Long Island's GLBT Teens: Outcry for Sanctuary by Ariana Luchsinger

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Tuesday, March 26, 2002

Long Island's GLBT Teens:
Outcry for Sanctuary
by Ariana Luchsinger

Schools can be frightening for GLBT teens Imagine. You are walking routinely down your high school hallway in a town you have known your whole life. Down past the familiar lockers and swarms of people who barely can recall your last name. You carry yourself by them with an uneasy feeling, yet try to look proud amidst their accusing stares. You hear whispers of your name, you see mouths dropping in disgust and shock. And then those words begin. The ones that make you angry, scared, resentful, and ashamed. "Dyke!... Faggot!... Queer!... Homo!... etc." You hold back your disgracing tears and cringe at the flood of frightening emotions that you alone seem to suffer from.

For many of us, this is not a hypothetical situation. We've been there. Walking around school in fear that a bunch of ignorant nihilists are going to follow not too far behind, wielding either punishing words or baseball bats. Sometimes, there is barely a difference between the two. You are forced up against their walls to feel contrite, almost apologetic, for something that is a substantial and vulnerable part of you. These types of abuse attack the heart of one's very identity and self-worth. This is why, out of all teens in this country who are gay or questioning their sexuality, 75% attempt suicide before the age of 17.

Society gives young GLBTs enough inferiority complexes, telling us that we are condemned, that we are unnatural, even that we do not exist. High school should not be a place of bigotry and threats, but rather a place of sanctity. And because of this, many schools across Long Island have begun programs to promote tolerance and understanding; not only for GLBT students, but for straight students as well. However, these programs are just a brick in the pathway to safer schools. Violence against our students has been a terrible, seemingly unending battle, and with malicious, ignorant children out there, we certainly have not seen the last of it. But we can do our part and inform anyone who has the courage to listen that no one is free when others are oppressed. It is time to provoke awareness and impartiality for our affected students. To let them know that their muffled voices are, in fact, heard. And that when they walk down those unfriendly hallways, they are not alone.

ON A RELATED NOTE:

Long Island High School GSA posting on a school bulletin board We would like to thank our latest new contributor to our site, Ariana for the above piece. She is fortunate to have a new fledging GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) in her school, but not all High Schools are so fortunate today. One of the programs encouraging GSAs in schools on Long Island is Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth's Gay-Straight Alliance Network (LI-GSA Network). LIGALY's LI-GSA is a cosponsor of a special upcoming event with the Rosyln High School GSA, a GSA Consortium. The theme is "Over the Rainbow to a Better Tomorrow." Taking place on Friday, April 26, 2002 from 7 PM to 10 PM at the Roslyn East Elementary School Cafeteria, Roslyn, NY. If you are student on Long Island, you're invited to join in this fun and exciting socializing opportunity for students involved with a GSA or want to start one.

You are encouraged to arrive promptly at 7 PM for an evening for fun, food, and entertainment. If you are interested in performing acoustic, coffeehouse style guitar or reading poetry please be prepared to do so. BYOB - Bring Your Own Banner. Represent your school. If you don't have banner, make one.

LIGALY's LI-GSA Alliance Network Conference

For Your Information: The New York State Dignity for All Students Coalition, (made up of more than 125 organizations from all communities), will be holding its quarterly in-person meeting on April 26th in the same location as the Roslyn GSA Consortium. The meeting will be held from 5 PM to 7 PM in the East Hills Cafeteria. All interested are invited to attend and learn how to get involved in the statewide effort to effort to prevent bias harassment in schools, including passage of the "Dignity for All Students Act." For more information or to RSVP, call Ross Levi at 518-472-3330.

Registration is due by April 5, 2002 to Roslyn High School. For more information, contact Michelle Atkins, Roslyn High School GSA Advisor, at 516-625-6391.