Gay student club
gains acceptance at Paso High
Gay Straight Alliance
club had trouble being viable
until Michael Landrum
stepped in
By Nick Wilson from
thetribunenews.com on the Web, February 22, 2006
Paso Robles, CA -- Michael
Landrum became open about his homosexuality last year as a freshman at Paso
Robles High School.
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Tribune photo by David Middlecamp
Michael
Landrum, a Paso Robles High School sophomore, talks about a student
newspaper review of "Brokeback Mountian" during a meeting of the
Gay/Straight Alliance club. |
But it wasn’t until the end of that
year that he discovered a club on campus that unites gay and straight students.
Landrum lacked the type of support such a club offered. He describes the
North County campus as "pretty conservative" and not supportive of his sexual
orientation.
As it grows, the school is becoming more diverse in regards to ethnicity,
religion and sexual preference, Landrum and faculty members said.
But teachers said the school’s Gay Straight Alliance club has had trouble
keeping itself going in past years, and Landrum described last year’s group as
more of a gathering of friends than an active campus club.
That’s changed this year, though. Thanks to Landrum’s leadership as
president and the dedication of other students involved, the Gay Straight
Alliance is thriving.
"They’re driven, they’re dedicated and they’re having a good time," said PRHS
teacher Joshua Gwiazda, the club’s adviser. "The big reason this year is
the kids."
The group’s mission is to create "allies," or a culture of tolerance on the
campus.
"The more exposure and the more education the club can get, the better," Landrum
says. "We just want people to know everyone deserves to be treated with
respect."
The club holds weekly meetings attended by about 12 regulars, three of them
openly gay.
"It’s really good because you can talk to people who are going through the exact
same things you are," Landrum said.
Two of the club’s three speaking events this year attracted more than 150
students.
And students are planning a trip to Sacramento on March 6 for Queer Youth
Advocacy Day to gather with other teens from around the state.
Paso Robles isn’t the only local high school with a Gay Straight Alliance.
Arroyo Grande, Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo also have clubs, according to the
Alliance’s Web site, www.gsanet work.org.
Morro Bay’s club is not active this year, though it held meetings last year and
remains in the network, according to Cindee Varni, the school’s secretary.
Arroyo Grande High and San Luis Obispo High have active groups.
Dispelling stereotypes
The Paso Robles High club’s officers make their e-mail addresses available to
anyone — gay, straight or those questioning their sexual orientation.
Landrum has received an anonymous e-mail from a straight student wondering how
to handle the news that a friend is gay and from a teen contemplating his
sexuality. He never found out the identities of either nor did he ask.
The 15-year-old club president said he has battled harassment ever since he was
a "flamboyant" elementary school student in Shandon who played exclusively with
girls, dyed his hair blonde and wasn’t interested in war games.
Landrum talks about being beaten up at Flamson Middle School in Paso Robles and
in high school, but he has learned to confront bullies. Most students are
respectful, he said.
The sophomore said his interests include hunting, fishing and camping. His
best friends are straight guys who he said are "macho" and share his love for
the outdoors.
His friend Nick Hindley, who is straight, said he spends many weekends hanging
out with Landrum, splitting time between their families’ homes. It was an
adjustment finding out his friend was gay, but it didn’t negatively affect their
friendship.
"I still treat him the same," said Hindley, also a sophomore. "He’s no
different. He may like guys, but he’s the same person I met when I first
moved up here in the seventh grade."
When Hindley talks about girls, Landrum talks about guys. Hindley has had
to defend insults made by other students, he said.
"A couple of times people have said things about gay people and I’d be, like, ‘I
have a couple gay friends, and your point is ... ?’ " Hindley said. "It’s
not like they’re hitting on you, so don’t worry about it. And if they were
they’d let you know."
Landrum takes pride in doing what’s not expected of him. Dispelling
stereotypes is part of the club’s mission.
"We don’t want people to think that all gay people are the same," said club
member Dani Martin, 15.
Open discussions
At a recent meeting, the group discussed a review of the movie "Brokeback
Mountain." Only a few of the students had seen the film, which gained
critical acclaim and broad audience acceptance this year, despite predictions
that Americans weren’t ready to see two cowboys in love with each other.
After describing the plot, Landrum explained to the group how the possibility of
violence looms in the conservative Wyoming and Texas communities. One of
the characters is killed in the story.
"People here can relate with the working-man lifestyle in the film of going out,
picking grapes and herding sheep," Landrum said. "But it’s kind of a
reflection of how my life could have been if I didn’t live in this day and age."
One of the fears of coming out as a high school student is the physical and
emotional harm such a revelation might bring, said club vice president Vere
Rodriguez, 17, an openly gay student.
"You worry about what people might do or say to your friends," Rodriguez said.
And it’s tough to face high school without friends, she said.
Still, students said the club strives to open up discussion and be accessible
rather than duck controversy.
Reach Nick Wilson at 238-2720, ext. 25
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