Despite anti-discrimination laws and growing sentiment toward the gay rights movement, gay and lesbian teenagers who live in rural and high-poverty communities face increased amounts of bullying and harassment than their peers in suburban and urban areas, according to a 2009 study by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network published in the "Journal of Youth and Adolescence. "Ironically, a lot of our LGBT students are not members of GSA clubs because it is still way too scary to come out in our area," said Mindy Hardgrave, a teacher at Hanford West High School who established the first Gay-Straight Alliance club in Kings and Tulare County eight years ago.