While, everyone goes through rough patches in high school, they’re much rougher for some. Many, if not most, LGBT students face severe discrimination on school campuses. Is creating separate, LGBT-oriented schools the answer or just a band-aid that postpones real solutions?
Consider the case of Tarrell Hogle. One of just a few openly gay teens at his high school in Wisconsin, he was routinely bullied and often cut class on days that he just couldn’t take the harassment. Absences got him suspended and his schoolwork and grades suffered. Halfway through 9th grade, he transferred to The Alliance School in Milwaukee and now excels in his classes.
- “It’s hard to pay attention when other people are taking your things and trying to provoke you.”
Tarrell’s experience throughout the first half of his freshman year was not unusual; a survey by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) revealed that a whopping 61% of LGBT students feel unsafe at school. Nine out of ten have been verbally harassed and nearly half have experienced physical harassment by prejudiced classmates.
According to The Trevor Project, the leading US organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth, LGBTQ teens are 4 times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers.
Despite the current problems, Rick Garcia of the LGBT advocacy group, Equality Illinois, says that by separating the students, other schools could be less likely to address the problem on their campuses.
- "If we create ‘Homo High,’ we don’t have to prohibit this behavior in other schools. The reality is, we have to live as neighbors. We have to learn to tolerate one another, if not accept one another. All our kids should be safe in all our schools; segregation is not the answer."
What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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