WTF!: WTF!? Gay High School Proposed In America's Windy City As Officials Battle Teen Suicides In Chicago!!!!!!!

by **J The Kidd** Fri Oct 10, 2008 11:49 pm

A new high school for gay teenagers could soon open in Chicago,
after the move was recommended by the city's head of public schools.

The Pride Campus of Social Justice High School would be open to all
students in the windy city but would also provide a safe and
'gay-friendly' atmosphere. It would also weave gay and lesbian 'heroes'
such as writers James Baldwin and Gertrude Stein into its curriculum.

Advocates hope the new place of learning will combat the high bullying,
drop-out and depression rate among gay and lesbian students, who are
also two to three times more likely to attempt suicide.

'If you look at national studies, you see gay and lesbian students with
high dropout rates... studies show they are disproportionately
homeless,' Chicago school chief Arne Duncan said.

'I think there is a niche there we need to fill.'

The school would accommodate 600 students and planners hope it would
open in 2010. It would follow in the footsteps of the Harvey Milk High
School in New York, founded in 2003 and named after the first openly
gay man to be elected to office in America.

Opponents have called the move a misuse of public money. At a recent
public hearing on the proposal, some gay rights advocates said the move
would segregate students and said the district should work more on
fostering acceptance by mainstream students, teachers and other school
officials.

Mr Duncan said he envisioned a school where half of the students would
be gay and the others would have an interest in social justice.

The Chicago Public Schools board will announce its decision at the end of October.