From the very start of our existence as human beings, we have been plagued with the idea that the unknown is frightening, and therefore, terrible. We have been scared away from sailing oceans, switching religions, and setting new trends. That is, until one brave person, or group of people, decides to cross the barrier of their ordinary lives, and enter a territory entirely unfamiliar.
Most notably, the students of Neuqua Valley have begun their own expedition to uncharted areas as they try to creatively define themselves in a community of so many students. These students have exhibited bravery as they decided to announce to their school-subtly or not so subtly- that they are gay.
Although Junior Jimmy Lee* is aware of his school’s capacity to be close minded, Lee insists that he decided to come out at Neuqua because his “family doesn’t have any eyes or ears at this school.” Despite being able to find a community of supportive friends, Lee finds himself unsettled by the inept ability of Neuqua’s discipline guidelines.
“This school’s punishment policies are inefficient,” he said “Texting is rampant, fighting is weekly, and P.D.A is an epidemic, how on Earth can our school’s administration even begin to cope with slurs if they can’t even do these simplest of tasks?”
Neuqua has been faced with similar problems before, when a since graduated student was pushed down a flight of stairs, simply because she is a lesbian. Sophomore Michael Coduto has experienced discrimination at Neuqua as well, and has heard people talking about his sexuality behind his back.
“It hurts me to know that people make judgments about me without knowing me,” said Coduto. “I want people to know that I have feelings just like everyone else, and deserve to be respected.”
As to the popular phrase ‘that’s gay,’ Coduto said “I understand that the term can be used frequently and not meant offensively, but you never know what the person sitting next to you is going through.” Gay people have been tormented by that idiom ever since it became popular. Last year, eleven year old Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover of Springfield, Massachusetts committed suicide after his peers at school repeatedly called him “gay.” Shockingly, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimated that 30% of teen suicides are committed by gays and lesbians.
Homosexuals have found support in groups such as Parents and Friends of Lesbians And Gays-or PFLAG-which “celebrates diversity and envision a society that embraces everyone.” They insist that being a homosexual is not a disease; rather it is simply another part of a person’s identity. Another group that celebrates diversity is CAAN or Community Alliance and Action Network. Gini Lester, the vice President of CAAN , said that their main mission is to “provide a place of community for [gay] people who don’t know where else to find community-some people just don’t know where to go.” The group insists that being gay is nothing to be ashamed of.
In fact, gay and lesbian students at Neuqua should be praised for their bravery in coming out, not insulted for their sexuality. “Even though I knew [coming out] would be rough, I felt like I was lying to everyone when they asked me about which girl I liked, when truthfully I was on a completely different page,” said Coduto “What people need to realize is that gays are people just like straight, and are born that way, and cannot help how they feel about certain genders of people.
*Names changed to protect identity
Anna Miller, Staff Writer
