PHILADELPHIA -- Gang concerns brought parents and students together Wednesday at a West Philadelphia middle school. But the kind of gang may surprise you.
The gang is allegedly called DTO (for Dykes Taking Over) and made up of self-styled lesbian students.
Slideshow: Lesbian Gang Creates Concern At School
Girls at the Turner Middle School allege that the lesbian students are harassing them with gay remarks. The straight students say lesbians are bullying, groping and harassing them in gym and in the girl's bathrooms.
Parents of the students say the harrassment must stop before it becomes violent.
"I told them, 'No.' And they kept bothering us. (They) kept coming to us asking us to become gay," said Felicia Anderson (pictured, left), a straight student.
Anderson, 14, said she doesn't like it and it makes her cry.
Wednesday morning, Felicia and her mother joined around 24 other parents and students to meet with school officials behind closed doors for two hours at Turner Middle School.
"(I am) very angry. Now my daughter is afraid to come to school," said Tonya Grandy, a parent of a student who said she was harrassed.
Other parents said they were also fed up with the sexual harassment from as many as a dozen 8th-graders at Turner.
"She called me last week screaming and hollering and crying because they had her in the gym cornered off, telling her what they were gonna make her do," said Renee Alexander.
"Don't nobody wanna be gay. Don't nobody wanna be harassed. Don't nobody wanna be scared to come to school," said Kendra Branch, a student.
State Rep. Ron Waters, who attended the meeting, said all students were reminded about the school's code of conduct. It includes policies against bullying and sexual harassment with consequences.
"(You don't have to) accept it as part of growing up. They're violating your right," Waters explained.
Perhaps the most productive moment came when one mother, Barbara Crawford, whose daughter has been accused of harassment asked for help.
"Accusations, fighting and all that. Maybe my daughter is causing trouble. Maybe not. I know it's a change and I need help. I'm going to do something about it if I have to walk her to school and pick her up -- or even transfer her to another school," Crawford said.
Crawford said she is pleased with how the school is handling this situation. Philadelphia schools have a zero tolerance policy regarding harassment and bullying. Officials at Turner Middle School declined comment on Wednesday's meeting.
Copyright 2004 by NBC10.com. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Girls Fear Lesbian Gangs
