BY HEIDI ULRICHSEN
When Jamie Solomon was attending high school a few years
ago, he was called a "faggot" and other hurtful names. He was
the only openly gay student at his school, and a target for
bullies.
"There was a lot of gay people there (at my high school), but I
was the only open one. I was getting abused and verbally
attacked by everyone. I tried to manage day by day. It
didn't stop me from getting my education," says the
19-year-old.
"(The bullying) made me feel out of place. Sometimes I felt
like I was hated to the point that I didn't want to live
anymore. But I kept reminding myself that there's people
all over the world dealing with this in high schools and
elementary schools, and they make it through, so if it's
possible for them, I can do it."
Solomon attended the flag-raising ceremony for Pride Week 2006
at Tom Davies Square Monday morning. There is a full week of
activities scheduled.
Visit Wow! for list of
events >>
The young man realized he was gay at the end of elementary
school, but didn't come out of the closet until he was 17.
His parents and close friends told him they love him just the
way he is, but that didn't stop bullies from making his
life miserable.
Schools need to become more friendly to gay, lesbian, bisexual
and transgendered youth, says Solomon.
"I think they should put the rainbow flag in every school, and
try to promote the gay students and say to their students,
'We accept you no matter what'."
Solomon has already been in a gay relationship. It's been
difficult for him to deal with people calling him names as he
walks down the street with his boyfriend.
"It's hard, but I don't really care. It's my life,
and I do what I want," he said. "It makes me feel good about
myself that I'm standing up for my rights. But the hatred
of gay people is just wrong. We're just normal people. We
just like our own sex. Nothing's really wrong with us."
According to the website for the lesbian gay bi trans
youthline, a toll-free phone line for queer youth in Ontario
(1-800-268-YOUTH), Solomon's experience isn't unusual.
"Queer people are subjected to discrimination, rejection,
verbal assaults, and even physical violence. There are many
negative stereotypes about queer people that fuel this
homophobia and transphobia," the website says.
"Because of these attitudes, many queer people keep the truth
of their sexual orientation or gender identity hidden away-we
stay in the closet-invisible."
A 24-year-old man attending the flag-raising event spoke to
Northern Life on the condition that his name wouldn't be
printed. He came out of the closet recently, and doesn't
want to be judged by his co-workers.
"Part of the reason why I don't want my name involved is
because there's still quite a lot of gay-bashing and
homophobia. Although I'm out with my family and a lot of my
friends, I still can't quite come out at work," he says.
"I've been called a 'fag.' Maybe things aren't
as well-publicized in Sudbury, but you hear about people in
larger cities being beat up based on their sexuality and
nothing else. You're afraid that's what's going to
happen to you."
The young man, who attended high school in the city, says he
didn't come out of the closet when he was a teen because he
wasn't sure about his sexuality yet.
"Like anyone else in high school that was just sort of coming
out but they weren't too sure, I never really acted on it
too much. I never really got into the whole gay thing until I
started meeting other people who are gay and realized maybe
that's who I was."
Another young man at the event also spoke to Northern Life on
the condition that his name wouldn't be printed. He's
told his mother and some friends that he's gay, but is
afraid his "old-fashioned" father will find out.
The 20-year-old says he wasn't persecuted because of his
sexuality at his Valley East high school.
"I hung out with people who didn't care, and that was it,"
he says. "Sudbury has gotten a lot better than it was before
for gay people. The whole pride thing is really open
now."
