COMMUNITY COMMENTARY

Luis Torres

On behalf of the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network for Orange

County, I applaud Newport-Mesa Unified School District Supt. Robert

Barbot and board member Martha Flour for their favorable comments

regarding gay-straight alliances (“District open to gay support club for

students,” Nov. 20). It is encouraging to know that students in

Newport-Mesa’s high schools will not encounter the blatant discrimination

and inequity that students have confronted in Orange. Nonetheless, the

article makes it clear that there is some misinformation and

misconceptions surrounding gay-straight alliances -- someone hasn’t done

her homework. Let’s set the record straight.

Schools have traditionally preferred to keep the issue of

homosexuality in the closet. Numerous studies have repeatedly shown that

this issue can no longer be ignored. In September, the network released

the findings of its National School Climate Survey: Lesbian, Gay,

Bisexual, and Transgender Students and Their Experiences in School. The

findings are disturbing: * More than 90% of the youth reported that

they sometimes or frequently hear homophobic remarks in their schools;

* 39% reported that no one ever intervened in these circumstances;

* 36% reported hearing homophobic remarks from faculty or school

staff;

* 69% reported experiencing some form of harassment or violence;

* 40% did not feel safe in their school because they are gay, lesbian,

bisexual or transgender.

Unquestionably, basics such as passing English, chemistry, or simply

graduating become unnerving tasks -- something must be done. Gay-straight

alliances are one way of reducing anti-gay violence, harassment, and

discrimination.

With the guidance of teachers, students have initiated gay-straight

alliances because their schools have failed them. At the network, we know

of more than 500 gay-straight alliances across the country, including

those at Fountain Valley and Los Alamitos High Schools. Instead of

lashing out in destructive ways, as we have seen all too often, these

students have helped create a network of support; a network open to all

students. You see, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students are

not the only ones who benefit from these clubs. Students who have

homosexual parents, siblings, or friends do, too. Members of gay-straight

alliances talk about life’s struggles, do community service, watch

movies, eat pizza and do things that other teenagers do. Most

importantly, gay-straight alliances provide these students with at least

one safe place to meet on campus and to be themselves without fear.

Regardless of the political whims of the day, the federal Equal Access

Act of 1984 gives students throughout the country, including

Newport-Mesa, the legal right to start gay-straight alliances. The

education network is ready to support and assist any student who wishes

to start a club of their own, as we have done in partnership with

students and parents in Orange.

Beginning Jan. 1, discrimination based on sexual orientation will be

illegal in California public schools. School districts that have been

reluctant to address this issue head-on must act to preserve the safety

and dignity of all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender

identity. Student-run gay-straight alliances can lead the way by helping

school communities move beyond merely tolerating lesbian, gay, bisexual

or transgender people --they can teach us to appreciate and understand

their value.

* LUIS TORRES is a public middle school teacher, co-chair of the Gay

Lesbian Straight Education Network for Orange County and Costa Mesa

resident. The network is the largest nonprofit organization devoted to

educating school communities about the effects of homophobia and making

schools safe for all students, regardless of sexual orientation.