Battling bullying, fighting for equality

Along with the Miss New York title comes the opportunity to travel the state and speak to students about issues such as anti-bullying and respect to reaffirm that bullying doesn’t have to be a part of growing up.

As a part of the schools Human Rights Day celebration Miss New York 2010, Claire Buffie, was invited to Hewlett High School by the school’s Right to Equality Club on March 25.

“Because of my title as Miss New York and the glittery crown on my head, I have the opportunity to go into schools and speak about anti-bullying and respect which may be a conversation students might not have had before,” Buffie said, about her second visit to the school.

Following her 2009 loss at the Miss Jubilee pageant where Walter Lastowski, a Hewlett-Woodmere middle and high school chorus teacher, was the judge, Buffie was invited to choreograph the high school’s fall 2009 musical, “Guys and Dolls.” “This is my home turf,” she said about Hewlett.

Senior Diana Abourafeh said she was involved in “Guys and Dolls” when Buffie was the choreographer. “She has a light about her and is so kind,” Abourafeh said about Buffie. “She has the ability to connect with younger kids and understand what we feel.”

An Indianapolis, Ind. native, Buffie has lived in New York City for more than three years. She enjoys NYC’s pace and diversity, and considers both places as her home.

At the January 2011 Miss America pageant, Buffie won America’s Choice, an award that the public voted on using their mobile phone or the Internet, and was able to present her platform, “Straight for Equality: Let’s Talk,” about human rights, equality and gay rights.

In the pageant’s 90-year history, Buffie was the first Miss America contestant to speak about gay rights. When she entered the pageant, Buffie was told she would not win if she didn’t change her platform but she refused.

“This is what I chose to fight for,”

she said.

Buffie said several of her friends and her older sister are gay. She considers herself a ‘Straight Ally’ and said you don’t have to be gay to support gay rights.

Sophomore Samantha Fischer, a member of the Right to Equality Club, said it’s rare to see someone bullied at the school and thinks the club is making a difference.

After a club presentation earlier that day, Fischer said she overheard a student talking to his friend regretting bullying another student and said, “Wow, maybe I shouldn’t have done that.”

Abourafeh said she’s proud Buffie is fighting for an issue that means a lot to her. “I hope other people walk away from today feeling better about themselves and learn to accept others.”