The Milwaukee Public School System may expand its gay-friendly high school to its middle school, offering sixth, seventh and eight graders who have already realized their sexual orientation a safe environment in which to learn, free from the bullying that they may encounter in more diverse middle schools. Is this going too far?

Please vote below and let Club RR members know your thoughts on this hot topic!

As a lesbian who knew by the age of seven that I was different from my peers, this makes sense to me. I was afraid to express my sexuality until well after high school because of the relentless bullying of others who were brave enough to be open about their sexuality. I was so uncomfortable with being "different" and unable to be open about the way I felt, I ended up with a tutor for my senior year of high school so I didn't have to attend regular classes. I fully support the idea of a gay-friendly middle school.

I use to teach 8th grade middle school and could give you countless stories about how these students treat each other but to stay on topic... I had a student (actually many who are gay) who was going to counseling about his sexual orientation. He had trouble coping with his gay feelings and as middle schoolers will do they teased him. He tried to kill himself because he was not accepted. I know in middle school it is difficult no matter what your beliefs are, your sexual orientation, .... hormones are raging. One minute your best friend is your best friend and the next you are worse enemies. Their oppinions change as quickly as night and day. If it works, and I hope it does, I am all for it. But, open-mindedness starts at home.

I really don't think any part of a person's personality is fully formed until they are a young adult. I think kids should never bully a kid who is different so that needs to be addressed in a school setting but I don't think that there should be some special school for kids who have "realized" their sexual identity because at that age you are really just experimenting and figuring out who you are...

As a young gay man living in Ohio, it would have been very helpful to have a school to attend where I did not have the pressure of being so different. I can't tell you how many times I concidered suicide because of how bullies pushed me around for being gay. I knew when I was very young that I was gay and had to keep it hidden for so long. For those that are not gay, it is impossible for you to know how we suffer as children. Kids can be rutheless and a sacturary at that young age is something that could help save many lives or prevent emotional scars.
Thanks you from Ohio

Unfortunately, kids get bullied for many reasons, not just whether or not they are gay. Should a seperate school be opened for every one of these reasons? Everybody is different, but I think that children at such a young age are so confused and still have alot to learn about themselves. Personally, I believe that homosexuality is wrong and it concerns me that this school even exists, but I think it would be worse to expand it.

Wow, I wonder how people would react if they opened an "All black school" (like they used to have)or an "Only-Mexicans-welcome-here" school. This is simply defining someone in some other way than who they truly are. How are these kids supposed to function out in the real world when they are removed from this "bully-free" environment? How about teaching them techniques to deal with bullying?

Don't let anybody tell you that what you think is wrong. Many people agree with you, or that blacks and whites shouldn't marry, or that women shouldn't be able to vote, so you're not alone! Stand strong!

This is outrageus! What morals, if any, are we teaching our children? Does an 11 year child really know they are gay?
I don't agree with kids being bullied, but my goodness, having them go to a "special" gay school is ridiculous! Should we have special schools for kids with red hair or with glasses? It sounds pretty nuts huh? School is for learning, not for protecting or determining a pre-teens sexual orientaion. Sounds like we school that teaches morals and values! So yes, I think this town is going WAY to far!

So sad to see what America has come to. What are they teaching our children in school. I thought it was math, english, history, etc. Now they want to open a gay middle school. I didn't even know they had a gay high school. Why would you want to address a topic like this at all. I don't watch the View and I will probably not be watching this show any more. Actually, I like Rachael Ray; however I don't want to see this. Evidently, the people that support this ideology do not worship God because his Bible quite plainly states that this is wrong. See Leviticus 20:13, Romans 1: 25-32. These are just a few quotes on this topic. Wake up America. God is watching and he is not happy.

Praying in Virginia

GAY-FRIENDLY school??? How about a school for over-weight girls who had bad childhoods? One viewer wrote that he had comtemplated suicide while going to school. I do not know of any 12, 13, or 14 year olds that doesn't at least think about it. I thought about suicide every other day. Nobody lives in a box--you have to learn how to get along with all kinds of people. To me that is the number one thing that school teaches you.

I don't know if they should be segregated in this way, I feel this might bring on more trouble.

WOW!!!! What is going on with us?? This is a touchy subject! I read some of the responses, & agree with most of them. Not being gay myself, its hard to answer but, I think we all grew up normal in 1 school. But, like someone said, you are not gay, you wouldn't understand! I watched a show one night called "What would you do?" (i think thats the name) anyway & they had mexican people on there & staging a fight with white kids beating them up, some people helped & some just walked past saying can't speak our language, they shouldn't be here! Our world today is so, racist to me that every name brand, color, friends, religion, even if your kids are in a certain sport, or your child is heavy or skinny, your judged and this to me sucks!! We all are self centered people. Equality is a something we all are suppose to have & we DO NOT!

I happend to have the TV on yesterday morning...Joy's voice caught my attention so I started to watch. Then the topic of a gay friendly school came up. I found the points of view the 2 women had very interesting. The woman that is a teacher recognizes the value of such a school. This is not a "gay only school", but a gay friendly school which means anyone can attend.

