Features
Youth Zone
If you’re between the ages of 15-25 and
have something to say, this page is for
YOUR stories, commentary, toons, art and pix.
Contact editor@mountainpridemedia.org
Rutland Group Welcomes New Members
by Will Holden
RUTLAND - While
I was finally out of the closet and doing fine (note not dandy), I soon
realized something was missing. Whilst talking to a connection at Rutland
Mental Health, she told me that a girl she saw was thinking of starting
a GLBT group for teenagers in Rutland County. I agreed fully, and sought
to find the "dandy" aspect of life within that group.
Our first meeting went well, though
only four people showed. I was the only male there, a theme that would
continue at times.
Our numbers were small, and people
couldn't (for one reason or another) meet for every group.
We continued meeting with our group, despite
the small numbers. Eventually however, we did grow. We moved to a larger
and more suitable room for our new numbers. Though our group never exceeded
the tally of eight, it was enough to know that the group had helped at
least a few young people. We mailed fliers to the schools about our group,
but that seemed not to be enough.
Members left, and now we are back
down to four members, two of whom are able to come for every session.
So, it is up to us to spread the word again.
Lucky, I suppose, that the two
of us left are somewhat artistic and clever. Mare (who wrote an article
last issue about the "Inbetween") is an accomplished artist
and writer. I, myself, am a writer, and find that to better spread news
of our little group, then I'd have to shamelessly plug it in my latest
article.
So, what are we doing about our horribly
dwindling numbers? With new allies helping at OITM and Middlebury College
us branch out, we may finally be able to reach the people who need this
group the most.
As we had also considered that the
idea of meeting in, and going through, Rutland Mental Health may be daunting,
we have decided to break away from that establishment soon. We are currently
working on using the Rutland Free Library as a meeting home, but with
warm weather here again, our possibilities are not as limited as they
once were.
In addition to these projects,
another mailing to the schools should happen in the near future. I have
also taken the job of posting up our official flyers, and some smaller
information bands around Fair Haven, Castleton, Rutland, and other neighboring
towns.
As you have probably figured out by
now, this group means more than just a pet project. For me, it is about
helping people. I think a lot of people need that little "extra dandy"
in their day, and with this group, I think they'll finally get that.
For more information about this group, or for any other questions or concerns:
email me at wholden7@aol.com or
call me at 1-802-683-6072.
Will Holden is a junior at Fairhaven High School.
GLOW UP Creates Community
by Daryll McKeighan
BENNINGTON - High school is already a tough experience for most kids,
but for some it can be simply unbearable. For many LGBT youth it can be
an overwhelming experience to just go to school each morning, knowing
they will face harassment and scorn from their peers, and worse, in some
cases, their teachers. The safety they should feel at a public place is
quickly stripped from them when they enter the building.
At our school I hear people
in the halls talking about "that fag," or saying things about
how "she's such a dyke." A lot of my friends have been pushed
around in the halls and called names. They have been repeatedly harassed
and emotionally battered. Some of them can't even tell their parents about
this public harassment for fear their parents might find out they are
gay. So where's the support? Who can they talk to? Who is going to start
changing things?
Fortunately there is a safe place
for us to go. A place where we can be ourselves and stay away from the
prejudice that breeds in closed minds and roams our halls. Fortunately
there is a Gay- Straight Alliance (GSA). Some of the students in our school
thought it would be a good idea to start a GSA, and they were right. Our
group is called GLOW UP for Gay Lesbian or Whatever United People. But,
more than just a safe haven for confused or scared teens, our GSA is a
place for change. We have been very active in our school; participating
in, as well as hosting, several school functions.
Our group held a school dance
that had a huge turnout of students. I was on the GLOW UP dodge ball team
along with several other members of our GSA. We had Robyn Maguire (field
coordinator of the Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force) as a guest speaker
to talk about some of the issues facing the same-sex marriage bill. And,
outside of school, we visited the state house on Queer Visibility Day.
GLOW UP, along with Safe Space, Tobacco Free Vermont, and Outright, and
several other groups showed up to support H.865, a bill that will ban
the discrimination of transgendered people.
We also grabbed some seats at the
extraordinary performances of "Queer 101" and "Doin' Time
in the Homo Nomo Halfway House" by Peterson Tuscano.
Through the efforts of our determined
members, courageous leaders, and the persistant administration at our
school, we have gained the support of many of our peers and much of our
community.
Our GSA has helped us reach
out to not only the LGBT community, but our local community as well. We
have made a significant difference and I believe that every school should
have a group where kids can feel safe, have fun, and make a positive difference.
It's our future and our responsibility to make it equal for everyone.
Daryll McKeighan is a student at Mount Anthony Union High School in
Bennington.
Be Proud! Vermont Celebrates 7th Annual Youth Pride
by Connor McFadden
BURLINGTON
- Chances are that if you are reading this, you are one of Vermont's amazing
queer youth. If that is so, you also are probably pretty bored and/or
could use a little dose of queer enthusiasm.
Well, today isn't your
lucky day ... but Saturday, May 6th is! Outright Vermont is putting together
Vermont's 7th Annual Youth Pride Day. Starting nice and early on that
Saturday, queer youths and adults, along with allies, will be pouring
into Burlington and staying all day long to celebrate Youth Pride. Every
year, this event is heralded as the most monumental and fun one that Outright
does!
Never been to Outright before?
This is a great chance to meet the staff and youth of Outright, because
they will all be there. Don't want to make the trip to Burlington? We
understand, Burlington is far from many places.
But Youth Pride is the one day of
the year that Outright needs the most support it can get. Everyone in
the biggest city in the state will see the participants marching and speaking
out. The more supporters we have, the more visibility we get.
And visibility is just what
we need, because with more visibility comes more curiosity, which leads
to questions, which leads to answers, which leads to an education, which
leads to tolerance. With the recent incident at Williston, Outright received
a lot of press attention. Let's keep the ball rolling! And don’t
feel like you just have to come and be an advocate and scream some chants
or speak out. There are tons of fun things too, geared specifically towards
queer youth and allies. These include a film festival at Outright (lots
of great queer movies), multiple workshops that are informative but also
entertaining, a pizza party and the famous Outright Prom!
Youth are needed to help set up many
of the days events, so if you are willing to lend a helping hand, you
will be rewarded with an even better organized and smooth-sailing Youth
Pride.
While this is day is called
Youth Pride, it is not exclusive. It is a time for everyone to show their
pride in youth, meaning you don't have to be youthful to participate.
People of ALL AGES are welcome to the Youth Pride Speak Out and Rally
because we want people to see that queer youths are not alone.
Connor McFadden is a student at Burlington High School. He wrote this
on behalf of the Youth Pride Committee.