About the Film
Every school day thousands of young people who identify as either lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans-gender face harassment, bullying, and even violence for simply being who they are. Teach Your Children Well is a documentary short (39 min) narrated by Emmy Award winning actress and comedienne, Lily Tomlin. The film explores the often tragic effects of homophobia, bullying, and school violence against L-G-B-T young people. It tells its story through interviews with parents, teachers, students, and professionals from various gay and lesbian service organizations.
With the recent media emphasis on bullying, and in particular the suicides resulting from bullying, the film is very timely. It includes an on-camera recounting of the recent suicide of 13 year old Seth Walsh, by his mother, Wendy Walsh. Seth was one of the four teen suicides who made national headlines in September, 2010.
The film’s primary goal is to bring homophobia and its harmful repercussions to light, and to hopefully effect a change in society’s consciousness such that the bullying and violence against our L-G-B-T young people is greatly reduced – and ultimately eliminated. It is our intention that the message of this film expands beyond theaters and film festivals, reaching into the areas where these aggressive behaviors take place: our schools, homes and neighborhoods.
Mahatma Gandhi said, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” It is up to each of us to be that change. And you can also be part of that change by supporting this film project with your tax deductible donation via our fiscal sponsor, The International Documentary Association (see below).
View the Trailer
CNN Highlights Teach Your Children Well
Official Selection - Kramer's Films that Change the World 2011
ENDORSEMENT
Robin Voss - An executive producer and co-creator of the
award winning documentary feature, For the Bible Tells Me So
ENDORSEMENT
Ann Walker - "LaVonda" on the LOGO TV Series Sordid Lives
Some of the people we have interviewed for the film:
• Rep. Lois Capps, D-Calif., 23rd Congressional District
• Jay Smith, Exec. Director, Ventura County Rainbow Alliance
• Steve Elson, Ph.D., Exec. Director, Casa Pacifica Foster Home
• Rev. Sunshine Daye, United Centers for Spiritual Living
• Leslia Wolf, School Teacher
• Vicki Murphy, Dir. of Development, Casa Pacifica Foster Home
• Kevin Geary, School Teacher
• Dr. Kimberly Woods, Educator, Former Exec. Director, The Center-Long Beach
• Judy Chiasson, Ph.D., Diversity Coordinator, L.A. Unified School. Dist.
• Nelson Arias, Gay Teen
• Alexendra Penn, Founder, Champions Against Bullying
• Leigh Rachel Faith, Dir. of Operations, Champions Aganst Bullying
• Eliza Byard, Exec. Director, G.L.S.E.N
• Thomas Krever, Exec. Director, Hetrick-Martin Institute
• Lillian Rivera, Asst. Director, Health & Wellness, Hetrick-Martin Institute
• Arny Zabarain, High School Student
• Matthew Agostini, High School Student
• Julia Nicole Boone, High School Student
• Beatriz Henrique, High School Student
• Theresa Nolan, Exec. Director, Green Chimney Children Services
• Erin Padula, Green Chimney Children Services
• Wendy Walsh, Mother of Suicide Victim, Seth Walsh
