A Gay/Straight Alliance
By Andrew J. Campbell
What is a gay/straight alliance?
A gay/straight alliance (GSA) is a school-based support and educational group. GSA's provide students, faculty and staff with a setting where they can discuss important issues and questions relating to sexual orientation. These groups can help to evolve the climate of a school and make it safer for all students. A gay/straight alliance is student-run and has a number of faculty who volunteer to assist the group by mediating discussions and offering resources and support.
The sizes of groups vary from school to school. However, as Warren J. Blumenfeld of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) writes, "It doesn't matter how many people go to meetings; the work gay/straight alliances do fighting prejudice and discrimination can impact on the lives of everyone in the student body."
Why do public high schools need such a group?
Harassment based on sexual orientation is on the rise. Homophobic (anti-gay) remarks, such as the words "faggot", "dyke" and "queer", are the most common derogatory slang heard in the hallways of America's high schools. In fact, even in elementary school, homophobic slurs are the second most commonly used insults uttered by students. 97% of public high school students report regularly hearing anti-gay insults from their peers and 93% of school faculty in Vermont admit that this sort of harassment does occur. The facts are terrifying -- nearly 30% of lesbians and 60% of gay males are verbally and/or physically attacked in middle school, senior high and college. Compared to their peers, gay, lesbian and bisexual (GLB) students are nearly seven times as likely to have been threatened or injured with a weapon in a Vermont public school. Although Vermont State law [16 V.S.A. § 565(a)(1)] requires school faculty to protect students from such harassment, many teachers are afraid to take a stand, leaving students to deal with the enormous weight of emotional pain. GLB students in Vermont are over four times more likely to have skipped school because of feeling unsafe on route to or at school. 28% of gay and lesbian youth are forced to drop out of school because of harassment resulting from their sexual orientation. With support, these youth may have been able to graduate high school. 71% of school personnel in Vermont, however, feel there is very little (if any) school support for gay, lesbian and bisexual students. 80% of gay and lesbian students report severe isolation in school.
The harassment, pressure and lack of support that GLB youth experience often leads to terrible ends. GLB youth are at a greater risk for depression and low self-esteem. Having been told their whole life that homosexuality is "wrong", some lesbian and gay teenagers practice frequent and unsafe sexual behavior with members of the opposite sex to try to "change" their sexual orientation or "prove" they aren't gay. Because of low self-esteem, GLB youth are less likely to use protection during sex. This puts them at a significantly greater risk for unwanted teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. Vermont's GLB students are almost three times more likely to have been pregnant or gotten someone pregnant than heterosexual students are. Furthermore, finding no support in their lives, youth often turn to drugs for support. They also use drugs and alcohol as an attempt to numb their pain. Gay, lesbian and bisexual students in Vermont are twice as likely to use alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and inhalants and more than ten times as likely to have used cocaine. In the end, gay and lesbian youth in the United States are 2-3 times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. In Vermont, they are more than four times as likely. While only 10% of youth are lesbian or gay, they account for more than 30% of youth dead from suicide.
Such terrible ends can be prevented. A school-based support group, such as a gay/straight alliance, can provide the support, caring, and information these youth need. Such a group may even save someone's life.
Why does Vergennes Union High School and Junior High need a gay/straight alliance?
In recent years, awareness has increased to a point where more students feel comfortable to come out as gay, lesbian or bisexual. Vergennes has at least two openly gay students, and six that have come out as bisexual. However, according to the national average established by Alfred Kinsey, one in every ten persons is gay or lesbian, and even more are bisexual. This average is accepted by many creditable organizations, including Planned Parenthood and GLSEN. "One in ten" means that there are about 60 gay and lesbian students in grades 7-12 at Vergennes -- that's 2-3 students in every classroom. Obviously, awareness has not increased enough for nearly 10% of the student population to feel comfortable about who they are.
