The Gay Effect
Due to recent controversy over the attempts to get a “Gay-Straight Alliance” at Hueytown High School, it is time someone investigated, deeply, the effects of “gay clubs” in high schools. Do clubs such as GSA, PFLAG, and GayLesBall help, hurt, or even foster students into the gay community? Are these clubs appropriate in schools or should they be separated like religious affiliations?
In her book, The High School Journal, Camile Lee studied the effects of joining a Gay-Straight Alliance in high school on seven students. Some of these students were gay, lesbian, and even straight. Her study found that belonging to this club of acceptance and love positively effected the students’ school/home lives, academic performance, comfort level with sexual orientation, sense of physical safety. It also helped them to develop their strategies when people assume heterosexuality, feel more able to contribute to society, and made them feel more like they belonged in school.
At Hueytown High School, a small southern school located in Hueytown, Alabama, one student tried to bring this acceptance, and instead brought fire. The student, who shall remain anonymous, started a petition to get a Gay-Straight Alliance at the school. In response, she was bullied physically and verbally, and, instead of doing their duties, the administration chose to ignore the bullying, despite the fact that bullying due to sexual orientation is justified as a Class II offense in the student code of conduct. The student ended up leaving Hueytown High School, however, the fight continued and the school now has a Gay-Straight Alliance. When asked their reaction, Hueytown student Desarae Ray stated, “I'm definitely not against it. I think it's ridiculous that people have negative things to say about it when it doesn't affect them at all.” This club will be tested, and only time will tell it’s true effects.
The big question is “Are ‘gay clubs’ fostering people to be gay in high schools?” When asked, Ms. Ray replied, “No, if they are feeling like they're gay then that's the way they feel regardless of a club. I think it might make people feel more open about it if they are gay because they have support.” Many studies and experiments have been performed to see if people are born gay or not, and most of those show that there are certain, different, biological reasons for people being gay; however, none of these have been 100% proven.
What about America? Is the “gay agenda” taking over? Kathryn Baker thinks not, “I don't think it's making them choose to be gay. I think the way most tv shows and stuff are, it makes people a lot more open minded towards it.”
So do these clubs help or hurt? Will more people “become” gay over time, or will people just become more accepting? Only time will tell.
How Do “Gay Clubs” Effect High School Students?
By: Stephanie Clinton
Due to recent controversy over the attempts to get a “Gay-Straight Alliance” at Hueytown High School, it is time someone investigated, deeply, the effects of “gay clubs” in high schools. Do clubs such as GSA, PFLAG, and GayLesBall help, hurt, or even foster students into the gay community? Are these clubs appropriate in schools or should they be separated like religious affiliations?
In her book, The High School Journal, Camile Lee studied the effects of joining a Gay-Straight Alliance in high school on seven students. Some of these students were gay, lesbian, and even straight. Her study found that belonging to this club of acceptance and love positively effected the students’ school/home lives, academic performance, comfort level with sexual orientation, sense of physical safety. It also helped them to develop their strategies when people assume heterosexuality, feel more able to contribute to society, and made them feel more like they belonged in school.
At Hueytown High School, a small southern school located in Hueytown, Alabama, one student tried to bring this acceptance, and instead brought fire. The student, who shall remain anonymous, started a petition to get a Gay-Straight Alliance at the school. In response, she was bullied physically and verbally, and, instead of doing their duties, the administration chose to ignore the bullying, despite the fact that bullying due to sexual orientation is justified as a Class II offense in the student code of conduct. The student ended up leaving Hueytown High School, however, the fight continued and the school now has a Gay-Straight Alliance. When asked their reaction, Hueytown student Desarae Ray stated, “I'm definitely not against it. I think it's ridiculous that people have negative things to say about it when it doesn't affect them at all.” This club will be tested, and only time will tell it’s true effects.
The big question is “Are ‘gay clubs’ fostering people to be gay in high schools?” When asked, Ms. Ray replied, “No, if they are feeling like they're gay then that's the way they feel regardless of a club. I think it might make people feel more open about it if they are gay because they have support.” Many studies and experiments have been performed to see if people are born gay or not, and most of those show that there are certain, different, biological reasons for people being gay; however, none of these have been 100% proven.
What about America? Is the “gay agenda” taking over? Kathryn Baker thinks not, “I don't think it's making them choose to be gay. I think the way most tv shows and stuff are, it makes people a lot more open minded towards it.”
So do these clubs help or hurt? Will more people “become” gay over time, or will people just become more accepting? Only time will tell.
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