Gay Pride at A Black High School
By Mark C. Smith, in sexuality·viewpoints
Monday, November 29 2004, 10:39AM
My story begins August 16, 2004. It was my first day back to high school after leaving Anytown, a youth leadership institute that teaches teens to break down barriers of oppression. Anytown helps us identify oppression in others and ourselves, particularly around issues of racism, classism, sexism, and heterosexism. This information inspired me to address homophobia and heterosexism at my school, Hazelwood East High School in St. Louis, Missouri. I knew it would be a difficult task. In a predominantly black, heterosexual high school, homosexuality is basically forbidden.
Within the first week of school, I presented an idea to supportive friends and family about starting a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA). I had learned of GSA�s from other Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) youth at Anytown. They suggested that I write a proposal to my principal to start a GSA.
At Hazelwood East, all student organizations need to have a faculty sponsor. It was easy to identify a teacher who I knew would understand and be supportive. Mr. Gilley, my psychology teacher, was the perfect faculty member to approach. I told him my aspirations and asked if he would sponsor the club. He readily agreed yet warned me that a group of students tried to start a similar club and that the outcome was not very successful. Ultimately they had failed to even start such a club.
Despite this information, I felt a sense of relief. I felt confident that I was on my way to starting a GSA at my school. That evening I wrote a proposal to Principal Martin for the GSA. The proposal explained the purpose of the club, the club�s intentions, and that it was open to the student body, regardless of their sexual orientations.
The following day I approached Principal Martin and suggested we meet some time. He said �yes� without knowing what the meeting would be about. In his office I handed him the proposal and patiently waited for his response. After skimming through the paper he immediately said �no.� I was confused and asked, �why?� Principal Martin was unsure how this would sit with the administration and suggested a name change from the Gay-Straight Alliance to a diversity club and to focus more on universal diversity issues. I pushed the importance of the name �Gay-Straight Alliance.� After a friendly "disagreement," I told him thank you and that I would think about his suggestion.
I replayed the meeting in my mind several times and contemplated my next step. Although the proposal wasn�t approved yet, I felt it was still somewhat of a success and I would soon be victorious. That evening, I thought of a plan to get student allies involved. I made fliers informing students about the GSA even though it hadn�t been approved. I needed to get as many students involved as possible and I suggested that they mention the club to their parents. Those approached where asked to sign a paper agreeing to be allies.
From there, the GSA debate raged in the school hallways and escalated among students and even the faculty, causing a great amount of pressure for Mr. Martin. After a week, I had the support from most LGBT students and several straight allies, so I decided to meet with Mr. Martin again. When I met with Mr. Martin I handed him the same proposal as the first. I assured him that the students where very supportive and that the name �GSA� was of great importance in addressing homophobia. Mr. Martin turned down the proposal again.
I was furious but had to keep pushing. Students were inquiring about the outcome and student support was gaining. Within two weeks I met with Mr. Martin for a third time with the same outcome. I was almost clueless as to what I should do to persuade him.
On October 25, 2004, I was cruising the Internet and felt inspired by GLSEN.org. Armed with new information I left a paper for Mr. Martin explaining the reason for the name of the club and that a refusal to permit the organization was illegal. Within a few hours I was called to the principal�s office. Upon entering his office I spoke first, immediately asking if he had read the paper. He said yes and that he would approve of the club if we came to a compromise about the name. I told him that we could change the name of the club but it had to keep its original purpose. He agreed and stated that the name �GSA� would have to be a sub-title to a different name.
The final name for our GSA is The Pride Alliance, representing the pride of all allies no matter what their identity or sexual orientation. Even though the name of the club ultimately wasn�t Gay-Straight Alliance, I feel that my persistence and dedication helps set an example for others struggling for social justice.
Mark Smith is a 17-year-old junior at Hazelwood East High School in St. Louis, Missouri. His interests are in social justice activism and volunteering for Project ARK, a HIV/AIDS service organization in St. Louis.
Comments conceal
Kevin McGruder
November 29 2004, 11:03AM
Mark,
Congratulations on your success! Your perserverance and organizing skills paid off. Good Luck with the Pride Alliance.
