the
HIGHLANDER Match the car to the teacher: take the quiz pg 8
Exploring Carlmont’s clubs and activities from A to Z pg 12&13
Creating a mural: Angelo Zhao bringing color to Carlmont pg 24
February 2015 Vol VI Issue V
www.scotscoop.com @scotscoopnews
Keeping up with social progress Jessica Adair Copy Editor
Marriage: one man and one woman. As 2015 begins, gay marriage has been legalized in 37 states. In January, the Supreme Court decided to take on the case that will settle national debate over
same-sex marriage once and for all. Anti-discrimination laws are being approved faster than ever, and our nation has made significant legal progress in the last decade. Yet, in a poll of 236 Carlmont students, 53 percent have admitted to using a gay slur. This begs the question, how much progress have we actually made? According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, a gay slur is an insulting remark or innuendo targeting an individual’s sexual orientation. In the past two years, Twitter has counted over 30 million tweets containing gay slurs, according to the University of Alberta’s Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services. “I have heard slurs being used by people who generally haven’t thought of the implications of what they’re saying. But once they are conscious and knowledgeable about what they’ve said, then the question of ho-
mophobia comes into play,” said Carlmont social studies teacher Kris Weisman. Carlmont senior GSA member Alan Yan said, “My friends are more accepting and tolerant, so they understand that any slur is offensive and should be avoided. If I did hear it, I'd say something. It’s about actively promoting tolerance and equality instead of just being a participant.” Despite the statistics regarding gay slurs, San Francisco was the second most gay-friendly city in America in 2014, according to Advocate.com and City Guide. “The Bay area is a lot more accepting which is good, but sometimes people in the area take it as a signal that ‘the fight is over’ when in reality it's not. The Bay Area still deals with LGBTQ issues related to race, gender, socioeconomic class, age, and other pressing social groups,” said Yan. Weisman said, “We’re sort of living in ‘Bay Area’ bubble where the majority of people are very ac-
cepting.” Bryce Schulte, a sophomore at Johnston High School in Johnston, Iowa, had a different experience. His school is just outside of Des Moines, Iowa, which ranked fourth on the list of the most gayfriendly cities. But not everything has been so easy for the LGBT community. Schulte started a Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) at his school this past school year, and, as a result, controversy that followed. “My school does this activity for clubs and they can come out and paint the football stadium. We had painted a large equality symbol and we actually ended up winning best painting,” said Schulte. Two days later, students in Schulte’s class had their annual teepeeing night at school, but some students went too far. They had broken into the press box of the football stadium, tipped over porta-potties, and vandalized the
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5 FACTS about gay rights
2. Same sex couples have 1.
In 1976 Harvey Milk was elected the country’s first openly gay city commissioner.
been allowed to marry in 11 countries.
3. In 1973 the American
Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from their list of mental disorders.
4.
Gay marriage is legal in 37 states.
5. CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE EDITED BY VERONIKA DVORAKOVA
The rainbow is the symbol of gay pride because bright colors were used as an identifier between gay individuals.