In the fall, a newly -renovated building in New York City will house about 100 high school students, offering the same opportunities as other high schools — the only difference is this other high school is specifically for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students.
New York City is creating the first public high school for gays, lesbians and transgender students —the Harvey Milk High School, which is named after San Francisco’s first openly gay city-supervisor. While the city’s intent in establishing this school is respectable, having a separate school for LGBT youth will not end harassment.
All students are equal, and they should be educated in the same way. There is no difference in the subjects taught, and there should not be a different school. Also, the notion of ‘separate but equal’ cannot be followed. In a school with only 100 students, class sizes are bound to be smaller than the average public school. This is unfair to students not attending the Harvey Milk High School.
Also, self-segregation should not be allowed. By segregating homosexual students; their differences are reinforced. If trying to end harassment is the goal, the differences should not be highlighted, they should be ignored.
The all-gay high school creates an unrealistic image of the real world. The students at Harvey Milk High School will not go to an all-gay college, nor will they be able to live in an all-gay environment. If they are allowed to attend this high school, they will be ill-equipped to deal with life’s issues.
Opening this school is not a good idea. It reinforces the idea that homosexuals are different and cannot be educated with the general populous, and that is untrue. Putting homosexual students into one high school makes then all an easier target for other students. Also, an important part of ending stereotypes and harassment is interacting with the culture you are stereotyping. Allowing homosexual students a separate school will prevent this from happening.
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