Out! Making Schools Safe for Gay Teens (Student Version)

Gay teenagers are generally considered high-risk youth, considering that many abuse drugs and alcohol, almost half of homeless youth identify themselves as homosexual, and a third of all completed teen suicides involve gay teens. Usually, their school experience is one of extreme isolation and regular harassment. Although the title implies that this video outlines ways to make schools less menacing to gay youth, it is more an informative program designed to sensitize teachers and students to the issues facing homosexual teens, both those who are "in the closet" and those who have "come out." Following the premise that every student has a right to pursue his or her education without fear or aggravation, the student version of this video features two boys and two girls talking about their experiences as gay teens: how they discovered their orientation, decided to come out, the reaction of family and friends, their emotional struggles, and the negative experiences they've had at school. Looking at the accompanying written material, it seems that the staff version (not reviewed) actually fits the title better, and is more strategy-oriented. It seemed to me that the student version would have been a bit more effective if the four students were shown as more than just talking heads--that is, interacting with other teens and family, and otherwise just being teens. An optional purchase, though educators may well want to use the accompanying "Staff Version." Aud: J, H. (E. Gieschen)