Iowa high school students who are openly gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered often endure physical and verbal harassment, stinging insults and other acts of discrimination from their peers and even from their school’s administration, faculty and staff.

More than 200 people, who attended the public forum “Making Our Schools Safe for GLBT Students” in the Ames Municipal Auditorium Wednesday night, hope to change this reality.

The forum was organized by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) Youth in Iowa Schools Task Force, a coalition of educators, civil rights and GLBT advocates, in partnership with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission. The Ames Human Relations Commission hosted a reception following the forum.

Carolyn Cutrona, professor of psychology at Iowa State and member of the six-person panel, said she was wearing two hats Wednesday night, one as a research psychologist and a second as the mother of a lesbian who attends Ames High School.

“My first reaction was fear,” Cutrona said, describing her response when her daughter confided to her that she was a lesbian. “I was terrified with how the world would treat my little brown-eyed girl whom I cherished.”

The Rev. David Ruhe, senior minister at the Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ of Des Moines and panelist, spoke about the role of Christianity of in the lives of GLBT students.

“In a sense, it’s a tragedy that we’re having a meeting like this,” Ruhe said. He said although many churches have been part of the solution in the acceptance of GLBT students, some have also been part of the problem.

“My personal belief is sexuality is a gift from God,” Ruhe said. “It exists in a variety of forms.”

Former Gilbert High School student Jerryn Johnston, now a freshman at the University of Iowa, attended the forum along with his mother, Sue Ellen Tuttle, communications specialist for the ISU College of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Tuttle and her son unsuccessfully challenged the Gilbert School Board last year to include sexual orientation in the school’s anti-discrimination policy.

Johnston said he believed the forum was important for GLBT youth to realize they are not alone in their plight. He said it also encourages open discussion of issues pertaining to GLBT students. “If it weren’t for forums like this, people wouldn’t be talking about it,” Johnston said.