The pink and white sticker may be smaller than a pencil case, but to Jo, a junior at Community High School in Ann Arbor, it carries the impact of a 20-foot neon marquee when stuck on the outside of a classroom door. You're safe here. Like other gay, lesbian and bisexual teenagers, Jo, who asked that her real name not be used, has learned to watch for signs that it's OK to let down her guard. Staffed from 7-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Kids can be cruel.
So can teachers. Those things are not allowed in the classrooms at Jo's school where the teacher displays a Safety Zone sticker. I don't have to worry about something slipping out. While gay people of all ages sometimes run into harassment or even violence, experts say the teen years can be the worst. Yet many schools shy away from the topic.