Comments on: part 2: jesse james goes to the old high school’s new GSA club

By: Angela

Angela — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 11:59:14 +0000

So, I know this is a year after you have posted this story, but I just started reading your blog tonight and I wanted to tell you what an awesome story this was. Thank you for sharing. I got teary eyed reading about your interaction with the kids in that group. I think it’s so important how connected we all are and that we are here to learn from one another. What a fantastic example. You know those kids will never forget that experience, just like you won’t either. We have the ability to help shape people’s lives positively.

I can’t wait to keep reading.

p.s. I love that song!

By: jesse james meets the GSA (part 1 of 2) « just like jesse james

jesse james meets the GSA (part 1 of 2) « just like jesse james — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 03:13:12 +0000

[...] here for part 2: part 2: jesse james goes to the old high school’s new GSA club My name is jesse james and this website is just like me. read more about me Email [...]

By: a call to action: let the lesbians dance! « just like jesse james

a call to action: let the lesbians dance! « just like jesse james — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:49:28 +0000

[...] the story, in (as) short (as I am capable): A high school in another Smallmindednowhereville, this time in Mississippi has prom coming up, like all schools do. A girl at this high school [...]

By: how kirstie alley made me gay « just like jesse james

how kirstie alley made me gay « just like jesse james — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:05:56 +0000

[...] was when I was 12. I came out to myself at 15. That time it was Sophie B. Hawkins’ fault but that was ok, I was kind of ready, or at least ready as I’d ever [...]

By: ash-a-frash

ash-a-frash — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:30:52 +0000

jesse, it’s so great that you went back to talk to those kids! queer youth always need positive role models, and you seem to be a great pick because you care, but also because you’re not going to sugar-coat things. you’re honest, but in a way that’s appropriate and makes sense and that’s something that’s only just starting to happen. i was one of only a handful of kids who started the gsa at my middle school, and on our very first day of silence, we nearly got ourselves expelled for sticking up for ourselves. we had no teacher coordinator or school psychologist to help us plan meetings or smooth things over with the principal. in fact, i’m not even sure if the gsa continued once we left. this makes me want to go back and see if a). there is a gsa, and b). whether there is or isn’t, if i can help them (get started, if need be). thanks for the wake up call, so to speak! and thanks for being there for those kids!

By: building bridges « just like jesse james

building bridges « just like jesse james — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:35:37 +0000

[...] on Marcus or Fraidy or Violet or the Seal. Or all of the wonderful emails and comments about my visiting the new GSA club at my old haunted high school posts, one email about how you are going to write one of your high school teachers and thank them for [...]

By: ~k

~k — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:19:54 +0000

sure – go big! (i can be famous via you…hooray!) *grin*

you are most-welcome for the comment; thanks for the blog! (mutual admiration society meets Friday afternoons…)
also, just so you know: as an English teacher, i appreciate your appreciation of good words. (too little of that in today’s chat-world…so sad!)

in solidarity,
~k
(btw, ~k on blog = grrlchild on twitter. we’re one and the same. i follow.)

By: jessejames

jessejames — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:19:42 +0000

Wow, ~k, can I quote that at some point? “the cycle of positive reinforcement, so strong…and the ripple effect? immeasurable.” with full credit, of course. I love that. Perfectly said.

‘Immeasurably’ is one of my very favorite words and you used it beautifully.

Thanks for the wonderful comment.

By: ~k

~k — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:59:33 +0000

just (finally) got around to remembering to look for the potentially-2nd-part of this post. so glad it exists!
like others have already noted, your presence and willingness to be visible and honest and true with these kids – invaluable.

sometimes the most important thing is to witness the survival. to know that others have gone through the scary, emotional, heartbreaking times, and made it out the other side as successful, loving, happy, whole beings. who have found love. friends who accept us. families, chosen and otherwise. community. people to come *home* to. safe spaces to land amongst the jagged edges.
because who among us hasn’t felt, at some point on that rollercoaster (be it at 15 or 55) like we can’t? or we won’t? or even don’t want to?

as they give you hope for the future of our societies – how their choices and words and passion will carry us into a new world – you gave them hope for their own futures. a reminder of what can-be, no matter what is-now.

isn’t it fantastic how that works? the cycle of positive reinforcement, so strong…and the ripple effect? immeasurable.

just wow.
~k

By: stumbling onto fabulousness part 1: finding haviland « just like jesse james

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:40:41 +0000

[...] second post on going to my old high school’s new GSA club meeting was up for a few days when all of a sudden it got a big ol’ spike in attention (this is [...]