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Out in the Burbs

By Aaron Bailey in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 6, 2005 6:49PM

2005_06_rainbowflag.jpgA decade ago when Chicagoist was just graduating high school, we would have never considered coming out as gay to our friends. While youth still need to worry about unaccepting teachers and being bashed by peers, today's high schools are a vastly different place.

Sunday's edition of the Daily Southtown offered a fascinating three-profile series on what it's like to come out in a suburban high school.

For 17-year-old Nate of Bremen High School, telling his parents means fear that they'll toss him out on the street. Yet, after attending meetings of his school's new Gay-Straight Alliance -- a support and social group -- he now plans to tell his parents this summer.

According to the Chicago chapter of GLSEN, there were just one or two gay-straight alliances in Illinois high schools a decade ago. Today, there are 60.

Liam Reed of Oak Forest High School said he always knew he was gay because of his crushes on Power Rangers and cute boys in class. (Chicagoist can sympathize.) He pinned a gay pride button on his backpack and while he's occasionally called a "faggot," his teachers, parents and classmates have largely been accepting. He even took his boyfriend (a University of Michigan student... way to date up!) to the prom.

Vince Lognion attends Lincoln-Way East and openly talks about boys he dates, but doesn't flaunt his sexuality to avoid offending people who disagree with homosexuality. His high school does not have a Gay-Straight Alliance, yet his classmates and teachers have been supportive and watch over when he takes a boy to school dances.

It warms our heart to read how three teens have been so courageous in coming out. Chicagoist remembers how painful growing up can be, and we're glad to see how things are starting to get better for the gay and lesbian kids. It makes us want to go back and re-live high school... almost.