Homophobia in Public Schools - My Experiences - Empty Closets - A safe online community for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered people coming out

Wander · 16th May 2008, 03:41 PM

Over the last five days, I made a note of every time a person used certain words as insults towards LGBT people, used "gay", "fag", "dyke", etc. as insults whether intentional or not, implied that homosexuality was a negative quality, or other similar instances. I carried a notecard and made a mark every time one of the above occurred, and it was surprising to see how often people use slurs related to sexuality, often without realizing what they're saying. Here are my findings:

Monday: 14 times
Slow day, as Mondays usually are. Most people were too tired to do much of anything.

Tuesday: 12 times
Same, not much going on.

Wednesday: 31 times
The reason there are so many more is because one student decided to start singing "The Fag Song" during class. Of course, the teacher does nothing at all. In fact, the teacher of that class frequently jokes about gay people and makes some of the most glaringly false and uninformed statements I've ever heard, but he was oddly quiet this week.

Thursday: 12 times
And again...

Friday: 27 times
No amusing little songs today, just lots and lots of ignorance. I overheard a conversation where a student mentioned their gay rights activism and the stupidity started flying. Insults were tossed around like toys, many assumptions and generalizations were made, and here's the teacher minding her business.

Just though it might be interesting.

beckyg · 16th May 2008, 03:58 PM

I'd take that to the principal.

16th May 2008, 04:15 PM

wow thats alot.

otc877 · 16th May 2008, 04:22 PM

I was thinking about doing this myself, but then I just thought it would make me upset so I decided against it.

How long do you plan on keeping a list like this?

Wander · 16th May 2008, 05:26 PM

Next week is my last week is my last week of school and I only have to go up until Wednesday, so the results would be a little off. This is probably the last time I'm keeping a record like this until the next school year.

And I hate to sound so hopeless, but how much could I really achieve by taking my findings to the administration? The year is almost out anyway, it wouldn't be for another three months before anything happened, and that's if they bothered to do anything at all.

jazzrawr · 16th May 2008, 05:38 PM

my school is like that, and i have to admit my friends use gay as a word for stupid ALOT but now i tell them off every time they do.

Level N Human · 16th May 2008, 07:29 PM

One of my partners for a project said that they should call same-sex marriages something different and I said, "Like civil unions?". Then he said, "Civil union sounds gay."

My reaction was something along the lines of, "Yes?!? :| ??? It is...Wait what?"

Jace · 16th May 2008, 07:45 PM

omg today on the way to art, some guy that i dont even know was like "sup faggot" when i walked by, and i was like "not much, douschebag"

Tim · 16th May 2008, 08:37 PM

I tried doing this, but I stopped after 70 on the monday, and lost interest after pulling the notecard out so much, and it was only halfway through the day -.-

Brett · 16th May 2008, 08:49 PM

I kept a mental count....but got lost at about 30.......(the colorguard walked by, and we have a guy in ours)

foxkid777 · 4th Jan 2009, 11:24 PM

at least at our school there isn't much homophobia and all my friends are kool about it, but there are always going to be people who are not kool with it

Wander · 4th Jan 2009, 11:52 PM

My god, what a HUGE BUMP

4th Jan 2009, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wander

My god, what a HUGE BUMP

Haha I just laughed really hard at that. People seem to bump old threads a lot lately..

redsapphire · 5th Jan 2009, 08:25 AM

Yeah I used to get a lot of homosexual discrimination in my old school, just because I put my school work above pulling guys I must be 'a dyke' right? It's much better now I've moved, everyone is too caught up in the amount of work to think about much else.

motleyjunkie · 6th Jan 2009, 08:35 PM

well i live in louisiana and they def have alot of close-minded people
rednecks are the worst when it comes to that
i just hate the word dyke and fag
theyre just so insulting
i think thats one of the main reasons i havent come out
they are all so close-minded and judgemental.

SmileItsNicole · 6th Jan 2009, 08:56 PM

I havnt come out to my school yet cus i hear a bunch of let downs like that

Nodnarb · 6th Jan 2009, 09:04 PM

Hmmm...an old thread. But today seemed bad. Really bad. At least Andrew apologized to Cody, I guess...