Keith Boykin
November 29 2004, 1:29PM
Cody,
I have re-posted your review of "Alexander" on the message board. The link is at:
http://www.keithboykin.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=1413
Maurice Franklin
November 29 2004, 1:32PM
Mark,
I congratulate you with tears in my eyes this morning. Your leadership and fearlessness will help to create a very different world.
Best of luck,
Kola Boof
November 29 2004, 1:54PM
Boy, that's cool.
Best of luck, my love.
SmilingonthaDL
November 29 2004, 3:51PM
Mark,
That's AWESOME! Good Luck with all of your future endeavors!
DB
November 29 2004, 4:35PM
Mark:
Kudos on your success. You acts of courage and your perseverance are to be commended. If only we older folks could be as bold and confident, this world may be a better place for us all.
Wishing you well in your endeavors...DB
Jehan and Jannah
November 29 2004, 5:07PM
We are so proud of you! We admire your dedication and we know that you will go far in life. Congratulations and best of luck!!
Erick
November 29 2004, 6:22PM
Congratulations on having the courage to do this! It's monumental, not just for gay black students but for us older folk as well. You are a brave and honorable hero.
Sonny Smith
November 29 2004, 6:33PM
I was so happy to read the responses and the support posted here. To think that such a young person would speak out like this really touches my heart.
Stand proud because this time it's about you.
Best of luck.
Marcus
November 29 2004, 7:00PM
Mark,
"And the younger brothers and sisters are leading us." Thank you so much, for your passion. Keep that great smile.
Thomas L Mines
November 29 2004, 7:51PM
Mark:
I am very proud of your accomplishment; especially
now that I have been informed that the "fliers" were actually petitions.
Be considerate of the concerns of others and strive for understanding.
Your Uncle,
Thomas L Mines
cmoney
November 29 2004, 7:52PM
Mark, I am proud of you. You are a true leader! I wish I had your courage in high school, college and grad school. I wish that I had a group like this when I was in school. Being gay as a teenager can be the most depressing and lonely existence. Just be speaking out, you are touching lives in ways that you may never realize. How many suicides among gay teens have you prevented by standing up for the young people who, like me, would never admit to being gay in high school? If it is only one, you have done God's work. Sometimes it takes just one courageous person to make a difference. Keep on doing it.
Devin Davenport
November 29 2004, 9:30PM
I am rather impressed with your tenacity and conviction. Please please apply to the very best school that you can think of (college) and consider using this experience in your admissions essay- Use this opportunity to further your professional career- if you ever want to talk, fee free to send an email.
I remember being a young black teen in Illinois too.
Im so proud of you for having courage.
Jamel Smith
November 29 2004, 9:32PM
Mark:
You are a hero and I admire you. Keep up the great work!
Rodel
November 29 2004, 9:32PM
I just wanted to say that you are so brave and couragous for doing what you did. Thank you for standing proud when so many of us (gay or straight) are not or are to afriad to. Thanks for fighting for our rights and your own.
Jon-William Patterson
November 29 2004, 9:49PM
Excellent essay and congratulations. May God Bless you and the work that you are doing.
Justin
November 30 2004, 2:07AM
I'm very proud of you Mark and only wish others could have the same amount of courage, determination, and dedication to something as important to them as a GSA is to you. Best of Wishes.
Donald Andrew Agarrat
November 30 2004, 7:18AM
My friend Larry Lyons II recently quoted Tony Kushner's 'Angels in America' on his blog by saying "People who are lonely, people left alone, sit talking nonsense to the air ... imagining beautiful systems dying, old fixed orders spiraling apart."
Mark, you are now part of that legacy of old fixed orders spiraling apart. You are now part of a legacy of Black gay men (some of who have already commented in this very post) who not only want change, but who are also willing to commit to the necessary but thankless work of creating change. And sometimes it is even dangerous.
