The Winston-Salem Journal    September 12, 2000

 

“Reynolds High OKs meeting”

 

Reynolds High School officials have approved a student’s request to hold a meeting to discuss starting a chapter of the Gay/Straight Student Alliance.

 

Principal Stan Elrod said he would provide the space for a student-led meeting at the school. Matthew Hill, 14, said he plans to schedule the meeting from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday.

 

Hill, who is homosexual, said he wants to start a chapter to help students understand other people’s differences. He said he doesn’t know how many students will attend the meeting.

 

“I’ve seen a lot of people that are like me and get picked on,” he said, “There was a lot of opposition at my school (to homosexuality). I think it’s wrong that people pick on other people because they’re different.”

 

Hill’s request comes two weeks after the first chapter of the alliance formed at West Forsyth High School. There are nine high school groups statewide.

 

The chapters are not sponsored by the schools or the school system and are simply allowed to use meeting space after school. According to federal law, if schools allow some political or religious groups to meet, they must allow all groups to do that -- provided the groups don’t discriminate on the basis of members’ race, ethnic origin, sex or handicaps.

 

Transcribed to computer file: December 9, 2004