Comments on: Ruby-Sachs: Supporting “separate but equal” when it comes to gay teens

By: BreederBoy » Blog Archive » Ruby-Sachs: Arne Duncan, Gay Schools and Privatization (365Gay.Com)

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:03:28 +0000

[...] Duncan has, in some ways, done more for the LGBT community than most in Chicago. I have previously stated my support for the LGBT school in Chicago which Duncan backed and pushed to establish. But I’m [...]

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 04:23:34 +0000

I don’t know what I think about this idea

On the one hand, we have to be socialized, regardless of sexuality. We have to learn to live in the world and interact with other who will not always agree with us.

On the other hand, if a teenager has been traumatized by the treatment they’ve received, it may be a good idea to separate them from that atmosphere but not forever.

By: yael

yael — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 23:06:47 +0000

my experience comes from faith schools which i attended for 5 years. faith schools seem only to divide people and not prepare them for the real world. i think a lgbt school would do that too! schools that are selective breed ignorance and fear so whether they are public or not they are probably a bad idea.

By: MMARIN

MMARIN — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:57:36 +0000

While it’s best, IMO, to enforce a ‘no tolerance’ policy against homophobia (meaning cracking down on discrimination in schools), I think the school’s a good idea.

It will, in a lot of ways, be equal. It won’t necessarily stop the progress of creating a more equal environment in schools. I’m fairly certain that, by law, a public gay-only school would have to admit straight students, as well. At least that’s what I think, given that the gay-only school in NY allows straight students, as well.

I actually think that, while I dislike ’separate but equal’, creating a gay school would help out a lot of gay kids. Rather than be victim of the harassment, fear coming to school, and all of the other things shown in statistics that are truly terrible, some students can attend a school with kids who understand supported by understanding teachers. (sorry, long sentence)

I’m all for it. I’m also all for working on sensitivity training or whatever can be done to overall help the gay population of students in schools throughout Chicago. But I think this school could be progress, too.
I don’t see any harm.

By: Richard Buhrer

Richard Buhrer — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 01:45:57 +0000

But what do the kids want?

By: momentai

momentai — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:26:23 +0000

I think a better idea is for this school superintendent to generate funds to put counseling departments in high schools in Chicago. All schools need an on site program with fully trained psychologists and therapists to deal with this issue and any other social issue. There should be a program where students can visit at will and be anonymous if they choose to report abuse and just to recieve free counseling. There should also be mandatory seminars to help teach the bigots how not to be bigots. That type of proactive, hands on approach to teaching tolerance is what children need.

The idea of a Gay only school would be better served as a private school. and it shouldn’t be gay only, but open to anyone who can afford it and who may become a victim of a specific type of harrasment, like for being gay, non White, handicapped, or even straight kids who just have social interaction problems. Like a safehaven for all the so called weirdos where they have the normal curiculum and special classes that help teach them how to integrate with society.

By: 'Drew

'Drew — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:50:55 +0000

Yes, there does seem to be a wide range of opinions on this subject. I think that there should be the option of an “all LGTB” high school.
Yes, some good would come from leaving the LGTB kids in a mixed school system, and if they have the strength of charcator & the support of family, friends, & school administrators; then they should feel free to stay.
However,what I feel is missing from the discussions is the view of someone who almost didn’t survive that period of their lives.
The GLBT youth doesn’t contemplate/consider/attempt suicide simply because he/she has been bullied; that is only a contributing factor. The suicide attempt materializes with the tragic confluence of several factors. The bullying, the feelng of fear that their parents/family will not love them, the frustration born of the over whelming feeling of being alone in the world, and the anger over the alienation.
I understand the feeling that “segregating” the teen could lead to a false feeling of safety, but beleive me, it’s the teen who has the support family and a few feinds who has the “false feeling of security. Even when the teen feels safe in school, he/she knows that that safety ends at the school sidewalk.
If the school system, as a whole, can support a “LGBT” school, then it should “make it so”.
The upside of this would be that, as it is a public school, every LGBT person would know where it is & when it is open, and would be able to make their way there on an as needed basis for camaraderie and couseling. They would know where to go to not feel so alone, and for peer support vs. peer abuse.
The number of gay teens that are both suicide and runaways could be reduced & teens could be better protected from predatory attempts by violent punks, and chicken hawks… it could also provide a safe haven& resource center in the event of abuse by family members.

By: Linas

Linas — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:51:56 +0000

I’m surprised to see so many apparently well-meaning lgbtq people are willing to sacrifice the safety and well-being of their own youth for a misguided sense of principle. Let the kids grow up healthy and secure, then let them make their own choices as fully-equipped adults. I don’t see how letting some kids be happy and comfortable in their own school means letting our guard down on homophobia in other schools.

By: jibii

jibii — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:48:20 +0000

I very much enjoyed this article.

I’m glad that the schools that already exist have helped troubled teens, and if they prevented even one child from committing suicide, they succeeded and should be applauded.

However, those school are for the most part a superficial bandage on a serious wound. If we are to continue to help these kids as they grow up and enter the world, we have to change the attitude of the kids in “normal” schools. Because if we don’t change these hateful attitudes of their peer group, thegay students will graduate from their safety-school and jump back into the real world that still hates and fears them. Talk about shock!

But again I repeat another point about this bullying problem that I don’t see anyone else acknowledge. We’re worried and concerned about the needs of the harassed Gay student to the point of providing schools of them, but what about the harassed straight student?

Why can’t we try to save all of the children in these horrible situations instead of just some of them?

By: RJ Hadley

RJ Hadley — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:36:54 +0000

Did any one here read this?
http://www.365gay.com/news/homophobia-in-schools-remains-major-problem/