LGBTQ teens face significantly higher rates of bullying than their cishet peers. The Human Rights Campaign finds that 32% of LGBT youth report having experienced school bullying, this is over twice as much as their cishetpeers. This issue is exasperated in Texas, for instance, lgbtmap.org rates Texas as one of the worst 15 states to be LGBT in.
While Texas en masse is often a difficult place for LGBT people, students at The Colony High School tell a different story.
For TC’s class of 2024 alumni Julimar Suarez, who had previously attended school in the capital of Panama, a culture of acceptance at The Colony was a pleasant surprise.
“Here in TC, it was even more normalized. There were people who were open with their identity, there were pride flags in the classrooms and the library, it was shocking. Coming from a school where religion was a required class, it was shocking to see so much open acceptance.”
Suarez has, however, faced some challenges in revealing their true identity to those close to them
“I haven’t come out as much as i want to. I haven’t come out to my family … but I do think they know. I have come out to my friends but it’s mostly as a joke, not seriously.” They replied “I have been challenged by finding the right people to be around, who I should associate with” , Suarez said.
Sophomore Luis Vega, who also joined TCHS from another country, had a similar experience of finding acceptance on The Colony’s campus
”My first school was in Venezuela … so the queer word, it wasn’t much of a thing. Nobody really knew about it or talked about it … they take it more as a joke than a serious word … some of my Latino friends, they became intolerant, but I honestly don’t really care, I will live my life.” Said Vega “Here in TC, I would say it’s good, I’ve had no bad experiences here. This place is a good experience.”
Junior Student Alex Colon shared her own experience of coming out and finding acceptance
“I came out in my sophomore year here on the first day of school … I have lost a few friends but I suppose they were never really friends to begin with. It’s been good, most of my teachers accept me, my counselor accepts me.” said Colon
Vega gave the following advice for any closeted students at TC.
”I would say, don’t rush it. Try to take things slowly, no one is forcing you to come out right now. It’s a very deep decision within yourself, and if you don’t want to, don’t do it. Come out on your schedule, when and where you want.” Vega said.
Suarez expressed how their experiences while at TC shape their experiences with the queer community now.
“TC helped me accept more parts of who I am, the students who were so open, and the teachers, it really prepared me for identifying myself. And me being ESL, TC really helped me find that language for my identity to talk to other people.” Suarez said.
Colon continued, talking more about the queer atmosphere at TC
“It’s better than I expected being in Texas, although I do get the occasional rude comment from a hateful passerby … otherwise I’ve had a good experience here. Most of the teachers are pretty good; things are good here” said Colon “I feel pretty supported, there’s a surprisingly large community of LGBT students here, I’ve made good friends with lots of them. I’d say I feel very supported here.”
Vega continued that point
”It’s a very cool community. The stereotypes make it [seem] like [queer people] talk only about being queer, but we have a lot of different subjects for talking, different likes and dislikes, like every other person. We are just normal people.” Vega said.
TC’s accepting environment doesn’t end at the students, accepting teachers and staff play a huge part in making a campus a safe place for queer students
“I respect anyone and everyone… it’s really as simple as that … there’s no reason to try to argue… to bully [a student] for who they are.” said TC Japanese teacher Bennie Sensei “not just to get their respect as a teacher, but also as human beings; they are my students but they’re also people”
TC librarian Ms. Broomhall continued, talking further about what she does to make all students feel accepted
“The library should be a place where everybody feels safe and accepted and loved, and i try to do that through the books we choose for the library” said Ms. Broomhall “I want to make sure that all our students feel loved and accepted, especially when so much in the world is making them feel the opposite. I just hope all our students know that they are loved 100%”
TC English teacher Ms. Moore, shared that sentiment
“I try to make sure everyone knows that this is a safe space … I honestly just try to relate to [each student] as a person, we’re both humans, we’re both just trying to make things as best as we can on a day to day basis.” Said Ms. Moore “[I am] open to multiple perspectives, specifically as an English teacher i try to make sure that I’m pulling all different types of text that represent all different types of people, that way students are seeing themselves in the reading as well as seeing perspectives that may be new to them. Beyond that, I’m always an open ear … I will let [my students] yap to me as much as they want.”
Despite the negative press that Texas receives for its disregard of queer people, especially queer youth, TCHS is an example of a school that truly accepts its students for whoever they are; thanks to accepting staff, educators, and students, TC is able to foster a safe environment for as many students as possible.