16th May 2008, 03:41 PM	#1
Wander Banned Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Parents, aunts, grandma, counselor, online friends Location: Central Alabama Age: 18 Posts: 2,360 Join Date: Jan 2008	Homophobia in Public Schools - My Experiences Over the last five days, I made a note of every time a person used certain words as insults towards LGBT people, used "gay", "fag", "dyke", etc. as insults whether intentional or not, implied that homosexuality was a negative quality, or other similar instances. I carried a notecard and made a mark every time one of the above occurred, and it was surprising to see how often people use slurs related to sexuality, often without realizing what they're saying. Here are my findings: Monday: 14 times Slow day, as Mondays usually are. Most people were too tired to do much of anything. Tuesday: 12 times Same, not much going on. Wednesday: 31 times The reason there are so many more is because one student decided to start singing "The Fag Song" during class. Of course, the teacher does nothing at all. In fact, the teacher of that class frequently jokes about gay people and makes some of the most glaringly false and uninformed statements I've ever heard, but he was oddly quiet this week. Thursday: 12 times And again... Friday: 27 times No amusing little songs today, just lots and lots of ignorance. I overheard a conversation where a student mentioned their gay rights activism and the stupidity started flying. Insults were tossed around like toys, many assumptions and generalizations were made, and here's the teacher minding her business. Just though it might be interesting.

16th May 2008, 03:58 PM	#2
beckyg PFLAG Mom Community Liaison Gender: Female Orientation: Straight Out Status: Out to everyone/Yes, parents come out too! Location: Middle of Oregon Age: 50 Posts: 7,572 Join Date: Mar 2007	Re: Homophobia in Public Schools - My Experiences I'd take that to the principal. __________________ "When we're free to love anyone we choose, When this worlds big enough for all different views, When we're all free to worship from our own kind of pew, Then we shall be free" ~ Garth Brooks

16th May 2008, 04:15 PM	#3
mUsIcFrEaK92 Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Homophobia in Public Schools - My Experiences wow thats alot.

16th May 2008, 04:22 PM	#4
otc877 ^_^ Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Most friends know Location: L.A. Outskirts Age: 22 Posts: 790 Join Date: Oct 2007	Re: Homophobia in Public Schools - My Experiences I was thinking about doing this myself, but then I just thought it would make me upset so I decided against it. How long do you plan on keeping a list like this?

16th May 2008, 05:26 PM	#5
Wander Banned Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Parents, aunts, grandma, counselor, online friends Location: Central Alabama Age: 18 Posts: 2,360 Join Date: Jan 2008	Re: Homophobia in Public Schools - My Experiences Next week is my last week is my last week of school and I only have to go up until Wednesday, so the results would be a little off. This is probably the last time I'm keeping a record like this until the next school year. And I hate to sound so hopeless, but how much could I really achieve by taking my findings to the administration? The year is almost out anyway, it wouldn't be for another three months before anything happened, and that's if they bothered to do anything at all.

16th May 2008, 05:38 PM	#6
jazzrawr Lover of Loony Lovegood Full Member Gender: Female Orientation: Lesimbean Out Status: I scream it from rooftops Location: Ontario, Canada. Age: 19 Posts: 3,391 Join Date: Feb 2008	Re: Homophobia in Public Schools - My Experiences my school is like that, and i have to admit my friends use gay as a word for stupid ALOT but now i tell them off every time they do. __________________ <3 You can love people so much... But you can never love someone as much as you can miss them. (...and the lesbians.)

16th May 2008, 07:29 PM	#7
Level N Human Deluxe Full Member Gender: Female Orientation: Fag-ette. Out Status: Most friends Age: 22 Posts: 816 Join Date: Jul 2007	Re: Homophobia in Public Schools - My Experiences One of my partners for a project said that they should call same-sex marriages something different and I said, "Like civil unions?". Then he said, "Civil union sounds gay." My reaction was something along the lines of, "Yes?!? :\| ??? It is...Wait what?" __________________ If we hit that bullseye the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards... checkmate.

