The Legend of Harvey Milk
By Keith Boykin, in sexuality
Friday, September 5 2003, 11:18AM
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I've resisted every effort to write about New York's so-called "gay high school" this summer. The story always struck me as hyped and sensational. But now it's unavoidable. When the semester begins on Monday, students will have to face media scrutiny, religious-right protesters and a frivolous new lawsuit trying to shut the school down. It's time to set the record straight, so to speak.
I should have known something was wrong when I saw the cover of the New York Post on July 28. Only a few days after the Post's sensational coverage of the murder of a New York City councilman by a black gay man, the Post was still on the gay warpath.
GAY HIGH - NEW CITY SCHOOL A FIRST [EXCLUSIVE]
-New York Post, July 28, 2003
That was the beginning of the end. In the days that followed, the media jumped on this story like a kid on a trampoline. Over and over again, we heard critics condemn this "new" high school. The headlines in the past five weeks have told the story.
Milk Would Oppose Gay HS: Nephew
-New York Post, August 11, 2003
Gay high school will only hurt acceptance of gays
-Daily Trojan Online, September 3, 2003
Gay-only high school opens in New York
-UW Badger Herald, September 5, 2003
But there's one headline I haven't seen recently. It came from the New York Times a dozen years ago:
THIS SCHOOL IS OUT
-New York Times, October 13, 1991
Yes, that's right. The New York Times wrote about the Harvey Milk School in the fall of 1991. So why is this a story 12 years later?
Harvey Milk was an openly gay city councilman in San Francisco in the 1970s when he was murdered in City Hall by an antigay political opponent. Now, decades later, Milk's legacy is being murdered by a new breed of antigay zealots.
"The self-described mission of the Harvey Milk School is narrow: to reintegrate kids into traditional schools or, failing that, into society at large by providing them with a safe haven, free from censure, in which to come to terms with themselves and pursue their diplomas." That's what the New York Times wrote in 1991. Had the New York Post bothered (or cared) to do its research, it would have known about the school a long time ago.
But of course, the New York Post did know about the school. The school opened in 1985 as the first program of its kind in the world. On June 11, 1985, the Bergen Record wrote "most of the high school's 20 teen-agers are dropouts , kids who couldn't survive in a regular high school precisely because their homosexuality was so pronounced. For them, Harvey Milk High School is the sole alternative to life on the streets."
Yes, that's right. Newspapers were praising the Harvey Milk School 18 years ago -- during the Reagan years! The school opened in April 1985 and even the New York Times wrote about it then. The Times put the story on its front page on June 6, 1985.
Fast forward to August 2003 when New York state senator Ruben Diaz and a conservative legal group called the Liberty Counsel have filed a lawsuit to block $4 million of public funds earmarked for the school. The lawsuit claims the school violates city and state rules prohibiting sexual orientation discrimination. Diaz says it's wrong "to take money away from poor children in black and Hispanic districts to protect a single group of children."
Diaz and his cohorts are wrong on both counts. First, the school does not violate discrimination laws because it's open to anyone, regardless of sexual orientation. Let me repeat that. This school does not segregate students based on sexuality. Anyone can attend.
Second, the school does not take away money from poor black and Latino schools and give it to others. Most of the students at Harvey Milk are poor or middle-class black and Latino kids. Blacks and Latinos made up 65% of the Harvey Milk School last year. Last year, 64 of the 71 students enrolled reported annual family income of less than $35,000, according to the New York Daily News. Seven students reported they were homeless, and "last year's valedictorian lived in a group home after his family abandoned him because he was gay," the Daily News reported.
Critics charge that all students deserve safe schools, and they're right. But studies show that LGBT students are more likely than their straight counterparts to face abuse in school because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The murder of Sakia Gunn last May in Newark should help us understand why gays and lesbians are particularly vulnerable because of their sexuality.
One last point. The school is not new. Remember, the school started almost 20 years ago. What critics are now complaining about is simply the expansion of a two-classroom program into something larger.
Of course, not everyone who has spoken out against the school is antigay. In fact, some critics simply do not know the history of the school and the good work it's done. They do not know that the school has been around for nearly 20 years, that it does not discriminate, and that it mostly serves struggling black and Latino youth. On the other hand, those critics who do know better, like the New York Post and Ruben Diaz, should be ashamed.
In an August 25 editorial, the New York Daily News said it best. "The Manhattan Supreme Court justice who gets this case should throw it out. It is based in absurdity."
Unfortunately, that's not the end of the story. When classes begin on Monday, Rev. Fred Phelps and his band of right-wing zealots will be standing at the doorway to protest the school. Phelps is the same guy who led a group of protesters at the funeral for Matthew Shepard, the gay college student in Wyoming who was killed in a hate crime.
