In the Life: Virginia Uribe, founder of Project 10

[Host, Katherine Linton] In 1984, Dr. Virginia Uribe, a teacher at Los Angeles's Fairfax High School, witnessed an incident of harassment against a gay student, which disturbed her so deeply that she decided to take action. That year, she founded, Project 10. And has been saving lives and changing attitudes ever since. [Street noise, traffic] [Dr. Virginia Uribe] The vision of Project 10 is that gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender students will be able to go to school in a safe, and respectful environment. It seems like a, not much to ask. It's what we ask of education for all of our young people. [Uribe] But that's very difficult to achieve for our gay and lesbian young people. [Uribe] I think that what fuels me is anger. Or, a sense of injustice. I just cannot stand, the things I see happening to these young people. For no other reason other than their sexual orientation. It's not like they have committed a crime. [Uribe] When I first started the program back in 1984. [Uribe] Even I was a little hesitant to call it the gay and lesbian program. I mean I had to work through my own, homophobia about that. Ah, somebody suggested that I call the program, Project 10, after Kinsey's, very often repeated, statistics that ten percent of the population was more or less homosexual most of their lives. So, I just adopted the name Project 10. We started out with maybe six students and, [Uribe] you know, inside of two or three months, we had thrity students or a meeting once a week. The minute other people in other high schools started hearing, that we were doing something, ah, for gay lesbian youth, we started getting phone calls. And so there was just sort of like a, an automatic development of this program to other high schools. [Linton] In 1988, four years after Project 10 was founded the, Traditional Values Coalition launched an attack against the program. [Linton] Attempting to withhold all state funding for the Los Angeles Unified School District, [Linton] if the district didn't agree to immediately put a stop to Project 10. [Uribe] Here we're trying to work to keep these kids in school and to keep them from killing themselves. And suddenly people are attacking us for that. And saying these perfectly dreadful things like we were trying to recruit young people, into a life of homosexuality and we're trying to give them all AIDS and, [Uribe] they just, the attacks didn't make any sense to me. I was very naive about this. [Uribe] I didn't really know what to do. And so I just kept repeating, [Uribe] what I thought I was trying to do. Which was to keep kids in school and to keep them from killing themselves and to, serve a need that had not been met. And they just kept saying how terrible I was. [Linton] The conflict resulted in a day long hearing in Sacramento with over eighty speakers from both sides testifying. [Linton] In the end, the school district reaffirmed its support of Project 10 and the Traditional Values Coalition was defeated. [Linton] Ironically the publicity generated by their campaign to defeat Project 10, actually resulted in huge rewards for the program. [Uribe] We got, ah, tremendous letters of support. Letters that were, very many of them, very compelling, in the stories that people revealed about themselves. And the other thing that happened was that people started sending us money. [Linton] So much money, in fact, that Dr. Uribe formed a nonprofit organization called, The Friends of Project 10. To support and supplement the work of the program. [Uribe] As time has evolved, we see that there really isn't a whole lot of money, that the district is going to cough up to give to this program. And through the donations we're able to provide, ah, you know, do programs and projects that the district won't pay for. [Linton] In 1998, Dr. Uribe retired from the program, in order to run, The Friends of Project 10, full time. [Linton] Her replacement was her long-term partner and Project 10 board member, Gail Rolf, [Linton] who had already been deeply involved in the program for 10 years. [Gail Rolf] I could see that through my own teaching experience, the gay kids were dropping out of school. The gay kids were running away. The gay kids were attempting suicide. Ah, even when I started up my support groups, the average student had already attempted suicide three times by the time they got into high school. And these are kids that either identified as gay or lesbian or they were struggling with their sexuality. [Rolf] I knew this was a serious problem. My typical day goes like this. I get to work, and, [Rolf] the phone starts ringing and the adrenaline starts going and all I can tell you is that I operate totally on adrenaline. [Rolf] I just work straight through, non-stop. [Rolf] The phone doesn't stop. Emails don't stop. The problems don't stop. [Rolf] It just goes on and on and on. [Linton] As Project 10's only paid staff person, Gail is responsible for the training of all Project 10 coordinators in each school. [Linton] And is the district's troubleshooter when problems arise, involving LGBT and questioning students. As simple and silly as this may sound, one would think that if a teacher hears somebody call another person, [Rolf] faggot, they would know how to respond to that. But so often, those comments go ignored and when the teachers allow for that verbal harassment, [Rolf] it creates a very distrustful relationship. [Rolf] If those students don't trust the teacher and ultimately, [Rolf] the environment in the classroom becomes so uncomfortable and so unsafe that oftentimes kids just stop coming to that class. [Rolf] And, ultimately, if it's a pervasive thing that goes on