Well first off I can certainly understand the shock and disgust about such a school being opened. I think that Tiassa is over reacting a bit when she shouts about a return to segregation. The distinction in this case, is that this isn't going to be a school that they ship all gay students off to, but instead is simply a voluntarily chosen alternative to a normal public school.
Another issues is public funding. Frankly I don't think that a school like this should be getting very much, if any public money, it's just not a complete necessity, and I've got to admit that the idea does sound a bit frivolous. Remember that despite the fact that this school is called a "Public School" doesn't actually mean that it's even getting any public money, that just means that it has a public charter, and that it has to live up to certain standards and follow certain rules. After all if other private institutions such as the boyscouts, and even public establishments like the military can get all the leeway they like in banning homosexuals, why the hell can't a privately, or even slightly funded public institution be "gays only"?
Reading through an article on CNN.com it sounds to me as if this school is acctualy privately funded:
The school is an expansion of a two-classroom public school program that began in 1984. A gay-rights youth advocacy group, the Hetrick-Martin Institute, has managed and financed the program since its inception.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/EDUCATION/07/28/gay.school.ap/index.html
So, if this is a privately funded institute, then I've got absolutely no problem with it admiting only homosexuals. If it's getting public money then they should still admit anyone, even if their primary aim is to cater to homosexuals. Why any straight kid would want to go to this school, of course is quite beyond me, maybe he's just a tease?
Now, the reasons that a homosexual student might want to go to an all gay school seems pretty obvious to me. Yes, it's true that everyone gets picked on in school, but there is a very large difference. First off, for fat/geeky/blemished skinned kids the insults really come only from other students, for a homosexual student, they'll certainly get quite a bit from other students (provided their sexuality isn't a secret) but usually a geeky fat pimplepuss isn't going to have to wory about similar problems of judgement when it comes to the parents of his tormenters (which could well come into play) or even faculty of the school having problems with them. Or put another way, there is no religious movement designed to shun the uglies over at the unpopular table. No one is going to tie you to the bumper of their car and drag you behind it for a few miles, or tie you to a post and beat you to death because you like to spend your lunch period reading in the library if you get my drift. If you thought that you were a social pariah for playing Magic: The Gathering, just count your lucky stars that you weren't barred from attending prom because of the gender of the person you wanted to bring as a date.
Anyway, the fact that this school exists is a reflection of a stratification in society which already exists, it's catering to that stratification, which is kind of a scary thing, but when it comes right down to it, in my heart of hearts I know that if there was a school like this near me back when I was of high-schoolin' age I have to admit that I'd probably prefer to attend it rather than a normal public high-school. My little sister (currently going to the same high-school I went to when I was her age) gets enough unsolicited religious arguments about her being a vegetarian for Gods sake, I'd hate to think of how things would have gone if I were openly gay at the time.
This brings up yet another possible positive point, it could encourage some young homosexuals to come out, and avoid all the crazying effects of being in the closet. That'll really screw with you, believe you me, there's a good reason why the suicide rate for homosexual teens is so much higher than for heterosexuals.
I think that it was in poor taste that this school be named after Harvey Milk. As mentioned before this school is catering to a sort of stratification which is already there. . . but do they have to be so blatant about it? The name seems to be almost a warning to the children "Be careful chillins' the straight man wants to shoot you!" that's what it says to me, anyway, and is not what I'd chose to name a school who's aim is supposedly to provide an environment where the kids don't have to deal with all that nastyness.
All and all, though I have to admit that it reminds me a bit of the X-men, and rightly so, it was all one big metaphor anyway.
