During my first glorious day back to school from winter break, I
was once again reminded of the uncivilized world we live in.
“Shut up you faggot!” someone said in voice that could be heard
from where I was sitting.
During my first glorious day back to school from winter break, I was once again reminded of the uncivilized world we live in. “Shut up you faggot!” someone said in voice that could be heard from where I was sitting.
I was sitting a fair distance away from this individual. The comment wasn’t directed toward me, but it didn’t matter. I debated whether or not to say anything to this person. I never did, in fear of getting the same kind of negative response from them.
Later, I regretted not saying anything. Why didn’t I? Fear. The same fear that I am not supposed to have because I am what some call, a “gay rights activist.” We are supposed to be fearless. But when it all comes down to it, I am just as vulnerable as those who came out of the closet to the world. To stand up to someone and kindly tell them to please not use those words is often a hard thing to do. It’s a risky business that I am in.
I never know what kind of response I will get when I politely ask someone to not use such words. Complain to an administrator or teacher, and you run the risk of further ostracism by peers. I just can’t win. It seems that neither can those teens who struggle through their teens years feeling like the odd man out because of their sexual orientation.
There is more to people than just their sexual orientation. They are human beings underneath the label their peers gave them.
During the last three years, I have learned that some people just don’t change. It doesn’t matter how many times I ask them to not use such words as “dyke”, “fag” and “homo.” They have their opinion on the matter and it won’t matter what I say. That’s what worries me the most. Ninety-four percent of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) persons have reported experiencing some act of victimization at least once in their lives because of their sexual orientation. And then you have to factor in all those who are straight but are victims of gay bashing because they “act gay.”
Gay bashing has gone beyond just bullying. Columbine and Matthew Shepard are crude reminders of the kind of hatred there is towards homosexuals. It’s one thing to push someone around, but to kill them is another entirely.
After what happened at Columbine, President Clinton asked 350 students to “speak up” in support new civil rights protections for homosexuals. Kudos for him.
There are other allies. LGBT individuals and LGBT organizations are supported by the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU recently filed lawsuits against schools in Kentucky and Texas for discrimination against gay-straight alliances. In Kentucky, after suspending all clubs in order to prevent 30 students from forming a gay student association (GSA), the ACLU stepped in. The ACLU charges that both schools violated students’ rights under the federal Equal Access Act and the First Amendment.
Some conservatives hold that, in the beginning, homosexuality was an attempt of Satan to disrupt the lineage of the Messiah. Furthermore, because they are considered less than human, they are not deemed entitled to the basic human rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. So much for the American dream and equality. Doesn’t America pride itself on having equal rights for all?
So what was it that made this time particularly special, when I hear name calling all the time? I noticed people laughing at the comment and finding it humorous. But other than that, there was silence.
Silence. Youth, parents and teachers especially, need to break this silence. Because our teachers see us more than our parents do usually, teachers know the kind of language that parents don’t want to admit their children use. Or worse, parents use his kind of language themselves. Only two out of my five teachers confront students who make anti-LGBT comments.
That’s just not good enough. Live Oak is lucky enough to have a very supportive administration, but the administration can’t be in all the classrooms at once. So, teachers need to start listening to the words coming out of their students minds.
They have to admit that there just may be a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender individual in their classroom that is being robbed of self respect because of anti-LGBT comments. Teachers need to become educated on the matter of anti-LGBT bias and make their classrooms a happier place.
In a recent national survey taken by GLSEN, the leading national organization fighting to end anti-gay bias in grades K-12, harassment is not an uncommon experience for LGBT youth. They are often uncomfortable in school because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.
But besides teachers becoming allies in this war on discrimination, so do our peers need to be. What can teens do to fight anti-LGBT comments? Strike up a conversation about what they think about the issue. Or become involved with Live Oak Gay-Straight Alliance events such as The Pledge or The Day of Silence, which are coming up in April. Both of these events will show your support.
Melissa Ballard is a senior at Live Oak High School. She alternates weekly with Chrissy Bryant in writing Teen Perspective. Contact Melissa at ed****@*************es.com and the Live Oak Gay-Straight Alliance at li*********@***os.com
