May 22nd is Harvey Milk Day—a day when we pause to remember the first openly gay man elected to public office. This really got me thinking about the possibility of one day having a gay president. Check out this excerpt from a speech Harvey Milk gave shortly before his assassination in 1978.

The sexual orientation of a president would not affect his or her judgment and ability to lead a country. Although I feel very optimistic about a gay president’s ability to lead, this doesn’t change the fact that many people feel like we could never have a gay president. Being gay is still kept secret within politics. Politicians understandably worry that prejudice and homophobia among voters will hurt them at election time.

While a gay politician might have a difficult time getting elected, what if it actually happened? Would we be prepared to have a gay or lesbian president living in the White House with his or her partner?

A few months ago, I read a story in The New York Times by Maureen Dowd called, “A Gay Commander in Chief: Ready or Not?” Dowd points out that the Defense of Marriage Act does not recognize same-sex marriages as legal, so it’s quite possible federal funds could not be used on a gay president’s partner. It’s possible the president’s partner might not be able to live in the White House or even be protected by the Secret Service. The potential for this kind of unfair treatment of someone holding the highest political office in our country surprised me.

Having the first African American president in office makes me hopeful that someone who is gay or lesbian will one day be able to hold the office of president of the United States of America. I know we are still a long way from this, but we can hope.

—Sam Woods-Corr, 16, Staff Writer

Just in time for back to school, Governor Paterson of New York signed the Dignity for all Students Act (DASA). This anti-bullying law forbids school harassment based on many factors, including race, origin, weight, religious belief and disability. And although New York will be the 41st state to pass anti-discrimination laws for schools, it joins only 13 states in specifically forbidding the bullying of students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning (LGBTQ). Students in New York should no longer fear harassment because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

To help create a safe environment for LGBTQ students, the new law requires that one staff member at each school be trained in instruction and counseling methods that are non-discriminatory. And DASA isn’t just about preventing your stereotypical schoolyard bullies; schools must give teachers, administrators and other school employees anti-discrimination training to raise their awareness and sensitivity to discrimination and allow them to respond appropriately to bullying.

Schools have an obligation to protect their students from all types of bullying. Just as no students deserve to be bullied for their genes, beliefs or abilities, none should fear harassment for the identities they choose, the pronouns they use or the valentines they send.

—Meg Gibbon, 18, Contributor

You’re talking to the new cutie in your class when out of nowhere he or she asks you to go to the stairwell to hook up. You say no, and the new cutie—who’s starting to look a lot less cute to you—replies, “Come on, I know what people like you do.”

“People like me? What does that mean?” you ask.

“You have a tongue ring and a tramp stamp; don’t tell me you aren’t a whore.”

You’re shocked, and all you can do is get up and walk away. And you wonder, Is that really what people think of me? You find one of your friends and ask “Do I look like a whore?” Your friend, confused, says, “No, what does a whore even look like?”

People sometimes refer to someone they’ve never met as a whore just by looking at them. Unfortunately, clothing and accessories, such as tongue rings, tattoos on your lower back and jelly bracelets, are sometimes enough for people to make assumptions about you sexually, and what your values are. Who knew that getting a piercing or tattoo would make people think badly about you?

Sadly, some people will judge you based on what you are wearing. But how can you get around this? Well, there’s no way to stop people from judging you, but you can take steps to stop it from affecting you. After having someone call me a whore, I was very upset. But later that day, I looked myself in the mirror, stood up straight and repeated to myself out loud, “I am beautiful, and I will not let what people think about me affect the way I see myself.”

Keep in mind that sometimes when people are insecure with themselves, they put others down. So, regardless of what someone calls you, have confidence in yourself and the choices you make about what you wear and what you do. After all, it’s your life, your body and, ultimately, your decision.

—Colleen Tierney, 17, Staff Writer

Prom is one of the most popular high school traditions in the United States. You dress up, take pictures, eat dinner and dance the night away. Well, this won’t be the case for students at Itawamba Agricultural High School in Fulton, Mississippi.

After learning that 18-year-old Constance McMillen would wear a tuxedo and escort her girlfriend to prom, the school sent around a notice, saying that students could not bring same-sex dates to prom. Constance went to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Mississippi for help. The ACLU sent a letter to the school demanding that Constance be allowed to bring her date to prom. The school board responded by cancelling the event all together. The ACLU is still fighting to have the school reinstate the prom and allow Constance to wear a tuxedo and bring her girlfriend.

Students should have the right to wear a tuxedo or dress to prom and to bring dates, no matter their dates’ gender. Do you want to support Constance and take a small step in tackling the issue of homophobia? Dress You Up in My Love/The Nationwide Equality Prom is a virtual prom that will be held on April 2nd, the day that Constance should be having her prom. People everywhere are encouraged to dress up as if they were attending prom to draw attention to this issue. Why should prom be limited to teens with a specific sexual orientation or gender identity? Teens everywhere should be free to express themselves and be comfortable being who they are.

—Chelsea Sirico, 17, Staff Writer

I was talking with some of my friends about MTV’s Teen Mom a few weeks ago, and one of them said, “They’re all whores.” My friend wasn’t calling the guys who the girls had sex with whores, just the girls—not that anyone deserves to be called a whore. I was really surprised and upset that my friend said this.

Why is it that if you’re a teen mother you’re a whore? I don’t hear people calling 20-something-year-old mothers whores, even though they have unplanned pregnancies too. People—teens and adults—make mistakes and birth control fails. But that doesn’t mean you’re a whore, and it doesn’t mean you’re a bad person. I don’t look at any of the girls on Teen Mom as whores or sluts. So, they have kids? So, they’re young? So, what?

Being a parent is the most difficult job in the world, especially when you’re young and not ready to take care of a baby. Why say hurtful things about young mothers who are in a really difficult situation?

People may use words like “whore” because they are insecure and want to feel better about themselves by putting someone else—a girl or woman—down. It would make a big difference if people spent half the time they spend talking bad about other people doing something good, like making sure teens get the information they need to help prevent unplanned pregnancies.

—Kait Hamilton, 17, Staff Writer