coming out

Around 20 students from local high schools and Princeton University gathered to talk about their experiences with being openly LGBT or ally-identified in high school at an event on campus. Sponsored by the Pride Alliance as part of LGBT Awareness Week, the discussion was also inspired by recent media coverage on bullying and harassment against LGBT people, including the story of 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer, who took his own life late last month. The organizers said they felt that that the event was a success.

Irene Rojas-Carroll graduated from high school in June and began her freshman year at Brown University a few weeks ago. Before she left her alma mater, she took over and revamped El Cerrito High’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), and helped make the school a safe and accepting place for all people, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation. She created a constitution for the organization, developed an outreach plan and led efforts that held El Cerrito High administrators accountable to its GLBT students.

East Marshall graduate Ben Alley was kicked-out of his house at 16-years old by his Baptist Minister father after Ben told his parents that he is gay.

But it gets better, the small town boy from Le Grand has scholarships to cover almost all his costs at the University of Iowa, in Iowa City. Iowa City was recently named one of the gayest cities in America.

Rick Welts [pic], president and chief executive of the Phoenix Suns recently explained to his colleagues and the press that he wants to "pierce the silence that envelops the subject of homosexuality in men's team sports".

Last month he came out to David Stern, commissioner of the NBA and for the first time in their 30-year friendship, they hugged.

He wants to be a mentor to gay people who harbor doubts about a sports career, whether on the court or in the front office. Most of all, he wants to feel whole, authentic.

Swedish football player Anton Hysen [pic], the son of former Liverpool defender Glenn Hysen, has made worldwide headlines after coming out.

The 20-year-old Hysen, who plays in Sweden's fourth division, revealed his sexual orientation in an interview published in Swedish magazine Offside.

http://outwithmommy.wordpress.com/2010/03/30/mommy-knows-best/

New York Times Magazine reports on Openarms Youth Project - which supports the needs of GLBTQ youth [ages 14-21] in Tulsa and its surrounding areas - in Oklahoma.