Tonight Jefferson Fietek announces nationally that he is running for Minnesota State Senate and is asking for all the help possible since some anti-gay PACS will spend large sums of money to defeat him.

Jefferson Fietek was awarded on Friday night, January 6, 2012, with the esteem Stonewall DFL’s “Alan Spear Award” for his outstanding work towards equality for ALL youth.

Jefferson Fietek is an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender and Questioning) youth. He is the Vice President and Program Director for the newly formed LGBTQ youth program Justin’s Gift and has been working on a local, state and national level to ensure that schools are safer and more inclusive of LGBTQ students and their allies.

Fietek’s views about creating schools that are truly inclusive of LGBTQ youth has been featured extensively in local media as well as in the New York Times, the national news magazine Mother Jones and in the CNN documentary entitled “Don’t Teach, Don’t Tell”. His work lead to the creation of the first ever middle school level Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) in Minnesota’s largest school district. He has met with School Board and Superintendent to work toward the creation of better anti-bullying policies and classrooms that are more inclusive of LGBT students and/or LGBT parents. Fietek also continues to work closely with community members as they work to create a proactive anti-bullying curriculum and training for all adults who work with students, so that they can be more sensitive to the needs of LGBTQ students and families.

In 2011, Mr. Fietek raised nearly $6,000 through theatrical events and other out-reach to bring attention to LGBTQ youth who have lost their lives to suicide. The money was donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Most recently GLSEN named Jefferson Fietek the runner up for the 2011 Teacher of the Year for his continued work to create safer schools for LGBTQ youth.

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Don’t become part of the “contagion of suicide”. If you are a GLBTQ teen and you feel suicidal there are people to talk to and they will understand you. Call The Trevor Project Saving young lives at 866-4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386); there mission statement is that “The Trevor Project is the Leading National Organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Youth.”

You can also reach out to John here at Straight Talk at John J Nazarian and John will see you get a list of resources including Face Book groups and Twitter groups. You are not alone, you are loved!

Join us tonight for this top panel of experts and call in and be part of the discussion. Comment telephone lines are always open to call in throughout the one hour show at 818-572-8030 (long distance charges do apply). We encourage you join in the discussion.