Friday, October 18, 2013

Growing up queer in Watts: What happens when school is still not a safe place | Hechinger Report

Growing up queer in Watts: What happens when school is still not a safe place | Hechinger Report:

Growing up queer in Watts: What happens when school is still not a safe place

By
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
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