Jacob Lawrence Orosco

February 17, 1980 – September 3, 1997

Jacob stood out as a dynamic, funny and seemingly confident young man. An accomplished athlete, a talented gymnast and an inspiration to the fellow members of the Alliance. In early 1996, Jacob was part of a group of students in a battle with Salt Lake City school district. The students at East High School wanted to provide a safe haven for teenagers dealing with issues of sexuality and homophobia and were attempting to organize a Gay-Straight Alliance. The students learned, as dedicated as they were to organize a Gay-Straight Alliance, their opposition proved to be, just as dedicated to prevent them from succeeding. They were up against, the Mormon Church and it's teachings which have a profound and dominant influence on public and schools policy in Utah. State law, also forbids Utah's public school teachers from in any way, implying acceptance or advocacy of homosexuality in the classroom. As the battle waged on, the media brought national attention to the continuing struggle the students were involved in. As the New York Times, along with a number of other national news media followed, the public saw Jacob and the nine other students came face to face with homophobia at it's ugliest. When a group of students from across town, at West High, organized SAFE -- Students Against Fags Everywhere. And if that wasn't horrible enough, a state legislator fueled the flames of homophobia, into a firestorm. When he spoke of "serious concerns about the group's moving into recruitment of fresh meat for the gay population." In an attempt to block the GSA members efforts, the Utah State Legislature passed a law that went as far as banning all extra-curricular clubs to prevent them from convening. Jacob was featured in a documentary film that focused in part on the club's struggle and national reaction to it.

March 2, 1996, Jacob was speaking out on the need for gay teenagers to have organizations of their own. He made this profound and possibly foreboding comment, "To me taking clubs from us is like putting a gun in our hands and waiting for the trigger to be pulled. How many times do we have to walk out of our schools before we are heard... In high school 'our community' clubs give us the feeling of belonging... We need to take a stand and get our clubs back."

Yet, Jacob and his fellow students didn't not give on their dream of a Gay-Straight Alliance at East High. When the Salt Lake City School District, prohibited the Alliance from meeting as a student group and they were effectively prevented from meeting as a non-student group. This was due to the imposition of a ridiculously high rental fee (including $1 million in liability insurance coverage).

The Alliance's response to this was to hold off-campus seminars seeking to underscore the need for the club. One of the meetings was videotaped, it showed Alliance leaders sitting at a table, with signs on the wall behind them listing discussion topics. One of those signs that was directly over Jacob's head, read, "Suicide". This video was shown at a private memorial service the Alliance organized for Jacob. A friend had said, as the video got to this scene, everyone gasped.

Jacob, just began the start of his senior year of high school and as the incoming President of the East High School Gay/Straight Student Alliance at East High School. In his final days, Jacob's time was consumed with reorganizing the Gay/Straight Alliance. He also had a new obstacle to overcome, finding $400 to purchase a $1 million liability insurance policy demanded by the school before the club could resume its evening meetings.

But, just eight days into his senior year of high school, on September 3, 1997, 17 years old Jacob Lawrence Orosco hanged himself at his mother's home. This was devastating loss to his family, those who loved him and considered him a dear friend. Compounding the loss of this exceptional young man, was that his suicide was without a hint of warning. Although, some people who commit suicide frequently drop hints, or become visibly despondent, or will change their personal habits toward the end. Jacob did not exhibit any of these warning signs, nor did anything he say suggest his intentions were leading toward taking his life. Jacob's death only brings the reality home, a great need does exist for such groups or clubs as the Gay-Straight Alliance. And programs that promote tolerance and acceptance of the diversity of each student and of their sexual orientation, must be apart of the curriculum in our schools. The longer that school administrator, boards or districts delay implementing these programs, the greater the danger of more lives will be lost.

One of his former teacher said: "I never met a sweeter, gentler kid. What a loss this is; what an irreplaceable person has been taken from this world. His pain must have been beyond understanding."

A Friend said: "I've actually been friends with Jacob for about three years and we always used to go to the mall and stuff when we were really depressed and try on clothes that were way too expensive for us to afford."

Kelli Peterson, co-founder of the Alliance said: "My last word on the subject is that I miss Jacob terribly. I fear that others will look upon his suicide as an acceptable means to deal with the loss of Jacob. I don't know if I could handle the loss of another friend to such doubt and mystery. I love Jacob for the ways that he touched my life. But I feel such overwhelming rage toward him for not considering anyone but himself in his final hours."

Resources: New York Times and PlanetOut News.

R. Zeke Fread

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