Gay group's site aims to provide help against bullies

In the middle of a school day, kids being bullied by other students about their sexuality may not feel they have the power to fight back, according to the Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth organization.

Enter the power of the Internet. To help bullied kids quickly and discreetly, LIGALY launched a website Thursday where students can send online reports of bullying and harassment, and receive immediate help from the gay youth rights advocacy group.

"They don't have to sit and take it all day," said David Kilmnick, who heads LIGALY. "They can file this report without anyone around them knowing."

Kilmnick said the group has talked about developing the reporting site for about a year. But a recent spate of teen suicides and bias attacks - including an attack on a Nassau BOCES student on a school bus by classmates, made the website a priority for LIGALY, he said.

Once a victim fills out the form and submits it online, LIGALY staffers will call school officials, police or counselors as necessary, Kilmnick said. Staffers will monitor reports around the clock, he said.

Nassau police spokesman Det. Lt. Kevin Smith said, "If some agency can lend them support, and inspire them to call the police, we support that."

Suffolk police did not a return a call for comment.

The website, at http://www.ligaly.org/, was publicly launched last night at a vigil for the ninth annual National Coming Out Day School Awareness Campaign, held at LIGALY's Bay Shore headquarters.

Organizers estimated about 200 people attended the vigil under a tent pounded by heavy rain. They remembered seven gay young men and woman who committed suicide recently.

Christine Kryjak, 42, of West Babylon, came to the vigil to support gay youth, including her 16-year-old daughter. "My biggest concern as a parent is her safety," said Kryjak. "The more resources they have at their disposal, the less likely they'll hurt themselves."

Erik Normandin, 20, of Bay Shore, a student at Suffolk County Community College who attended the vigil, said: "It's just nice that I can go to the site and report what happens. Without it, I wouldn't know who I would go to."

BOCES officials could not be reached for comment Thursday.