The Rainbow Report recently sat down to speak with Clayton Stover.  Clayton is a member of the Saint Albans High School class of 2009.  He is the 2nd District Coordinator for the West Virginia Young Democrats and founded the first Young Democrats Club at SAHS.  Last fall, he interned at the Obama headquarters in Charleston.  In April, Clayton addressed the Kanawha County School Board on the issue of adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the school system’s cultural diversity policy.

Rainbow Report:  Hello, Clayton. And thank you for agreeing to talk with us.
Clayton Stover: Thanks for having me.

RR: Overall, how would you describe your experience as an “out” teenager in St. Albans, West Virginia?
CS: I’m not sure “out” would define me, but maybe it does. My friends and my mother know. And other students assume, but I do not “flaunt” my sexuality around. I am Clayton and happen to be homosexual. And my friends and mom have been more than accepting. Of course you have a couple rude people, but you’ll have that anywhere.

RR: But giving a presentation to the Board of Education and appearing in all the local news media is hardly the act of someone who is in the closet. Not a lot of people in a rural state like West Virginia, much less someone who is still a student, would have the nerve to stand up and do something like that. How difficult was it for you once it was actually your turn to step up to the podium and speak?

CS: My nerves were shot minutes before I went up and spoke, but I remembered what I was talking about and why and I felt confident. You start to think how little being nervous means when you know what is at stake.

RR: How old were you when you initially came out and what has the process been like for you?
CS: Well, there wasn’t a specific event or day that I “came out”. I started to realize and accept myself in 10th and 11th grade. It was a long process though.

RR: Have your fellow students been generally accepting of your decision to live openly?
CS: Yes. My fellow students have been great. Every now and then you may hear a rude comment in the halls, but that is expected and I don’t pay attention it now.

RR: How did you come to address the Board of Education on the issue of sexual orientation and diversity? What sort of response have you gotten so far from your teachers and classmates?
CS: I was reading through the handbook and policies and noticed “sexual orientation” was never mentioned, so I thought it would be a good thing to leave behind after I graduate. The response has been really great from everyone.

RR: Most of our readers, and any GLBT person much over the age of 30, will have come of age without the benefit of the internet or of many positive gay role models in the media. How do you think things might be different for GLBT youth today than they were 15 or more years ago?
CS: I think the GLBT youth now, because of the Internet, can be “out” and be more active. Fifteen years ago, no one [in West Virginia] really wanted to address this issue and it was swept under the rug. These teenagers now realize that this is who they are and they are going to demand the respect and acceptance they deserve.

RR: Are there any books, tv shows, movies, or media figures that have been particularly influential in your life?
CS: Hm … I think Rachel Maddow is really great. She is out and very successful with her TV Show. And she doesn’t make her being gay a big deal, like some do. She is a TV Host and she happens to be gay too. A book that I loved reading too was “Leave Myself Behind.”

RR: Last I heard, you were expecting to attend Shepherd University in the fall to study political science … is the still the plan? What are you hoping to do after college?
CS: Yes, that is the plan. I am not quite sure what I am going to do after. I am trying to take it day by day right now. My life has gotten very busy with everything going on now.

RR: What advice would you give to other GLBT students in your age group?
CS: Hm. Some advice I would give is to be yourself, no matter what. Do not be afraid of doing that. It is simple but it was helpful for me.

RR: What do you think Rainbow Pride of West Virginia could be doing to better serve the GLBT youth of our community?
CS: That is a hard task, because the GLBT youths are just now figuring out who they are and they are unsure about a lot of things. So you can’t push things on them, but you still want to encourage them and help them. I think just getting the word out that Rainbow Pride is there would be great.

RR: On a lighter note, now that you’re 18, have you been out to the gay clubs at all? How would you rate the “scene” here in the Charleston-Huntington area?
CS: I have been to Trax and Stonewall. I am not much of a party person myself but it was a nice experience. [laughs] I’m the person that enjoys dinner and a movie much more than the clubs.

RR: Thanks again, Clayton. Everyone here at Rainbow Pride is very appreciative of your activism. And we wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
CS: Thank you very much. It was great talking with you!