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(excerpts from speaking engagement evaluations)
"If you hadn’t come to our school, I still would be making
fun of homosexuals."
  middle
school student, Acushnet
"Trainers were personable, approachable, intelligent and understanding.
The training was smooth and well-organized."
non-profit
employee, Brockton
"The most helpful thing is that they speak
the truth with pride."
adult
education student, Jamaica Plain
"I’m not afraid of gays as people now."
middle
school student, Acushnet
"They had stories that sound like mine.
It made me a little more confident to tell my story."
college
student, Boston
"These things are good to hear so you know
you’re not the only one to experience this."
college
student, Weston
"Now I won’t make fun of gay people.
I won’t laugh at them and call them names."
middle
school student, Acushnet
"The speakers gave me a wake-up call that
everyone is an individual and should not be judged based on stereotypes."
college
student, Boston
"I never realized the deep feelings of something
being so right for you. It was related beautifully by each speaker."
postal
worker, North Reading
"Now I won’t let discriminatory language
go on in class."
high
school student, Rockport
"One of the students admitted before the
presentation that he always wanted to physically hurt someone who was
gay. After listening to the speakers he said he better understood the
gay/lesbian lifestyle and no longer wanted to be violent to gays. He
was very thankful to the speakers."
high
school teacher, Brighton
"Our students had a great time and commented,
‘That was super!’ and ‘When can we have them back?’"
high
school teacher, Hingham
"Now I will be less tolerant when those
around me make offensive comments or tell offensive jokes. Usually I
don’t say anything, and I know that by ignoring it, I’m condoning
it."
postal
worker, North Reading
"Group exercises were well-planned and appropriate
to our concerns. The presenters met all goals and expectations."
college
professor, Boston
"I was expecting someone to tell me that
I had to be comfortable with the idea of same-sex relationships. The
speakers focused more on liking people for who they are."
high
school student, Lexington
"It made me think there are a lot more children
out there in schools who have gay parents than I realized. I think the
attitudes within school systems need to change."
college
administrator, Cambridge
"After hearing your speakers, I am planning
on becoming more active in volunteering. I am going to begin working
as a Big Sister to a child with HIV."
college
student, Medford
"What I liked was that the speaker shared
her story; probably because I am going through a lot of what she went
through."
college
student, Cambridge
"Your presentation to our students was wonderful!
You were so eloquent and gentle in your presentations and you were so
affirming of our students & helped them to feel comfortable asking
anything . . . I ended up crying on the way home after your presentation
because it went so well and it was so groundbreaking for our school."
teacher,
Catholic high school, Milton
We want to hear from you!
Have you recently participated in a SpeakOut engagement, training or
event? Let us know your thoughts about the experience by adding your
own comments here.
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