Alliance

[Sandy Anderssen]

When you ask me who I am
What is my vision, do I have a plan?

Fischer High is said to be one of the most diverse high schools in Arlington, Texas. Yet people who are confident (some would say arrogant) enough to call themselves normal are horrible to the freaks, outsiders and losers of the school. Of all of the groups the "normal and cool" people are against, it's the gay people that they hate the most. It doesn't matter if you're out, in the closet or even just misunderstood; they will do everything in their power to torture you.

That was the story with Leonardo Reeves. He was gay. He admitted it. And what was his reward?

On the last day before winter break, a life changing event happened, one that so many people would never forget. Leo had been out for a week now and now he was making his way out of the high school after a Film Club meeting. No one's entirely sure what happened, but they do know that Ms. Cassandra Southwick arrived perhaps two minutes after Leo's attackers had made their getaway. One hysterical phone call later, and Leo was taking a trip to the hospital, barely alive.

Where is my strength?
Have I nothing to say?
I hear the words in my head,
but I push them away.
And I don’t know
What tomorrow brings

A few more phone calls later, and his parents and closest friends were notified, all gathering around the hospital waiting room, in a state of mental and emotional chaos. He still has yet to wake up from his coma, much to the despair of the many people who knew and loved him and would have gladly taken his place. As his best friend and an ardent activist when it came to the gay community, Derica Williams was probably the one who was affected the most. After several used tissues and old movies with her two fathers, she pulled herself together and turned her grief into action. 250 signatures and one strongly worded letter later, she was given permission (finally) to start a Gay Straight Alliance, along with one of her dad Gregory Guzzman-Williams, the English teacher, in Leo's honor.

The road less traveled
will it set us free?
Cause we are taking it slow,
these tiny legacies.
I don’t try and change the world;
But what will you make of me?

Despite winning that battle, the war has just begun. Whomever hurt Leo has yet to be caught. Not many people are interested. While it doesn't matter so long as they have support, actions that will be necessary to make change will need more than just a handful of people. Will this attempt to make the school safer for all be a complete failure? Did the closed minded individuals succeed in terrifying everyone whose heart didn't fit with gender stereotypes? Or will this cause supporters to band together to make it safe to not hide where clothing and cleaning items reside? This won't be easy and both sides are evenly matched. But with enough hope, with enough motivation, with enough people believing in taking a stand, this could all work out.

'Cause I stand for the power to change,
I live for the perfect day.
I love till it hurts like crazy,
I hope for a hero to save me.
I stand for the strange and lonely,
I believe there’s a better place.
I don’t know if the sky is heaven,
But I pray anyway.

{Lyrics from "I Stand" by Idina Menzel}[/size]
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If you have an open mind and you're eager to create plotlines for this exciting new site, come check us out. While locations are still under construction, I can promise you that this'll be fun. On this site you can;

• Play a canon or create your own character
  
  
• Create plots that involve students, teachers or family members
  
  
• Come up with events that will lead to site wide plots, such as parties, performances and other such events
  
  
• Offer suggestions; this is still a new site and any idea you have on improvement will be taken into consideration
  
  
• Much, much more

So even if it's just for curiosity's sake, check us out. I have the feeling you won't regret it.
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