Representative Gordon,

I am writing to express my strong disagreement to your stance against the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) at Tiverton High School. The points that follow are meant to respectfully clarify some aspects of this debate that your arguments indicate to me you have not yet considered.

“Sex” and “sexuality” are not interchangeable: Sex is a physical act that, as you point out, has no place in schools.  It is not surprising (and hardly a victory) that you have many followers on this point. Sexuality, on the other hand, is what allows each of us to orient ourselves to our most meaningful relationships with others, and is what helps us to make sense of how we belong and contribute to our social environments. 

Sexuality is central to human experience and thus pervades schools, but in heterosexual (and therefore invisible, but not at all neutral) ways. Common high school traditions that promote heterosexuality include the homecoming king and queen, school dances, and cheerleaders at football games, to name an obvious few.

High school itself could essentially be conceived of as one big Straight Club that everyone is, by default, expected to join. From what I have heard, the Tiverton GSA is responding constructively and respectfully to that dynamic, by initiating a dialogue that acknowledges sexualities that are often overlooked or condemned. 

We are talking about protecting and supporting young people’s senses of self here- and in equating this agenda with delinquency, lewdness, and cruelty, I hope you understand that you are bullying too.

And, on that note, an Anti-Bullying Alliance sounds like a great idea for another new organization- but changing the current title of the GSA would not only deny their right to name the social issue immediately at hand for them, but it in effect would imply that there is something wrong with discussing that issue. Seeing that the Straight Club that is High School culture can persist as it has without debate around the issue of sexuality, it would appear that sexuality is not the issue here, but gay people, and those who choose to ally with them.

For the record, I am straight. I say this not because it matters, but because, unfortunately, I sense that it may affect the credibility I have with you regarding this issue.

Regards,

Sarah Jey Whitehead
Austin, TX
Tiverton High School, Class of 2001