I congratulate and thank you, being such a striking example of our future. Brother, please take care of yourself. Learn to ritualize whatever taking care of yourself means to you, however it exists for you, and make it an integral part of your life. Fortify yourself with people who will nurture, encourage and challenge you. The road you've chosen requires it.
Charisse Jackson
November 30 2004, 12:12PM
Mark,
I have never been more proud...you are truely on the frontline in this battle for social justice. I am so very glad that you attended Anytown and that you have made your mark (no pun intended) so quickly and so well. Keep your position on the "Battlefield" and call for backup when you need it.
Yours in the Struggle,
Mahrya Monson
November 30 2004, 12:43PM
WOW! Mark, I am so impressed with your tenacity and courage in getting The Pride Alliance started in spite of the principal's initial opposition.
Blessings on your work in the future. Mahrya - NCCJ Saint Louis Region
Martin Rafanan
November 30 2004, 1:03PM
Mark, You are a wonderful example of the "empowered leadership" Anytown seeks to build and enhance. Your courage, perseverance and organizing skills have led a great outcome in your school and change now becomes a stronger possibility. As your school changes, the community changes...indeed, the world changes and becomes a better place. Keep up the outstanding work! We look forward to being your allies in the ongoing work at Hazelwood East and beyond.
Joel D. Jackson
November 30 2004, 4:57PM
Mark,
Hey you! I am extremely proud of you and the work that you do in your life! You are a fine example of an honorable person who strives to overcome barriers in an effort to make things better for all. Congratulations! I am always here in support.
JIM KERBOVAC
November 30 2004, 5:17PM
HEY MARK!
CONGRATS TO FINALLY GETTING YOUR CLUB! HOPEFULLY IT WILL REMAIN FOR A VERY LONG TIME TO COME, AND HELP OTHER GAY TEENS WHEN, THAT AGE CAN BE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME IN THEIR LIVES. YOU SHOULD BE VERY PROUD! I NOW THE REST OF US ARE!
GOOD LUCK,
JIM
JP
December 3 2004, 4:18PM
Mark,
Yes, your persistence and dedication helps set an example for others struggling for social justice. Remember Mark, they are from Missouri so you gotta show 'em what a real man is.
Poor Mr. Martin. What a sad statement when it is the students who must teach the so-called teachers. But he appears to be teachable. And btw, take your victory as you find it. Changing the name from GSA to The Pride Alliance is NO compromise. It is a 100% win. It just looks like a compromise. That's fine. Mr. Martin just needed to save face and it was wise of you to let him. This only affirms that you are a bigger man than he.
Congratulations! You will go a long way in life. Indeed, you are well on your way!
Alex Howard
December 5 2004, 12:01AM
Wow!! You're an excellent writer!! I am so proud of you and I had no idea that you had to go through so much to start your GSA group! That's so unfair that you had to go through that discrimination and to me, it's just like segragating the school, except it's not blacks and whites, but gays and straights. Your such an inspiration to me.
Jeff Smith
December 5 2004, 5:58PM
Mark, Watching a young person step up and lead like you have is very moving. I hope to relate your story often as an example of how to change minds one at a time, as gay rights issues assume a central place in our nation's public dialogue. JRS
Jeffery
December 5 2004, 10:01PM
Awesome story. We have a GSA at Spring High school too.It took us atleast 3 years to get it and now imt he President of it. Im so proud to see other people trying to make a differents in there school as well and i hope others learn from this and try to start a GSA.
Mason
December 8 2004, 7:27PM
Mark, amazing story!! How many other black LGBT students would have been able to find the same amount of courage that you had to muster up to do what you knew was right. I wish I would have had the same level of dedication and leadership when I was in a high school that didn't have a GSA. You are an amazing individual and I hope that your explorations in activism only go deeper as you grow. I know you will do many great things in your lifetime, because you've already started to change and amaze the world around you!!
Bklynbro
December 9 2004, 3:47PM
Mr. Smith - much love to you, brother. Your story of courage and perseverence is refreshing and greatly appreciated. Oh, how we need leaders like you. Keep on keepin' on.
Whitney G. Harris
December 14 2004, 4:38PM
Great work my brother.
Peace