Speak Out!

"It does truly affect some of my best friends every day... I often feel like if there were something we could do (ie such a policy), the people I know would feel just a little more comfortable going through school. My boyfriend came out as bisexual [and] everyone thought it was fascinating, disgusting, horrible, an abomination, hilarious.... If there's an unflattering way to mess with this 17-year-old boy, they probably already thought of it and carried it out.
People still joke around about his orientation, and it makes me sick. I'll never forget those few weeks. After 17 years he thought he could be himself, but the ignorance of kids just couldn't accept it. I hated going to school during that time, and it killed me to see him treated that way.
If there's absolutely any way to put an end to all this, I truly hope Metro will take it.”
-- Current Hillsboro Student

"As a straight male... I was constantly called ‘the gay kid'. Nothing seemed to change the fact that simply because I [participated in arts], I was gay...
[Because of] the constant nagging of teammates, and sometimes even coaches... I gave up on the soccer team altogether, despite the fact that I had only one season left [and] how much I truly loved the sport. I sacrificed my final season of competitive soccer of my life... in order to avoid the problem...
The harassment, however, continued to persist... If anything it became even worse."
-- Former Hume Fogg Student

"I have had to lie many times about my sexual orientation when students asked if i was a ‘fag’. They made these assumptions because of the way I speak.”
-- Current MLK Student

"I feel that all students should feel safe at school, and individuality should be encouraged, not quelled."
-- Current Hume Fogg Student

"When I was a junior in high school, I started wearing baggy clothes and cut my hair short. I realized I wasn't like other girls... I felt more comfortable in unisex clothing. I was teased by students when faculty weren't present... I would like Metro to adopt [the policy proposed by the MNPS: Support Student Safety Coalition] because... [t]his is a very difficult time for most GLBT teens. School should be a safe place for all students... A discrimination policy should be put in place for students and teachers.”
-- Former Hillwood Student

"Someone very close to me faced these specific issues... She was a lesbian, and classmates often called her an "ugly dyke" and other slurs... Rumors were started about her, and one student... sent out a mass email talking about her and her orientation. It made it very difficult for her to accept herself, and for years she refused to acknowledge that she was gay because she associated it with such negativity."
-- Former Hume Fogg Student

"When I attended East Literature Magnet for a couple of years, I was harassed by some students...
I always felt uncomfortable after the fact. It was hard to function there, so I transferred..."
--Former East Literature and McGavock Student

"My assistant principle would not help me when being bullied... multiple times."
-- Current Nashville School of the Arts Student

"I know of teachers who... would allow gay students to be publicly harassed and never make a motion to stop the discrimination."
-- Former Hume Fogg Student