'Gay-friendly' school proposed for Chicago

CHICAGO, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Chicago may open a public high school that weaves gay and lesbian "heroes" into the curriculum, the district's chief executive officer said.

The proposed Pride Campus of Social Justice High School would be open to all students citywide and would be "majority straight," schools CEO Arne Duncan said.

But it would provide a safe, "gay-friendly'' atmosphere to combat the high bullying, dropout and depression rates many gay and lesbian students experience in high school, advocates said.

In U.S. history and other classes, "gay and lesbian historical figures" -- from novelist and civil rights activist James Baldwin to modern art and literature catalyst Gertrude Stein -- would be taught so gay teens "have heroes," said Bill Greaves, Chicago's liaison on issues affecting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

"We will teach the history of all people, but we are just going to make sure these people are not invisible in that history," The Chicago Sun-Times quoted Greaves as saying.

Many teens should be attracted to the school's college-prep curriculum and message of "social justice" and "tolerance," Duncan said.

The Pride Campus still needs a location, but hopes to open in 2010 and ultimately serve 600 students, officials said.