> everyone else in the class - all straight as far as I knew then and, with one exception, as far as I know now - they said everything I would have and more be

> everyone else in the class - all straight as far as I knew then and, with one exception, as far as I know now - they said everything I would have and more besides. Louder and more persistently than I would have, too. And yeah, in theory there was a power differential there, Authority vs. School Kids, but you know what? That woman turned out not even to have what it took to stand up to a room full of teenagers talking. She fled in disarray, and I have never in my life before or since felt more safe than I did at the end of that half hour. Or felt less alone. That's such a heart warming story to read. Thanks for posting it here. I read up about Matthew Shepard. He died 20 years ago, which means your story is equally old. Impressive!