Stop Hate in the Hallways, a state-wide anti-bullying and harassment conference was hosted by Cimarron Alliance Foundation on October 11, 2007. Three-hundred and fifteen individuals attended the conference held at the Spring-lake Metro Tech in Oklahoma City, OK, 350 were in attendance including volunteers and financial supporters of the event. Those in attendance came from over 22 communities throughout the state of Oklahoma. There were employees of 14 public school systems, and three universities. Mental Health Professionals made up a large block of those who attended.

Cimarron Alliance Foundation was supported by 53 partner organizations including national, state and local non-profit organizations and three government agencies to develop and promote this conference. Kevin Jennings, Founder and Chief Executive Officer for GLSEN in New York City, NY was the featured key note speaker. Jennings, a former educator launched GLSEN in response to a gay youth who was bullied and contemplating suicide. GLSEN is an acclaimed national organization in the area of research and consultation regarding school safety, harassment and bullying.

The Board of Directors of Cimarron Alliance Foundation developed this conference out of concern for all children and youth who may be bullied or harassed in public institutions such as schools. National data on bulling and harassment suggest that bullies most often target children and youth who differ from the mainstream population because of a religious, racial, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity basis. Cimarron Alliance Foundation, a non-profit who’s mission and expertise is in providing education to support the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and trans-gendered community collaborated with partner organizations who had expertise in cultural diversity and religious diversity to bring a well balanced conference to those in attendance.

The conference included three additional General Sessions and four Break-out Sessions. State Representative Al McAffrey, Rey Madrid, President of the League of United Latin American Citizens and Tamya Cox of ACLU provided an overview of HB 1804 (legislation enacted November 1, 2007) which many Oklahomans feel is a discriminatory billed aimed at individuals with ethnic lineage from Mexico and Central America. A panel facilitated by Rev. Scott Jones of Cathedral of Hope in Oklahoma City featured a Catholic Priest, a Jewish Rabbi, a Baptist Minister, a Unitarian Minister and a representative of a Muslim faith. This panel provided insights into the role religion can and may play in both cause and cure of bullying and discrimination in society. The fourth General Session was provided by Michael Camfield of ACLU and provided an over-view of the Equal Access Act, an important tool for professionals working with schools to use to help combat discrimination in school settings.
 

StopHateInTheHallways.org