Excerpts from Student CAP Essays: ValleyHigh School, Las Vegas
Same Sex Rights @ Valley
Being a school so diverse, we should all be treated equally, regardless of who we are. Growing up, we are usually taught to treat others how we want to be treated. I fell that we are not allowed to discriminate against others based on race or religion, yet discriminating against someone because of sexual orientation is an exception most of the time.
Here are just a few of things you might run into during a typical day: harsher punishments for same-sex relationships, abuse, and discrimination towards same-sex relationships. We always deal with discrimination with every day that passes. Students at our school make homosexuals feel like outcasts—like they don’t belong because they are different. Why is it that the school has allowed students to have a bible club, but not a club for homosexuals? Homosexuals at our school feel so discriminated against because they are not allowed to have a club that would benefit them socially, emotionally, and mentally.
I’m sure that as you walk around our school you can see that homosexuals receive harsher punishments. For instance, if a teacher or staff member walks around and sees a homosexual couple kissing, hugging, or even holding hands, they are broken up right away, but if it is a heterosexual couple who is doing the exact same thing, they are left just as they are. The first consequence is receiving an RPC, the second consequence is a suspension which can be anywhere from three to ten days, the final consequence is expulsion which you only get this because you failed to listen numerous times.
The reason I chose this topic is that I feel this is a very serious and important issue that we should take action on. I also believe that this topic and issue will give us a bigger chance to make the difference and the older audience will take us “young adults” more seriously.
Making a change can be difficult, but with support it can be possible. The steps we want to take include:
• Research school board policies and rights.
• Do a petition with students and teachers who agree with equal treatment of hetero and homosexual couples.
• Gather people who agree with us and try to speak at a school board meeting.
• Talk to our principal about this.
Obstacles we will face include:
• Trying to convince others about same sex rights will cause a lot of controversy within our school district.
• We’ll have to overcome the opinions of those that do not agree with us because of their beliefs and religions.
• Even members of the school board might disagree about these issues with each other.