FEBRUARY 21, 1997 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

SPEAK OUT

Let's act like adults, and

take care of our young

by Kevin Jennings

If you're gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered, you probably don't need a lecture from me on how difficult school is for people like us. Most of us remember it, at best, as a time of loneliness and isolation and, at worst, a time when we wanted to die.

Many of us have run as far away from that experience as we can, moving to cities far away from our hometowns, building muscles or résumés or reputations that put as much distance as possible between us and the sad children we once were, or simply trying to forget-through drugs, denial, or both-the pain of growing up gay. Now that we're adults, we don't want to even revisit the children we once were.

At the risk of being the bearer of bad tidings, I wanted to share two pieces of news with you:

1: It isn't a lot better today for the vast majority of gay kids than it was when we were growing up.

I could cite the statistics which show that every 35 minutes, a gay youth attempts suicide, or that 97 percent of high school students report regularly hearing homophobic language like faggot or dyke from their peers. But instead, I'll offer you a more compelling piece of evidence: Just go ask Robbie Kirkland's family, if you don't 'believe me.

2: It's time we started acting like adults, and take responsibility for making the lives of the next generation different.

Now, I don't want to badger, folks. I know there are good reasons why folks don't get involved more with organizations like the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Teachers Network. People have jobs they fear they mig lose, they have families who might be put at risk, and they are legitimately too busy too add another cause to their plate. But I think this one is special, and let me explain why.

The true test of a community is how it takes care of its most vulnerable members: At times, the LGBT community has truly risen to the occasion. Witness our outstanding response to AIDS, when we banded together in the face of governmental indifference to take care of the fallen.

But at times we've failed miserably, and nowhere is this more evident that in the case of our youth. We've built an entire community from which they are almost completely excluded, and we have often steered as clear of them as possible because we don't want to be accused of "recruiting." We have failed to recognize them as people with needs and desires.

Considering how these same youth are without a doubt among the most vulnerable of the many vulnerable members of our community, such a performance is shameful.

But my goal here is not to make people feel guilty, because I know the blame sometimes lies with those of us who are leaders in this community. We have often failed to offer concrete opportunities for people who want to get involved to make a difference.

I know that, since I became GLSTN's executive director in 1994 and led it to becoming the first national organization focused on ending homophobia in schools, I have been overwhelmed by the number of folks whom I have met and, once they've

heard what we do, have simply said, "Thank God. What can I do to help?" It's my job to give them ways to do so. In the spirit of my ten years as a high school history teacher, I humbly offer three pieces of homework for those who do want to get involved:

1. Go back to your old school (figuratively, that is, if you can't do so literally).

GLSTN has found that teachers don't take action on gay youth issues because they simply don't understand that homophobia is a problem. The best way to change this is for them to hear from someone who went to their school who explains what it was like to be a gay student there.

Write someone at your old school a letter, tell them your story, and offer to be a resource to help them make it better for today's students. No one can do this better at your old school than you can. Call GLSTN at 212-727-0135 to get one of our Back to School Campaign packets with tips and resources on how to do this.

2. Pay attention to your community's school board races.

A National School Boards Association survey released last month showed that a startling 54 percent of all American school board members identify as religious conservatives. How did this happen? Because it generally takes only about 8 percent of eligible voters to win a school board seat in a typical election.

Find out who's running in your community, ask them what they plan to do to make the lives of lesbian, gay and bisexual students better, and vote accordingly. If you don't get answers you like from your current board members and candidates, here's an even better idea: run yourself. It takes fewer than 900 votes to win a seat, and, hell, there are probably that many lesbians at the local softball field on any given weekend. Call the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund at 202842-8679 for information on running for office.

3. Get involved in the fight to change the climate in the Midwest's schools. You have a golden opportunity to do this by taking part in the Third Annual GLSTN Midwestern Conference, to be held in Cleveland April 11-13. Everyone is welcome, as we need all people-lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, straight, teacher, student, parents, community member (in short, you to get involved if we are to make a difference. Call GLSTN Cleveland at 216943-1845 to register, volunteer, or make a donation to support this important event.

I'd like to see my generation be the one that takes responsibility for making sure no gay child ever feels harassed, alone, or victimized in their school ever again. To do that we'll all need to become parents in a way.

Let's fight for every lesbian and gay kid like he or she was our own child because, far too often, their own "real" families won't.

That's what adults do: they take care of the young. It's time for our community to grow up and act like adults. ✓

Kevin Jennings is the director of GLSTN, the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Teachers Network, which works to make sure that schools respect and value people of all sexual orientations. Their national office is in New York at 212-727-0135. Ohio chapters are in Cleveland, 216-943-1845; and Cincinnati, 513-624-6963.·

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