Chick with a... At Hillcrest High School
Filed by: Eric Marcus
December 7, 2008 10:00 AM

http://www.bilerico.com/2008/12/chick_with_a_at_hillcrest_high_school.php

For the past few years I've volunteered with Live Out Loud, a New York City-based organization that does the kind of grass roots work that brings about change at the most local level. Live Out Loud "connects LGBT youth to leaders in the LGBT community through events and programs at area schools and universities." That translates into sending people like me to give talks at public and private high schools, colleges, and universities. I've also moderated panel discussions, and even hosted a poetry slam. Fun stuff.

Recently, Live Out Loud launched The Homecoming Project, which encourages gay folks to go back to their high schools (actor Alan Cumming hosts a great PSA about The Homecoming Project on the LOL web site). Why go? As Live Out Loud explains, there are three reasons:

• Serve as a positive example for LGBT youth;
• Empower young adults to reconsider the challenges and unspoken fears of growing up gay;
• Replace your old and uncomfortable memories of high school with new and positive experiences.

that revisiting high school thing sounds like a great idea.

that way i can get beat up by new high school students who are bigger than me, no thanks. they tore my high school down so there is absolutely no chance i'm returning. no way fat chance.

That's cool. It's completely different when you're an adult guest and not a student. It's like a completely different jurisdiction - the "bullies" typically don't go for non-students - But they'll gossip the ->-bleeped-<- outta them.

I personally think the idea is great. Considering I graduated like . . . this year, I'd love to visit the school again.

Not in a million years would I enjoy going back to my high school.

Kristi