GLBT Teenagers

So did any of you read the GLBT History Month's presentation of Virginia Uribe on day 15? Some of you, who may be school teachers, may have heard of Project 10. Virgina was a science teacher and school counselor in the Los Angeles Unified School District. She founded Project 10, a drop-out prevention program for the GLBT teens, after seeing the problems that these students endure. Since the 1984 birth of Project 10 many of the aspects of Project 10 have been incorporated in high schools across the nation. She received the National Education Association's Annual Human and Civil Rights Award for Creative Leadership in Human Rights in 1992. Currently she is the Executive Director of Friends of Project 10, Inc. This is a nonprofit program that assists with lobbying for educational issues and assisting with gay and lesbian proms. Her famous quote is: "As long as I have a breath in me, I will continue to fight for the rights of gay and lesbian students." (GLBTHISTORYMONTH, 22nd)

After reading about the gay and lesbian prom, it took me back to some memories of living in San Diego. I use to volunteer at the North County Gay and Lesbian Center from time to time and an opportunity came up to volunteer as a chaperone at a gay and lesbian prom down in San Diego's Hillcrest community. Now some of you may be thinking why does there need to be a gay and lesbian prom? I have to say until you have walked in another's shoes please don't judge. The happiness that these teens had was evident on their faces. The individuality they all shared openly I could only imagine felt safe and satisfying. Until society is more excepting of the GLBT individuals within our communities then perhaps these events are needed.

Island Dyke


Reference:

GLBTHISTORYMONTH 22nd WWW 2007. Retrieved on October 22, 2007 from
http://www.glbthistorymonth.com/glbthistorymonth/2007/icon.cfm?LeaderID=15&tab=bio