Story by Millar Hill
Photos by Shelley Divnich Haggert and
Johnathan Hutton
STANDING
TOGETHER
Teenagers say a lot of things, and a lot of those things they say without
thinking. They toss around – or type, or text - words like faggot or dyke
carelessly. Even the most open-minded or well-spoken teen may fire off a
“that’s so gay” at a friend without giving it a second thought.
Think that’s an exaggeration? It’s been estimated that seven out of 10 high
school students hear derogatory or homophobic comments every day in
school, whether they’re the target of those comments or not. And it’s not just
the students. Egale Human Rights Trust, a Canadian LGBT organization,
claimed just four years ago that one out of two students reported hearing
homophobic comments from their teachers.
20 The HUB - February 2015