Nine hundred groups now exist across the country. In those
schools, a gay student is four times less likely to attempt
suicide or be involved in anti-gay related violence, according
to statistics released by PFLAG, Parents and Friends of
Lesbians and Gays, of Greater Boston.
"When we first started this, many parents looked at it as a
revolution, and there was a lot of misunderstanding. This
isn't about recruiting gay kids, or converting children to
become gay," said Parlin.
"In fact, a majority of the kids in the group are straight.
There is no radical agenda. It is simply talking about
discrimination and how to achieve a more respectful school
community."
Students at Newton South have continued to support the GSA
cause. Because of confidentiality issues, most students choose
not to speak out regarding issues discussed at meetings, but
Newton South junior Natasha Sokol said that it is important
for her peers to understand the purpose of the group.
"One of the main reasons that the group continues is
because there is still discrimination against members of the
gay community," said Sokol. "There are still those who
ridicule, there are still those who graffiti hateful words,
there is still homophobia in our schools, no matter how
liberal or open-minded a community is.
"This is not just a group for gay students; in fact a
majority of our members are straight," Sokol said.
"It is crucial that straight kids also understand what
slurs and hateful things can do to people. By maintaining that
understanding, it keeps a school on track.
"Although I think teenagers have generally started to
become more tolerant, it still has a long way to go," Sokol
said
GSAs have simple ground rules: everyone must be treated
with respect, maintain confidentiality and no assumptions can
be made about sexual orientation.
"We feel that kids shouldn't be forced to identify if they
are straight or gay, but feel free to talk without being
questioned," Parlin said.
The caring atmosphere that the group provides, allows
students that may be grappling with issues surrounding their
own sexual identity realize that a community exists where they
will not be threatened, according to Waltham High School
gay-straight alliance adviser Nancy Ryan.
"For students coming to the realization that they are gay -
it is still extremely frightening.
"Most kids will not identify with being gay at the high
school level. They wait until college to come out because they
know that in high school it is just not safe," Ryan said.
"They are scared of rejection and ridicule by family and
friends. At a GSA, students can feel supported and
comforted."
In Waltham, Ryan organizes student and adult speakers to
talk about issues that face homosexuals. Even for heterosexual
students, the discussions promote understanding, Ryan
said.
"I think that these groups literally save lives," said Pam
Garramone, director of the Greater Boston PFLAG Safe Schools
Project. "We deal with parents who have gay children and there
are countless stories about kids who have attempted suicide
because gay-straight alliances didn't exist.
"In these groups, kids meet people that they otherwise
wouldn't and it enables them to form connections when they
feel very alone. In schools that do not have GSAs, we see more
abuse of gay students," Garramone said.
Since 1993, the Massachusetts Department of Education and
the Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth helped to
pass legislation that provided equal opportunity in education,
regardless of color, race, religion or sexuality.
"I think that everyone agrees that a student should be free
to learn without the fear of being beaten, or the fear of not
being safe in schools," said Garramone. "That is what the GSA
protects - the rights of all students