Now Phelps is bringing his hatred to New York City. New Yorkers are notoriously tolerant of free speech and diversity, but there's one type of speech they don't like much -- bigotry. If you want to show your support for the Harvey Milk School or to protest Fred Phelps's antigay bigotry, come to the school at 2 Astor Place at 7:30 Monday morning, September 8.
For more information, contact Loyda Colon at 718-596-0342 x 20 or lcolon@alp.org.
Comments conceal
mr
September 5 2003, 12:16PM
The school was covered in a news program on HBO a couple of years ago. I thought a second high school was being opened strictly for Gay and Lesbian youth. The fact that the NY Post would do such a half assed job of reporting and stir up so much controversy is yet another reason I don't read that newspaper anymore.The Enquirer is more believable.
Michael M.
September 5 2003, 1:03PM
This school is a good idea, however not a great idea. I support the facts that gay children are persecuted in their schools and should be protected by the school's administration. More should be done to educate Americans about the LGBT community rather than proliferate the separation of the two. This decision to have a separate school can be considered unconstitutional by the very nature of separation by sexual orientation . The highschool in San Francisco serves a very noteworthy purpose and should be commended for their efforts. Truth and Education are the keys to success of so many ideas, great and small, no matter what subject the press wants to write or elaborate.
Keith Boykin
September 5 2003, 1:18PM
Michael,
One point of correction. This school is not unconstitutional. The U.S. Constitution does not prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. In fact, no federal law prohibits sexual orientation discrimination.
Even if we had a law, this school would not violate it because it does not discriminate based on sexual orientation.
Kola Boof
September 5 2003, 1:58PM
If one of my sons should turn out to be gay...I would definitely want this type of school available to him.
Just think of all the benefits that come with being in an atmosphere where he doesn't have to constantly worry about...."Oh, I'm different".
Think about him going to class without worrying if he'll be heckled that day or spit on or called some demeaning name that ruins his whole day and makes it impossible for him to concentrate. WORDS CAN KILL. I'm a writer, I know that.
Children need an environment where they can FOCUS, feel safe and feel "normal". This is how they will better absord knowledge and also build a High Self Esteem (something totally lacking amongst gay men).
Obviously, the entire society should be made to acknowledge gay people as NORMAL people...but in the meantime, considering the level of animosity and hatred that gay teens face--especially BLACK gay teens---we need to provide a comfort zone for them so that they can be better equipped to fight the growing battalion of enemies.
I have lost a black gay friend years ago--he jumped off a Freeway over pass. This greatly affects me, because the society drove him to it...not even his own mother cared about him. At school, he was pelted with rocks and bottles. NO ONE HONORED HIM...as a human being.
We need this school.
alicia banks
September 5 2003, 2:21PM
we need gay faculty/staff at every school in america
sexuality begins long before hs
gay students need role models too!
until that day comes, we need this school
bravo to nyc!!!
see more on this school at my site
peace
ab
alicia banks
September 5 2003, 2:21PM
we need gay faculty/staff at every school in america
sexuality begins long before hs
gay students need role models too!
until that day comes, we need this school
bravo to nyc!!!
see more on this school at my site
peace
ab
alicia banks
September 5 2003, 2:21PM
we need gay faculty/staff at every school in america
sexuality begins long before hs
gay students need role models too!
until that day comes, we need this school
bravo to nyc!!!
see more on this school at my site
peace
ab
Herukhuti
September 5 2003, 5:01PM
The issue of the constitutionality of the school goes beyond the issue of discrimination. The case that is often used and abused by simple-minded people of color and self-interested white folks, Brown vs. BOE of Topeka, Kansas was argued and decided based upon a flawed analysis. The basis of the case was that "separate but equal" facilities, services, and accommodations were inherently going to be unequal. This is true but they neglected to accurately assess the reasons why. The reasons why are simply put but complex in their manifestation.
White folks in this country will do any and everything to maintain their privileged and entitled positions as the dominant class of people in this society. Consequently, inequality is a necessary and inherent form of every and anything developed here. Take for example the history of segregation. Segregation was a response by white society to protect it's privileges and entitlements as a result of the end of slavery. The inequality that existed in segregation existed not because inequality has to exist within segregation but because segregation was an attempt to maintain inequality.
Slavery was actually a system of integration. African slaves were well integrated into white society - into the very kitchens, bedrooms, and bathrooms of white folks as surrogate mothers, house laborers, and field laborers. Slavery was the epitome of integration. At the same time, slavery was the epitome of inequality because slavery was a deliberate attempt on the part of white folks to maintain and grow their privilege and entitlements. When slavery was ended (because the industrial revolution made slavery financially and socio-economically obsolete), white folks used segregation to continue the system of privilege and entitlement that they enjoyed.
