Gay-straight clubs growing in schools

CNN ^ | April 1, 2002 | AP

[Prodigal Son]

STRATFORD, Connecticut (AP) -- For the Gay-Straight Alliance at Stratford High School, progress can be measured in the hallways: These days, only some of its posters get torn down.

Harassment and name-calling haven't vanished from the 900-student school. But its gay students -- and their straight allies -- are pleased to have a club of their own, a weekly forum to share worries, frustrations and laughs.

[Prodigal Son]

The GSA's adviser, English teacher Michael Fiorello, is heartened by the high-spirited camaraderie that has developed among the students. "When I was in high school, if you wanted to experience anything gay, it was going to be dark and dangerous," he said.

Mother of God. I don't have words for that.

[jurisdog]

They might as well start a beastiality club, and an adultery club. They are both sexual sin just like homosexuality.

[JH147]

My heart breaks for my 3-year old son. He's going to be so confused by all this madness going on around him. I pray I'll be able to afford private school - though I don't think that will completely protect him.

[Maedhros]

"Any other minority group has their families, churches and communities behind them," said Patricia Boland, a school psychologist in Chesterfield County near Richmond, Virginia.

I live in Chesterfield county. I do not support gays.

Mademoiselle Boland's comment is certainly not reflective of Chesterfield as a whole. The county is actually one of the most solidly conservative and Republican districts in Virginia, if not in the whole country.

This woman is clearly a carpetbagging liberal. I'm glad I went to a private high school where I wasn't exposed to her.

[follow your bliss]

Homeschooling is wonderful.

[PJ-Comix]

I guarantee that almost none of the "straights" in the Gay-Straight clubs are really straight.

[Coleus]

Well, it started in Massachusetts in 1989 when their yet to be Congressman Barney Fag was the owner of a gay, male prostitution ring.

Why do all those Irish Catholics put up with that? Oh, that's right, it's Kennedy territory where anythign goes and the Cardinal keeps quiet.

[inconsistent]

isolation that drives many gay students into substance abuse and suicide attempts.

also known as ... Natural Selection...or is that Unnatural?

[Ligeia]

Hey, Mud...Chesterfield County alert.

Related thread:
Gay-straight clubs spread through high schools nationwide, raising hopes, posing challenges

[PLK]

Michael Burgess, a sophomore who co-founded the club

When I was a sophomore, I was 15 years old. I was so virginal, I wouldn't have known what the word "gay" even meant. This troubles me greatly. What in the world is going on? How could a 15-year old child have any notion of "sexual preference?" This is ridiculous, and an ominous sign of how severe the cultural decay is in America.

[Fish out of Water]

index bump

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Gay-straight clubs growing in schools

So does mold and mildew, but I don't see any reason to celebrate it either.

[montag813]

What's the problem? Diversity is wonderful.

BUT DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT STARTING A CHRISTIAN CLUB

[Don Myers]

"This is ridiculous, and an ominous sign of how severe the cultural decay is in America."

If you are looking for morality and decency, you will have to look elsewhere.

[goodnesswins]

Back to MY mantra.....SEPARATION OF SEX AND SCHOOLS

[ConservativeTeen]

I am so thankful that I go to a private school where I don't have to put up with that sort of crap.

[Loyalist]

Tinfoil thinking cap on....

If state school funding ever gets tied to 'encouraging sexual diversity', how soon before psychologists and principals start looking to 'assist' students who are 'uncomfortable with their emerging sexual identity' with 'accepting themselves'?

Considering how free schools are with dispensing Ritalin, condoms and counselling....considering how students are largely regarded as the prisoners and playthings of the educational experts....surely such a scenario is not entirely far-fetched?

Tinfoil thinking cap off....

No, of course not. What a stupid idea. Stupid. Go stand in the corner, Loyalist, until you learn to get along with the rest of Free Republic.

[ChicagoGuy]

"How could a 15-year old child have any notion of "sexual preference?" So at fifteen you never dated? You didn't have any 'crushes' on people of the opposite sex? I find that a bit hard to believe. To the contrary, I bet you had some notion of your sexual preference; it just happened to be that you were straight, so you didn't have to deal with a lot of people berating you for it.

[Jorge]

They might as well start a beastiality club, and an adultery club. They are both sexual sin just like homosexuality.

Actually to be comparable to a Gay-Straight club, they would have to be like the Monogamous married-Adulterer slut club, and Human with Human-Human with animal sex club.

I guess the next thing will be the KKK-Blackpanthers club.LOL

[elephantrider]

Lucky you. I'm in public school of necessity, so I'm really glad I'm in a small town without any of this going on.