Jessica Rinehart

A. Summary

I have decided to explore LGBTQ+ issues, specifically LGBTQ+ harassment

because I feel as though you should not be judged on your life choices or by who you

love. Many students in the LGBTQ+ community experience different types of

harassment, such as verbal and/or physical, but have also experienced bullying. They

do not experience these forms of harassment by their peers alone; they can also

experience harassment from administrators. A recent incident of LGBTQ+ harassment

that made it into the news was the settlement of Ashton Whitaker’s lawsuit against his

Wisconsin school district. Ashton Whitaker was repeatedly stopped by administrators

from using the boys bathrooms at his high school. The administrators would repeatedly

use female pronouns towards him when he attempted to use the boys bathroom.

Ashton had identified as a male since his freshman year in high school. Examples of

LGBTQ+ harassment can be found in school systems throughout the country as well as

around the world.

The following questions will be used to guide my research and project:

➢ How have people within the LGBTQ+ community been affected? (not just

those in school systems, but in every walk of life)

➢ What are the different types of harassment associated with the topic that I

do not know?

➢ Why is the community constantly harassed? Why do others feel it is okay

to harass the community?

➢ Are there any laws to help the community?

 Jessica Rinehart

For my project, I plan to host an art show with art made by people from around

Virginia Beach and by some members of the LGBTQ+ community center in Norfolk,

Virginia. I am also thinking of asking some of the artists if they would be okay if their art

is sold with the proceeds going to the LGBTQ+ center in Norfolk. I will host the art show

with the help of my advisor, Dr. Sullivan. I plan on holding my event at either a rec

center, coffee shop, or even the Pembroke Mall. I will need to put together flyers to

advertise the art show around the city as well as contact people about donating art for

the art show. I would like to have the success of my project evaluated on the amount of

artwork donated for the show and how many people show up.

B. New Skills, Enhanced Skills, and Growth Goals

New Skills

● Organizing an art show

● Managing donations

Enhanced Skills

● Communicating with adults and community members

● Creating flyers

● Collecting and managing art

Growth Goals

● Organization

● Communication
 Jessica Rinehart

C. Marketing Plan/Facilities/Audience

I will use art done by First Colonial High School, Salem High School, and people from

the LGBT Community Center in Norfolk. Starting in December, I am going to get in

contact with the art teachers at both high schools and the LGBT Community Center.

The artists can create art in any form they desire that shows struggle in a world of

adversity. I will advertise using word of mouth and flyers. My target audience is art

lovers and enthusiasts. I want the art show to raise awareness of the struggle that the

LGBTQ+ community continues to face.

D. Project Steps

Preliminary Secure venue(s), find artists to donate artwork, draft and send emails, 5
Steps create pamphlets, research, phone calls hours

Midway Confirm venue(s), figure out display of artwork, confirm artists 4

Steps hours

Later Steps Gather all artwork, set up room, finalize pamphlets, event 8
hours

Follow Up Thank you notes, clean up, money collected given to LGBTQ+ center in 3
Norfolk hours

Total 20
hours

E. Project Documentation

● Screenshots of text messages concerning project

● Flyers from advertisements

● Email conversations

● Pictures from event

 Jessica Rinehart

● Phone log for calls

● Pamphlet on the topic to be passed out at art show

F. Project Justification

This project will be beneficial because it will raise money for the LGBT Community

Center in Norfolk. Money made from any art sold as well as donations will be given to

the LGBT community center. The topic of this project is still fairly new to me because I

have only researched transgender harassment within schools and not LGBTQ+

harassment as a whole throughout communities. In addition, I have never planned or

set up an art show before.

G. Project/Paper Connection

My paper will focus on answering my driving questions. This will include identifying the

different types of harassment, how the LGBTQ+ community is affected, why the

community is constantly harassed, and identifying any laws that can help prevent this

harassment (are there any laws?). The paper will provide all necessary information to

create an informative pamphlet which will be passed out to guests at the art show.

H. Academic Honesty

I understand that any academic dishonesty by me on any part of the project will result in

failure of the Senior Project and forfeiture of the Legal Studies Seal on my High School

diploma.