Milwaukee to Form Gay-Friendly Middle School

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I am thrilled the new school is opening and in 2010 (he is entering 5th grade this fall) my son will be happily putting in his application as well. He face so much bulling now for not being a "typical boy" and I know he would thrive someplace where is differences are more readily accepted.

Moondancer Drake of WI 10:18AM June 05, 2009

My daughter attends Alliance High School in Milwaukee, and she is not gay. She has many friends at Alliance, both gay and straight. She came to Alliance after being bullied in middle and high school. Alliance is very small and offers a safe learning environment with lots of one on one attention. The staff deals with the drama that goes with being an adolescent and keeps the students from being cruel to each other. The majority of the students at Alliance are nice children who just want to be allowed to go to school and learn without being harassed.

mom in WI of WI 10:00PM May 02, 2009

I think this is an amazing oppurtunity. For kids that always got picked on because of what they belive is right for them, they are going to cherish this with their own kind.

Heather F of OH 7:59AM April 08, 2009

npXAyP Goodsite

Jonn of OH 9:39PM March 14, 2009

In response to "I Don't Believe Middle Schoolers Are Gay" post:
It's like saying, "I feel you're a confused heterosexual." How would you know how each and every one of these individual students feel? Do you ask them? Granted, yes, some MIGHT be confused but you are talking generally and NO ONE'S feelings can be clumped into a -general- category.
What information do you possess that these kids wouldn’t feel the way they do based on different upbringing? You are ill informed, ignorant, and close-minded to make such a hasty remark.
It’s fine to have your own opinion but what support do you have? And don’t state it like it’s a fact because you know so much about what these kids feel, how these parents are, or what it’s like in any sense. You are insulting feelings, kids, parents, memories, struggles, and many other things you don’t know about.

Jacquelyne Graham of WI 11:00PM February 28, 2009

By all means gay friendly schools are necessary. I myself had experienced the horrific virbal, physical, psychological abuse as a middle school student. To this day, I cannot enter a public school building or even attend an adult education class. If I was singled out for special harassment then I should have been offered "special" treatment through the educational system. A lot of keen minds and productive lives have been lost through institutionalized homophobia.

Dan of MA 3:48PM February 13, 2009

That was the year I realized that there was a heartfelt difference in my life. While my sixth-grade friends dreamed of loving girls and talked about it, I found I had a awkward secret. I pined for the love of men.
I tried to state my longing in dressing. Unfortunately, my feminized style caught the eye of the town's moral enforcers: high school girls who shouted catcalls at me from across the street and high school boys, including a pastor's son, who fired shots at my family's house. That was before the older boys caught me where no one was watching. They reviled me with words I had never heard before as they kicked me and beat me to tears.
Faced with no way to escape the hate of that small town for the way I felt inside, I crawled into a straight closet. Once inside, I found the only source of unconditional love that wretched town offered... which was drugs. Those drugs were my steady source of loving acceptance for the next twenty years.
If my hometown had educators as Milwaukee has been blessed with today, my life would have been far richer for it. To those people: I sincerely salute you for your wisdom and courage to teach queer kids like me.

Bruce David Awe of WI 7:04PM January 30, 2009

I'm sorry but I believe in middle school they are only confused.
Unfortunately most don't have a mom and dad to model stability to them.

of 8:12AM January 20, 2009

i think this is one of the most stupid things i've heard in a long time.schools should not have anything to do with sexual preferance.the schools need to work on getting our childrens education higher.the childrens parents need to teach their children how to deal with daily problems.you cant always run away from your problems. you cant fix everyones problems.i got made fun of for having big ears .are they going to make a school for people with big ears now?

of TN 12:05AM January 20, 2009

We are pursuing opening a school like NYC's Harvey Milk School in CT. As we navigate this process, we look forward to all of us working together. As an "out" principal,I know CT has come a long way regarding glbt issues. We just passed Gay Marriage, Arne Duncan is a progressive thinker on this isssue, the movie MILK is overwhelmingly received, True Colors hosts the largest conference for glbt youth in the country, and key persons in CT support this initiative.
Opponents may have issues about this school. I hear the concerns of many who feel that the bully picking on the gay youth should be punished. I believe the bully simply needs to be educated regarding glbt issues. Bullies tend to be the ones questionning their own sexual orientation and out of fear lash out. We need to support them in their fears as well.
We do not feel attending this school is a punishment; it is a choice for gay youth and their straight allies. It would NOT be beneficial to have all gay identified youth attend a seperate school; who would be left to do the educating and be the role models putting a face on being gay?
As an educator, I was strong enough, after 15 years of teaching, to come out and be a role model for gay and straight youth (and teachers). Not everyone is up for that role. Other gay teachers in our building were so uncomfortable at the thought of coming out. I have conducted workshops all over the country to assist teachers in facing their fears of "coming out" at school. Imagine how youth feel? Adults do not need parental support, youth do, and many dont have it.
Students need to feel accepted for who they are so they can focus in on what is important; learning!!!!
CT has approximately 40 GSA's (Gay-Straight Alliance) in schools. While this is extremely positive, it does not guarantee support and prevention of bullying. Some students would still need the option of a school where their safety is a priority. We can no longer ignore GLSEN's alarming statistics of glbt youth dropping out 3X more than their straight peers.
This is not about further segregation, this is about feeling safe and supported during the most challenging time of our lives....middle and high school.
Patricia

Patricia of CT 12:19PM January 17, 2009