Sunday, February 10, 2013

Students, parents want lgbt students banned from the prom

Oh. My. God. This is a hot mess. Students and parents from Sullivan High School in Sullivan, IN actually want to ban lgbt students from their prom.

A team of Valley high schoolers and parents petition to ban gays from their prom.

NBC 2's Paige Preusse reports how Sullivan High School says there's nothing legally they can do to allow it... several students and parents are taking matters into their own hands. Several parents, students, and others who believe gays should be banned from the Sullivan High School prom met Sunday at the Sullivan First Christian Church.

"We don't agree with it and it's offensive to us," said Diana Medley.

Their idea is to create a separate...traditional prom. Students say there are several others from their high school who agree, but are afraid to take a stand.

 "If we can get a good prom then we can convince more people to come and follow what they believe," said student Kynon Johnson.

And now they want everyone to know where they stand.

 "We want to make the public see that we love the homosexuals, but we don't think it's right nor should it be publicly accepted," said a local student.

 But not all in the community think what they're doing is right. "We shouldn't be condemning people, and that's what judgement is. Christ came to save the people not to condemn them." Local man Jim Davis says we've all sinned...so why should gays be treated with less respect? "Love them as a person. You don't have to love what they do, because the gays may not love all the mistakes you make," said Davis.

The sad part is that Davis was the only person who spoke out against this awful idea. The television report (what you are reading is the transcript from the televised news report which does not allow embedded links) did not seek out anyone who was lgbt or an lgbt ally.

But if you think that is sad, check out this next passage:

Diana Medley is a special education teacher in town. She doesn't believe anyone is born gay. "I believe that it was life circumstances and they chose to be that way; God created everyone equal," said Medley. "I don't understand it. A gay person isn't going to come up and make some change unless it's to realize that it was a choice and they're choosing God," said Medley. 

God help the lgbt student who goes to her school because Medley has shown that she will close them out if they come to her for help.  I can't imagine what she would do if she sees an lgbt student being bullied.

When this controversy goes viral - and I have a feeling that it shall - I am betting that groups like the Family Research Council, the National Organization for Marriage, and networks like Fox News will rally to the side of these awful individuals.

I'm sorry for those who get offended by my words but these children and these parents are terrible.  This is not merely expressing an opinion, it is mass bullying of lgbt students, some who are probably already struggling with their sexual orientation and are having feelings of sadness, isolation and depression.

Imagine a community of people attacking you, not because of anything you did, but because of their prejudices regarding who you are.

For those who whine that "gays are the bullies," you need to sit your ass down and check out what's going on here.

If there are some lgbts who can be called bullies, it's because incidents like this have taught us well.

Editor's note - Those who want to see the video news report can see it here.

UPDATE - The video seems to have disappeared from the page and the article has been altered. The lead now reads "A team of Valley high schoolers and parents rally for a traditional prom that bans gays."

UPDATE 2 - The video is back up but it has been altered. It and the article seems to have been altered to include more information on Medley, including this passage:

Diana Medley is a special education teacher in town. She doesn't believe anyone is born gay."I believe that it was life circumstances and they chose to be that way; God created everyone equal," said Medley.

"Homosexual students come to me with their problems, and I don't agree with them, but I care about them. It's the same thing with my special needs kids, I think God puts everyone in our lives for a reason," said Medley.

For those who are curious as to what the original news report said, here it is saved from youtube:


 

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is an outrage. Obviously these students have had their hate and disapproval drilled into them by their parents.

Arlene said...

"We want to make the public see that we love the homosexuals, but we don't think it's right nor should it be publicly accepted" <--- this sentence is entirely contradictory. Nothing about this action screams love. Public denial and humiliation is what this is, and that screams hate.

Anonymous said...

Wow, I thought we left segregation behind us. This is a completely new form of it.

Erica Cook said...

You know, I'm both a lesbian and LD. I'd hate to think what would have happened if I had had her as an aid in my education. Doesn't she see her LD students called lazy and retarted? Doesn't she see how people already punish people for being different? How can she not see she's doing the exact same thing?

Anonymous said...

Someone should start a petition for that teacher to resign or at lest be investigated!

Anonymous said...

Imagine what they would say, let alone do --- if they knew I am a transwoman and working as a high school nurse. And people wonder why refuse to go public... Do not want bullets shot at me....

CassiBelles said...

I thought it might be a good idea to update this schools wikipedia page to reflect their failure to tackle bigotry so did!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sullivan_High_School#Demographics

Anonymous said...

I wonder how they would respond if they knew I am a transwoman high school nurse. Probably nothing good I am sure. And people wonder why I do not go public.....

Joel said...

I shared the article on my FB with a plea for my christian friends to let the teacher know what actual love looks like. https://www.facebook.com/diana.alumbaughmedley

Joel said...

I posted the article to my FB page with a plea for my christian friends to contact Ms. Medley and let her know what christian love is actually like.

https://www.facebook.com/diana.alumbaughmedley

I think the school is right; they can't do anything if students organize their own prom except try to educate their students about how this action is bullying.

Anonymous said...

Its on youtube

brooke said...

"I don't understand it." Yeap that explains why most homophobes feel the way they do. I'm amazed that she voiced that but still doesn't get that it's HER misunderstanding that is the issue, not the lgbtqi community. Also... this "educator" claims that gays choose to be homosexual because god created everyone equally. Well as a special education teacher she should be pretty aware that not all people are born exactly alike.

Anonymous said...

I am a senior at Sullivan High School. Just wanted to let all of you know it is NOT the school that is banning same sex couples!! I hate how the school is being made out as the bad guy, that is not the case at all. The only prom that's banning them is the "traditional prom" that is being held somewhere else (it is not supported by the school). The only way they can go to the traditional prom is if they go with someone of the opposite sex. Sullivan High School is ACCEPTING the same sex couples and the staff at SHS is for the same sex couples going and so are the majority of student and people in the community!!!! I absolutely hate how my town is getting called Anti-Gay Bigots because a few "Christians" are planning a separate prom! Not all of Sullivan is like that I can damn well guarantee it. It appalls me that some people in my community cant accept others for who they are, but like i said not all of us are that narrow minded so please stop saying all of Sullivan County is like that because we aren't. My date (who is a guy) and I are attending the school prom that is ALLOWING same sex couples to go!Please like this Facebook group it will help! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Support-the-Sullivan-High-School-Prom-for-All-Students/611335158883992

Not Important said...

Don't apologize. Those people actually are terrible.

BlackTsunami said...

Dear Anonymous, thank you for that. I will include it in the post ;p

Sam Burgett said...

Traditional prom would include bumping and grinding, slutty dresses, and basically sex on the dance floor I'm sure. Nothing "traditional" about that either, and yet they allow it as long as they're straight couples. It makes me sick that people are -still- doing this. Kids in high school and middle school have a rough enough time. I wish I had the money to open a private school for LGBT kids so they had somewhere to go to be accepted and have a decent environment to grow up in.