<p>"I'm the only openly gay person in my school of 240. But I know of at least five more solid cases that just aren't out yet."</p>
<p>Being the only openly gay person takes SO much courage! bravo, ReninDetroit. what year of high school did you "out" yourself?</p>
<p>I'm one of a few, but people here don't <em>truly</em> believe that I'm gay. They think it's just a phase for me.</p>
<p>My school is obsessed with being "open" and "welcoming" of diverse cultures and different people. We've had assemblies and watched movies about gay people (such as the Laramie Project), and we've also had smaller discussion groups. The GSA at our school, however, seems to have been just something the "organizers" (2 students) could put on their college apps... they sit around once a month and talk about life and eat.</p>
<p>In my school, there's no openly out people. Not surprising, being it is single-sex. As accepting as my school acts, "coming out" is like crossing boundaries. I'm sure there's those who are attracted to the same-sex, but unheard of is the idea of publicizing it. There afraid of alienation, when, in fact, I've read that the majority of people will have experienced a single-sex attraction in their lifetime. (Interesting, huh?) An experience, such as that, wouldn't brand you as gay, per se, but human, as I read from another source. I'll try to find these sources, by the way. </p>
<p>Anyways, last year, I had a massive crush on one student, who was a year above me. The student ended up leaving the school, so I brushed it off. But, I was and still am dazed by the experience. I don't consider myself gay, but the experience did make me wonder... I think that a number of students in high school are questioning their sexuality or maybe having these secret attractions with their peers, just no one wants to admit it. And, that could be why the majority of GSA and GASP members are straight, not to say they have to be gay.</p>
<p>
That's exactly what my school is like.</p>
<p>Or the atmosphere in the school is such that there is a fear of admitting it; I wonder how that can be changed.</p>
<p>I used to attend what is considered a very liberal school, but even there, I didn't have the courage to out myself. I was especially worried about how my dormmates and roommate would react. They weren't very sensitive to gay issues unless someone whom they knew was gay was right in front of them. There were definitely awkward moments when the guys talked about girls of interest.. I can't tell who is prettier or "hotter," but I can tell who fits the "hot" profile.</p>
<p>"Anyways, last year, I had a massive crush on one student, who was a year above me. The student ended up leaving the school, so I brushed it off. But, I was and still am dazed by the experience. I don't consider myself gay, but the experience did make me wonder"</p>
<p>Some girls are just so charismatic and charming that I can't help but be drawn towards them.</p>
<p>I think I was aware of my gender identity/sexual orientation even in my early years. Curiously enough, my best friend in elementary school outed himself in high school. When we first met each other in first grade, of course we really didn't think about sexual orientation as one of the criteria we had for making friends. Rather, we found that our mindsets were compatible.. we just clicked, and that was the basis of our friendship. During recess, we would just sit on a bench and talk or immerse ourselves in our own games, while most other boys went crazy doing other stuff. I transferred schools after 4th grade but found out about his being gay years later. </p>
<p>I didn't try to label myself gay or bisexual until sophomore year in high school when a boy, for the first time, took serious interest in me, and I started to seriously question my own attractions. However, I was drawn to this other boy with whom I developed an emotional connection so intense (and actually, overpowering) that I was convinced I would later marry him, lol. We "went out" for 6 months..our status progressed from close friends to "boyfriends," but through it all, we didn't officially acknowledge our relationship until we actually ended it. We knew what was going on between us though. You wouldn't believe it, but I was highly conservative back then, and so was he. I think he <em>still is</em> conservative now. I wouldn't know. We're 1,000 miles apart and no longer in touch.</p>
<p>All I know is that my school is largely homophobic and the GSA gets pelted by the italian kids </p>
<p>I try to stick up for them and stuff, but ughh one can only do so much</p>