A gay/straight alliance can make a positive impact on the lives of students in Vergennes. Because such a group includes students who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, questioning and heterosexual, a student can attend a meeting without identifying with any sexual orientation. A GSA is neutral ground where people can feel safe to be themselves and discuss important issues facing today's youth.
A current issue Vergennes Union High School and Junior High have been facing is the increasing student use of drugs, especially alcohol, marijuana and tobacco. While recently Vergennes' schools have taken a firm stand on the issue of substance abuse, it is important not to neglect the issues beneath it. As mentioned before, GLB students are at a significantly greater risk for drug use. By providing support for this at-risk population, by a medium such as a gay/straight alliance, VUHS will make a significant positive impact on student life and may reduce substance abuse.
Many gay/straight alliances work in political activism. However, Vermont has more civil rights laws to protect gay, lesbian and bisexual people than any other state. Therefore, an alliance at VUHS would simply make sure these laws were followed. The basic goal is to increase awareness and support.
How will parents and the community react?
If you are concerned about possible negative reactions from parents and the community, you are not alone. More than half of all school personnel in Vermont share this same concern. It would be foolish to say that all community members will be initially supportive, as these issues are indeed controversial. However, the mere existence of such controversy is exactly the reason a gay/straight alliance is needed. The American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association, as early as the 1970's, have declared that homosexuality is a completely normal aspect of human sexuality. There is nothing "unnatural" about being gay, lesbian or bisexual. This isn't simply opinion - this is scientific fact. Homosexuality isn't the problem - homophobia is. Regardless of the outdated biased beliefs of a vocal minority, school personnel are obligated to protect and support all students. The safety and overall well being of Vergennes' students should not be neglected in fear of the community's opinions.
Often biased opinions are based on religious beliefs. However, these beliefs are irrelevant to a school's obligation to provide a safe environment and do not excuse failure to stop anti-gay abuse. Religion has been used to justify racism in some circumstances, yet VUHS does not tolerate this sort of prejudice. In fact, the Bible (Leviticus 11:8) prohibits the eating of pork - yet we do not find anyone waving a Bible at students or teachers who eat bacon or ham. On a positive note, though, much of the area clergies support gay, lesbian, bisexual and questioning youth.
Are there any other gay/straight alliances in Vermont?
Yes. Gay/straight alliances have been established at Rutland High School, Burlington High School, South Burlington High School, Brattleboro Union High School, Bellows Free Academy, Champlain Valley Union High School, Cabot School and U-32 Union High School, among others. There are many other groups forming, including one at Middlebury Union High School through the Student Coalition On Human Rights (SCOHR). The Gay/straight alliances in these schools have been extremely helpful for the safety of students and overall climate of the educational environment.
Is there support from political and school officials?
Governor Howard Dean, M.D., in a meeting with gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and questioning youth on November 19, 1997, expressed great support for the formation of gay/straight alliances. The Commissioner of Education, Marc Hull, expressed even more enthusiasm in a follow-up meeting on March 11, 1998. Both of them feel that gay/straight alliances can help create a safer school environment.
The following organizations, among others, have also passed resolutions calling for an end to discrimination against lesbian and gay youth: the National School Board Association, the National Education Association, the American School Health Association, the American Federation of Teachers and the American Psychological Association. In a letter to school principals, Vermont's Governor and the Commissioner of Education encouraged faculty to take a stand against homophobic (anti-gay) harassment. The creation of a gay/straight alliance is one of the best ways to take this stand - a large step in the right direction.
For more information about the gay/straight alliance, please contact Drew Campbell at the Alternative Collaborative Team of Vergennes Union High School at (802) 877-2938 ext. 32 or e-mail ACrescendtSun@HoTMaiL.com
For resources and support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and questioning youth contact Youth Aware of Addison County or Outright Vermont at 1-800-GLB-CHAT or the address listed below.
Some statistics are taken from the following reports, among others:
Special thanks to these sources for statistics and other information:
