Gay high school planned

An LGBTQA Chicago Public Schools high school has been proposed and, if given the green light, the school would join the likes of New York's Harvey Milk High School in becoming a national model in providing a ...

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[Voice of Common Sense]

One more example of the world going down the drain. I can't believe how immoral mankind has become. I'm suprised God hasn't wiped this planet out of the universe yet. How much worse can it get?

[WTF]

"New York's Harvey Milk High School"

That cant be the name of an all gay high school... That is just wrong on so many levels.

[Following Voice]

"One more example of the world going down the drain. I can't believe how immoral mankind has become. I'm suprised God hasn't wiped this planet out of the universe yet. How much worse can it get?"

You are so right! I have three sons in high school and there school has gay clubs. Why is a high school extra curricular activity based on sexual identity? What axactly does this club do? I for one am very curious. I don't feel that CPS or any high school should be allowed to even start any kind of educational facility, club, or whatever based on a child's (They really don't know what life they want to lead in high school!) sexual perseverence of himself or if he put the thought of questioning his/her sexual identity. Personally, I think it puts more confusion in HS kids than they already are. why is this even an issue.The focus should be on more improved education, not safe havens, etc. If these kids choose to be gay, then they should accept what comes with that territory. It'll help them grow up. They should hear the views and misconstruities of others. It should have some impact on their futures. Isn't that what education is about. If there is violence, it should be treated by our law officials, and those kids will also learn from their experience. I am not against gay adults, but come on, leave our kids to their learning. This is getting to be too much! I am a firm believer that if you choose to be gay then you take the consequences, because HELLO!!. There is this thing called pro-creation. Maybe our kids should look it up and learn.

[Dasein9]

Voice of Common Sense wrote:

One more example of the world going down the drain. I can't believe how immoral mankind has become. I'm suprised God hasn't wiped this planet out of the universe yet. How much worse can it get?

I know!

It's just appalling that our kids are so unsafe in regular schools that special ones need to be started for them.

It's absolutely reprehensible that high school students can't be trusted to co-exist with their classmates peacefully.

And it's utterly inexcusable that these kids are not being taught self-control and respect for other human beings in the home as well as at school.

If the world operated as it ought to, the violent kids would be the ones to go, not the LGBT kids. There already are special schools for the kids causing these problems, and they're called Juvenile Detention Centers.

[Rick in Kansas]

The intolerance and ignorance that has been exhibited by the people responding to this story amazes me that even after all thes years of activism by the LGBT community that there are this many people that just don't get it this badly. No one chooses to be homosexual, and they aren't really questioning their sexual orientation, but they do have questions about it and need a safe source for accurate information.

Having come out myself when I was in high school, many years before there were organizations such as Gay/Straight Alliances or high schools for LGBT students, I can see why they exsist and having read the posts to this thread so far, I can see why they are so desperately needed. We all know high school is a rough time for all young people, but if you add in such a natural difference as not being heterosexual it gets even rougher. face it, we've got parents out there teaching their kids to be intolerant, hateful and potentially violent to those who are not like them and something needs to be done about it rather than just letting it go on and deal with the after effects when it happens. A high school for only LGBT students certainly isn't the best solution, but those students deserve a chance to succeed in an environment where they aren't being targeted because of the bigotry of others. Until we can have schools where all students can feel safe with who they are, it's the only solution available to us.

[Matthew]

The last thing this world needs are Separate Schools. That goes for separate Catholic Schools and Afro-Centric Schools and Muslim Academies too. All of us in this world need to live together and work together and that needs to start early.

[Following Voice]

"No one chooses to be homosexual, and they aren't really questioning their sexual orientation, but they do have questions about it and need a safe source for accurate information."

Well, I don't believe that source to answer questions will be in a segregated school. People have been fighting against segregation for decades, but you are all for it. Maybe we should put you all in the same school or one country Might be a way to curb some of the aids epidemic.

Also, you are completely wrong about choosing to be homoosexual. I know of many people in Chicago that were raised by gays and grew up gay because thats the only way they were taught to be and were raised to know being gay as normal. Like you said. Parents raise there kids to be like them, some viscious, some hateful, and some that being gay is OK. School is supposed to be an educational facility, not a social activity center. And, thank you Matthew for the comment that "The last thing this world needs is seperate schools." Spare me!! and learn how to live together and morally. It's not normal to be gay. I believe it's a sexual identity mental disorder and you should be receiving couseling to learn how to be normal. Yes, this world has become very immoral, and whatever higher power that does exist is getting rid of millions of people with all these hurricanes, floods, volcanos, war, aids, big mile long chunks of icebergs breaking and no one yet knows the consequences of that. Seems like daily tragedies and hurricanes by the 4's everywhere! So, don't be so quit to rule out destruction of this world, it may come sooner than we think.

[writewingproxyco ntin]

Following Voice wrote:

I have three sons in high school and there school has gay clubs. Why is a high school extra curricular activity based on sexual identity? What axactly does this club do? I for one am very curious.

Are you sure you're not bi-curious?

Perhaps if you want to know what the gay/str8 alliance does you should grill each of your three sons - odds, you know....

Gay/str8 alliances are protected by the same law which permits bible study clubs on public school property. The fundie talibangelicals knew of this aspect of the legislation at the time of its proposal, but went ahead and supported the bill anyway, since they're so graspingly desperate to make this their version of an xstain nation, rather than a secular one.

Their strategery seems to have backfired. Praiz!

The gay/str8 alliances which resulted provide support and education for all students who don't like bullying by "Fundies Concerned With Your Undies."

Hope that helps. And be sure your sons know how to use condoms for vag-inal or an-al intercourse, Jethro.

[writewingproxyco ntin]

Matthew wrote:

The last thing this world needs are Separate Schools. That goes for separate Catholic Schools and Afro-Centric Schools and Muslim Academies too. All of us in this world need to live together and work together and that needs to start early.

Actually, I agree with this. There should only be separate schools with African American or gay or Muslim or Catholic focused _curricula_.

Any interested student should be able and encouraged to attend such schools, regardless of identity. The current language used to discuss these magnet schools suggests admission is closed except to certain students. That's wrong as language and as practice.

[Voice of Common Sense]

I hate to burst your bubble, but homosexuality is a choice. The main proof of this is that the bible states that it is a sin. God would not say something is a sin if he made people that way and they had no choice in the matter. I for one am not going to argue with God. Something tells me I'd lose in the worst way.

Rick in Kansas wrote:

The intolerance and ignorance that has been exhibited by the people responding to this story amazes me that even after all thes years of activism by the LGBT community that there are this many people that just don't get it this badly. No one chooses to be homosexual, and they aren't really questioning their sexual orientation, but they do have questions about it and need a safe source for accurate information.
Having come out myself when I was in high school, many years before there were organizations such as Gay/Straight Alliances or high schools for LGBT students, I can see why they exsist and having read the posts to this thread so far, I can see why they are so desperately needed. We all know high school is a rough time for all young people, but if you add in such a natural difference as not being heterosexual it gets even rougher. face it, we've got parents out there teaching their kids to be intolerant, hateful and potentially violent to those who are not like them and something needs to be done about it rather than just letting it go on and deal with the after effects when it happens. A high school for only LGBT students certainly isn't the best solution, but those students deserve a chance to succeed in an environment where they aren't being targeted because of the bigotry of others. Until we can have schools where all students can feel safe with who they are, it's the only solution available to us.

[Pagan and Proud]

Voice of Common Sense wrote:

I hate to burst your bubble, but homosexuality is a choice. The main proof of this is that the bible states that it is a sin. God would not say something is a sin if he made people that way and they had no choice in the matter. I for one am not going to argue with God. Something tells me I'd lose in the worst way.
<quoted text>

I hate to burst YOUR bubble but your Myths aren't true. Not one. try putting down the fairy tales and picking up a real book every now and then, you might not get laughed at quite so often if you did.

[allie topeka]

to common sense: religion has no place in our public schools. you are right in saying that "god" would not create someone and then say they are an abomination! therefore, your book of man made lies, about our creator, must be wrong. since you are not a homosexual, you cannot possibly know how they were born. use your common sense. if you were born heterosexual then.... or did you choose too?

