Written by:
Shayna Philipson
Photographer:
Jennifer Roper
Teach Them Well
When Dr. Virginia Uribe was a counselor and teacher at Fairfax High
School in Los Angeles, she watched a young boy be beaten down by
homosexual taunting and violent threats. The boy had already been
transferred from school three times, trying to find a place where he
could learn in peace. In 1984, Uribe sat down with students at her school
and talked about the problems gay and lesbian students face. The outcome was Project 10.
“We want our young people to be safe. First and foremost, they must be
safe,” said Uribe. “We want all our young people to have equal access to
all of the school activities. If a boy and a girl are able to go to a
dance, then two boys ought to be able to go to a dance. We want our kids
to feel that they are empowered to make these changes themselves, that
they don’t have to be victims.”
Project 10 has grown and in Los Angeles alone works with thousands of
teenagers. The National Education Association is calling for its
development nationwide. Uribe said that she wants “to provide an
environment where dignity and respect for everyone is the common means of operating.”
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