50% of Tellwut Voters Disagree with Gay-Centric Schools, Online Survey Reveals

(PRWEB) October 10, 2012- A LGBT (Lesbian- Gay - Bisexual -Transgender) high school was recently proposed for the Toronto, Ontario area, similar to The Harvey Milk High School in New York. With over 650 panelists reporting in, Tellwut found that while only 25% agreed with the concept of a gay-centric school, 43% said that they would support their child if he/she wanted to attend such an establishment. After a gay-centric school was proposed for Toronto, Tellwut sought out their voter panel’s opinion on gay-centric schools and how such schools might affect the community. The purpose of a gay-centric school is to provide a place where people can feel safe and secure about their identities without fear of being bullied. Tellwut found that 50% of those who voted believe that this type of school would have a negative impact on LGBT kids as it is singling them out and segregating them from the real world. 25% of voters believe that this is a positive experience since the kids won’t be bullied while the other 25% were unsure of the impact. Comments from the gay-centric survey also revealed a varied difference of opinion. One Tellwut panel member commented that this school is a good thing as they have gay friends who wish they had this type of opportunity when they were younger, while another panellist stated they think the school would teach a negative lesson because people should be taught acceptance of everyone instead of providing the option of segregation. Gay-centric schools are not a new idea. The Harvey Milk High School has been operating in New York City since 1985. Although designed for those who are LGBT, people are able to apply regardless of their sexual orientation or background. The school has a 92% graduation rate which is above the state average and 60% of students go on to post secondary graduation. Tellwut also asked if it was better to send kids to a gay-centric school to segregate kids from bullies or to attempt to stop the bullying. 33% of Tellwut voters felt that sending kids to a gay-centric school would not solve anything and the money should be spent on building awareness of bullying through programs to stop the bullying altogether. Similarly another 33% thought that stopping the bullying was a nice idea but not realistic and that a gay-centric school would be a welcome alternative. 12% said it didn’t matter how it was done, as long as the kids were safe and happy. Interestingly enough, although it appears the majority of voters believe that gay-centric schools would have a negative impact, 43% voted that they would support their child if he or she wanted to attend a gay-centric school, while 40% were not sure and 17% would not support them. Tellwut is an online survey company providing a unique mix of business survey tools, private voter panels and open opinion poll forums. Tellwut’s open forum provides voters the opportunity to vote on, or post surveys, offering online users a unique combination of survey tools and a rewards program, coupled with a social network element that will facilitate dialogue, argument and conversation across an infinite number of subjects. Tellwut’s business application allows organizations, researchers and students to send their own private online surveys or canvass privately the Tellwut panel. Free survey trial packages are available.