Jeremy: Age 21, Washington Heights

The topic of gay rights is always a touchy subject. Whenever it comes up emotions tend to run high. But to me, gay rights doesn't mean special rights, it simply means equal rights. As a bisexual male, the issue of equality is something I've had to deal with my entire life.

Since infancy, homophobic rhetoric gets drilled into your head. It's unfortunately unavoidable living in this country. Society has conditioned us to feel so inferior that we actually start to believe it. We're always comparing ourselves to so-called "normal" people and left feeling completely inadequate.

Sadly, many gay youth get beaten and terrorized in school for just being who they are and a lot of times there's not much they can do. They're caught between a rock and a hard place. They don't get the protection they deserve from adults in their schools and are afraid to go to their parents due to shame and fear. A lot of times talking to parents isn't even an option because of homophobic views. I know of friends who have come out to their parents and have been tossed into the streets, sometimes forced into prostitution just to survive.

That's why I think there's a need for the rights of gay youth to be acknowledged and respected. Because we are such a target.

Often one thinks of only adults when gay rights are discussed; the right to marry, spousal benefits, etc. The rights of youth have not been adequately addressed. Youth are terrorized in schools and elsewhere on a daily basis. School administrators take the issue lightly. If a person is targeted based on their race or religion it is taken more seriously. It's a double standard and it has to stop. Schools really need to take that problem on.

I have had some disturbing experiences in school myself. It was a tough time. I was a freshman, which can be traumatic enough. But when you are singled out for being gay it can be demoralizing I got called faggot, pushed around and none of the teachers deemed it serious enough to intervene on my behalf. I found the biggest slap in the face to be when a teacher was using the word faggot like it was any other word in the dictionary. It validates and reinforces the students' behavior. What message does that send to the students when the teaches themselves are fanning the fires of intolerance and hate? Are they creating a safe environment for gay youth? I think not.

After having these experiences, I was very lucky to find the Harvey Milk School. It was like nothing I'd ever seen. At Harvey Milk, it was perfectly alright to be myself. To speak the way that that comes naturally and walk the way I walk. I didn't have to worry; there was no fear of reprisal. It was like coming out of the dark into the light. It was like coming out of a dark closet and realizing that I wasn't the only person going through my plight. I felt like I could come out and be safe. But unfortunately, there are not many institutions like Hetrick-Martin where youth can go and be themselves and get the support and resources they need. More needs to be done to protect the rights of gay youth, we are often the neglected part of the gay community.