I've been doing research for a story I'm writing about a high school boy diagnosed with HIV, and came across some terrifying statistics. One thing in particular which haunted me was a survey using what they refer to as a 'convenience sample' of more than 6000 students in the USA, which found that nearly 9 in 10 of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender students were harassed at school in the past year.

Regardless of what your personal feelings or beliefs are, the fact that there are so many kids who are participating in the harassment of fellow students should be alarming. It confounds me that being 'queer' could be so strongly condemned, yet by doing basically nothing about this type of dangerous behaviour, our educational systems, (not just in America, but worldwide) are basically creating an environment where kids are taught that it is not just acceptable, but right to abuse people.

It might seem trivial, but I think the very fact that so many people write stories about GLBT teens and have the opportunity to post them on the web is doing something to combat this type of abusive system.

So keep writing, and keep hoping.

Maybe, someday ...