On February 16, Palmetto hosted a YES Institute address on gender stereotypes and orientation in schools.  The YES Institute’s official mission is “to prevent suicide and ensure the healthy development of all youth through powerful communication and education on gender and orientation.”

At the beginning of the address, the YES Institute showed a statistic related to the heightened risks of suicide among youths who are rejected by their parents: Such kids are eight times more likely to commit suicide than those who are accepted by their parents.  Throughout the address, the Institute engaged in conversation about gender stereotypes with the audience.

The Yes Institute had two speakers at the event, both of whom have been involved in bullying incidents.  The speakers gave advice on how to report bullying problems and asked the audience to share their own stories about bullying and gender stereotypes.

Palmetto science teacher Lynn Evans headed Palmetto’s initiative to host the address.

“The PTSA was approached by Lynn Evans.  She has been working with the YES Institute for several years and brought them in to speak with the staff,” PTSA chair Hope Phillips said.  “From there, she thought it would be beneficial for the parents and students to hear their message as well, so she approached our group.  The PTSA felt that the topic was timely given the recent tragic suicides and severe bullying that we have all heard about in the news.”

Palmetto also had three student speakers: sophomore Jacqueline Davis, junior Chris Morello, and GSA President Tony Callado.

“I am not open to my family.  It’s just a whole other line to be drawn,” Davis said.

According to Davis, the gender stereotypes spoken by her family and friends prevent her from being candid with them.

“My cousin and my sister’s boyfriend use the term ‘faggot’ a lot.  I’ve told them multiple times that I don’t appreciate it.  It’s like they don’t care…I can’t trust them,” Davis said.

Callado was bullied during his freshman year in PE when someone in the boys’ locker room shouted that he [Callado] had a boyfriend.  Callado had straight A’s before the incident; after, C’s and D’s began to appear on his report card.  He even became afraid of dressing out in the locker room.

“It’s hard to deny bullying at our school.  It really does affect students here…I feel victimized,” Callado said.

Principal Howard Weiner also spoke at the address, directing most of his remarks toward Palmetto students.

“If you see something wrong, you have to be fearless,” Weiner said.

Evans closed the address with a bit of advice to the students and parents that attended the address: Only you can make a difference.