by Chris Hamilton

About the author: Chris Hamilton is a former staff reporter for the Minnesota Daily.

University senior Erin Ferguson considers herself one of the lucky ones. When she told her parents in junior high she was a lesbian, her family was supportive. When she entered St. Paul Central High School, there was a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender group that met after classes let out.

Her family and friends were railings on which she pulled herself up and away from the grasp of adolescent depression. She and many medical and counseling professionals claim stress brings on this form of depression. Being homosexual in the conformist and often homophobic atmosphere of junior and senior high schools drives many to make extreme choices.

"If friends, family and school are not supportive, it's hard to do well...