throughout the school they just simply stop coming to school. [Linton] Some of the strongest testimonials in support of the program come from Project 10 students themselves. [Linton] We spoke with Jesse, Angie and Josh about the first time they went to a Project 10 support group meeting, in their respective high schools. [Jesse Funes] I thought, what am I going to see in this room, you know freaks or what. And, It was completely the opposite. It was young people that were, gay, lesbian, bisexual and I couldn't believe it because that was the first time I had ever met young people that identified, with being either gay, lesbian or bisexual. And it was amazing to me. But it made me feel good. [Josh Lampkins] A good friend of mine, said, "Hello, my name is John and I'm gay." And, I was so taken back by this because I had never been, able to say my name and immediately after say I was gay. It was just unheard of. It was so uncomfortable for me to say, "Hi, I'm Josh and I'm gay." And for me to see that was the immediate change. And realizing how comfortable I could now be with being gay. [Jesse] It was great. It was empowering just to see them be themselves and be out and feel good about it. Because I was feeling, miserable at that time. [Angie Mazariegos] We had meetings every week. And is, it was emotional every time and we laugh. We laugh so much and, um, we cried together. We, we had so much fun that we laughed until we cried. [Jesse] I don't think anybody enjoys, you know having gum in their hair during lunch time or, [Jesse] having rocks thrown at you after you're walking, you know, home or to school. Going to my counselor and saying I'm getting harassed in school. I'm getting rocks thrown at me. I'm getting, all these different things, and her saying, "You brought it upon yourself." Completely cut the trust that I ever had in a teacher or in a counselor or an administrator. [Jesse] And worst of all, I couldn't tell my parents all the discrimination I was experiencing at school. So that made things even more difficult. [Angie] We gave each other advice, on everything, you know, relationships, family, dealing with parents. And, you know, helping each other out, [Angie] just through everything. [Josh] Project 10 is a, finally, a group where a student could go and, and ask questions and receive answers and, information, that will link them up to other students and essentially knowledge is power. [Linton] The Friends of Project 10 continue to sponsor a number of larger events open to students from across the state. [Linton] At the Models of Pride Conference, each year, [Linton] five hundred young people come together to attend workshops and to meet others like themselves. [Linton] And the lesbian and gay prom, seen here in the1993 documentary, "Live to Tell," [Linton] brings three hundred and fifty LGBT youth together to celebrate in a safe and affirming environment. [Rolf] From the perspective of the kids. There's just such energy, such excitement. [Rolf] It's such a sense for them that they have a safe place to really express who they are. The boys come with the boyfriends, the [Rolf] girls come with the girlfriends and many of the young people even come by themselves. [Rolf] They feel that safe and that comfortable knowing they will be with their own kind and be accepted and not be harassed. [Rolf] It's just a wonderful freedom of expression and a sense that they can be in a safe, place and have a darn good time. [Linton] One of the program's leading advocates is the president of the Los Angeles Board of Education, Caprice Young. [Caprice Young] If you don't feel safe at school. You're not going to learn at school. Because you're not going to be thinking about what you're studying. You're going to be thinking about whether or not you're safe. [Young] And Project 10 gives kids a place to, [Young] confront the questions that they have themselves about their sexuality and their personal identity, in an environment, that's safe and supportive and allows them to be whoever they are. [Angie] I've had many friends that, um, that started going to Project 10, depressed, suicidal. And, I mean, now they're the grades are all up and, [Angie] you find people there that you can have things in common with and it's hard to find it if you're out on your own. [Josh] So, Project 10 has given me a connection, a group of students that I can and share for the rest of my life and become friends and colleagues with. And it has also linked me with other institutions such as Teen Line. [Jesse] I think Project 10 was the parent, the teacher, the mentor, and also, the person that you can trust in. That's what Project 10 meant to me. That's what project 10 was to a lot of us. And if it wasn't for that, I think a lot of us would have ended up dead. A lot of us would have killed ourselves. Because of their sexual orientation. So many of them have such an enormous struggle. [Uribe] And, I don't see the educational system doing very much for them. And so, I guess that anger, at that, at that injustice just keeps me going. Because I really feel as long as I have a breath in me. I'm gonna be fighting this fight. [Theme music] [Jim J. Bullock] During the decade that, "In the Life," has been on public television, the movement for gay and lesbian equality has made enormous progress on several fronts. According to, The Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network, or GLSEN, the country's first Gay Straight Student Alliance was formed in 1989. That's just three years before, "In the Life," began airing. And today, there are estimated to be over one thousand such groups nationwide. I'm Jim J. Bullock, and you're watching "In the Life." [Linton] Be sure to tune in to next month's