Being homosexual is never easy, but in high school, it could even be dangerous. The social and academic pressure of a “normal” high school life is intense enough. Adding in the homophobia that is rampant in high schools today complicates the matter even further.

Everyone has to face the fact that homophobia is a problem. Even at Arroyo, where lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students are relatively well accepted, homophobia still exists and creates a dangerous environment for everyone.

Students throw slurs around in ordinary parlance; rarely does a day go by without hearing such words as “queer,” “fag,” “dyke,” and various other demeaning terms thrown around with one of the most versatile words in the English language. Students who are homosexual, or those who are perceived to be homosexual, still get epithets and dirty looks thrown their way. Hate crime, though rare, cannot be ruled out.

Why should anyone hate another because of sexual orientation? All people, regardless of sexual orientation, are the same inside. No one ever wants to feel threatened, and especially not at school.

Some may think that homosexual activities are immoral, for religious or other reasons. That is a perfectly acceptable belief, but should people who are homosexual be shunned because of this? Activities are separate from identities. Many self-identifying homosexuals do not engage in same-sex sexual activities, while many self-identifying heterosexuals do.

Some may think that homosexuality is unnatural, and is akin to bestiality. In fact, homosexuality is commonplace in many other animal species. Besides, should not a couple of consenting humans be allowed to express their love to each other? Humans above the age of consent can give their legal consent to such activities. Dogs and horses and sheep cannot, and this is why the connection to bestiality fails.

The issue of homophobia should not be an issue at any school, and the fact that it is an issue here at Arroyo mars the school’s reputation for progressiveness and diversity. No one can tout the greatness of the school until this scar heals.

Homophobia is a direct result of ignorance, chauvinism, and bigotry on the part of the heterosexual majority. Stereotypes of homosexuals and illogical myths and lies about homosexuals abound and many homophobes are, quite simply, unaware of the nature of the homosexual population. Homosexuals are not the origin of AIDS. Not all gay men love musical theatre. Not all homosexuals are going to shove you into a closet and forcefully make love to you, just as not all heterosexuals will leave you alone.

This ignorance creates fear, and when fear strikes the heterosexual majority, some members of the group become chauvinistic and aggressive to hide their fear. They start expressing their “hatred” to feel less threatened by their irrational fears. Soon enough, they begin to truly feel the hatred that they preach.

Once the hatred level has been reached, the bigotry begins. Homophobic bigots have difficulty accepting anything contrary to what they believe, including the truth, even with completely logical explanations.

More education on issues of sexual diversity, more action from the school faculty, and more student activism are needed to make Arroyo a safer place for people of all sexual orientations.

Students are rarely exposed to issues of sexual diversity in the classroom, aside from cursory descriptions and warnings in Health and Safety or Relationships, or an irrelevant mention that Shakespeare was gay in English class.

The Expected Schoolwide Learning Results posters that everyone posted up before the WASC team arrived on campus state that students should learn to be “morally responsible” and to “respect others.” In educating students in moral responsibility and respect, the faculty should educate students about being accepting of differences, including differences in sexuality. Unfortunately, many tend to ignore sexuality and focus on other, more superficial differences.

More action is also needed from the faculty outside of the classroom. The amount of hate speech spreading around campus under the noses of the faculty is incredible. The faculty cannot just expect students to learn moral responsibility and tolerance; it must enforce moral responsibility and tolerance by not being silent about homophobia on campus. Teachers and administrators need to take a proactive stance against homophobia. After all, those who are not part of the solution are part of the problem.

Finally, students, as the majority of the population on campus, need to speak out against homophobia in all of its forms. Student silence is the deadliest silence on this campus where students have such a powerful voice in the administration. Project 10 exists as a safe haven for homosexual students and allies to unite and speak out against hate. Students could submit editorials or letters to the Knights Banner, or bring up issues in club meetings. In this war against hate, silence is not an option.

Just because some ignorant people walk around with signs that say “God Hates Fags” does not mean that anyone should agree. The end of homophobia on our campus is one more step toward the American ideals of egalitarianism and freedom for everyone.