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On Friday, which was our Day of Silence, I had to counsul a kid when he got very upset with this teacher. Given where we were, I took him into a guidance office where we had a little chat. I gave him the best pep talk I could and got him calmed down. On my way out of the office I noticed a rainbow striped ally pin on the wall. I had no idea.
So many people my age would have literally killed for such a thing when I was in school. I compare my experience in high school to that of today's kids and it astounds me. With the staff I am out at school. I no longer even think about who may or may not be around when I discuss my private life. I have been able to become a resource for gay students who need a shoulder to cry on, a list of scholarships, or just a safe place. The icing on the cake is that the faculty have been overwhelmingly supportive. The emails and conversations I have had with a wide variety of faculty this week have been nothing short of extraordinary. I can honestly say I have found my voice in a very real way and one in which I never would have considered possible as lately as a few years ago. I know how far we have to go, but when a southern jock can come up to me on the day of silence and offer me full support, we have gone a long way indeed.
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