<p>and I like girls to much to join, its all HS politics, and my parents would probably kill me if I gave out even te slightest impression of being homo</p>
<p>Hah.. what's up with those Italian kids? </p>
<p>My parents didn't try to kill me, so I guess that's good.</p>
<p>I go to a VERY progressive liberal school in Washington, DC. It was the first integrated (racewise) school back in the day. We have been a safehaven for GBLTQ staff and faculty for years. We have a Rainbow Connection that is for all sexual orientations and then also an affinity group that is anonymous and confidential location etc. for only people who identify as GBLTQ. We just had our PRIDE week. We do not do Day of Silence anymore because we noticed that people would just do it to get out of speaking in class. Also, we believe that GBLTQ people are silenced enough in the real world no need to have a day for more silence. Instead, for the past two years, we have had the DAY OF NOISE. Our hallways are filled with the sounds of gay musicians (Rufus Wainwright, My Chemical Romance, Ani, that song "I'm coming out" etc.) and we all wear buttons saying stuff like "Pretty, Witty, and Gay" or "Straight but not narrow" or just simply "OUT!"</p>
<p>Wow, Day of Noise.. I like that idea! I think the purpose of Day of Silence is to emphasize the silencing of LGBT people, but it doesn't create that much of an impact if only a few participate. However, we do plan to celebrate the Night of Noise, which will be held Downtown on the eve of the National Day of Silence. I wish I were a student at your school!</p>
<p>"for the past two years, we have had the DAY OF NOISE. Our hallways are filled with the sounds of gay musicians (Rufus Wainwright, My Chemical Romance, Ani, that song "I'm coming out" etc.) and we all wear buttons saying stuff like "Pretty, Witty, and Gay" or "Straight but not narrow" or just simply "OUT!""</p>
<p>We do that on National Coming Out Day, complete with pink-ducttape-triangles that we stick to passerby and my friend John dressed up as the Coming Out Fairy...</p>
<p>Lol, anticatalyst. I remember those! but I didn't wear them. Back then, I was not out yet, nor did I want to make it obvious in anyway that I could be gay. I was in self-denial, really.</p>
<p>*in any way</p>
<p>I fully support gay rights!</p>
<p>"What are some catchy slogans to put on flyers?"</p>
<p>My school's GSA slogan is "Breaking the Silence." I believe it's a common one.</p>
<p>And yes, I'm a member, but I'm not gay. Our GSA doesn't meet that often, but I attended the meetings that have been held. My reason for going: extra credit, since my history teacher sponsors the club. We also don't do the Day of Silence thing.</p>
<p>By the way, the gay people at my school are uber cool!</p>
<p>"By the way, the gay people at my school are uber cool!"</p>
<p>Woot woot.</p>
<p>Not that I even go to your school or anything.</p>
<p>Sagekid, you and I will get along really well.</p>
<p>In other news!</p>
<p>My project on Frank Kameny was extremely well-received at the city finals history competition, and I do mean EXTREMELY. My topic is obscure, so you probably haven't heard of the man before, but he was the person responsible for pressuring the American Psychiatric Association to acknowledge objective evidence supporting the theory that gays are not mentally ill. In 1973, the Association removed homosexuality from the list of mental disorders. </p>
<p>Also, I think I flirted with a girl without even realizing it!</p>
<p>"Also, I think I flirted with a girl without even realizing it!"</p>
<p>Hahahahahaha. Don't worry, we're totally harmless.</p>
<p>I must tell you the story behind it. I think she knew I was gay from seeing my project beforehand (not too many straight guys would choose a gay rights topic of all topics).. I was still in the process of putting the project together when she first spotted me. Anyway, after my interview with the judges, I walked around the room to look at some other projects, one of which happened to be right in front of hers. It was on the Youth International Party, which was related to my topic last year, so I spent a lot of time on it. Then, this person came up to the same board and started reading one panel while I the other (it was a trifold), so we were practically breathing on each other. Behind us was the girl whom I (or we) ended up flirting with.. she was smiling, and I'm pretty sure it was because of what this boy and i looked like we were doing (quite frankly, i would have kissed him on the cheek). So, i asked about her project, and the three of us started chatting, but you could sense the tension in our voices. It was definitely not just a normal conversation.</p>