Gay club idaho falls

It can take months or years for many gay or lesbian teens to "come out" and fall openly about their sexual orientation. Such a decision becomes more difficult when a teen is raised in a religion or culture that doesn't accept homosexual behavior. That's what Kurt is facing. Kurt is not the year-old high school senior's real name.

His name was changed for this article to protect his identity from members of his family, who he said are unaware of his sexual orientation. He joined the club to find acceptance he hadn't found gay his family, at church or in the classroom. The club, whose members are gay and straight, seeks to educate people about homosexuality, build tolerance and share positive stories about acceptance.

Kurt believes he was born with a homosexual inclination. But he didn't begin identifying himself as gay until idaho was That self-identification was difficult for Kurt. He realized very quickly that his desire to live as an openly gay man didn't mesh with his family's religion or cultural values. The Mormon church encourages its membership to love and be accepting of homosexuals.

But church doctrine identifies homosexual activity as a sin. As a result, the club disciplines members who engage in same-sex romantic or sexual relationships. Although Kurt has disavowed himself from the Mormon church, he continues to attend services and seminary to avoid conflict with family members, who are not aware of his sexual orientation.

Homophobic bullying has lessened as Kurt has gotten older. The Gay-Straight Alliance has fostered more acceptance of his sexual orientation, he said. The nationwide high school and college movement aims to increase acceptance of others. The Idaho Falls club is one of the few like it in eastern Idaho. As such, educating peers and parents about equality is a big part of membership.

They are told how to think, and they never really think for themselves," year-old Samantha Gresham said. Students make posters, participate in awareness assemblies and encourage peers to avoid judging others. He believes that groups such as the Gay-Straight Alliance and Breaking Boundaries eventually will change eastern Idaho in positive ways.

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Idaho teens come to terms with gay classmates. Gay Straight Alliances have been started in many schools across the country. File photo. Kurt said he plans to tell his family after graduation.