Message from:
The Coalition for Safer Schools of NYS, PO Box 2345, Malta, NY 12020
Email to:SARATOGANY@aol.com
The Real or Perceived Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Student Protection Project

FYI
BOULDER HIGH SCHOOL
1604 Arapahoe Ave
Boulder, Colorado 80302
Office:(303) 442-2430
Fax:(303) 447-5317
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Gay-photo flap prompts kiss-in at Boulder High
By Monte Whaley
Denver Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, May 23, 2001 - BOULDER - A photo of two high school girls kissing - a photo that never made it into the Boulder High School yearbook - has sparked a protest and a same-sex "kiss-in" planned for today at the school.

Some students claim excluding the photo is another example of schools running from the issue of gays and lesbians on campus. "It's really a protest about homophobia in the system and in the schools themselves," said senior Chris Maynard.

But school officials say they stand by their decision.

"Coming out is a very serious issue," yearbook adviser Ruth Palmer said Tuesday. "The decision was made out of consideration for the kids and their families."

Palmer said she had asked the student photographer who took the photo in January to notify the girls' parents that it might run in the yearbook - the Odaroloc.

When she didn't hear from the parents before the yearbook deadline, she shelved the photo.

Palmer was afraid the parents would be ambushed by the photo if they weren't aware of their children's sexual orientation.

Today's kiss-in is intended to show support for gay and lesbian students at the school, who face daily discrimination, said senior Tanya Cardella. She and other organizers say photos of male-female kissing were used in the yearbook feature "First Kiss."

"This action will really show that kids can mobilize around an important issue like homophobia and address it in a creative, constructive way," said Cardella, 18.

She said both sets of parents know their daughters' sexual orientation. It wasn't clear Tuesday whether both girls are still enrolled at Boulder.

Student Worker, an activist student group, and Boulder High's Gay-Straight Alliance are organizing the kiss-in. It is to begin at 2:45 p.m. on the patio behind the high school. That's the same time as Boulder High's "Frankfest," an annual spring celebration.

The kiss-in is patterned after sit-ins at segregated lunch counters in the 1960s, in which whites sat with blacks to show solidarity, organizers said. The kiss-in "will demonstrate solidarity, from both heterosexual and homosexual students, with kids who must endure unfair treatment and policies because of their sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation," said a statement from Student Worker.

Students from other schools are encouraged to participate, but it's not known how many will show up, Cardella said.

Boulder High Principal Chris King said he usually frowns on any display of affection by students on school grounds. "But we're reasonably tolerant," he said, "up to a point."

The school has a gay and straight group that tries to address problems facing gay, lesbian and bisexual students, he said.

All of which still doesn't make it any easier on gay and lesbian students. "I'm not naive," King said. "I'm sure high school is a tough place if you are gay or lesbian."
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"The Real or Perceived Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgendered Student Protection Project"
("Being safe at school should not be a radical concept".. Jamie Nabozny)

A project of:
Coalition for Safer Schools of New York State

John Myers
Director of Operations and Programs
PO Box 2345
Malta, NY 12020
(518) 587-0176
Email:SARATOGANY@aol.com

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