Clarksville, Maryland -
Students at a Maryland high school are rallying to the support of two teenage girls suspended after they shared a 12 second long kiss to protest homophobia.
Stephanie Haaser, a junior at River Hill High School, jumped on a table in the lunch room and yelled "end homophobia now" before engaging in the kiss with a senior, Katherine Pecore.
Both girls are straight and said it was part of an English class assignment Haaser had which required students to perform a "non-conformist" act.
Haaser said she chose the kiss to draw attention to gay and lesbian students who are treated poorly by their peers at the school.
Her mother, Mary Haaser, says she knew about her daughter's plan and believes Stephanie is being punished for standing up for something she believes in.
But, the protest has come at a high cost for the teenager. Not only was she, along with Pecore, suspended, her guidance counselor told her both girls likely will be denied access to the National Honor Society because of the two-day suspension.
Pecore who earned a perfect 1600 on her SAT, and Haaser has a 3.88 grade point average.
It has also cost them some friends, and resulted in them making new ones.
The reaction was very intense from all corners," she added. "I lost a few friends over what I stood for, either because they're religious or have very strong views, and for that I'm sorry. But I had to do what I felt I needed to do. I don't regret it, even after the disciplinary action."
Despite the opposition of some of the girls' friends, other students at the school have mounted a protest.
Several students have taken turns holding up signs reading "Down w/ Homophobia!" and "Don't: hate or discriminate" along Route 108.
One of the protestors, Anna Boyland said she admires what Pecore and Haaser did.
"If people can make out in the hallway and teachers turn a blind eye to it, why should two girls get punished for it?"
Boyland, who also says she is straight said she has seen a clear bias and bullying in the school against gay and bi students.
©365Gay.com® 2003
Stephanie Haaser, a junior at River Hill High School, jumped on a table in the lunch room and yelled "end homophobia now" before engaging in the kiss with a senior, Katherine Pecore.
Both girls are straight and said it was part of an English class assignment Haaser had which required students to perform a "non-conformist" act.
Haaser said she chose the kiss to draw attention to gay and lesbian students who are treated poorly by their peers at the school.
Her mother, Mary Haaser, says she knew about her daughter's plan and believes Stephanie is being punished for standing up for something she believes in.
But, the protest has come at a high cost for the teenager. Not only was she, along with Pecore, suspended, her guidance counselor told her both girls likely will be denied access to the National Honor Society because of the two-day suspension.
Pecore who earned a perfect 1600 on her SAT, and Haaser has a 3.88 grade point average.
It has also cost them some friends, and resulted in them making new ones.
The reaction was very intense from all corners," she added. "I lost a few friends over what I stood for, either because they're religious or have very strong views, and for that I'm sorry. But I had to do what I felt I needed to do. I don't regret it, even after the disciplinary action."
Despite the opposition of some of the girls' friends, other students at the school have mounted a protest.
Several students have taken turns holding up signs reading "Down w/ Homophobia!" and "Don't: hate or discriminate" along Route 108.
One of the protestors, Anna Boyland said she admires what Pecore and Haaser did.
"If people can make out in the hallway and teachers turn a blind eye to it, why should two girls get punished for it?"
Boyland, who also says she is straight said she has seen a clear bias and bullying in the school against gay and bi students.
©365Gay.com® 2003
This article originally appeared on 365gay.com. Republished with permission.
