Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 25, No. 13, Ed. 1 Friday, August 15, 2008 Page: 13 of 60
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GED
Continued from Page 1
to grow. About 28 percent of gay youth drop out
of high school, usually to escape the harassment,
violence and alienation they face. The goal of
YFT's program is to provide them with a safe
place to prepare for the future.
"If you don't have a high school degree, you're
going to be working minimum wage jobs for the
rest of your life," said Dumont, who launched
the program shortly after joining YFT. "It's one of
those things — if you build it, they will come."
Dumont said for many of the youth in the pro-
gram — some of whom dropped out of school as
early as the seventh grade — die biggest obstacle
is low self-esteem.
"When society is calling you a bad person,
sooner or later you start to believe that you're a
bad person," Dumont said. "That's the thought
process we have to go in and disrupt."
While many of the students in the program
were victims of harassment at school, some also
faced difficulties at home. Scott Moriarty, 18, for-
merly of Grapevine, said he was kicked out by
his Southern Baptist parents earlier this year.
"They told me I needed to get out of their
house if I wasn't going to at least try to be a het-
erosexual," Moriarty said.
Now, Moriarty is staying with friends and
brushing up on his math skills in preparation for
the GED test. Moriarty said he plans to eventual-
ly go into nursing.
"I recommend this program to everybody/'
said Moriarty, who was sporting rainbow-
striped, long-sleeved gloves in the GED class this
week. "You could be an 82-year-old black lady in
a wheelchair with one eye and they're not going
to discriminate against you. It's completely open,
and I like that."
Indeed, the program is open even to straight
youth.
Jessica Montelongo, 21, said she heard about
the GED classes from her gay brother, 17-year-
old Jesus, who attends YFT.
Jessica Montelongo, a high school dropout
with an 18-month-old son, said she's tried other
GED programs but didn't find them as helpful.
At YFT, the students get one-on-one tutoring in
each of the five subjects covered by the test.
"They really motivate us," Montelongo said.
"You have a lot more support."
Even the volunteer tutors say they're learning
from the program. Kenny Schreiber, 22, who was
tutoring Bounthavy in reading and writing this
week, said he recently graduated from
Southwestern University in Georgetown with a
degree in English.
"I'm looking at going into teaching as a profes-
sion/" Schreiber said.
Although the program is currently staffed by
volunteers, Dumont said once it has more than
15 students, it will be eligible for assistance from
the Dallas Independent School District.
In the meantime, YFT is seeking donations and
more supplies, including computer software,
graphing calculators, GED books and study
materials.
"We've got a lot of marketing to do, but it's all
just a matter of time," Dumont said.
For more information on the program, e-mail
Dumont at judithd@youthfii'st.org.
E-mail wright@dallasvoice.com
Deaths
TO PLACE A NOTICE
We print notices of deaths of members of the GLBT communi-
ty at no fee. A questionnaire is available to assist you in
organizing the information. Certain information is required.
The questionnaire can be e-mailed, faxed or mailed to you
You may supply photos as prints (color or B&W) or scans (min.
300 d.p.i. at 3X5). For more information or to submit a notice,
e-mail nash@dallasvoice.com or call 214-754-8710 ext. 128
ywx>, «
G'x
Daniel Wayne Oats, 59, died Aug. 6 in an
auto accident on Oak Lawn Avenue in Dallas.
Oats, who worked with Parkgate Dallas, was
a Dallas native and had lived here all his life,
except for his col-
lege years when he
went to school in
Waco. He had
worked in security
for a number of
nightclubs in
Dallas over the
years.
Oats is survived
by his
Ronnie
Cabaniss
cousin,
K.
of
Buddy"
/ / / / Think style. Think value.
Think high-end finishes and
desired amenities. Like granite
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appliances, and wood laminate
floors. Like an 1800 sq. ft. Athletic
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Fitzhugh requires no trade-offs.
You get all the extras—without
the extravagance.
You're so smart.
You Think Outside the Knox.
Rowlett, and by his friend, Harold
Stouffe of Lancaster.
A public memorial service will be held at 3
p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, at Park Gate, 2801
Wyclilff Ave., with Fr. James Bryant officiating.
AlexanFitzhugh.com
2707 N, Fitzhugh Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75204 f ■ tt-^.
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08.15.08 I dallas voice I 13
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Nash, Tammye. Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 25, No. 13, Ed. 1 Friday, August 15, 2008, newspaper, August 15, 2008; Dallas, Texas. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth239025/m1/13/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.