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The Rainbow Clause:
Giving us the right to choose who; where; when; why; and how.
Segregation or Integration: The First
GLBT (Gay; Lesbian; Bisexual; Transgender[ed]) High Schools
In the past few years the first GLBT (Gay; Lesbian;
Bisexual; Transgender[ed]) private and public high schools have opened their
doors to students. The first private school, Walt Whitman Community School,
began in 1997 in Dallas, Texas. At the time the school had seven students.
In just four years the school had grown to 26 students and the building the
school was first located at was too small for the growing number of students.
So, a two story building was purchased.
In 1985, the first public high school program
for GLBT students opened in NYC. At the time it was called the Harvey Milk
School. However, in 2002 the school was accredited, becoming the first public
gay high school in the nation. It is now called Harvey Milk High School.
After Harvey Milk became accredited enrollment rose to 100 students.
Both schools are successful in terms of graduation
rates (far exceeding other school districts in the nation) as well as the
number of students who move on to college after leaving these all inclusive
institutions. However, critics claim these schools only seek to do one thing:
segregate.
There are a few different reasons that certain
groups feel the school seeks only to segregate. Most of these arguments hold
no merit because the solutions, or opinions, seem irrelevant since most of
these teens have been brutalized physically; mentally; emotionally; or any
combination of these abuses. They cannot possibly understand where these
teens are coming from because they do not want to understand.
The first argument is that it is wrong because
you're engulfing students in what is considered "queer culture". Not true,
it is simply a school of 'all-accepting'. Meaning, if heterosexual; bullied;
questioning; etc.; students are at risk of dropping out of a non-GLBT school
because they are being harassed in any way they are welcome at Harvey Milk
High. Contenders believe, though, that at Harvey Milk - since they are learning
about gay history, and with its primarily GLBT students - that it's obvious
that other students would be at a higher risk of "becoming gay", too. Again,
it's the whole gay agenda rearing its ugly head. This is so ridiculous in
thought it isn't even worth commenting on. That's like saying that a gay
student at a 'non-gay' school is at greater risk of becoming 'heterosexual'.
If that were the case, there would be no gays or lesbians! You can't force
a straight student to change their sexual preferences, no more than you can
force a gay or lesbian student to be straight. You can raise a dog with one
hundred cats, or a cat with one hundred dogs, and the fact will remain that
the dog will be and act as a dog, and the cat will be and act as a cat.
Secondly, gay students are just hiding from
the truth. In the real world gay bashing is allowed so they just need to
deal with it. However, high school is supposed to be a place conducive with
learning. If a GLBT student cannot learn because they're being harassed so
much so that it's affecting what their academic studies, not to mention their
emotional stability, they are going to want to drop out. For many students
these schools are a second chance. They are given a fresh start to actually
learn and move on with their education. They are given the opportunity to
not feel 'different' or 'outcast' - or 'wrong'. And, as everyone knows,
feeling alienated from one's peers in childhood, adolescence, and in our
teen years, can cause an emotional damage that can (and will) stay with us
until the day we die - even if we live to be 100!
Thirdly, people are mad GLBT students get public
taxpayers money for Harvey Milk High. They don't feel they should have to
pay for a cause they do not support. What? Are they saying that the 'education'
of our children - the future adults of America - is a cause they do not support?
That non-prejudiced 'acceptance' is a cause they do not support? That 'freedom'
is a cause they do not support? That equal opportunity and 'hate crimes'
only pertain to gender and skin color? Whatever they are saying, the issue
is divided - though not necessarily by party. Mayor Bloomberg, a Republican,
supported the school growing and expanding, as well as its accreditation,
while Democrats in the state, such as Senator Diaz, are emphatically against
the school.
Finally, both schools are accused of separating
students from the real world when the real solution should be to fix the
problem at non-segregated high schools. Thusly, they claim that by making
the schools take a 'zero tolerance' policy to 'gay bashing' then the gay
students should have no problem being integrated regularly.
The problem with
this is difficult because many schools will not adopt such a policy, and
those who do cannot possibly enforce it. Most bullied teens will report that
the bullying became worse after a report was made. Worst yet, it appears
that most teachers and administrators don't seem to mind gay bashing, and
often take the side of the basher, not the victim. There have been
cases where teachers join in on the bashing and the school supports the teacher,
not the student, alienating them even further.
Being a teenager is hard enough. Being a GLBT
teenager can seem overwhelming at times. If the Harvey Milk High School,
and Walt Whitman Community School, want to allow students that honestly need
non-biased and all-accepting support - to get the education that they deserve
in a safe, welcoming environment - then they should be allowed to do so.
Religious schools are allowed to, and it isn't considered 'segregation'.
Private and chartered schools are allowed to. Special education schools are
allowed to. Troubles teens and disciplinary problems are allowed to. In the
end, it's only fair that GLBT are allowed to, also.
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