;Ray Of Hope In Vermont

Robert Hooker -

There is a movement beginning in the junior and senior high
schools here in Vermont that Ibelieve will prove to be very im-
portant to the next generation of gay people. A group of gay-
friendly teachers have been coming together under the leadership
of the Vermont chapter of the National Education Association to
plan a strategy to provide safe places for our teens to discuss their
personal sexuality issues.

The VT NEA workshops have produced several worthwhile ideas
but the most prevalent one being used around the state is based on
our infamous pink triangle. The teachers put a pink triangle on
their classroom door and explain to their classes that they will not
tolerate any unkind or inappropriate remarks about gay people.
They also tell the kids that they are available to talk privately
about issues of sexuality and make it clear that this is a safe and con-
fidential space for them.

The group met on May first in Montpelier for the second time this
school year under the title of “Providing Equity And Fairness To
Gay, Lesbian, And Bisexual Students In Vermont Schools”. Most
of the teachers reported a positive response from both students and
staff members in their schools since the first meeting. There ap-

to have been a relatively small amount of negative reaction
from students and parents so far but each community will have its
own issues to deal with as the effort unfolds across the state.

One teacher reported that 6 students have come out to her since her
pink triangle went up in the fall. Another school tried to organize a
gay students support group and found every one of their posters torn
to shreds within one day. Fortunately, they are willing to persevere
with the project and will be putting up new posters soon.

Ihad the pleasure of speaking before the May meeting as part of a
panel of 5 Vermonters. There was one gay student volunteer for Out-
right Vermont, the director of Outright Vermont, two members of
PFLAG (both mothers of gay people), and myself speaking as a gay
parent of school age children. We all tried to relate our own ex-
periences in the gay world and offer some personal perspective on
what might be helpful directions for teachers to take in the future.

It was a very rewarding day that/also included workshops on stereo-
types, homosexuals in movies and videos, and group activities to
use in dispelling myths.

I want to take this opportunity to publicly applaud the VT NEA for
it's support of our gay teens. I know that I am not alone when I say
that it has taken me many years to come to grips with my homo-
sexuality and anything that we can do to help people through this
process is extremely important. It's about accepting ourselves, it's
about accepting each other, and it's about time! V

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