LGBT High School Students Organize to Educate Their Peers — And Their Teachers BY GWYNN GUILVORD In recent months, Ver- mont high schools have re- sponded to a definite, though sometimes unacknowledged, need for the formation of LGBT groups within their walls. Most of the groups, which are usu- ally referred to as Gay / Straight Alliances, have been created by the demand of students. Not only are the gay and straight youth involved in the creation and participation with the GSAs searching for support in social issues that are usually ne- glected in high schools. They also seek an end to the homophobic persecution that they frequently endure thorugh increased awareness of homo- sexual issues. ‘ Prior to this year, high school senior Palmer Legare, like other gay youth in the state, fulfilled his social needs through events sponsored and organized by Outright Vemront. In April of last year, he and one other openly gay classmate at Cabot drafted and submitted a petition to the fac- ulty and principal of the school after receiving support from other classmates. The poignantly earnest petition simply called for an active rem- edy to harrassment, hostility, and fear caused by the ”school’s homophobic environ- ment.” Furthermore, the peti- tion criticized the classroom atmosphere in which continu- ous verbal abuse and lack of faculty response to the problem persisted. Students at Rutland High School later borrowed Cabot’s petition to bring administrative attention to the homophobic atmosphere in their school. Rutland is among the many high schools that has formed a Gay/ Straight Alliance this year. Cabot School's first GSA meeting took place at the begin- ning of the semester this year. The group has ten regular members, only two of whom are openly gay. "In general, GSAS are great for closeted people because they can be whomever they want and feel comfortable, as well as [having the opportunity] to learn about homosexual issues,” com- mented Legare. Unlike the LGBT group norm, the GSA is. focused on maintaining ano- nymity through general, non- personal discussions. Said Legare, ”If someone is going to say something, they don't say ’I’m straight, but . . . ” or ‘I'm gay, but . . . .’ The discussion is more, for example, ‘What do you think would happen if you told your parents you were gay.” , Furthermore, Legare questioned if a closeted person would actually, be safe ‘coming out to the GSA due to gossip channels and the close interac- tions within a school of 100 people. For those who are openly gay, the harrassment is still in- tense, although, according to Legare, the homophobic perse- cution has dissipated signifi- cantly since the petition and the formation of the GSA. "The pe- tition did a lot of great things- it got people talking in the stu- dent body and it made pople think. It made teachers more comfortable to talk up [when harrassment takes place],” ex- plained Legare. However, for many others, the persecution persists. For instance, Shiloh Malzac, an openly gay member of Middlebury Union High School's GSA, continues to en- dure the verbal and physical harrassment Legare and his fellow classmates’ action at Cabot school exemplifies similar movements toward the cre- ation of GSAs throughout other high schools in Vermont. Legare has counted thriteen GSAs formed recently, all but one of which was formed by student impetus. For Middlebury Union, the GSA was formed under the umbrella group of the Students Coalition on Human Rights. ”Most of the members who will attend the meetings are members who identify as straight; there is not really a visible need for a gay group so it's a gay—straight mix—an alliance,” commented Malzac. He reported that stu- dents facing coming out issues often use the counselling re— sources provided by the school. Although the group follows the trend of other ”alliances” in high schools, catering more to the need for awareness among the students, faculty, and staff. ”I think the gay group will cause a big ruckus,” surmised Malzac. More headway has been. made in recent weeks when queer youth in Vermont met with Governor Dean. Students emphasized the risks taken by high school students in striving to find support on LGBT issues and stressed the advantages of gleaning state support in fi- nancing GSAs. This move would follow the steps taken by Massachusettes in 1995, which officially recommended each high school start a GSA. Furthermore, the state gave grants to each school district to encourage the interaction be- tween different high schools. In the absence of knowledgable counsel from within the school, Legare cited Outright as a valuable source of information and guidance. Ex- plained the Executive Director of the group, Tami Eldridge, ”We provide them with infor- mation on contacts with other schools in the state that have groups and [serve as] a referral point for grpous.” Besides giv- ing fledgling GSAs advice, Outright frequently meets re— quests from various different educational institutions, from the junior‘ high level to the col- lege level. OUT IN THE MOUNTAINS — NOVEMBER 1997 — 7 ALLYN . HOUSE ~. . /is! ."~. ...» lied & 51 Main St. l‘:ocxJct., VT05452 (802) 818-9408 l§R€£ll\’}.‘£tST 100 Acres I Pool l“l<)l Tub 0 Trails 5? "T11 20 Charming Rooms Peace at Privacy elandg ‘Inn PO. Box 118 Bethlehem, NH 05574 (605) 869-3978 A LESBIAN PARADISE AI‘C2ldiL1 House V Elegant Ac<;omrno(lz11ions PO Box 520 V l"l)'(l'C l’:u‘k, \-"1' 05655 V 802-888-.9l+"7 ‘John ’l'o\\-"nu V liil Pepe V lnnl-iccpcus 7 «‘5fi;.:5 A l . - -i'r“‘ 4 v . 3 Advertise your BCJB ‘ HERE! The skiers are coming, and some of them are gay! (Really, it's true.) 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