Blog Post 5

      I do believe there was a LGBT club at my high school; however, looking back, I do not know of many people that actually came out as LGBT.  I had two gay best friends.  Growing up, both of my friends had more in common with girls.  Like Rofes, people thought my friends wanting to play with the girls meant that they wanted to be girls.  According to liberal views, my friends were not adhering to socially appropriate behavior for boys.  As a result, they both came out after they completed high school.  They did not come out sooner, in fear of not being accepted.  There was also a transgender that started high school with me.  She was going through her transition during ninth grade.  In the beginning of the year, she was still a boy, but in the middle of the year, I remember she came to school in a skirt and with a wig on.  Unfortunately, she never came back to school after ninth grade, due to bullying.
     Rofes suggested, instead of teachers and parents taking the liberal path to prevent slurs, they can instead take the radical path and provide the LGBT with legal rights and resources to protect themselves as they continue to transform.   His radical view encourages people to see the LGBT as daring, powerful, rebellious survivors; rather than vulnerable and fragile beings. He believes children should participate in their own childhood, instead of having adults shape it for them like most liberals do now.  Rofes thinks children are mistreated.  Adults treat children like they're stupid and incompetent pieces of property, instead of smart and powerful individuals.  Rofes wants children to be educated on their rights, resources, self-defense, lawyers, courts and have a healthy life, where they feel safe and supported.
     I agree with many of Rofes' thoughts.  I think each child should be required to attend a class about bullying.  In this class, teachers should discuss the consequences for those who bully, the legal action for those who are tormented and discuss ways to ensure each student feels safe in their environment.  There should be more resources for the LGBT community, who face issues with coming out and learning how to cope with it.  These subjects should be discussed more open and freely.