Blog 8

Phillip Massa

March 27, 2012

Uy

Blog 8

                A 2007 study showed that 9 out of 10 of youth reported being verbally harassed at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation. About a quarter of them reported being physically abused, and nearly two thirds of these students never reported the abuse. All too often students are harassed because of their sexual orientation. This especially true for students in their middle and high school years, which are crucial times when young individuals search for their true identity. I’d like to share a personal story about a friend of mine who experienced the hardship of being homosexual in a heterosexual culture.

                As Dennis Anderson mentions in his article Lesbian and Gay Adolecents: Social and Developmental Considerations, regarding homosexuality, “…gay males more frequently self-identify in their late teens or earlier.”  My good friend and teammate discovered his sexual orientation in his early teens, however didn’t come out until he was 23. For nearly ten years he lived his life under a fake identity in order to preserve his name and avoid confrontation. This was especially true when he entered college at Newbury College. When on the volleyball team during his freshman year he witnessed a “out” homosexual teammate slowly deteriorate mentally due to verbal abuse. This individual was so beaten down by mid season he dropped out of Newbury in order to get away from the abuse. My friend was so horrified by the heinous actions by his teammates her decides to hide his homosexuality in order to play a sport he loved. For four additional years he lived under a fake heterosexual identity in order to avoid abuse and torment. As Anderson points out, “withholding personal information and suppression of his or her genuine interest results in the elaboration of a false persona in order to gain peer acceptance or to maintain status.”

                My teammate avoided his true identity and portrayed a heterosexual persona. He even overcompensated and participated in many heterosexual actions in college in order to reinforce this fake persona. Like my friend, many students are struggling with their sexual identity both outward and inward emotionally. It’s important as teacher that we can assist these students in any way possible. If it wasn’t for a strong support system my friend may have hid his identity for a longer more painful period of time. We need to be a positive outlet for an individual receiving abuse for their sexual orientation. Once again if we care we can make a difference, in some cases even save a life.