Homophobia - Jiyuu-Chan

While Pickering High School isn't known for violence, it is certainly known for the homophobic students within it. After several months of severe harassment, causing a considerable amount of emotional upheaval in our school and home environments, my girlfriend at the time and I, with the help of a mutually close friend, proceeded to post copies of a typed poem we wrote throughout the school expressing our opinions and feelings about the homophobic and harassing attitude of our peers. The poem was this:


The Poem

Bastards.
Hating what they don’t understand.
Hypocrites all around.

Prejudiced.
Jeering, pointing, staring.
The path goes down without a sound.

Afraid.
Threatened by anything different.
Persecuting what they can’t explain

Biased.
Crushing our self-esteem.
Ignoring the pain.

Sickening.
Closing off minds to feelings.
Nothing there but an empty shell.

Burdening.
Placing the weight of hate on our shoulders.
Go to hell.

Hurtful.
Not caring.
Every word ripping at our pride.

Ignorant.
Pretending not to see us.
Pushing us aside.

Heartless.
Our souls don’t matter.
Words dripping with disgust

Cold.
We don’t feel anymore.
Numb with societies distrust.


It wasn't long before we were intercepted. We found ourselves in the principal's office.

Once I confirmed that I had written the poem, Vice Principle Cho dubbed us "emotionally disturbed" and sent my partner and I to see the school's psychiatrist. The third party who helped us to post the poem, who, incidentally, is bisexual, and was dating a male at the time, was not.

Between my partner and myself, it's impossible to count the number of times our learning environment has been disrupted, and the emotional upheaval resulting from their comments and attitudes often ends in tears. We do not feel that we need to disguise our affection for each other. While we both understand that public displays of affection are frowned upon from both gays and straights alike, holding my girlfriend's hand shouldn't in any way, shape or form be cause for the student body to harass us for days on end. Hallway harassment was only the beginning. We have also received offensive emails and phone calls, as well as been harassed on the street, in the malls and at other public places.

Inside my math classroom in late May, I was being insulted openly by many classmates. Comments such as "dyke," and "disgusting" came up. I did my best to ignore them, as did my teacher. Any other time a student was being harassed he put a stop to it immediately. The abuse continued, and following a particularly vicious comment shot at me from across the classroom, I lost my temper and told the individual to shut his mouth. The teacher proceeded to give me detention while the other student went unreprimanded and completely unpunished. Extremely upset and angry, I gathered my things, leaving the classroom in tears.

Welcome to homosexual life in high school. I hope that you will read this article, understand, and take action as we have.

-Karlee Reid