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Plan For Gay-Friendly High School Unveiled

Gay And Lesbian Heroes Would Be Woven Into Curriculum

CHICAGO (CBS) ― We've all heard about bullying, but a new study shows one group is particularly targeted. Sixty percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students said they felt unsafe at school.

CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman reports it is one reason there could be a high school for them in Chicago very soon, called the Social Justice Pride Campus.

The gay-friendly Chicago public high school that will weave gay and lesbian heroes -- from James Baldwin to Gertrude Stein -- into its curriculum was among 20 new school proposals unveiled Wednesday.

The Pride Campus of Social Justice High School would be open to all students citywide but would provide a safe, "gay-friendly" atmosphere to combat the high bullying, dropout and depression rate many LGBTQ students experience nationwide, advocates say.

In U.S. history and other classes, "gay and lesbian historical figures" would be taught so gay youth "have heroes," said Bill Greaves, Chicago's liaison on issues affecting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

"We will teach the history of all people, but we are just going to make sure these people are not invisible in that history," said Greaves, part of the Pride Campus design team.

The Pride Campus still needs a location but hopes to open in 2010 and ultimately serve 600 students. It would not be alone in welcoming gay students, but it would be one of the bigger such public schools.

The plan was submitted by the Greater Lawndale-Little Village School for Social Justice, at 3120 S. Kostner Ave., according to the Windy City Times. If the school opens, it will join similar facilities in the country, including Harvey Milk High School in New York.

Alliance High School in Milwaukee also considers itself "gay friendly" but has only 125 students, said lead teacher Tina Owens. Alliance estimates its population is 60 percent to 70 percent LGBT, Owens said.

Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan said he expects the Pride Campus will be "majority straight." Many kids should be attracted to its college-prep curriculum and its message of "social justice" and "tolerance," Duncan said.

Some people are asking if that's necessary.

At Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, diversity is a goal that comes from the top.

"When they have the opportunity to become more tolerant of others who think differently than they do," Principal Joyce Kenner said, her students are better off.

That's in everything from race to religion to sexual orientation.

That third category, sexual orientation, would be the draw of a proposed Chicago campus that will come up for a vote later this month.

Chicago Public School's Josh Edelman says the high school would be open to anyone but especially to kids struggling with things such as harassment because they're gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.

"It's about having a safe and secure option for kids who haven't felt comfortable in our mainstream high schools," Edelman said.

But Whitney Young senior Rene Lima said, "I think it isolates students...I also think it doesn't reflect the real world."

Lima is a bisexual student and the president of Whitney Young's Pride Cub. He isn't alone in his reservations about the possible new school.

"I think the idea behind it is wonderful, but don't think it will be a positive thing, 'cause everyone will be in one place and there are people who are homophobic," said Whitney Young senior Gabriela Rosa.

But one supporter from the Gay Black Men's Caucus says "it will be beneficial, especially to the students from the South and West sides who have a harder time fitting in with their peers because of homophobia, prejudice and discrimination."

Students CBS 2 spoke with believe if there are problems on campus people should just work to solve them.

The school will come up for a vote Oct. 22.

CBS 2's Krystin Hartman and the STNG Wire contributed to this report.

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