episode of "In the Life." And don't forget to mark your calendars for, "In the Life's," 10th anniversary episode in June. [Linton] This special presentation will include a rare interview with Broadway legend Jerry Herman. [Angela Lansbury singing, "Hello Dolly"] You're still glowin', you're still crowin', you're still goin' strong. [Angela Lansbury over herself singing] I don't think Jerry has ever, [background] I feel the room swayin', [Lansbury] been given the credit, [background] While the band's playin', that he, that he should have over these many years. Because he's an extraordinarily good lyricist. And he's also a great melody spinner. I mean, there's no question about it. [Linton] Finally in tonight's outtake. Harvey Fierstein tries and tries and tries to come out at the grocery store. [Harvey Fierstein] True story. [Clapperboard claps] This little piggy went to market to lay in supplies for the holidays. I live in a small fictional town in, Connecticut. Whose quaint country purveyors I decided to forego for the larger better stocked and much cruisier, super stop and shop of a neighboring mini metropolis. [Clapperboard claps] While ringing out my order, the cashier said casually, "So you do the shopping and your wife does the cooking?" "No, DeeDee," I replied, reading her name off the plastic tag dangling dangerously close to her third chin. "I don't have a wife. I'm gay." "You are not." she said dismissively. "Oh, yes, I am." I countered. "You are not, no gay," she insisted pushing my baby carrots from the scale. "Honey," says I, hands now a flutter. "I am as gay as a pink hairnet." [Clapperboard claps] I guessed my voice was raised a little too loudly, when I spied the adjoining cashier ring her silent security alarm. Dee Dee stopped work and looked me straight in the eye, "I know you and you are not one of those gays." And with a big incredulous smile, I asked, "What makes you so sure that I am NOT?" "Because, if you were a gay," she countered assuredly, "you would be too ashamed to say it out loud." I was dumbstruck. By now, two of the cashiers, a security guard and another employee with whom I was acquainted and, who by the way, happens to also be gay, surrounded us. He asked if there was a problem. Still shocked into silence, I waved him off, paid my bill and left. If you were a gay you would be too ashamed to say it out loud. How could anyone still think that way. Have we made no progress? Aren't we everywhere now? "Will and Grace," "Before Night Falls," "Ellen," Or are we just fictional characters living out our own fictionally liberated lives. [Clapperboard claps] But then I thought. How is the average American heterosexual to think anything else, when the only examples they have of our lives is shame. Our big breakthrough mainstream comedy TV show, has one gay character played by a proudly heterosexual actor. And the other, played by an actor who claims his sexual preference as no one's business. What message is being sent out there? Congratulations on your Emmy, Cookie, but I wouldn't hold my breath for the cover of, "Portraits in Pride." Our two latest breakthrough TV shows, "Queer as Folk," and "Six Feet Under," both ended their seasons with gay bashings. Illustrating yet again that we are still victims and not masters of our lives. Obviously Hollywood finds us acceptable, only when we are funny, dying, or portrayed by a one hundred percent, gold standard heterosexual, who is stretching his artistic muscles attempting such a strange and challenging character, but really didn't enjoy kissing another guy in front of the whole crew. So let's go crush beer cans. [Clapperboard claps] In other news, The tomboys, no, not Rosie and Martina. Tom Selleck and Tom Cruise. Both won huge lawsuits against newspapers that had identified them as gay. What kind of a message do you think is broadcast by a celebrity suing for being called gay. Or by a court awarding millions of dollars to those celebrities, validating that the association with homosexuality has indeed harmed their careers. Could you imagine a court awarding me millions because, "Saturday Night Live," said I was heterosexual? Looking at this from another angle. Open any magazine or newspaper to the personals. How many ads read, "Straight-acting, seek same." or, "Not into gay lifestyle." You too, can stop waiting for your, "Portraits in Pride," cover story. Well, my children, if this is how we feel about ourselves. If we stay in the closet, because we don't want to hurt our families. If we hide our identities for fear the truth would damage our careers. If we passively accept, heterosexualized images of our lives in TV and movies. If we support those films and shows, even though they portray us only as jokes or victims. If we are so self-loathing that we seek sexual partners who could not possibly be sexual partners. Then, how can we be shocked, when a cashier says, "If you were a gay you would be too ashamed to say it out loud?" Carry on. [Linton] From all of us at, "In the Life," thank you for watching, and we'll see you next month. [Instrumental Music continues through credits] [Harvey Fierstein over theme music] "In the Life," is funded in part by, [Fierstein] The H. van Ameringen Foundation. [Fierstein] Additional support provided by, the Gill Foundation. [Fierstein] The Pride Foundation. [Fierstein] The Ted Snowdon Foundation. [Fierstein] The Otto Haas Charitable Trust. [Fierstein] The Collingwood Foundation. [Fierstein] The Rainbow Endowment. [Fierstein] Adam: A Funding Collaborative Empowering Queer Youth. [Fierstein] Orlando Reece and Bill Becker. [Fierstein] William J. Resnick. [Fierstein] And by the annual support of, "In the Life," members like you. [Theme music] [Theme music]