Gay teen leader in
U.S. spotlight
By CHARLES YOO, The
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, From the Web, January 4, 2006
 |
|
|
Kerry
Pacer, leader of a gay youth group in White County, has been named
The Advocate magazine's Person of the Year.
Photo: Ben Gray/ Staff |
|
It began as a simple request a year
ago. Kerry Pacer and her friends wanted to start a club for gay students
like them at their high school in the Georgia mountains.
Students booed her. Her pals were called names. Out-of-state
evangelical fundamentalists showed up and protested against the teens.
Yet, Kerry and her friends stuck with their plan, making a difference in the
school, and getting community support.
After all that, Kerry's fight to bring a change to White County has now brought
her national recognition. The gay newsmagazine, The Advocate, has selected
the White County High senior as its Person of the Year — an honor previously
reserved for notable gay Americans like artist Robert Mapplethorpe and Episcopal
Church bishop Gene Robinson. Among those who received honorable mention
this year were singer Melissa Etheridge and professional basketball player
Sheryl Swoopes.
"It's overwhelming," Kerry said of the honor. "It's gotten better, I could
say that. We are still meeting."
Now, classrooms, hallways and locker rooms seem tranquil, the gay teens said.
Whispers exist, but no longer the blatant violence at school, a product of
awareness brought by the controversy, according to club supporters.
"Oh, it's mellowed a lot. Nobody really talks about it. Sometimes,
it's in the newspaper," said Alex Sherman, a 16-year-old. "It's kind of
hard to have it out of school, but we're trying. We're trying to hold onto
it, but it's really hard."
Kerry says she is honored, but feels uneasy from all the exposure about her in
the media. Such prestige has brought Kerry another notice from her
community. Her outspoken activism has also helped reach those in the
mountains who are unafraid to help the gay teens publicly.
One such person is Charles Aiken. The retired music teacher and
grandfather wanted to do something for the gay students, knowing well the
taunting they receive in schools. He was disappointed with White County
school officials and got involved. He was joined by two other adults in
town, including a retired high school principal and a woman married to an
educator.
"It's definitely a maligned and abused group of people. We need to do
better as a society," said Aiken.
The club — PRIDE or Peers Rising in Diversity Education — has been booted from
the school, with the rest of non-academic groups. While other student
clubs have civic or religious organizations as off-campus sponsors, no
established group has come forward for these teens.
So far, the teens met earlier this month over breakfast at McDonald's, which was
paid for by the volunteers. The adults plan to continue to offer breakfast
during club meetings, something for the teens to look forward to.
The adults are asking other sympathizing townspeople to support PRIDE
financially. Two church pastors have told Aiken they'd help. A local
restaurant has pledged to offer a private dining room for the club's next
meeting, which is scheduled for Thursday.
Superintendent Paul Shaw acknowledged Kerry's courage.
"She probably deserved the recognition if she received the award," said Shaw.
"The only thing I could tell is that it's very quiet right now."
|
