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is out In the mountains I NOVEMBER 2006 l MOUNTAlNPRlDEMED|A.ORG

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S If you're between the ages of 15-25 and have something to say,
this page is for YOUR stories, commentary, toons, art and pix.
i Contact lynn@mountainpridemedia.org.

  

Students and Faculty Raise Awareness
at Coming Out Day in Bennington

I  Ifl/JWIWWWW

reaching out

BY WILL HOLDEN 53 1

Dear William,
I'm an out gay man in with a new boyfriend.  ;
We met a few months ago, and really hit it ‘ ‘

BY NICK RE'E_D ‘  W off. He's been great to me, and I couldn't
‘ '  have been happier, but there is one
tudems a'nd_facu»lFy from Mount problem. He's not only still in the closet,
Anthony Umon Hlgh School’ and but refuses to come out, to anybody but

many other members of the Ben-
nington—area community, gatheredrat the
four corners on October 11 in celebration
of National Coming Out Day. Many of the
students were members of GLOW-UP (Gay,
Lesbian, Or Whatever - United People), the
school’s gay-straight alliance. Among the
adults were those who had heard of the
event and decided to join, most ofwhom
were members of the Bennington Pride
Coalition, which meets at the South Street‘
Cafe every ’l\1esday night at 6:30. '
National Coming Out Day is a day

that has been celebrated over the years
in which many members of the LGBT
community decide to face their fears

and come out with their sexual identity
to family, friends, and co-workers.

. National Coming Out Day is not spe-

cifically a holiday in Bennington, but

one that is celebrated all across the
country. This is Bennington’s second year
of celebration. The gatherings on the
four corners first began a year ago when
GLOW-UP plarmed out the event; This
year's event was, however, organized pri-
marily by the Bennington Pride Coalition.

The main focus of these celebra-

tions is to defeat worldwide ignorance
that continually oppresses the LGBT
community. It is a day that, for Ben—  Nick Reed (pictured with Ashley Bump) is a 16-year-old from Bennington.
nington, joins together people of 311 He is an active member of both GLOW-UP and the Bennington Pride Coalition.
ages and helps us to forget our diffel-_ Nick can be reached at nicoli80@yahoo.com.

ences and work together to create a
stronger, more tolerant community.V -

me. We met through an online dating site,
which is the only place has ever stated
(without picture or actual identification) that
he is gay. Even though he was timid on the
subject, I was still able to manage.

That is, until recently. Not only will he
not acknowledge our relationship, but
now he's taking another step back as
well. He has told his family that he has a

- girlfriend. I asked him about this, and his
only reaction was to kiss me and apolo-
gize. We haven't spoken much since. This
was about a week ago. What should l

do? I think that our relationship could be
excellent, if only we could get past this.
—23/l\/l/Montpelier

In Response:

The first thing that you need to do is sit
down and talk with your boyfriend. It
sounds like there may have been some
avoiding in the past few days. Tell him
how hurt you were when he lied to his
family. Maybe you should ask why he is

so afraid to come out. Don't pressure him
to. You may be out yourself, but it is a dif-
ficult task to handle. Be gentle with him. If
he's not ready, then give him time, but tell
him how hurt you were when he tried to
cover with an imaginary girlfriend.

Tell him that if he is willing to come
out, he won't have to do it alone. l-lave
him do it slowly, starting with people he
trusts the most. , accompany him and
back him in this. I hope that this helps
you, and please update us l'—:iter on.

Questions for Will Holden can be sent to

PHOTO: MICHEL YAEGER , ‘ _
will@mountainpriclernecliaorg.

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 Ally Week Highlights Value of Allies in Safe Schools

NEW YORK - The Gay, Lesbian and Straight establish the first Gay-Straight Alliance
Education Network (GLSEN) sponsored almost 20 years ago, one of my straight
the second annual Ally Week in October, students came up with the idea. It’s only
a celebration of the important role allies fitting that LGBT students likewise came
play in creating safe schools for all stu- up with the idea to recognize allies.
dents, regardless of sexual orientation or “As a teacher, I saw firsthand the
gender expression or identity. positive and powerful impact as-
GLSEN’s student leaders created Ally sociated when one student tells

Week last year as a national youth-led another something is not cool.”
effort empowering students to be allies An ally is-any non-LGBT student _
against anti—LGBT bullying, harassment who supports ending anti—LGBT bul-
and name-calling in K-12 schools. lying and harassment in schools.

“Allies have been integral in the effort During Ally Week, students held
to make schools safe for all students,” events appropriate to their school
said GLSEN founder and executive di- community across the country. The
rector Kevin Jennings. “When I helped most common activity ‘was students

handing out stickers to allies who sign
a pledge card to not use anti—LGBT
language and slurs and to intervene

physically assaulted because of their
sexual orientation, and over a ninth
because of their gender expression.
when others do use such language. “I’m an ally because I know what a
Three out of four LGBT students re- difference it makes to have just one
port hearing “faggot” or “dyke” frequently person stand up for you," said Hannah
in schools, and nearly nine out of 10 Brown, a 15-year- old straight student
report hearing “that's so gay” referring from Doherty Memorial High School in .
to something stupid, according to the Worcester, Mass., who is hosting‘ a sum-
2005 National School Climate Survey mit with four area gay-straight alliances
More than a third of LGBT students at her public library. “The presence of
experienced physical harassment at allies shows that there are legitimate
school on the basis of sexual orien— problems with teasing and harass-
tation, and more than a quarter on ment that need to be addressed.”Y
the basis of their gender expression.
Nearly one-fifth of students had been

   

Press release from U.S. Newswire‘

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