Posted on: Friday, November 1, 2002
Kalaheo club calls for unity
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer
KAILUA — A handful of students at Kalaheo High School have established a Gay Straight Alliance club, which they say is intended to end anti-gay bias and homophobia on campuses and create a safe environment for all students.
Gay Straight Alliance clubs have formed in more than 1,000 schools nationwide.
Sue Reardon, co-adviser for the club at Kalaheo, said there are similar clubs at other Hawai'i schools, but the Kalaheo group is the first in a public school here to openly use a reference to sexual orientation in its name.
"Other groups have tried to start up, but the principals either said no, or OK but you can't use the 'G' word," said Reardon, an English teacher.
The creation of the club follows years of controversy over Chapter 19, the Department of Education's anti-harassment rule that bars students from harassing others because of gender, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation, among other things. After battling over the rule's wording for two years, the Board of Education took another year to implement it, finally issuing guidelines in January.
Establishing the club wasn't easy. The students met early resistance at the administrative level but finally gained acceptance months later after enlisting help from parents, a minister, the National Center for Lesbian Rights and the American Civil Liberties Union.
Club founders said they were motivated by constant references to homosexuality when students didn't conform to the group.
"We were sick and tired of people saying 'gay' and 'faggot' in hallways, using it in derogatory ways," said Maile Shay-Mountain, co-president of the club.
The club, with 10 members, began last school year but was chartered only recently, giving it power to raise money, use the school logo and have access to an adviser, among other things.
The purpose of the club is to build bridges among students of all sexual orientations and gender identities, and to acknowledge and embrace the differences and similarities of all involved, Shay-Mountain said.
On what she called the club's "coming-out day," members provided the school with "gay facts," including names of prominent people who were homosexual, she said.
During Club Week this year, the group set up a table to explain its goals, and received few negative comments, Shay-Mountain said. That led her to believe that students may not be as anti-homosexual as they let on and are simply using words thoughtlessly.
"People are saying words but not realizing they're hurtful," she said.
Board of Education member Karen Knudsen said the club's objective to provide understanding and a safe environment for all students is admirable.
"It's like in the South when whites and blacks formed together," Knudsen said. "We are one in society. I think we should be very proud that students of all kinds are coming together and saying we want a safe environment for all students."
Nancy Kern, co-chairwoman of the Hawai'i Safe Schools Coalition, said she hopes the students' effort will motivate other schools to form similar clubs because they send a positive message to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students.
"It shows them there are people out there, adults out there who are fighting for their rights and want to help them," Kern said. "LGBT students get very little positive messages and support."
Dr. Robert Bidwell, of the University of Hawai'i medical school, many of whose patients are LGBT youths, said having this type of club in school, where significant harassment can occur, sends a message that the school cares.
The club is one way to help students deal with harassment, which is difficult for students and even parents to report, Bidwell said.
Kalaheo can be a model for other schools, Bidwell said.
"It took a lot of courage to start it at Kalaheo," he said. "I know it was a big struggle and I don't think the struggle is over yet."
Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.
