If I had to pick one issue above all others in the GBLT movement that I consider priority (not that I’m especially ready to do so because I think all the issues are vitally important and it’s a bad idea to privileged any of them above the others) then it would be the way society treats our young.
Our kids and teens are very very fragile. They often have no support nets – since the chances are their closest family will not share their marginalisation. In fact, family and friends can be a considerable source of stress, strain, privileged cluelessness and even hatred. They grow in a society saturated with negative messages, slurs, stereotypes and outright attacks and homophobia is still considered very acceptable in most places. Add in the closet and the difficulty in seeking help or connection with the GBLT community without risking being outed and a hefty number of normal authority/support figures being as clueless as ever -well, it’s a recipe for some very very badly hurt kids.
I’ve already linked about Constance McMillen who saw her school cancel the prom rather than let her bring a female date. Which was then followed byt the parents of kids at the school responded with a private prom – to expressly exclude her again
The same Itawamba school also kicked out trans student Juin Baize on his first day. Shockingly, the attention and discrimination cause him and his family to be asked to leave both his grandparents home and the home of friends they were staying with. I boggle at the idea of abandoning loved ones like that – I’d be shocked, but I’ve seen it too often. Details on how to help him can be found here
Unlike Constance, gay teen Derrick Martin WAS allowed to bring his male date to the prom at Bleckley County school in Georgia. Good news indeed and something to celebrate… except…
Students have protested against ALLOWING him to bring a male date to the prom. They’re having a protest because one of their classmates isn’t closeting himself.
And if that wasn’t bad enough all the attention this story has received have caused his parents to decide to… kick him out. Words cannot express how disgustingly shameful this is or what an utter betrayal that is of their son. Their own SON?!
With stories that are that deeply unpleasant it comes almost a relief to report on that perenial favourite - a college professor deciding to refer to the Bible rather than a text book in class. Which of course included lots and lots of homophobia (how come when these religious extremists decide to shove their faith into other people’s lives, it’s never to show love, compassion or peace? Why is this I wonder?) Words, of course, cannot describe how deeply unpleasant that is for any gay students stuck in his lectures – to say nothing of the danger of hatred being spread from supposed academics and authority figures.
Again and again I say – leave our kids alone. The damage this does is incalcuble to say nothing about how fragile our kids can be. I am and cannot be other than in awe and fiercely proud of kids who stand up for themselves in these difficult conditions. But they shouldn’t HAVE TO BE! Constance and Juin and Derrick should not have to be heroes, they should not have to be brave. They should not have to be courageous and proud and strong just to attend school, college and its rituals like every other teenager.
They are incredibly brave, strong people and great fighters – but it’s grossly unfair and unbelievably wrong that they have to be and that they have to fight for what should be theirs by right
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