Gay Public High School Opens!
Monday September 8, 2003
For months, one of the most controversial topics in the media has been the opening of an exclusively gay public high school in New York City. The Harvey Milk School attracted national attention when it received public funding for renovations and became a 4-year accredited public school. On Monday, September 8, 2003 Harvey Milk opened it's doors. Unfortunately Fred Phelps, minister of the Westboro Baptist Church and founder of godhatesamerica.com, organized an anti-gay protest similar to the demonstration given at the funeral of Matthew Shepard, where protesters waved signs proclaiming "God Hates Fags" and "AIDS Kills Fags Dead." In response, many peaceful demonstrators countered the messages of hate with ones of encouragement, applauding every student that entered the building.
Irrespective of your view toward the opening of the Harvey Milk School, anti-gay messages such as these are detrimental to the emotional wellbeing of GLBT teens seeking an educational environment free of harassment and violence. It's essential that queer youth receive as much, if not more, positive encouragement to aid in their development.
I am compiling letters of encouragement for gay teens to be presented to the administration of Harvey Milk in hopes that they will in turn be read to their students, creating a positive atmosphere. Click here to submit letters of encourage. Counterpoints concerning the opening of the school are also welcome.
Comments
wow ……Harvey Milk? That is the WORST name for a gay highschool……
I’m sorry, but Harvey Milk is an Excellent name for this school…. I believe the person who posted the comment before me is uneducated (i’m not saying you’re dumb) but uneducated on who Havey Milk was and why this is, as I believe, One of the best names for the school.
wow this is great i wish they had a school like this in ga i probably would not have dropped out down here sometimes it can be so crazy for the life i have chosen to live i am so at an aww that kids have a place to go without all the negativity and i am only 19 and i have been through so much jus because of my orientation
whoa wat is this world coming to?
this in my opinion ion WRONG
same sex schools should not be permitted…
i have nothing against homosexuals but it’s jus wrong like i said
That is awesome.
I wish I could’ve gone to a school like that. I went to a catholic all-girls school and it near drove me crazy.
wow, i think that’s wonderful…i wish i had heard about it sooner…i would have went.
and i compleately disagree with whoever said it’t not right…it’s not fair to have to go to a predomenatly straight high school…and it’s not harming anyone.
I wish i could go to that school. people look at me and think i shouldnt be who i am (lesbian) i can care less what people think cuz im not going to change who i am so poople will be happy and they think its right. well to me this is right! its who i am! and it they dont like it sorry not my problem tell someone who actually cares what you think! =]
i love being gay! i have the best girlfriend! =]
I proud! i show pride!!!
im glad they mad a school for gays!!!=]
i think this school is an excelant idea, i go through highschool being made fun of and discriminated against because i dated another boy. Although when i think about it they started after we broke up! Talk about scared. Anyway, if we have a chance to get out of what most of us go through then i say we take it and be who we are. NOT WHO THEY WANT US TO BE!
wow this is the best idea ive ever heard of. im an the president of my schools gsa and hear homosexual slurs and discrimination against them everyday . i wish there was a school like that in my community were people could be open about who they are and what they want ive seen two of my friends try to kill themselves already over something that is completely natrual .. peace love happiness and equality
My goodness, I can’t express how envious I am of the students who get to attend Harvey Milk High School. Alas, I am graduating this June… such terrible timing. Good luck to the students! Don’t let anybody tell you how to be, or how to think. Be yourselves, and screw the people who demand that you think a certain way, live a certain way, look a certain way!
i think this ia amazing we need one in england !
amazing….! wish there was one down in florida.~sighs~
Wish I went to a school like that…
So Shannon Smithy, since you think it’s’wrong’, explain please what exactly is wrong about it. And if you can’t intelligently articulate what that ‘it’ is, than perhaps an emotional hang up you have is being triggered.
I think it’s FANTASTIC! HARVEY MILK HIGH! I remember when he was elected, soon to shot dead for being gay. Now THAT is ‘wrong’. And he was a great courageous man.
Congratulations to the school, faculty, and to all who attend forever and ever!