Gay High Schools Offer a Haven From Bullies

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The real problem is bullying! Anytime someone is "different" they get bullied. This same thing happened with those that have conservative religious fews. It also happened to those that have mental disabilities. If we start segregating everyone that is different, we get home schools. Let's make a concentrated effort to get rid of bullying. To make segregated schools only adds to the bullying on the streets.

Dr, Ron Pickard of TN 6:34AM January 06, 2009

Al of LA wrote "It is wrong to ridicule a homosexual about their chose of life style". Honey, it ain't a choice. It is what some folks ARE. Just as you can't choose to be male, or asian, or particularly bright. It is what you're given to work with, and work within. Religion is a choice, as are dietary management and manners and the kind of work one does. This has nothing to do with prayer, faith or personal politics of any sort. This is the cast of the dice we all get. We have no control. If you're REALLY Christian you'd realise that, as your tenets declare that God makes no junk, we are ALL made equal. Not the same, but equal. None of us need 'fixing'. And if you don't believe that, perhaps you're not really a Christian. Just another judgemental PITA.

martin in toronto 9:15PM January 05, 2009

It is wrong to ridicule a homosexual about their chose of life style, but creating a high school exclusively for them is wrong. Teenage years are tough for anybody straight or gay. I personally don't believe in the homosexual life because of my Christian beliefs and I think that the teen who thinks they are gay must get serious counseling immediately. I think that teens who feel that they are gay are believing a lie, and they should not get caught up in a life style that will ultimately destroy them. I urge everyone to pray for teens that you know who declares themselves gay.

Al of LA 6:41PM January 05, 2009

I applaud the efforts these school make. Until the uneducated parents and biased 'normal' kids learn tolerance, other kids at risk will be scared. Until the whole of society learns to treat everyone as equals, people will need protection. We all get one shot at this life, the point of life is to make it bearable for others around you, and innovate for future generations.
Earlier generations kept other races down by not educating them. These schools are breaking barriers to education so that these kids can grow up to be leaders. These schools free the spirits and let the kids be the best they can be.

(dp) Part of the Solution of CO 3:12PM January 05, 2009

It is my opinion that all students should have a safe environment to learn in. I am afraid that those students and teachers (the bullies and teachers that look the other way) that are causing this conversation to occur will see this type of a school as an out. An excuse to continue the behavior because if the victims don't like it they should go to another school. I feel that it is the duty of schools to work to ensure that ALL students have a safe and inviting school environment. I do not see a good ending to the gay friendly high school. I see it leading to other specified schools for the ... We as a community need to learn to live and work together. Diversity can be a great thing. We just need to embrace it.

of OH 3:11PM January 05, 2009

"Normal kids"?
Several commenters here keep referring to "normal kids". Listen, folks like you aren't "normal", you're just *common* -- just like wood ticks, leeches, cockroaches, or maggots. Thank goodness that MOST of the younger generation is more enlightened than the type of Dark Ages mentality being displayed by hate-mongering bigots such as yourselves. Given enough time, attrition will kill off most of you, as the human race evolves. Unfortunately, just like racists (and cockroaches) a few will always survive, but luckily, most decent people will see you for what you are -- and just like with most racists and cockroaches, be disgusted by it. I actually feel SORRY for people like you -- I can avoid disgusting bigots if I so choose, but you're STUCK with yourselves and your vile hatred for the rest of your miserable lives. Ta-ta, Neanderthals -- I'm off to hob-nob with EVOLVED humans!
Thank you! Finally a person with a brain!

Ak45678 of TX 12:51PM January 05, 2009

So, now segregation is a good thing. Really?

2Hotel9 of PA 7:04AM January 05, 2009

Wow! What are these guys thinking? They scream homophobia when someone classifies them or points out anything negative and then they want the taxpayers to give them and island of isolation? I understand now how evrything tries to reach a state of kharma if you will. When someone lies, all of creation works to expose the lie. If someone uses bad business practices it eventually surfaces to the light of day. Because truth no matter what you think does triumph. Even a foolish man is considered wise if he keeps his mouth shut. I say Forrest Gump is right. Stupid is as stupid does. The catch twenty-two is for us not to treat them different but treat them differently. I only see bad juju over this.

J. M. of WI 4:08AM January 05, 2009

Why are the gay kids, the bullied kids, being sent away? That's really crazy. Send away the bullies. Not to punish them, but to teach them common humanity before being allowed to attend with all the normal kids again.
Why must the victims always be further victimized? Remove the victimizers, and do it now.
My gay kid was bullied, and *nothing* was done. My son was injured, but he has healed. The kids who victimized him have gotten no help at all. Will they recover?

Valorie Zimmerman of WA 1:52AM January 04, 2009

Schools should not be involved in gay issues. It is not the job of the educators to distinguish between homosexuality-related harassment and other forms of bullying. It is, however, the teachers' responsibility to provide an educational environment that is, if not comfortable, at least free from threats of severe physical injury. School is not a social laboratory. It is a publicly-funded, mandatory institution.
Harassment of one student by another is not a gay issue; it is a safety issue. If these students were being harassed due to gang violence, the decision to remove a student who has received death threats into a separate school would be clear and correct. One does not hear the argument that separation of warring gang youth keeps these kids from working out their differences because their threats are taken seriously. Neither is the argument put forth that students sheltered from gang violence will be at a social disadvantage later in life because they never learned how to deal with this reality growing up.
The danger in segregating gay students, of course, is that it encourages latent homosexual tendencies. As a gay student growing up in a homophobic school environment, I can testify that any bent which cannot be suppressed by fear of violence will not be corrected by continued immersion in an unsafe environment. Furthermore, even if being homosexual were a crisis of identity which one could ward off with the right mix of social constraints, safety trumps salvation. Keeping a student in a violent situation is not that perfect mix of social constraints which turns kids straight. It is unethical, and until our schools are funded privately, it is unlawful.

Kaleen of WA 12:38PM January 03, 2009