[Linguist]

While I never favor [name your group]-only schools, I can state from first-hand experience that growing up and coming to the realization that I was gay was a frightening, even terrifying, experience.

I felt completely isolated, completely alone, and terrified. And no one -no one in the world- knew my secret.

Being gay is decidedly NOT a choice. Those here who say it is simply don't understand. I was THERE. Had I had a "choice", I would have be THE ONE to "change" from same-sex orientation to opposite-sex orientation, such was my intense motivation to change. I would have done ANYTHING to change. ANYTHING.

And, indeed, for several decades of my life, in a sometimes desperate effort to not be what I was, I listened to all the so-called "experts", and tried everything, from therapy to counseling to LOTS of opposite-sex dating...to LOTS of prayer.

For whatever reason, God has determined that some of us are gay. Shrug. I wanted to be six-feet tall and a math whiz, but I am neither.

The Talmud exhorts each of us to be "sameakh b'khelko" --'content with one's portion (in life'. I take this to mean, as in the Serenity Prayer, that we seek the serenity
to accept the things we cannot change, the
courage to change the things we can
and the wisdom to know the difference. I have come to accept that I am gay, and now live an absolutely wonderful life in a committed relationship with the best man in the world (yes, I am biased!).

Young people who are gay deserve the love and support that ALL young people do. No one should have to pretend as I had to. No one should have to be ashamed of as morally neutral a trait as same-sex orientation. It's obscene and immoral to put young people through the hell of the "Closet", as I was.

And any steps that society can take to provide support and understanding --and unconditional love-- should be welcomed.

[hoodathunkit]

Why isn't there a "lunatic" choice amongst the "judge it" choices? Some of these people's thoughts are so incoherent that they contradict themselves repeatedly in a single post. I'm not sure if it's ignorance or they're just plain looney and off their meds.

[airportwoman]

So, how would they know those kids were gay, and just didn't want to attend the regular school? Is there some kind of gay test?

[Dasein9]

airportwoman wrote:

So, how would they know those kids were gay, and just didn't want to attend the regular school? Is there some kind of gay test?

Try reading the article. The answer is right there.

[Linguist]

"So, how would they know those kids were gay, and just didn't want to attend the regular school? Is there some kind of gay test?"

Not sure why there would need to be a "test".

The point is to provide an environment that isn't hostile to them and where they don't have to fear for their safety and where they can concentrate on school rather than being beaten up.

I suspect that most attendees would be those who have been attacked physically or verbally for being gay (or being perceived as gay).

My feeling is that anyone who meets those criteria would be able to attend. And I also think that anyone else who is supportive should be allowed as well, but I don't know if that's in the plans or not.

As I said earlier, I don't think that segregated schools are the answer. The answer is to bring ALL schools into the fold where gay kids can feel safe. That's done by example and through the leadership of the principal and teachers. And, alas, that's where schools generally have failed their gay kids.

The adults running the school need to understand the problem before there can truly be a solution.

[Dasein9]

Why are all the responses so black and white?

Could it be that the need for a special school is not an ideal state of affairs, but may just be a needed stop-gap measure? The idea of the school is to work not only as a safe place for LGBT/allied kids, but ALSO as a centre for promotion of tolerance throughout the school system in question.

It sounds like the main goal of the school is to make itself obsolete through the promotion of tolerance, and to educate the students who are suffering in the meantime. Not bad, as goals go.

I'd also caution people against opposing all special schools. There are magnate schools for the arts, for instance, which prepare kids for a career which doesn't always involve college. There's a school in NYC which focuses on Arabic language and culture. Where do you suppose our diplomats to Arabic countries are likely to come from in the future?

While it's a sad state of affairs that there's even a need for a special environment for LGBT kids, this school does seem to be planned for in a way that keeps it from becoming a "gay ghetto."

[Dasein9]

Pardon me. Magnet schools, not magnate schools.

[allie topeka]

airportwoman wrote:

So, how would they know those kids were gay, and just didn't want to attend the regular school? Is there some kind of gay test?

if you read the article, you don't have to be gay to attend. i told my two teens about it this morning and they would love to go to a school where they would be accepted and not bullied.