Not only is he open with his fellow teachers and students about being gay, but he also works to combat anti-gay speech against other students.

"I always remind students in every one of these situations that some religious or personal beliefs disagree with gay people, but in school, they will be respectful of diversity and will not bully or offend anyone based on rhetoric that is anti-gay," he said.

Greene gave the student the option to do an extra assignment or to be referred to the principal. The student wrote an essay on the history of the word "faggot" and why it's not appropriate to use in school, as well as the importance of showing respect for others.

"Students may not understand or accept gay people, which is their right, but I will not allow their views to make other students and myself uncomfortable in this environment," said Greene, who teaches government and economics at Chapel Hill High School.

At the N.C. Pride Parade last year, Greene met other gay teachers and later decided to start the Proud Apple Social Club to give teachers who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender a chance to meet and to talk. Up to 40 people show up for meetings.

"It's been a fun way to meet other gay teachers in the area, and having that network is important," said teacher Nick Winstead of Durham. "It has helped me to see just how much progress has been made in regards to gay teachers being able to be open and honest about their lives, while still being professionals."

Green and Winstead, who teaches at Northwood High School in Chatham County, say teachers who are out at school can face negative reactions.

At one school, parents became upset over an anti-bullying workshop that focused on GLBT students. At another, a parent pulled a student from after-school tutoring after finding out the teacher is a lesbian.

Still, Proud Apple members say it's important to spread awareness.

"Being out with my colleagues was helpful in the sense that many times colleagues came to me with questions about the GLBT community or for advice when situations came up that involved gay parents or students at the school or, sometimes, even in their personal life," said John Pickett, who was a teacher in Alamance County, but will be moving to Orange County this school year. "It gave me a great opportunity to help educate people who had little to no experience with gay people."

Winstead said he's the first openly gay person some students have met. "My being out and proud puts a face on something they may not have known much about or had misconceptions of before," he said.

Proud Apple members say it is also important to provide role models for students struggling with opening up about their sexual identity.

Greene shares his story with students at the Gay-Straight Alliance, which he co-sponsors. He came out in college. His father, whom he called "a conservative minister," took the news badly, and the two do not have a relationship. His mother has come to accept it. He now has a partner of five years, whom he met in college.

Greene has heard students say "That's so gay" and has even had a student use the word "faggot" in class. Each time, he said he stopped class and asked the student to step outside to have a discussion. He then talked to the class about how the language is offensive to him and to other students. He said that the students apologized and he never heard them use the language again.

"Equating gay as negative will not be accepted in my classroom," he said. "I have clear expectations regarding [those words] and to make sure all students are treated with respect, including myself. One of my rules is 'be respectful.' I am grateful for the extra protections provided by the General Assembly through the new bullying law."

In 2009, state lawmakers passed a measure requiring schools to create plans to stop bullies who torment other students over real or perceived differences, including sexual orientation.

Jesse Dingle, the principal at Chapel Hill High, said staff participate in anti-bullying and SAFE Zone trainings, which offer GLBT students a safe space such as a principal's office to come to talk.

Other awareness activities at the school include a "coming out day," AIDS education, and a Harvey Milk mural commemorating the gay activist and San Francisco supervisor who was shot in his office.

And for the teachers, there is the Proud Apple Social Club.

"It's a great way to talk about serious issues," Greene said. "We feel like it's a great support, so we want that to extend to other teachers."