Queerty first met Arizona high-schooler Caleb Laieski when, as a wee 15-year-old, he told the Arizona school system they better address the issue of bullying or they’d find themselves on the receiving end of a nasty lawsuit.
Having come out at 13 and formed Gays and Lesbians Unite Against Discrimination, Laieski (right) faced bullying and death threats at his Arizona high school—threats that were ignored by administrators—and was forced to drop out and get his GED.
Laeiski continued his advocacy, though: Before he was old enough to drive, he lobbied politicians in DC to promote the Student Non-Discrimination Act. And we recently included him in our roundup of right-on young people making the world better for the LGBT community.
Now, Laeiski, who’s all of 17, is working part-time in the office of Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton as a youth and diversity liaison.
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“I am honored to have the opportunity to work for one of the largest cities in our nation, and I look forward to continue making Phoenix a safer place for our entire community,” Laieski said in a statement. “I will strive to see the dropout rate lower, intervention by school administrations steadily increase and the suicide rate rapidly decline.”
This is a pro-bono gig, though the LGBT group One n Ten has arranged for Laieski to get a small stipend. For his part, Mayor Stanton is tickled pink about his young out aide:
“I’m excited to have someone as talented as Caleb working in my office because I know he truly cares about our community, our city and our youth,” Stanton said. “I want Phoenix youth to have a voice in my office. I also want our students to be able to concentrate on their education for future success, not be bullied. All our kids deserve to live their lives, no matter who they are.”
We did the math, and Laeiski will be eligible to run for president in 2040 (we think). So far, he’s got our vote!
Charlie in Charge
Well done! Sounds like he will make a promising leader.
JohnAGJ
Good for him. Kudos!
Aric
Yesss Caleb, you better legislate.
Frederick
Caleb is a true inspiration for LGBT teens/young adults!
M F*n Hammertime Like
Should be eligible in 2032, right?
Oh, ok.
Now THIS is someone I can get behind and stand up for. Not media attention whores, but someone who’s actually making a real difference.
Jaack
Is he old enough to run for mayor yet? He may shock the politicians that the youth vote really counts. I have faith in all the young people today. We know they incumbents have eroded freedoms decades. Look at the total failure of the “War On(fill in blank) [Poverty, Drugs,Hunger, Global Warming”]cost us lives in prison and bankruppt the country. Besides Communist China, America has the HIGHEST rate of prison population.
Politicians have done nothing by themselves, they need to step aside and stop compromising on our LIVES. Look at the teen dropout from school, teen suicide and gun violence. The young adults have the critical thought process for themselves without believing all BS from the politicians. The youth need to take the reigns of government and actually do some good. We don’t need more promises.
iltman
a young man who will be an inspiration to glbt youth everywhere, and I suspect one with a promising future in politics
ronsfo
These are the kind of stories that make the LGBT struggle worth it and warms my heart. Caleb, thank you for your great awareness and dedication to making the world a better place for LGBT youth.
J Stratford
can I be your boyfriend? lol. I like skinny guys
Craig
@M F*n Hammertime Like: Yep, you’re right, it’s 2032. You have to be 35 to run for president, which he should be in 2030.
Right Now
We all need to take action against the source of bullying and let kids, parents, teachers, principals and politicians know that bullying is NOT okay. We all need to do something to make a difference.
An amazing young singer-songwriter named Becca Levy is doing just that.
She has started a music based anti bullying group called Right Now.
Here’s a link to her website that has a video of Becca covering “Right Now” by Van Halen. The purpose of the video is to promote awareness to kids using both music and the Internet. The video begins with a public service announcement and is full of statistics that people of all ages need to see.
Becca lives in Washington, D.C. and just turned sixteen years old.
Rightnowagainstbullying.com