Gay teens face hard times in Tri-Cities
Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008
Gay teens face hard times in Tri-Cities
By Sara Schilling, Herald staff writer
Gay and lesbian teens in the Tri-Cities say they've been targeted in the community and at school because of their sexual orientation.
They've been whispered about, laughed at and called names such as "faggot" when they're on the street and in school hallways, they say.
"I've had people try to fight me because I'm gay. I've had people try to fight me because I hang out with people who are gay and stand up for them," said Alex, 17, who goes to high school in the Tri-Cities.
The Herald agreed not to fully identify students to protect them from harassment.
Their experiences are backed up by a national survey released this month. It found that 86 percent of students who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered -- abbreviated as LGBT -- had been verbally harassed at school in the past year.
Educators say such bullying isn't acceptable, and that's reflected in school policies that include specific protections for characteristics such as sexual orientation.