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Nov 13, 2008 11:32 pm US/Eastern
Support Options Growing For Gay Teens
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
Growing up can be tough for any kid. Growing up gay can add to the pressures experienced by any teen, especially when parents don't support them and peers react with hostility. The tension be being gay and in high school is being cited as one possible factor in the shooting death of Dillard High School student Amanda Collette.
Dylan Giodani, an openly gat teen at Miami-Dade's Mast Academy High school, said it's been tough for him to cope with the pressure.
"Until my mome came out, unfortunately, I never came out to her she was really heartbroken for a very long time," he told CBS4's Sharry Williams. "She never really did accept it."
Dylan said one thing that has helped him deal with his issues is the school's gay-straight alliance club, which gives students a forum to talk about their sexuality.
"You know that there are people there that are like you, and that openly accept you," Dylan said.
"It feels good," said student Raymond Baucom, "Because when you're around people that believe in the same things that you do and you share the same interests you feel comfortable with being who you are."
In the Dillard High shooting, accused killer Teah Wimberley was said by family and friends to have recently come out to her family, and admitted she is a lesbian.
Dillard High does not have clubs or support groups for gay teens, and some are asking if the shooting could have been prevented had there been support.
"What happens in schools and in families is that same sex relationships don't get recognized, and are not validated," said Carla Silva of the Alliance. "And a lot of violence can come from that."
The Alliance often sends trained counselors to schools to help teens deal with their sexuality. The group says it is working to get more schools to sign up and make help available to students.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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