WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Wesson teen opens up about being a lesbian

Wesson teen opens up about being a lesbian

By Katina Rankin - bio | email

WESSON, MS (WLBT) - An openly gay teenager posing in a tuxedo for her high school year book has garnered national attention. But does her sexual orientation open Ceara Sturgis up to more than just problems with a school picture? She talks about what it is like to be a teenage lesbian.

Mississippi has just over 136,000 students in grades 9th through12th across the entire state.   Of that number, according to the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition preliminary data, hundreds of those high school students have come forward claiming to be lesbian, gay, bi-sexual or transgender individuals, also known as LGBTs.

"We get all kinds of stories.  Some terrible stories between physical violence and students getting beaten up," said Sarah Young, MSSC member.

Young says the group was formed to keep LGBT students safe and free from discrimination.

Ceara Sturgis has made national headlines over the controversy she caused by taking her senior portrait in a tuxedo and breaking a school tradition. Sturgis is a high school senior at Wesson Attendance Center.  

Sturgis was asked, "So you're openly gay." Her response, "Oh yeah." The 17-year-old says she's been a lesbian since 9th grade.

"Take me and a straight person.  There is no difference between us, just that I happen to like the same sex, and they like a different sex."

Arm in arm with her mother, Sturgis talks to us about what it's like to be a teen that's openly gay.

"When I go into a bathroom, people freak at first.   But I say, 'I'm a girl. I'm a girl'."

Sturgis says they do the same when she's playing soccer with her high school classmates.   She says people from the other team will yell, "There's a boy on their team."  And then Sturgis says there are some who judge her yelling, "It's an abomination. Gay people shouldn't be allowed on this earth."

While Ceara says she's only faced snide comments about her lifestyle choice, Young says she's the exception.

"We get calls.  They (students) say you know my teacher is the one that called me a faggot, right? Or, students are allowed to go around and say things like dike," said Young.

Gay or not, Veronica Rodriguez says she loves her daughter and stands behind her decision to be true to herself!

"My motto is they don't feed and clothe my child. They don't keep me warm at night. And, they don't put food on my table. I don't care," said Rodriguez.

"People don't understand how much easier it is to have a mom that supports you. It really, it helps. I don't know what I'd do without her," said Sturgis.

Whatever your opinion, whether you think being gay is right or wrong, representatives from the MS Safe School Coalition say this is an issue that's here to stay, and  MSSC members will fight  make sure these students are protected at school.