Press-Telegram journalist Phillip Zonkel received a nomination for Oustanding News Article for his work uncovering the fact that many Long Beach Unified School District school’s ineptly cover or entirely disregard anti-bullying policies required by the State.
In his two part series, Zonkel uncovered that nine high school had failed to meet the July 1, 2012 deadline to implement AB 9, The Safe Place to Learn Act. The bill–inaugurated into law following the devastating nationwide series of suicides amongst LGBTQ youth from bullying–required that all Californian school districts include policies that cater to LGBTQ youth.
According to the GLAAD website, their media awards “celebrate outstanding representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and our allies on TV, in film, and in the news. These are the images and stories that bring us closer to equality.”
The Long Beach Post proudly salutes Zonkel for his work within the LGBTQ community and respectfully congratulates him on his well-deserved nomination.
GLAAD Media Awards ceremonies will be held in New York March 16, Los Angeles April 20 and San Francisco May 11.