YouthAware Programs
By Ed Roy
Study Materials
The Other Side of the Closet by Ed Roy has been touring to Northern California middle and high schools since 2000 to educate young people about homophobia, diversity, acceptance, and the California Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act of 2000 (AB 537).
Pre-Show Discussion Points
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Over 200,000 students each year in California alone are the victims of harassment based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation. 91% of California students reported hearing students make negative comments based on sexual orientation in school and 44% reported hearing teachers and staff make the same negative comments. (Source: CA Safe Schools Coalition – Safe Place to Learn Report 2004)
- Think about a time when you were excluded, physically hurt, verbally harassed or made fun of because of who you are or even just because of how others perceived you. How did this make you feel and how did you react?
- Do you or your peers ever use words at school that could be considered derogatory and hurtful to individuals or to groups? Why is hurtful language used so frequently in schools?
- What other individuals or groups of people throughout history have been discriminated against or have been victims of verbal or physical abuse because of who they are? What has history taught us?
Post-Show Discussion Points
- Why do young people label each other or use derogatory words against each other?
- What is a stereotype? Were there any stereotypes that appear in this play?
- Where could someone in Carl’s situation have gone for help in your school or community?
- How would someone like Antony be treated in your school or community?
- At one point Tara says, "Maybe it’s better if we don’t hang out with Carl anymore. Maybe now everything will go back to normal." What is normal? Who should decide what "normal" is in our society?
- What role did violence play in this story? Why did Carl participate in the hate crime at the top of the play? What was another choice for Carl besides resorting to violence against Rick at the end? How did Antony deal with Rick’s aggression compared to Carl?
- What other groups of people throughout our history have been discriminated against based on who they are or for what they believe?
Other Resources
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GSA Network: connecting school-based Gay Straight Alliances to each other and to community resources
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AB537.org: more information about the California Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act of 2000
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If you or someone you know is the victim of harrassment,
report it to a teacher or principal. Under AB 537,
schools are required to prevent harrassment on campus.
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