After much harassment that caused a great deal of emotional upheaval in our school and home environments, my current partner and I, with the help of a close friend, posted copies of a poem we'd written throughout school. It expressed our opinions about the homophobic and harassing treatment we'd endured from our peers:
Wrong.
Hating what they don't understand.
Hypocrites all around.
Prejudiced.
Jeering, pointing, staring.
The things go down without a sound.
Afraid.
Threatened by anything different,
Persecuting what they can't explain.
Biased.
Crushing our self-esteem,
pay no attention to the pain.
Sickening.
Closing off minds to feelings,
because there's nothing there but an empty shell.
Burdening.
Placing the weight of hate on our shoulders.
Go to hell.
Hurtful.
Not caring.
Every word ripping at our pride.
Ignorant.
Pretending not to see us,
pushing us aside.
Heartless.
Our souls don't matter,
words dripping with disgust
Cold.
We don't feel anymore,
numb with society's distrust.
Soon after posting this poem, I was brought to the office to discuss what we'd done. I confirmed that I had written the poem. Both my partner and I were sent to the school psychiatrist and were dubbed "emotionally disturbed."
The emotional upheaval from such comments and attitudes often ended in tears. It has been impossible to count the number of times our learning environment was disrupted because of our sexuality. We do not feel we need to disguise our affection for each other. While I understand public displays of affection by homosexuals and heterosexuals are frowned upon, holding my girlfriend's hand should not in any way, shape or form cause the student body to harass us for days on end.
While hallway harassment in school is bad enough, it's not the limit. We also have endured offensive emails, phone calls, harassment in the street, in the malls and other public places.
After we posted the poem last May, I was openly insulted by a group of classmates in one particular class. Terms such as 'dyke' and 'disgusting' came up, and I certainly did my best to ignore them — as did the teacher. On other occasions, when a student was being harassed that same teacher would put a stop to it immediately.
After a particularly vicious comment was shot at me from across the classroom, I lost my temper and told the individual to shut his mouth. The teacher gave me detention and the other student went unpunished. Extremely upset and angry, I gathered my things and left the classroom in tears.
Does it seem fair I was punished for telling another student to stop insulting me as he was busy firing obscenities at me from across the room?
Shortly after, I reported the situation to the vice principal. He told the other student not to do it again. The vice principal also told the student it's not right to call people names and sent him on his merry way. He suggested I stay in the office and cool off.
This is just one example of how difficult it is to be a lesbian in high school. I advise others with similar problems to take it to the school board.
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