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A California lesbian high school student wins a $25,000 settlement after the ACLU threatened a lawsuit against the Vallejo school district for the harassment she received by teachers and staff. The San Jose Mercury News:
Rochelle Hamilton, now 16, was a sophomore at Jesse Bethel High School in the fall of 2007, when teachers allegedly verbally harassed her and forced her to attend a counseling session for gay students. [ACLU attorneys] said the counselor tried to discourage Hamilton and other students in the session from being gay.
Hamilton came out as a lesbian when she was 13 and said Monday she became depressed because of daily negative comments from teachers and staff about her sexual orientation and her appearance.
The teen said a teacher held a girls’ locker room door closed and would not let her in, but then let in other girls who had on more stereotypically feminine attire. Staff members made comments to the girl such as, “Remember, you’re a girl, not a boy,” and, “You can get HIV/AIDS from being gay and messing with females.”
The settlement requires the Vallejo Unified School District to revise its anti-discrimination policies. “It was all about the change,” Rochelle Hamilton says.
Oh and the irony: Rochelle Hamilton says she “never” experienced any problems from fellow students. The harassment only came from the “adult” teachers and staff.
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COMMENTS / 13 COMMENTS
Chanel spoke on May 21 09 at 5:50 pmwow. Wtf. Thats how i know lame ass vallejo people have nothin better to do cuz they’re too far out in the boonies. Obviously they get bored rather easily out there. She needs to move to Oakland or San Fran asap. This is just ridiculous. Kudos to her for the 25,000!!
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ladybrettashley spoke on May 21 09 at 6:14 pmsigh. at least she won and all, but…
and it’s amazing how often you hear that “the other kids were fine, it was the teachers and such who are mean” from gay students. maybe that means things are really changing (we can hope) ?
also, she’s really good-looking (and *ahem 16?!)[Reply]
whatilike spoke on May 21 09 at 7:02 pmAt first this story saddened me, but then I thought about the fact that she stood up for her rights and won. Unlike recent stories at least this one had an ending of justice.
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whatilike spoke on May 21 09 at 7:04 pmYes, doing all this at 16! Good for her!
It’s a damn shame to see this coming from teachers, but you’re right this isn’t unheard of. I swear…
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blueinthefaceangel spoke on May 21 09 at 10:36 pmI happy this turned out well and she fought back.I was getting depressed seeing all the stories about gay kids killing themselves over bullies…
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Victoria (thatfemmegirl) spoke on May 21 09 at 11:56 pmGlad to see that the school district is revising its policies, perhaps now the teachers can get some (much needed) counseling for their homophobia…
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Monie spoke on May 22 09 at 1:13 pmL,
I hope they fired all of those so-called teachers and counselors. They are nothing but bullies picking on a 16 year-old because they thought they could get away with it.
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knowledge spoke on May 22 09 at 1:21 pmI’m loving the outcome of this situation. Good for her! She’s brave at such a young age and this will carry over into her adult life. She’s on the right path for standing up for herself and her dignity and winning. That’s what’s up. Thanks for sharing this touching story.
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vyzion360 spoke on May 26 09 at 2:06 pmSee? This is the kinda ignorant behavior folks need to let go! Get a hobby! California taxpayers got enough B.S. to worry about without having to worry about the fact that their tax dollars are going into the pockets of public school teachers with a little hate hobby on the side.
This is ridiculous. $25,000 isn’t enough, I’d go for those teachers’ jobs!
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whatilike spoke on May 26 09 at 2:55 pmYes, they do need to be fired. I’m in complete agreement there.
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