The other woman feels that it should not exist. She feels that at that the age of a middle school child that are not able to know if they are gay or straight. As a gay man, I can tell all of you that question if this is a choice, IT IS NOT A CHOICE, OR A LEARNED BEHAVIOR!!!!! We are all born different and we just can't explain why. Some people like the color green and some like the color blue...can we explain that?

It is very difficult at any age to come to grips with the fact that you are gay. By admiting to yourself that you are gay, it puts you in a different group that our society has created. AT the middle school age it is even more difficult. These kids are struggling with the realization of who they are and how they will fit into their family and society.

If we can provide an environment where these kids can develop and learn without the abuse of other students...is this a bad thing? What we really need to be doing is teaching all students that eveyone has value regardless of their color, size, economic status, and yes who they love and spend their life with.

If we continue to tell these kids that who they are is bad and society will not accept them, we will continue to have gay men marring women and gay women marring men in an attempt to fit in. Just ask the formor govenor of NJ.

--- Edited by ddl827 at 2009-03-28 09:02:04 ---

My daughter was bullied because of her cleft lip...should there be a school for facial deformities??

Silly idea to say the least...kids grow a stronger personality when faced with adversity!! Why baby the heck out of them? My daughter is 34 with 2 kids of her own, and can face anything!

I think it is ridiculous. That would really call attention to their abnormality, which it is. They are asking for trouble having a special school for them. What's next? A special school for kleptomaniacs, who, by the way, are also "born that way." Being "born that way" is not the problem. Giving in to the urge to do abnormal things is the problem and a school that nourishes the urge is an even greater problem. America, beware!

I am a former educator of Milwaukee Public Schools. I think this god forsaken city, and school system has more serious problems than gay/lesbian issues. They have students/parents out of control, no parenting skills, staff vs. staff, staff vs. parents, and staff vs. administration. They must get at the systemic root of the problem: poor parenting, lack of proper programs for students, and finally.........get the students/parents to respect teachers, and learn that school is a privilege....not a joke as many of them think. They must require students and parents to remember that school is a great privilege. Then address bullying, and gay lesbian issues. ti will all fall in to place..........I am sorry I feel this way, but I was steam rolled at that pitiful school system and city. as someone else posted, shy just the gays/transgendered, why not overweight, drug users, pregrant teens, and so on......there is a larger societal problem at work here.a general degradation of society, ethics and proper behavior!

No Idon't think it is goingto far. When my daughter was youngher she has friend that are gay and I met them. Thay are really nice people and I know how they fill about being picked on because I was different when I was growing up. I was picked on because I liked hanging around the guys and couldn't stand being around the girls so I was picked on and if it helps them get a education and not have to worry about anything else I say go for it.
From Penny Arkansas

I thought that God taught acceptance and tolerance of others?! I guess He just teaches His followers to accept those who are like you.

Personally, not being gay but having gay friends, I don't think a gay-friendly school is necessary. Like many people before me have stated, all kids deal with being different from their peers. I don't think any adolescent thinks he/she is "normal" and bullying is just his/her way of dealing with his/her own insecurities. Kids should be taught how to effectively deal with their insecurities.

I think that teachers are rare enough and our educational system in the US is not up to par, so why does this town want to waste taxpayers money on this school in the first place. We don't have fat-friendly schools, which is one of the biggest insecurities among adolescents, so why should there be a gay-friendly school?

I think that kids should be taught from an early age to accept differences in people because no two people are alike.

Yes I think this is going too far. How do you really know that the kids are gay or just trying to be fashionable? We need to get back to basic's lean on God and pray. School needs to be school. Yes you need to be safe and not bullied, but what about the kids that are overweight, too tall, too thin, too whatever? Are we going to have separate classes for them too? God Bless you all.

I think this is ridicoulious. If they are gonna open a gay-friendly school, are they gonna open an obese-friendly school? If they open a gay friendly school, they are just making things worse. Kids wont know how to stand up for themselves or stand up for what they believe in. If they get bullied, which is normal in school, would they switch schools just because somebody doesnt like their sexuallity? Im only 23, turning 24 next month but this is getting so crazy! Its almost like being racist but with gay kids. People should just leave things alone. Instead of worrying about "KIDS" sexuallity, how about worrying about their education. Instead of opening a "gay-friendly" school, why not have a class about being open to others' sexuality?
I understand that kids get bullied all the time. Who hasn't? every kid had to go through it at least once in their life. I know I did. I ate alone for a long time. But after realizing I can stand up for myself, things changed and I started making friends. Kids just need to be kids and not worry if they are gay or not. or if they are being bullied. So what? Move on with your life and get the education that will make your life even much better in the future.

.....wgd083 said @ 2009-03-27 17:10:37:
Evidently, the people that support this ideology do not worship God because his Bible quite plainly states that this is wrong. See Leviticus 20:13, Romans 1: 25-32. These are just a few quotes on this topic. Wake up America. God is watching and he is not happy. ....

wgd083 - Are you sure God's a male? I think of her as a female That must bug you, eh? I was taught that God, Spirit, Hashem, Buddah, whatever was loving and tolerant and would never call someone's beliefs 'wrong'. People don't chose to be gay any more than they chose to be a certain race. They're simply born as is. Try practicing kindness, open your heart and mind.

So, if my child has discovered he is a Christian and is getting mocked and bullied for standing up for his faith, should he be able to have a separate high school or middle school to accommodate him?