When I was at high school there was one girl who was out, she was the year below me. When the school ball came a lot of girls went together (double tickets worked out cheaper than singles). But this one girl brought her girlfriend - turned out the girlfriend had been my babysitter. I found this terribly embarrassing; in that vague way I found anyone talking to me embarrassing when I was a teenager. I don't know now - because I didn't think at the time - how hard that had been from her - what reactions she had faced.
St Pats has forbidden a student from taking another boy to the school ball. I just think it's awesome that students are fighting these rules - but shit that they have to do it at such risk and cost.
There was a facebook event for people to support them, but it seems to have disappeared - I am worried that the personal cost on them for taking this stand has been high.
Which seems like a good time to remind people of the follow-up meeting for Queer the Night - we are stronger together than we are alone.
When: Thursday 16 June 7pm
Where: Trades Hall
What: Homophobia and Transphobia - how we respond.
Note: The people involved have received a lot of media attention. I've left their names out of this post deliberately any comments that name them will be deleted.
5 comments:
This is certainly not unique or new. And it IS a big issue.
I began fighting in high school for girls to be able to bring a female ball partner from outside the school.
The "no girls from other schools" rule was supposedly to stop kids just "bringing any old friend" but my friend brought her much older boyfriend who was in the workforce, and in my opinion far less appropriate partner than a girl from one of the neighboring schools.
It was thinly veiled homophobia.
So we just paired up with girls within the school to make a point that they couldnt stop us without blatant human rights issues being raised.
Unfortunately my depression rared it's ugly head that year so I never took it further than that.
btw - queer the night looked fantastic on the telly, nice work to the organisers.
The fbk group has changed its name and raison d'etre but is still up and running. I can post if you think it appropriate?
oh apologies, it looks like that group has gone!
Cheers Maia. If anyone would like an update, the info is here: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1106/S00186/st-patricks-colleges-homophobic-ball-policy-final-update.htm
Unfortunately the media/public spotlight did take a toll, and they decided to take the FB page down themselves. After working with the boys, they are both glad that the issue has been discussed on a public level, and their hope is that other students around the country continue where they left off in their own schools.
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