Milton High GSA Stands Up for Gay Rights

Among the community groups and activities at Sunday's Celebrate Milton event, sat a group of teens with a splash of face paint on their cheeks and a simple message about equality, one of the events driving principles.

The face paint was the bright colors of the gay pride flag and those students were members of the Milton High School Gay Straight Alliance, which the students say is poised to have a louder presence at the school this year.

Part of their new initiative to host workshops and screen films that deal with gay and lesbian issues, was inspired by recent national debates like discussion over the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy and the repeal of California's Proposition 8, which bans gay marriage in the state.

Nicole Veneto, a 17-year-old junior, said, "2010 is a really big year for gay rights."

On their table at Celebrate Milton the GSA students had a flier with six photos of young students between the ages of 13 and 19 that could have easily been members of their group. But the images of Tyler Clementi, Seth Walsh, Asher Brown, Justin Aaberg, Billy Lucas and Ray Chase stood as a testament to suicides that all happened within the last three months because of bullying related to sexual orientation.

"They were all bullied to their death pretty much," said Christian Laura, gazing down at the color printout.

Laura, a 17-year-old senior said he could relate to Brown because he saw himself in a similar light as an eighth grader. Brown, a 13 year old from Texas, shot himself in mid-September because of relentless bullying

Veneto was equally touched by the deaths of students her age or younger. "The fact that people have this hatred is disgusting," said Veneto.

Though they've only had two meetings so far in this young school year the members of the Milton High School GSA are committed to offering, "freedom of identity," to their fellow students explained Veneto.

Laura said that exact plans are still in the works, but the group is interested in presenting real situations in their films and answers to questions in their workshops.

The group also plans to participate in the National Day of Silence in April.