From the Washington Blade

Maryland Students Rally For Gay Rights

Pikesville school fights back after anti-gay protest

By Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg

October 28, 2005

About 100 students and supporters at Pikesville High School near Baltimore rallied outside the school last Thursday afternoon in the drizzling rain, after a local church protested the school's "Coming Out" week events on Monday.

WEAA-Morgan State University radio host Duane Johnson told listeners on Oct. 16 to protest Pikesville High School's "Coming Out" week events and to picket outside the school on Monday, Oct.17. In response, about 20 protesters turned out to demonstrate against the coming out events.

Equality Maryland, a statewide gay rights group, sent an e-mail alert asking supporters to call the radio station and complain about Johnson's comments. Equality Maryland, along with members of Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays and Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, supported the students' pro-gay rally that occurred as a response to Johnson's protest.

"We as consumers also have the right to complain about the usage of the public airways to promote intolerant religious viewpoints, blatant anti-gay propaganda, and create a culture of fear among youth," Equality Maryland said in a statement.

Last week, outside the high school, protesters using a bullhorn announced that homosexuality is wrong, according to students who witnessed the protest.

Pikesville's Gay-Straight Student Alliance had organized events at school that week to encourage gay students to come out and straight students to support them. Rachel Blank, who helped organize last Thursday's gay rights rally with fellow student Reed Shusterman, founded the GSA last spring.

"I was just trying to inform parents about what was going on," Johnson, who is a part-time employee of the radio station, told the Blade. "An anti-gay activist, a gay basher - that's not who I am."

Not a 'gay basher'

Clinton R. Coleman, director of public relations for Morgan State, said the school is reviewing whether any action will be taken against Johnson.

"The views expressed by Johnson do not reflect the official position of the university, the management of WEAA and the university administration," he said. "MSU was founded on the principle of equality. . This kind of thing will not be tolerated."

For Alex Levine, a senior, the anti-gay comments were hurtful and personal.

"I broke down in tears," said Levine, whose T-shirt said, "Proud to Be Me." "It's not my choice. It's who I am."

Gay students wore rainbows on Thursday; straight supporters wore wear pink. At the rally, most students wore pink.

"Seeing the pink meant more to me," Levine said.

Many who attended the rally said student support for gay rights is strong.

"My gaydar is pretty good," said Anne Bugnaski, a Carver High senior. "Most of these students are not gay. It's amazing."

School teachers, parents, alumni and students - some from Pikesville and others from neighboring schools - held signs to passing cars, squealing and clapping whenever drivers honked in support. The larger the vehicle, the louder the students cheered - a Coca-Cola truck and school bus may have elicited the most excited reactions.

"I've never been so proud to be an alum," said Jodie Zisow, who graduated in 1994. She came out when she was about 22 years old. Only one student was openly gay when she was at Pikesville, she said, and he was beaten up regularly.