Growing up queer in Watts: What happens when school is still not a safe place
Discovering my sexual orientation in a violent, poverty-stricken environment was not easy. I remember the first time someone called me a “dyke,” in the locker room of Markham Middle School. At that time I was a punk rocker, wearing ripped jeans and men’s shirts. I didn’t yet consider myself queer — or even really know what that meant — but I was already aware of homophobia. Not until junior year of high school did I begin to explore my identity. Jordan High was reflective of the area that I lived: It was dangerous. Race riots broke out between Latinos and black students, and students were not welcoming of gays. I did not feel that teachers, administrators or counselors could support me.
Xochil Frausto
But in school, students were always trying to improve our environment and change it for the better. I was lucky to be around peers who were also tapping into their sexuality and together we founded a Gay Straight Alliance (GSA). We pushed for awareness about hate crimes and violence against the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning (LGBTQ) community and created a safe space for students. I don’t think that it was enough time for the perspective on homosexuality to change, but I found that the students were very open to learning more about it. When we created