Cook: Helping every student have courage like a lion

David Cook

As an alum, I'm proud of Red Bank High School. It's a National School of Excellence. Many National Merit scholars. State championship teams. An unforgettable faculty.

And now, I'm even prouder.

Earlier this year, Red Bank established its first gay-straight alliance, or GSA. Since most schools in Hamilton County don't offer GSAs, it puts Red Bank at the forefront of social courage, showing other schools how -- and why -- to create a model GSA.

"Red Bank is not like any other school," said a rising junior named Lauren. "It's important to show other schools what [our GSA] looks like."

"If you're gay at Red Bank, it's more tolerable," said Hunter, another junior. "If something happens, we don't have to worry about it."

"It's all about supporting kids," said Dr. Mary Gatlin, assistant principal. "The bottom line? Every kid in this building deserves to know they can come here and not be afraid of being scrutinized or not supported."

GSAs are student-led and adult-sponsored clubs that offer safety and solidarity for gay teens and their straight allies. Without them?

"It's scary," said Lauren. "Being at school and not having anybody you know that's queer and in your circle? It's hard. You need a place to go."

Earlier this year, Lisa Taylor, the school's exceptional-ed teacher, who is gay, approached Gaitlin about starting some sort of support group. Then, Gaitlin heard about a student being bullied.

That was all it took.

Now, the afterschool group meets once a week, with a half-dozen students alongside nearly as many adults. Word is spreading through the school.

"It's about being supportive," said Jeremy Allen, who teaches math.

"The climate here is very different," Detective Kat Cooper said of Red Bank. "I have talked at other schools, and I do not get this response often. It's pretty special."

Cooper would know. The Collegedale detective made national news for encouraging her town to establish domestic partner benefits. She also formed the Nooga Diversity Center, which serves as an outreach for gay teens and their families.

Earlier this spring, Cooper and Red Bank's GSA began meeting, trying to envision some end-of-year event.

It happens Saturday.

At 9:30 a.m., Red Bank hosts its annual Walk for Unity. It's a one-mile walk, with games and gift cards from local businesses. Emails were sent out to all Red Bank parents and to principals at every school in the county.

The walk is less about sexuality, and more about community.

"Helping every student have courage like a lion," said Lauren.

And every school have a GSA.

"This was something I never had," said Cooper. (Now, only two Hamilton County public schools -- Red Bank and Ooltewah -- have GSAs, she said.)

Growing up, Cooper paid a price for being openly gay: her car egged, house vandalized, pushed down a flight of stairs. At night, she and her girlfriend would sit in the parking lot of Alan Gold's.

"We just wanted to see people like us," she said.

Now, as a police officer and community leader, she devotes herself to protecting gay, lesbian and transgender teens, while offering them a safe and supportive community. Nooga Diversity Center has a Facebook page for local teens. Cooper hears from students across the county -- "from almost every school in Hamilton County," she said -- who are begging for help and searching for some form of community.

She also knows what can happen without it -- from suicide to depression to feeling fear at the one place kids should feel safe.

School.

"We're there to come in and help educate and say why GSAs are so important, and why they can help, especially if there is not a safe place for students to go," said Cooper.

Few people are so engaged in altering our social landscape in such positive ways as Cooper. Whatever awards we have as a city, she deserves them.

(She's helping organize October's Gay Pride parade in Chattanooga. "The first since 1993," she said.)

Families turn to her for help. For gay, lesbian and transgender teens, she's a lifeline. For schools, she offers assistance and a refusal to accept the status quo.

"It is an injustice to think that this is OK, where things are," she said. "We have to strive and strive for something better."

Just like Red Bank.

Contact David Cook at dcook@times freepress.com or 423-757-6329. Follow him on Facebook at DavidCookTFP.