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Sexuality support group forms at South Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Students involved in South Medford High School's new United Sexuality Student Group, a network for gays and straights, include, clockwise from front, junior Jack Lynch, who founded the group, sophomore Rachel Redfield and junior Jennifer Brake. Open to gays and straights, it aims to cut violence and educate By DAMIAN MANN Teen sexuality remains a touchy subject for both parents and schools. Now a group of trailblazing students at South Medford High School has raised the ante by forming the controversial United Sexuality Student Group, a support network for gays and straights. A month old, this group of 23 students, who are straight, gay and bisexual, has raised a few hackles among other classmates and has raised many an eyebrow among parents. It is one of many organizations on the campus - from Bible-study groups to STARS (Students Today Aren't Ready for Sex). The founder of the group, junior Jack Lynch, said reaction has ranged from students joking about offering classes in "Lesbianism 101" to smirks and the occasional caustic comment. Ashland High group led the way Students at both North and South Medford high schools got the idea to create sexuality clubs from the Gay-Straight Alliance formed at Ashland High School at the beginning of this school year. Jazmin Hupp, the bisexual founder of the Ashland group, also known as the United Sexuality Club, said the alliance of 20 students has received very little negative reaction. "It's been amazing here," said Hupp, a junior. "We've been really lucky in that respect, not that there isn't any gay bias in Ashland." Hupp, 17, said that sometimes homophobic remarks will be made on her campus, which is generally regarded as liberal. Although the club was welcomed in Ashland, she said creating a similar group in Medford would be a more difficult challenge because Medford is a more conservative area. "For a school like South Medford, it's kind of a jump."Her school has 20 students who have become members compared to South Medford's 23 and 26 who have expressed interest in joining a club not yet officially formed at North Medford. Hupp said there is usually more interest when clubs first start. Ashland high had 30 students in its club when it started. Hupp wants the alliance to remain inclusive. It even includes members of Bible reader groups at the high school, she said. Lynch, 17, patterned United Sexuality after the Gay-Straight Alliance at Ashland High School, formed last year. Students at North Medford High School might also start their own club before the end of the school year, according to school administrators. "We're not promoting homosexuality. We're just trying to lessen violence and educate people," said Lynch. Club member and sophomore Rachel Redfield hopes the club will lead to more acceptance of gays on the campus, but doesn't think they can ever be openly gay. Another member, junior Jennifer Brake, said, "We wanted to start a group that doesn't condemn heterosexuality, and it doesn't condemn homophobic people. All we're doing is just helping." But she agreed that not everyone would support the idea of the club. "It is always going to offend someone." She explained, "There are always going to be the stereotypical jocks or popular people that are going to knock you down." Lynch believes that some people are offended at seeing even straight couples express affection in public. While the students know of only four openly gay classmates, they say others are fearful of the repercussions of coming out of the closet. Students in the sexuality group said they would prefer not to reveal their sexual persuasion because of potential backlash from parents or other students. Some educators also declined to comment because they were worried about public reaction. The students do feel the school administration, particularly Principal Cynda Rickert, has supported their right to exist. "When the school paper came out, parents called and she (Rickert) basically defended us and said we had just as much of a right to be here as anyone else," said Lynch. Rickert said, "We had negative reaction, as you would expect, but it was minimal." She explained, "Medford is a conservative area, whereas our neighbors in Ashland tend to be a bit more liberal." Rickert said the sexuality group is not an official school club. These official clubs, which are tied to specific classroom activities, also receive some funding from the school. Rickert did offer the students some advice when they started the group: "I want all groups to be inclusive, not exclusive." School district attorney Jack Gerking said he had met with school administrators to discuss potential community reaction to the sexuality group before its official creation in April. "We thought that it ought to be allowed to meet like any other group on the school grounds," he said. Gerking believes that Medford, generally considered more conservative than Ashland, has become more open. "I'm sure if this request had come five years ago, it would have caused more of a stir," he said. Superintendent Steve Wisely agreed that society, particularly Medford society, has changed in the past five years. He said the school district attempted to avoid any personal biases in its decision. Instead, he said the school followed district guidelines in allowing the club. Wisely said he is not surprised that North Medford is considering forming a similar group. "When you have 2,000 students on campus, you have a wide variety of interests." Brake, 17, thinks that that there would be more opposition to the club if it were in, say, Jacksonville or White City. She thinks Medford is politically more middle of the road. Lynch said, "It is kind of a stereotypical thing that Ashland is a lot more open. They still hear people walking around campus and saying, 'Oh that's so gay.' It is definitely more liberal, but it is a typical school situation where you don't want to show people that you have a weakness - not that it is a weakness." After the group initially formed, a short-lived petition was circulated around campus in attempt to disband the group. "The petition didn't get very far," said Brake. As to the future of the group, she vowed, "We're here to stay." Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.