16th May 2008, 07:45 PM	#8
Jace EC Addict Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Everyone except non-imediate family. Location: texaass Age: 18 Posts: 429 Join Date: Jan 2008	Re: Homophobia in Public Schools - My Experiences omg today on the way to art, some guy that i dont even know was like "sup faggot" when i walked by, and i was like "not much, douschebag"

16th May 2008, 08:37 PM	#9
Tim Psycho Glitter Btch Full Member Gender:* Guy, Unless Life Was a Horrible April Fools Joke. Orientation: Gay/Asexual/Confusing to Explain Out Status: Armed and Fabulous! XD Location: California Age: 23 Posts: 7,379 Join Date: Mar 2008	Re: Homophobia in Public Schools - My Experiences I tried doing this, but I stopped after 70 on the monday, and lost interest after pulling the notecard out so much, and it was only halfway through the day -.- __________________ Rawr! :3 ~The Stalker User Known As Tim~ Rawr! :3 EC's Sailor Star Healer, Oxymoron and All. Star Sensitive Inferno! Sailor Starlight, Stage On! [Vic] 7:49 pm: I keep my pants off in public.

16th May 2008, 08:49 PM	#10
Brett Extreme Heat Warning! Full Member Gender: I am a MAN! ROWR!! =^_^= Orientation: Homo-capable Out Status: Out enough Location: Weatherford, TX Age: 19 Posts: 2,200 Join Date: Jan 2008	Re: Homophobia in Public Schools - My Experiences I kept a mental count....but got lost at about 30.......(the colorguard walked by, and we have a guy in ours) __________________ Marching band: It's a religion Trip....trip....ip on red wine! Lady Gaga FTW! XD

4th Jan 2009, 11:24 PM	#11
foxkid777 Member Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Bi, but leaning more towards guys Out Status: To people i trust Location: Hawaii Age: 19 Posts: 52 Join Date: Dec 2008	Re: Homophobia in Public Schools - My Experiences at least at our school there isn't much homophobia and all my friends are kool about it, but there are always going to be people who are not kool with it

4th Jan 2009, 11:52 PM	#12
Wander Banned Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Parents, aunts, grandma, counselor, online friends Location: Central Alabama Age: 18 Posts: 2,360 Join Date: Jan 2008	Re: Homophobia in Public Schools - My Experiences My god, what a HUGE BUMP

5th Jan 2009, 08:25 AM	#14
redsapphire EC's resident witch Full Member Gender: Female Orientation: Wow Mama Out Status: most except family Location: Bonny Lingland Age: 20 Posts: 877 Join Date: Jul 2008	Re: Homophobia in Public Schools - My Experiences Yeah I used to get a lot of homosexual discrimination in my old school, just because I put my school work above pulling guys I must be 'a dyke' right? It's much better now I've moved, everyone is too caught up in the amount of work to think about much else. __________________ *Don't Bend, Don't Break, Baby Don't Back Down...*

6th Jan 2009, 08:35 PM	#15
motleyjunkie Member Full Member Gender: Female Orientation: Bisexual Out Status: 9 Location: Dramaville, Louisiana Posts: 56 Join Date: Apr 2008	Re: Homophobia in Public Schools - My Experiences well i live in louisiana and they def have alot of close-minded people rednecks are the worst when it comes to that i just hate the word dyke and fag theyre just so insulting i think thats one of the main reasons i havent come out they are all so close-minded and judgemental.

6th Jan 2009, 08:56 PM	#16
SmileItsNicole Member Full Member Gender: Female Orientation: Bisexual Out Status: Out to everyone Location: California Age: 18 Posts: 58 Join Date: Jan 2009	Re: Homophobia in Public Schools - My Experiences I havnt come out to my school yet cus i hear a bunch of let downs like that

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6th Jan 2009, 09:04 PM	#17
Nodnarb Notoriously Homosexual Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Most people Location: Ames, Iowa Age: 20 Posts: 3,875 Join Date: Oct 2007	Re: Homophobia in Public Schools - My Experiences Hmmm...an old thread. But today seemed bad. Really bad. At least Andrew apologized to Cody, I guess... __________________ Better to be hated for who you are, than be loved for who you're not.