On October 28, 2011, Patrick Henry High Seniors Rebeca Arellano and Haleigh Adams made American Homecoming history.  The two girls were voted Homecoming King and Queen, marking the first time a gay or lesbian couple had been chosen for these positions in America, according to ABC News (abcnews.go.com).  This impressive mark in history has brought superfluous attention to Patrick Henry High, the San Diego Unified School District and the city of San Diego as a whole.

However, much of this attention has been negative.  Although Adams and Arellano have been strongly supported by many students and teachers, parents and out-of-state citizens have sent numerous negative and critical messages to the school or directly to the girls, according to NBC News (nbcsandiego.com).  Threats and anger have been expressed towards the girls over their sexuality and their decision to run for King and Queen. What these critics must realize is that high school is a place where students are encouraged to find and express themselves, not where they should be insulted because of their sexual orientation.

According to UC High Counselor Michelle Barnier, “The social aspect of high school is huge, because you will always look back and see how who you were back then led to who you are now.” If a student were to dye his or her hair purple or decide to play in a punk rock band, many parents and teachers would ride it off as “just a stage,” and let these socially “different” actions take place. However, a student coming out as a homosexual is not a choice or stage– it’s who he or she is. Things like sexual orientation cannot be considered a person’s choice, because it is simply part of them. Homosexuals have been degraded and sometimes even excluded for religious, social, and political reasons, all of which have the potential to cause serious psychological damage. What happens during childhood, as so many psychiatrists point out, can haunt a person for his or her entire life. It is therefore crucial for students to be accepted in a school environment, and to be allowed to express themselves as who they truly are. Sophomore Gabrielle Quiwa said, “School should be school. It should be safe, productive, and indiscriminate. We’re all human teenagers going to school for the same reason. I don’t think being gay or lesbian should have anything to do with that.” Only when others choose to be judgmental and abusive do homosexual students stand out, in that they must deal with judgment about who they are by complete strangers.

Some argue that having gay couples walk down school hallways holding hands or having them nominated for Homecoming King and Queen is nontraditional, and therefore should be looked down upon.  In response to such accusations, Arellano released a statement addressing the unorthodox aspect of her election, explaining, “’For all the girls who think tradition should be continued, go back to the kitchen, stop having sex before you’re married […] and allow your husband to do whatever he pleases to you.  Think about the meaning of tradition when you use it in your argument against us’” (culturecampaign.blogspot.com). Obviously, present-day society does not stand by the same social etiquette that was acceptable a hundred years ago.  Women vote, slavery is illegal, and gay people walk down the street holding hands.  With modern times come new, perfectly acceptable ideas, some of which may not adhere to “tradition.”

Arellano and Adams have had strangers tell them who they should and shouldn’t be. They’ve had people call and send  them emails criticizing their election as Homecoming King and Queen, many of which were sent to the school, according to the Los Angeles Times (latimes.com).  “[Some of] the hate emails and calls that Patrick Henry High School received were from people who are not residents of San Diego,” said San Diego Unified School District Superintendent Bill Kowba (abcnews.go.com). Although debatable, it is one thing for parents of students at Patrick Henry High to criticize their children’s school. It’s an entirely different and  completely unnecessary thing  for  somebody in another state to look up Patrick Henry’s email address or phone number, just so they can call to criticize the two young women or the administration at their school. According to Patrick Henry High Sophomore Natalie Tease, “Most students and faculty members have been very supportive of the girls, and there has been very little negative feedback.  Everyone is really proud to be part of it.  I know I am.”

It is nobody’s place to tell a person who they can or cannot be or with whom they can or cannot enjoy a romantic relationship. Ideas about tolerance should be incorporated into all schools. Nothing distinguishes the character of students who are in same-sex relationships from students who are in relationships with people of the other gender. The hatred and negativity forced upon these completely innocent students must end quickly, as such intolerence is horribly narrowminded.Thankfully, with such brave and outspoken people like Arellano and Adams to remind us, change should come soon.