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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 5, 1996)
10 ▼ Jan u ary 5 , 1 0 9 0 ▼ ju s t out local news ris Jeffers has an eye for a good story. And, in an age o f A Current Affair, Inside Edition, newspaper “gripe lines,” and innumerable un scientific news telepolls, she handles potentially controversial material in a refreshingly thoughtful manner. “A good friend of mine [who is gay] came to my school two years ago and had to leave within two weeks because he was treated so horribly,” says Jeffers, a 17-year-old senior at Tigard High School, which has a student body of nearly l ,600. “At my school, gay and lesbian issues— especially those surrounding sexual minority youth— have not been addressed. “ I thought it would be interesting and informa tive to do [a story] about sexual minority youth,” continues Jeffers, who came out as a lesbian when she was 16. So that’s exactly what she did. Jeffers, who is the managing editor of her school newspaper, Tigard Hi-Spots, has pulled together a centerspread article that explores various aspects of lesbian, gay and bisexual teen life. Jeffers claims she received prior approval from school officials to pursue the project, and says the spread was set to run in December. She says it was placed on hold, however, due to objections raised by Tigard High School Principal Mark Kubiaczyk. That’s when Jeffers contacted Just Out. At our request, she sent us a copy of the spread, which includes a concise, fact-based article that, in part, cites statistics regarding sexual minority youth: T “[E stim ates on the number of lesbigay teens vary by Inga Sorensen from as low as two percent to as high as fifteen. Most Hopefully in sharing that experience, others will experts.. .agree upon a number somewhere around Community resources available to youth and ten percent, or one in ten.” The article also states: gain better understanding about gay and lesbian their families are also listed, including information “[T]he suicide rate for sexual minority youth is two young people.” about Phoenix Rising Foundation and Parents, Fami to three times higher than that of the general popu Shapiro, who was recently accepted to Yale lies and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. University, adds: “You know, people may say they lation.” Finally, the story features a tasteful— if not In addition, the spread features two first-person are very accepting and affirming o f gays and lesbi benign— photograph of two young women holding accounts written by teens who address their personal ans— until it comes to actually doing something.” hands. experiences surrounding sexuality. One account is Jeffers also says Kubiaczyk opposed wording in “My principal told me that the photograph authored by Ari Shapiro, a 17-year-old senior at the following paragraph: “All of the counselors [at couldn’t run because the school’s policy was to Beaverton High School, who talks candidly about Tigard High School] apparently have pamphlets, promote abstinence,” says Jeffers. “He feltthe photo why he is openly gay: “Our society is dominated by articles and positive encouragement for students suggested the two women were having sex— even profound sexism,” he writes. "This is the belief that, who ask for them. In addition, [Associate Principal though all they were doing was holding hands. unless a man parades around wearing high heels and Gayle Collum] says that the staff in general has She adds, “Last Valentine’s Day we ran an a tiara, he must be straight. By wearing a pink triangle traditionally been very supportive o f sexual minor excruciatingly similar photograph of an opposite- on my backpack, I’m showing that well-adjusted, ity students and that his door is open to those who sex couple and it was absolutely no problem.” socially secure and emotionally stable lesbigay teens want to talk.” Jeffers says Kubiaczyk also balked at the inclu exist. We are all around you.” “[Kubiaczyk] was worried about the ‘positive sion o f Shapiro’s piece “because he’s not a student The other account features a female teenager— encouragement’ part because he thought it would at Tigard High School.” who remains anonymous— who describes her feel get some people on the right upset,” she says, “[Kubiaczyk] said sources should be from within ings stemming from a same-sex relationship she had adding, “I was left with the strong impression that the school,” says Jeffers, adding that in the past, been involved in. “I have made no concrete conclu unless I removed the photograph and made those sources not directly linked to Tigard High School sions about my sexuality,” she writes, “and l don’t other changes, then this spread would not run.” have run in Tigard Hi-Spots, including a profile of want to. I want to leave m yself room to learn more Kubiaczyk declined to speak with Just Out when a young homeless man in Portland. and if I ever do make a decision it will be much later contacted for this story. Robert Skrondal, Jeffers’ Shapiro, who came out last June, says, “The in life. All I know is that right now I am far too young journalism advisor, did talk with us, however, and intent o f my piece was to share an experience. It to put any limitations on myself and who I care says he found nothing objectionable contained in shouldn’t matter whether I’m a student at Tigard or about.” the spread. at Beaverton. It’s the experience w e’re looking at. K A tough issue The managing editor of the Tigard High School newspaper stands up fo r fairness HAM ID ’ S PERSIAN RUGS Portland’s Finest Selection of New/Old Persian & Other Oriental Rugs, Tribal Kilims, Bags & Pillows UNSURPASSED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND REPUTATION SINCE 1981 HAM ID’S PERSIAN RUGS • M em ber of Oriental Rug Retailer of Am erica » O R R A Certified Appraiser » Expert Cleaning & Repair » Pads & Rug Underlays 248-9511 901 SW WASHINGTON ST. CORNER OF 9th & WASH. Mon-Sat 10-6 Sun 12-5 “ I believe it’s an important subject that needs to be covered,” says Skrondal, who has been a teacher at Tigard for nearly two decades. He says this is the first time in his memory that Hi-Spots has explored sexual minority youth issues in such an encompass ing manner. As for Kubiaczyk’s alleged objections, Skrondal says he encourages young reporters to use a number o f sources when they write. Invariably, he says, “some of those are going to be people from outside the school district.” Skrondal also believes the photograph is “very acceptable” and makes the spread graphically pleas ing— not an unimportant goal for any newspaper. Russell Joki is the superintendent o f Tigard- Tualatin School District, which includes two high schools, three middle schools and nine elementary schools. When we first contacted Joki during the school holiday break, he had not yet seen the story. At that point he said that unlike Portland Public Schools, which is sponsoring trainings for school personnel specifically around sexual orientation issues, his district has no such training program, nor does it have plans to sponsor one. “This is a tough issue that makes some people edgy,” said Joki. “And I’ll admit I’m unfamiliar with the issue as w ell.... No one has ever brought to my attention the need for [sexual orientation] trainings.” After having seen the spread, Joki told Just Out he has “no problem with the photograph at all.” As for the other alleged objections, Joki says he has asked Jeffers to “bring him evidence” that outside sources have previously been quoted in Tigard Hi-Spots, “because this really is a newspaper for the school.” Joki says he has also requested Jeffers make a couple of minor technical changes for clarification purposes, which Jeffers says she “has no problem with.” Joki told us he planned to talk with Kubiaczyk “to find out what his objections were about” come Jan. 2 when school was scheduled to resume. As we went to press, meanwhile, Jeffers said she believed the story would run virtually intact in an end-of- January Hi-Spots issue, largely due to the increased attention given to the situation. “ I’m doing this because I felt that I w asn’t really getting a fair shake,” says Jeffers. “If the objections had been about poor writing or something like that, I can understand it, but I really think this was solid.” Jeffers, who is looking to attend either Smith College or Barnard, is a Cascade AIDS Project volunteer and works part-time at an area law firm. “Do I want to go into law? I’m not sure, but I don’t think so. I really like journalism,” she says. For his part, Skrondal says he’s proud o f the long line o f students— including Jeffers— that he has advised over the years. “It’s wonderful to work with such talented young people,” he says. “ It is very admirable that Kris stood up for something she believes.... 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