How to contact the school:

Zion-Benton Township High School
3901 W 21st St
Zion, Illinois 60099
Principal: Ms. Sandra Galgan
Office: 847.746.1202
Fax: 847.746.7565
E-Mail: webmaster@zbths.k12.il.us

URL: http://www.zbths.k12.il.us/

Gay teen group raises some hackles

By Deneen Smith, STAFF WRITER

Zion - A gay-straight student alliance at Zion-Benton Township High School is sparking a small flurry of anonymous protest.

A group of students formed the Project 10 Spectrum club earlier this year, seeking staff sponsors and asking the district for permission to meet in the school. The group met quietly during the year, but about 10 days ago decided to post fliers and to advertise their meetings in a display case.

The posting resulted in what one staff member called "lounge talk" among teachers and anger among "a small minority of teachers and students."

Despite talk generated in the school a meeting of the group last week went off without incident.

Superintendent Gary Fields said he has received only one phone call about the issue. But he acknowledged that there was some controversy in the community, which has a history steeped in religious conservatism.

"It is a difficult issue that we have spent a great deal of time on. I believe that we are being extremely responsible as a school by seeing that we do not discriminate, that we follow the law and that we follow the Supreme Court's decisions," Fields said.

He said the club is "not school endorsed, not school sponsored and no school employees are being paid" to take part. "It is no different than having a prayer club or a fellowship of Christian athletes, which we also have."

The Spectrum club is modeled after a national club that offers support for gay and lesbian issues. There is a Spectrum club based at the College of Lake County and at two other public high schools in the county. The Lake County Health Department also has a support group for gay teens that meets in Vernon Hills.

Kevin Herman, a Health Department counselor, said the Illinois Department of Public Health targets teen-agers with sexual orientation issues as "a designated population for services."

"They are at risk for several significant concerns including suicide, drug use and running away," Herman said.

The mother of one teen-aged girl in the Zion group said she was concerned about those issues for her daughter, but feels that the high school is not a good forum. "She's flunking out of school, but these people aren't concerned about that. They're not concerned about her education; they're concerned about her orientation."

Although the woman said she urged her daughter to attend a support group outside of school, she said she was worried that attending meetings at her school could mark her for harassment and possibly violence. "When I heard about the group I begged her not to become part if it because of what happened in Wyoming," she said.

Last October, a gay college student was beaten, tied to a split-rail fence and left to die outside Laramie, Wyo. His death put a focus on hate crimes against homosexuals and sparked protest and demonstrations around the country.

Safety issues were a concern of group leaders as well. The meetings are held behind a locked door and school security is on alert. There have been no incidents at the school, however.

"Everyone has been terrific about it," Fields said. "Our concerns is that adults in our community could (incite people over the issue) and make it a safety concern."

The author, Deneen Smith, is online at Deneen.Smith@Exchange.CopleyPress.com

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Jessea NR Greenman, jessea@uclink4.berkeley.edu
"Talk does not cook rice." Chinese proverb.

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