ParentDish http://www.parentdish.com ParentDish http://www.parentdish.com/media/feedlogo.gif ParentDish http://www.parentdish.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Amazing Mom: Eliza Byardhttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/05/09/amazing-mom-eliza-byard/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/05/09/amazing-mom-eliza-byard/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/05/09/amazing-mom-eliza-byard/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Eliza Byard learned the hard way about discrimination and now works to make sure it doesn't happen to others. Credit: Courtesy of Eliza Byard

Amazing Mom: Dr. Eliza Byard, Executive Director of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, which works to stop discrimination of its community.

Eliza's Family: Partner: Eva Kolodner, together 16 years; Kids: Two daughters, a 4-year-old and a 3-month-old

Eliza Lives In: Brooklyn, New York

Why Eliza Is Amazing: Growing up, Eliza Byard understood that a good education meant a life full of possibilities. She also learned firsthand how bullying could harm the learning process.

Once, after earning the highest grade in high-school English, she walked into class the next day and found a paper doll with a string wrapped around its neck hanging from a window. "Eliza is a dyke" was written on the doll. The students punished her for her achievement and it worked.

"It deeply affected how I thought of myself and my choices in life," she says.

In 2008, Eliza became executive director of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), an organization designed to end the bullying and discrimination directed at lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) people.

"Anti-LGBT language is the most effective in hurting someone," she says. "Our group works to ensure safe schools for all students."

As part of that effort, she formed the first ever Ad Council campaign on LGBT issues, Think Before You Speak, urging 13- to 16-year-olds to rethink the casual use of anti-gay language. Since the campaign's inception, hundreds of students have logged onto the website and taken the pledge to refrain from using homophobic words and phrases, such as "that's so gay" to mean "that's so stupid."

She also helped create the annual event, No Name Calling Week, which includes educational activities for elementary and middle schools to end name-calling and bullying of all kinds. GLSEN also provides resources to more than 4,000 Gay-Straight Alliances, which are student clubs that work to improve the school climate for all students.

Now as executive director, Eliza has to travel a great deal, which puts pressure on her family. "It's a team effort," she says. "Before I took this job, Eva and I talked about it. It had to be a family decision and commitment."

Eliza's mother lives in the same Brooklyn neighborhood and also helps out. "I'm amazed at how well they share the responsibilities," says Rosalie Byard, Eliza's mother, about her daughter's partnership. "They do it with a certain amount of exhaustion and always with good humor."

While GLSEN's research shows there is still much work to be done, its executive director is optimistic. "I believe we're on the way to a better future," she says. "The debate is no longer whether this is a problem, but how to effectively address it."

Eliza's Mother Rosalie Byard Says: "I've always thought of Eliza as a strong person, very principled and a natural leader. She was always very good at identifying with others. I'm extremely proud of her leadership at GLSEN. I'm pretty much in awe at the way she and Eva balance work and family. I think the secret is to be extremely focused and to prioritize things."

Recognition: "The best award I've received was from my older daughter," Eliza says. "I came home from work the other day and she handed me a gold star. 'For you,' she said. I'm not sure what it was for, but it meant everything to me."

Eliza's Guilty Pleasures: Reading celebrity gossip while working out at the gym and getting in a little John Stewart and Stephen Colbert after the kids go to sleep.

Eliza's Best Advice: Listen really carefully, assume nothing and do your best.

Nina Schuyler, JD, MFA, teaches creative writing and is the author of the award-winning novel The Painting. Read her blog on Red Room.

Related: Amazing Mom: Sandi Romero


Want to see who else made the list? Click here for the rest of AOL's 2010 Amazing Moms!

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>amazingmom2010Nina SchuylerSun, 09 May 2010 06:00:00 EST