her one-on-one (I was absolutely blown away by her 'gift') and I've had her on Open Air several times...she gave live on-air psychic readings...my guests were blown away too! She's the real deal!   http://www.mariahcrawford.com/

Mary Barackman aka 'Little Caesars Lady'

Mary Barackman 'Little Caesars Lady'

You've seen her on the corner of 3rd St and Reed Market...rocking away to her tunes...strutting her stuff with that crazy 'pepperoni' guitar!!  She's stolen the hearts of Bend!  She loves her work, she loves people and loves to make us smile as she dances and waves at passersby each weekday afternoon.  Bon Jovi, Shania Twain, Michael Jackson and The Diamonds are just a few of her favorite artists!

Prison to Poet

This last week I had the opportunity to talk with Jimmy Santiago Baca.

Wow. Can you say 'inspirational story'???

Born in New Mexico of Chicano and Apache descent, Jimmy was raised first by his grandmother and was later sent to an orphanage.  A runaway at age thirteen, it was after Baca was sentenced to five years in a maximum security prison at the age of twenty-one that he began to turn his life around: there he learned to read and write.

He is the winner of the Pushcart Prize, the American Book Award, the National Poetry Award, the International Hispanic Heritage Award, and, for his memoir A Place to Stand, the prestigious International Award.

It's been almost a week since I talked with Mr. Baca.  His story...his words...are still fresh in my mind.

Of his time in the orphanage...

"I used to get beat and beat and beat. I used to get beat so bad that my legs were blue and my back was black. I told 'em...you're gonna beat me so bad I'm gonna stay black and I'll just say I'm from Africa." 

"At the orphanage there was one colored kid and I remember running to him...Alan! Alan! Alan! Hey I'm gonna be like you!...and I pulled down my pants to show him my butt.  Alan said...you can't be beat black you've gotta be born black. I was so sad. I thought..you mean I gotta be in my body...this is what I have to look forward too? I can't change? I wanted to change...into a woman...a butterfly or a black person."

Jimmy wanted to learn to read and write so he could write a letter to his grandmother to tell her he was sorry for disappointing her. 

Jimmy devotes his post-prison life to writing and teaching others who are overcoming hardship. His themes include American Southwest barrios, addiction, injustice, education, community, love and beyond. He has conducted hundreds of writing workshops in prisons, community centers, libraries, and universities throughout the country. 

I encourage you to visit his website http://www.jimmysantiagobaca.com/

Mr. Baca was in Bend, Thursday, November 4th, to give a presentation as part of The Nature of Words with COCC campus partners: Multicultural Center, Native American Program, Latino Student Program and the Nancy R. Chandler Visiting Scholar Program. Thank you to Karen Aylward for making this interview possible.