Gay-Straight Alliances in High School - Essay Example

Gay-Straight Alliances in High School Gay-straight alliances in high school are beneficial to teenagers as there has been enough proof that they assist in improvement in self esteem, grades, school attendance among teenagers who have experienced homophobic remarks and harassment when in school. Studies conducted have shown that gay, bisexuals, lesbians, questioning or transgender teenagers are at a risk of conducting suicides due to the high amount of harassments, assaults, and bullying that they experience at school. In addition, some conduct suicide due to the negative messages they receive from their families and society at large. Thus, Gay straight alliances in high school are important in ensuring that all students are emotionally stable and are successful in academics. I researched the impact gay-straight alliances has on students by interviewing students who are gay and straight from different high schools, and I was able to get various responses that were crucial. School days can be very problematic for some students especially when they are teenagers (Plante 18). At this age, bullying is very common and can become very severe if a student is a GLBTQ, and most of the time it leads to harassment. Most states seem to be reluctant in dealing with this situation. "only nine states and the District of Columbia have comprehensive anti-bullying laws that specifically address bullying and harassment based on sexual orientation"(GLSEN 18). As a result, many GLBTQ students are forced to not attend school, their self esteem goes down, and also their performance in school is affected negatively. I interviewed a leader of a GSA on suicidal rates among teenagers in the school and he mentioned that suicidal rates are very high in students who are Gay, transgender or questioning, lesbians, and bisexuals, compared to those who are straight. Not only do these teenagers face suicidal attempt, but also, they suffer from depression. This leader further listed some warning signs of depression that most teenagers face before they join the alliance. He categorized them in various forms like physical, cognitive, behavioral as well as emotional signs. He then suggested those signs that he thought were common in GLDBTQ teenagers. They include concentration problems, hygiene problems, loneliness, aggression, a change in eating and sleeping habits, guilt, and anger, lost of interest in enjoyable things, and drugs and alcohol abuse. Often, severe depression might lead to suicidal ideation. According to him, these alliances help in identifying such problems before it is too late. Therefore, lives are being saved through this. According to researchers, safe environments that ensure that all students are comfortable might lead to suicidal ideation rates decreasing. Gay –straight alliances offer an environment where teenagers have the freedom to meet with their peers and, as a result, they give and receive support. After interviewing several gay youths about how they feel when they meet their peers, all of them reported that they felt a sense of belonging, loneliness was reduced, and suicidal thoughts faded from their minds as they had someone to share their life experiences with. In 2000, Frankfurt suggested that such alliances with various administrations to develop policies and activities that are against discrimination that is if they take a political direction. He further suggests that a homosexual student might suffer from discrimination and harassment in a school where homosexuality is not accepted or where in a society, which does not believe that, homosexuality exists. According to Walls, Freedenthal, and Wisneski (25), GSA serves both the purpose of offering a secure environment for GLBTQ and educating the straights on issues of discrimination. I interviewed a lesbian student from Coral Springs Florida and this is what she had to say, “I came to realize that life is not as hopeless as I thought, I feel great when I see and meet other teenagers who are like me, and who cares about the same issues that I do, “says Audrey. I went further and interviewed non-gay students who had experiences in a Gay-straight alliance. One student responded that, “attending GSA has really expanded my thoughts and horizons”. Another one was spotted saying that “being gay is not a disease; people should be educated about homosexuality. Many believe that homosexuality is wrong, and it is a pathway to contracting sexually transmitted infections. Who are we to judge?” Homophobia is another challenge that faces teenagers who are GLBTQ. Studies show that students suffering from homophobia feel isolated, scared, worn out, and depressed (GLSEN 30). Therefore, forming relationships with others become very difficult due to that feeling of demoralization. GSA thus provides an environment that is comfortable and safe for students to keep and form new relationships. Several students I talked to had this to say, “When I joined GSA, I had very few friends, but this changed quickly as I became a member. By attending every meeting, I have been able to make many new friends. Thus, my feelings are better now” Said Tom. Monica, a student in the same school stated, “Before I joined GSA, what people thought about me was my biggest concern, but after getting all these friends, I feel like other people’s thoughts don’t count. They like and respect who I am. Having this group was the greatest gift life has offered to me.” Martin was heard saying, “some of my best friends are part of GSA, we hang out all the time when it is necessary, and this makes me feel better about myself. After joining the alliance, my self esteem is much higher than before.” Gay-straight alliances are, therefore, important for gay and non gay teenagers, and it is the responsibility of school’s managers, parents, and society at large to ensure that these alliances are supported. Teachers should ensure that homophobic remarks are not made to GLBTQ students, and strict penalties should be put in place for failure to adhere. According to various studies, majority of GLBTQ students report that staffs do not intervene in matters that concern homophobic remarks and some of them even make those remarks to students (Plante 21). Presence of Gay- straight alliances in high school might help to make the school’s environment safer for all students. Walls et al., (27) suggest that teenagers from schools with GSAs will experience homophobic remarks less likely than those from schools that do not have GSAs. Lacey said, “in my previous school, remarks like “dyke” or “faggot” were mostly used to refer to GLBTQ students. Since I was one of them, my self esteem decreased, and this led to my academic performance dropping significantly.” In conclusion, GSAs are beneficial to high school teenagers as they offer a safer environment for all. Therefore, it improves their performance and self-esteem at school. This is achieved by GSAs mitigating any homophobic remarks, harassment and bullying, and offering a place where GLBTQ students can get emotional support. Moreover, GSAs helps teenagers to identify a senior or a teacher to whom they can report victimization incidences, or who might offer support to them. Therefore, it is important for school communities to support establishment of Gay-straight alliances, and consequently, students will have the opportunity of pursuing and learning education in a climate that is supportive and positive. Policies that support GSAs should be developed in high schools and made a part of the school’s initiatives. We have also noted that suicidal rates are higher in GLBTQ teenagers than on the straight teenagers due to the harassment, bullying, assault, negative familial and societal messages and homophobic remarks during their educational experiences. Thus, there is a need for development of more GSAs and awareness about GLBTQ teenagers in high school should be created to ensure a safer and secure environment for studying. In addition, students should be encouraged to join these alliances for social and emotional support so that their attendance, grades, and self-esteem will be improved. Works cited GLSEN. Gay-Straight Alliances: Creating safer schools for LGBT students and their allies. New York: Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, 2007. Print. Plante, Kelly. The Impact of a Gay Straight Alliances on Middle and High School Age Students. Menomonie: University of Wisconsin-Stout, 2008. Print. Walls, Eugene, Freedenthal Stacey, and Wisneski, Hope. “Suicidal Ideation and Attempts among Sexual Minority Youths Receiving Social Services.” Social Work 53.1 (2008): 21-29. Print. Read More