Meanwhile, official reluctance to support gay youths gave way to growing respect for her work.

Schools have been particularly reluctant to address the issue of gay youth.

He received a private message that night from another gay youth in California, and they chatted by computer for three hours.

But problems for gay youth are not only at school.

But gay youth say they have much to fight for.

Some gay youths have said they were beaten in full view of shelter staff members who did nothing to help.

"But it's frankly better than nothing, which is what gay youth have had before."