Posts Tagged ‘Queer Culture’

Student Non-Discrimination Act petition

Friday, March 12th, 2010

As often as we might think today’s kids face less discrimination and violence than we older LGBT folk did in our day, they’re still facing harassment, bullying and violence both from their classmates and hostile officials and faculty who think their own personal religious beliefs should be imposed on all. These narrow-minded individuals need to get hip to the fact that ours is not a one size fits all world.

Over at Change.org, the Stonewall Democrats are asking for support (and signatures) for United States Congressman Jared Polis’ Student Non-Discrimination Act:

By now many have heard about the drama surrounding Prom at the Itawamba Agricultural High School in Mississippi. After a lesbian student named Constance McMillen was told she wouldn’t be able to bring her girlfriend as her date to Prom, the ACLU intervened on her behalf and the school eventually cancelled the Prom altogether. School officials are currently encouraging a private prom be organized that can continue to deny Constance and her girlfriend entrance.

What’s happening in Mississippi unfortunately happens all too often around the country, and not just during Prom season. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students — and those students who are perceived to be LGBT or who associate with LGBT students — are subjected to discrimination, including harassment, bullying, violence; and are deprived of equal access to educational opportunities.

Congressman Jared Polis took a stand earlier this year to fight for LGBT students when he introduced the Student Non-Discrimination Act. “Like Title VI for minorities in the 60s and Title IX for women in the 70s,” Congressman Polis said at the time of the bill’s introduction, “my legislation puts LGBT students on an equal footing with their peers, so they can attend school and get a quality education, free from fear.”

Tell your Representative in Congress to co-sponsor the Student Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 4530), so Constance McMillen — and every student — can have equal access to public education.

(emphasis: from the source)

Take a minute to read the petition, sign it and pass it along to your friends, family members and co-workers.

Humanists to stage inclusive MS prom

Friday, March 12th, 2010

According to a release from the American Humanist Association this morning:

Humanists and freethinkers have a history of speaking up for the rights of all. The AHA was among the first to support civil rights, equal pay for equal work, and the right of same-sex couples to marry. Recently the AHA launched the LGBT Humanist Council to advance equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families. (www.lgbthumanists.org).

Consequently:

Humanists Prepare to Hold LGBT-Inclusive Prom in Mississippi

The American Humanist Association (AHA) stepped forward today and offered to plan and fund a prom for the Itawamba County Agricultural High School in Mississippi. The Itawamba County School District made headlines earlier this week by cancelling their prom rather than letting a lesbian student, Constance McMillen, bring her girlfriend as her date.

It’s shameful that closed-minded members of the school board are prepared to deprive an entire class of students their prom over their outdated religious mores.” said Roy Speckhardt, Executive Director of the AHA. “People can hold to any belief or no belief in this nation, but the school board misuses their position when they try to impose their beliefs on the student population in Itawamba.

(emphasis: mine)

18-year-old student Constance McMillen told school authorities that she planned to attend the high school’s prom with her lesbian girlfriend wearing a tux. When the Itawamba County School District freaked out, the American Civil Liberties Union stepped in. The Mississippi school district then cancelled the prom entirely.

The full text of the AHA’s media release can be read at the link.

More posts about Constance McMillen:

Contact the school district and officials:

Superintendent Teresa McNeece
tmcneece@itawamba.k12.ms.us
Phone: (662) 862-2159 Ext. 14

Principal Trae Wiygul
twiygul@itawamba.k12.ms.us
Phone: (662) 862-3104

School Board Member Eddie Hood
a082315@allstate.com

School Board Member Jackie Nichols
jnichols@itawamba.k12.ms.us

School Board Member Harold Martin
hmartin@itawamba.k12.ms.us

School Board Member Clara Brown
cbrown@network-one.com

School Board Member Tony Wallace
twallace@nexband.com

Constance McMillen on CBS News

Friday, March 12th, 2010

Constance McMillen, 18, and her lawyer Christine Sun spoke to Erica Hill about the lawsuit over her high school’s refusal to allow same-sex couples to attend prom (video: CBS News Online at YouTube)

Help Constance go to her prom

Friday, March 12th, 2010

Help Constance Go To Her Prom (video: HomophobicWatch at YouTube)

Sean Chapin has launched a new YouTube channel:

Homophobic Watch is a YouTube channel designed to (1) raise awareness of acts of homophobia around the country and (2) galvanize the LGBT community to stand up and respond to these acts.

Let the Itawamba County School District hear from you:

Superintendent Teresa McNeece
tmcneece@itawamba.k12.ms.us
Phone: (662) 862-2159 Ext. 14

Principal Trae Wiygul
twiygul@itawamba.k12.ms.us
Phone: (662) 862-3104

Send a FAX: (662) 862-5494.

The Facebook group: “Let Constance Take Her Girlfriend to Prom.”

Zap this bigot in the bud

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Lorie Zapf wants to replace City Councilmember Donna Frye, but she might not be all that comfy hanging with some of San Diego’s other elected officials, according to CityBeat’s Justin McLachlan:

“I absolutely want to keep homosexuals out of public office and not be allowed to influence our schools, textbooks, altering marriage, children, and on and on,’ [San Diego City Council wannabe Lorie] Zapf wrote in a 2006 e-mail exchange obtained by CityBeat between her and James Hartline, an anti-gay activist.

[ ... ]

She also made it a point to tell him she supported his cause: “I like that you are trying to keep homosexuals and homosexual activists out of public office because we both know what the long term agenda is.” And later: “I do believe homosexuality is a sin. I have three homosexual first cousins. I love them all and would ‘be seen’ in a photo with them. I believe they all live in sin and frankly all are very unhappy people and had horrible childhoods as well.”

Has Zapf progressed from those statements?

When presented with copies of the e-mail, Zapf said her comments to Hartline “do not accurately reflect my views or actions then or now. For many years prior and after this e-mail, I’ve hired gays in my business and have endorsed gays for elected office. But, I recognize my words may still be hurtful, and I apologize for them sincerely.”

And … puft! … as if by magic, her comments vanished in a puff of rainbow-colored patchouli smoke and we all lived happily ever after and got along famously.

Not.

One thing to remember: Closeted homophobia festers in the dark looking for a release.