Is STA gay-friendly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:STA is a very accepting community. I know because I have directly asked my son, who is straight, that question. My son is in upper school. According to him if anyone was homophobic, or made a nasty or even questionable comment about another student's sexuality, the other boys would quickly make it clear that is not okay.Its not even okay to question someone's sexuality or ask directly. My sons says this is an absolute.

Yes, there are some conservatives at STA, some Trump supporters too, but the boys are taught that making fun or slighting a classmate because he is gay would be akin to slighting him for the color of his skin or color of his eyes.

We know boys who have come out at STA and it was just fine.

Given that your son is straight I don’t think you are the person to really speak to the experience of a gay boy there.

[Anonymous]

I would say that STA is accepting but not affirming of gay/bi boys. There are definitely more out kids there than there were even ten years ago, and they are generally not bullied or harassed. The faculty and chaplains are inclusive in what they teach and preach. But there is not a robust gay-straight alliance (just a handful of members) and neither is the culture actively supportive, as it is at, say, GDS. My LGBTQ kid was out and comfortable there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would say that STA is accepting but not affirming of gay/bi boys. There are definitely more out kids there than there were even ten years ago, and they are generally not bullied or harassed. The faculty and chaplains are inclusive in what they teach and preach. But there is not a robust gay-straight alliance (just a handful of members) and neither is the culture actively supportive, as it is at, say, GDS. My LGBTQ kid was out and comfortable there.

Sorry to ask for clarification, but do you mean that your son was out at STA or at GDS? I think you mean STA but just wanted to clarify. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

My daughter at NCS has a best guy friend at STA who is gay. He’s delightful and seems to be having a good experience at STA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would say that STA is accepting but not affirming of gay/bi boys. There are definitely more out kids there than there were even ten years ago, and they are generally not bullied or harassed. The faculty and chaplains are inclusive in what they teach and preach. But there is not a robust gay-straight alliance (just a handful of members) and neither is the culture actively supportive, as it is at, say, GDS. My LGBTQ kid was out and comfortable there.

Sorry to ask for clarification, but do you mean that your son was out at STA or at GDS? I think you mean STA but just wanted to clarify. Thanks!

At STA.

[Anonymous]

Many posters just seem to want to discount positive feedback about STA being respectful and inclusive.

How is that for intolerance and bigotry.

In any case, how about this: STA has many public speakers come to the school in the course of a school year. The ONLY speaker in recent memory to have received a standing ovation from the entire Upper School ( all male ) student body was a Transgender NCAA athlete who spoke about what it was like coming out and finding self acceptance in collge

Standing ovation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many posters just seem to want to discount positive feedback about STA being respectful and inclusive.

How is that for intolerance and bigotry.

In any case, how about this: STA has many public speakers come to the school in the course of a school year. The ONLY speaker in recent memory to have received a standing ovation from the entire Upper School ( all male ) student body was a Transgender NCAA athlete who spoke about what it was like coming out and finding self acceptance in collge

Standing ovation.

I don't see very many posters discounting STA for being respectful or inclusive at all, at least not since the thread was resurrected. I do think PP with a son who is out at STA offers the most helpful post on the thread, and that post is positive and also nuanced.

You seem a little more defensive than the circumstances here warrant.

[Anonymous]

I know lots of boys who came out at STA in the last 10 years. None faced any discrimination or bullying.

[Anonymous]

Maybe stick with public Op

[Anonymous]

One of the most popular and respected teachers in the lower school is gay. The boys have honk he is great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of the most popular and respected teachers in the lower school is gay. The boys have honk he is great.

All think he is great. No idea on that autocorrect above.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of the boys like the show Modern Family and other shows with gay characters as part of the cast so I think most of the boys are pretty accepting of it.

That means absolutely nothing. You can watch a show with gay characters and still be a homophobic piece of shit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of the most popular and respected teachers in the lower school is gay. The boys have honk he is great.

Who, might I ask?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many posters just seem to want to discount positive feedback about STA being respectful and inclusive.

How is that for intolerance and bigotry.

In any case, how about this: STA has many public speakers come to the school in the course of a school year. The ONLY speaker in recent memory to have received a standing ovation from the entire Upper School ( all male ) student body was a Transgender NCAA athlete who spoke about what it was like coming out and finding self acceptance in collge

Standing ovation.

When was this, might I ask?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know lots of boys who came out at STA in the last 10 years. None faced any discrimination or bullying.

That is the biggest lie I have ever heard. There has been a TON of disctimination against students who have come out at STA. It is a very homophobic school. My son is a nonbinary biromantic asexual and he is TERRIFIED to come out to his peers. He has told me stories of how students react towards openly LGBT students. He has told me about the things that people say about the LGBTQ community. There is so much homophobia and silent discrimination towards students who have come out.