BLOOMINGTON - For several months, The Pantagraph and the McLean County Diversity Project have been involved in a joint project exploring the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students.

Project members Madison Roberts, a student at Tri-Valley High School in Downs, Steven Davis from Normal Community West High School and Manish Mandava, a student at Normal Community High School, worked with Pantagraph reporter Edith Brady-Lunny. The students interviewed LGBT students and parents and attended a forum sponsored by the Central Illinois Safe Schools Alliance. They also conducted research into challenges facing LGBT students.

The students worked together to write the accompanying story on the consequences of revealing one's sexual orientation. Related stories in today's Money and Values sections address variations of that theme.

Diversity Project director Jeff Schwartz encourages students to explore and accept the differences among people. Students are required to complete individual and group projects to qualify for trips that "create unique learning opportunities that cultivate self-awareness, self-confidence and leadership skills in our scholars," said Schwartz, who also is mayor of Downs.

The McLean County Diversity Project Web site is www.mcleancountydiversity.org.