Post Brown vs. BOE of Topeka, Kansas, white folks and other privileged, entitled forces have used the decision in their own interests to maintain the status quo. Judicially-mandated integration and legislatively-imposed integration is now used in the interest of white folks and other privileged, entitled forces/classes. It's the same game, just a different name.
What continues to sadden me is that people of color because of our need to make heros out of human beings and our desire to create victories we can celebrate out of the constant struggles to survive are not willing to recognize when we or members of our communities like the Legal Defense Fund of NAACP and Thurgood Marshall make critical tactical, theoretical, and philosophical errs in judgment and analysis. It saddens me to see us continue to fall victim to the trick of having the conversation our oppressors want us to have, arguing the same issues our oppressors have identified for us.
This is not a question of constitutionality or whether separate but equal is inherently unequal. This is a question of how privileged classes seek to maintain their privilege by any means necessary and how we come to recognize that and make decisions that are in our best interests.
Frank Eggers
September 5 2003, 5:11PM
What is unfortunate is that the Harvey Milk school is needed. I hope that the need is temporary. The best solution would be to educate students, beginning in primary school, or perhaps even before primary school, about the importance of treating people fairly.
People like Ruben Diaz and the Liberty Counsel, who object to the Harvy Milk School, are not conservative. I am conservative. They are reactionary nuts. A conservative person is a person who, although (s)he may be fair-minded, favours carefully studying matters before making changes. That maximises the liklihood that the changes will actually be an improvement. Too often hasty action produces results which are the opposite of what is intended. Available examples are legion.
Earnest Hite
September 10 2003, 2:46PM
What we really face is the level of opposition to the "other" individuals who do not fit neatly into the perceptions of the ruling class. It is a waste of taxpayer's money when we must set aside critical dollars that might be used to improve the educational system for all students. Howeer the world is far from perfect.
Now with that said the school is open and a few special students will access this program. What is really needed is for folks to address the need for all students to receive a good quality education that is balanced in its objective to prepare students to become active citizen in our society.
What will more than likely occur is the few, the proud, and the gay (high school) student will highlight the the truth that wickedness is pervasive and that if individuals from our own community and from the larger society do not see the dream of an open society it will not happen.
If we do not rise up out of the ashes of pity and self absorbtion this issue will raise its head again.
darnell
September 19 2003, 9:46PM
I hate to be the only integrationist in the bunch, but isn't teasing and the like a main byproduct of being young and immature in high school?
To separate these kids is to coddle these kids. They need to realize that every body's different and you need to embrace your differences whatever they may be.
I bet even in the Harvey Milk High school hallways there's still kids placing kick me signs on the "nerds" backs and fighting for being too queer. I think it's a mistake to believe that it's a gay youth learning utopia at this school.
One could argue the same point about historically black colleges versus integrated colleges or all boys schools vs all girls schools. The fact still remains that unless you stay in that myopic environment all your life, which you can't, you'll never make it in the real "integrated" world.
Michael Hendley
October 10 2003, 12:33AM
To be quite honest after reading this as well as other articles about the opening of "Gay High" the only thing to be said is wonderful finally it will be just that much easier for the gay youth of america to come out and to just be able to be themselves without the senseless ignorance of others and while we are on the subject of ignorance I must say that the frivolous lawsuit being brought about by these ignorant headcases is simply ridiculous and furthermore any judge that doesn't throw out such an idiotic waste of the court's time is even more ridiculous than the zealots responsible for such nonsense. My question now is what will become of children who are witnessing their parents take part in such ignorance? what kind of individuals are these people molding? Right about now I would say the future is looking just little bleak...don't you think?
Sean Nelson
October 13 2003, 10:59PM
This is unconstitutional under Brown vrs. B.O.E. Herukhuti you analysis is flaw to say the least. The fact that gay and lesbian children recieve a school that is inherently better than that of other underprivilaged kids is exactly the precedent.
(1)There are many inner city schools in my state that are underfunded and less than that of this school. Why should gays be given their own school that is pristine and perfect? My race is apt to be shot outside of their school. Where is my protection from gang members? This school sickens me its the same elitist bullshit Brown fought against.
(2) Us black kids are discriminated against at white schools. What about them?
The only reason the Harvey Milk school was created is pork barrel politics at its most horrid. This atmosphere will not safeguard them forever. I have to live in a life of hell from gradeschool to highschool why should they be privilaged from my standpoint to a better school?