Two students:

"I'm Isabel Medina. I'm 18-years-old and I'm a senior at West High School."

"I'm Seb Harris. I go to Memorial and I'm 16-years-old."

"I identify as gay or queer," says Isabel. "I'm really not a fan of the word lesbian. For me, it doesn't feel right, doesn't fit. I actually came out when I was 11, right before 6th grade started."

"I very much [identify] as bisexual," Seb says. "50-50 is generally how people think it. It was in 8th grade, I had been questioning my sexuality for about a year."

Two stories:

"I've been pushed into lockers before and had things thrown at me," Isabel says.

"There was some pushing; it was really under-cover type stuff," says Seb.

Two struggles at school:

"I encountered a lot of harassment; that's really hard," states Isabel.

“It (the harassment) really got to me," Seb adds. "It sucks, it's no fun."

Isabel and Seb are far from alone. A 2003 study found more than half of students, out in Wisconsin middle and high schools, reported feeling unsafe because of their sexual orientation.

"I was actually very frightened for her in middle school," says Jan Sternbach, Isabel's mother.

Jan says she quickly accepted her daughter for who she is. "I admire her, actually," she says. "I think she's a cool kid."

But, Jan says she knew Isabel faced an uphill battle outside their home.

"A lot of people my age had never encountered anyone who identified as anything but straight or ever felt the need to identify," Isabel says.

She skipped school, at times, to avoid ridicule from classmates she used to call friends.

"I definitely struggled a lot, really early on, with depression," says Isabel.

"I think she slightly understated her depression issues," her mother adds. "It was sometimes scary to send her off to school."

Wisconsin is one of 10 states that require schools to protect students from being harassed based on their sexual orientation. The law backs up staff members who try to stop inappropriate language.

"The comments like 'that's so gay' and very stereotypical comments can really break your day," says Seb.

He is president of Memorial's Gay-Straight-Alliance. It's a student club that's growing in Wisconsin schools. Nearly 80 exist around the state. GSAs work to promote school safety.

"There's one friend that constantly tells me people are talking about me behind my back," says Seb. "But, otherwise, I feel pretty safe here (at school)."

"That's certainly been a fear of ours," says Lisa Harris, Seb's mother. "We've watched him, at times, be ostracized from other students."

Seb's parents are his biggest backers.

"I've struggled at times that he doesn't play baseball than the fact he's bisexual," jokes Alan Harris, Seb's father.

Alan and Lisa support their son's every move to make school halls less intimidating for himself and others.

"He has had so many adults, at the school, who have empowered him," Alan adds.

He speaks not just as a parent, but as a high school administrator.

"Regardless of his sexual preference or identity, the important thing is a sense of their own value and sense of belonging," says Alan.

The U.S. Census Bureau does not track sexual orientation; 10-percent of the population is often said to be gay. If that is, indeed true, then there are more than 125,000 LGB people under the age of 18 in Wisconsin; many of whom are living in silence.

"The most important thing for teens to remember is it's OK to be themselves and they don't have to be scared; they are not alone," says Isabel.

Seb and Isabel are out and proud at school; it’s a choice they made and are not trying to push on anyone.

Both have their sights set on the future, one that is more accepting in and outside of the classroom.

"I'm getting harassed less and less and that's so amazing," Isabel says.

"We're just trying to lead our lives," Seb adds.

Madison has a school counselor whose sole responsibility is to provide support to gay, lesbian and bisexual teens.

The capitol city is also home to GSAFE, Gay Straight Alliance for Safe Schools.

We've put together a list of resources for LGB students and their parents. You'll find it under our News Links section.