Kids who attend Sullivan High School in Indiana are petitioning to have a ‘traditional prom.’ Just what do they mean by ‘traditional?’ They want gays banned from attending.
A group of Indiana-based parents, teens and even a teacher is fighting for a separate “traditional” prom that would ban gay students.
As NBC 2/My Wabash Valley is reporting, special education teacher Diana Medley is defending a group of Sullivan High School students who are arguing in favor of the alternate prom.
“Homosexual students come to me with their problems, and I don’t agree with them, but I care about them,” Medley told the news station. “It’s the same thing with my special needs kids; I think God puts everyone in our lives for a reason.”When asked whether or not gay people have a “purpose” in life, Medley added, “No, I honestly don’t. Sorry, but I don’t … 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.”
Medley was just one of several parents, students and others who reportedly met Feb. 10 at the Sullivan First Christian Church demanding that gay students be barred from attending the dance. “We want to make the public see that we love the homosexuals, but we don’t think it’s right nor should it be accepted,” one local student is quoted as saying.
It seems that Miss Medley (maybe she should have been a music teacher.) is setting herself up for failure. With strong beliefs like hers, it doesn’t seem that she would be able to meet the needs of all the students, since about 5-10% of the population is gay. Additionally, it would seem to me that gay students would be just as eligible to attend a school function as heterosexual students. Everyone should have to play by the same rules.
The war has also spilled over to Facebook where overwhelming support is being shown for the gay students. Here is one suggestion:
Among those to sound off on the news is LGBT activist Dan Savage, who wrote in his blog:
“There’s no way to stop the haters at Sullivan High School from holding an independent prom for the special bigoted kids. But here’s what we can do: we can make a noise so loud enough that all the queer kids at Sullivan High School hear it. Those kids need to know that there are people — a lot of people — who think this sh*t is wrong.”
At some point, these students are going to have to acknowledge that their world has changed and it is no longer acceptable to just shove people aside because you don’t like what or who they are. If those students want a gay free prom, perhaps their church could sponsor a dance for them.
Clarification: It seems that Special Ed teacher Medley is NOT a teacher in that district. She is just involved in the outside parent group. That was NOT made clear.
At first I thought this story was interesting. Abject idiocy is slways interesting. But reading it more closely I see that this was “several” parents, not some big grassroots movement in the town. So, i consider this a non-story.
Near as I can tell, homophobia in America is diminishing.
It was this or the state of the union address, Rick, so it became the story. SOTU tends to be a cheerleading session. Scout and I seemed to be the only ones interested in the dog show. I couldn’t even get anyone to be cutty about the woman who handled the giant schnauzer or the in general ugly clothes the women wear there. Sigh.
I don’t see a problem with gay kids going to prom and I’m sure a majority of the students at this school don’t either. However, Dan Savage is probably the last person I would have speak on the issue. He is a worse bully then any of these kids or parents.
Is he that radio idiot who makes Limbaugh look like a little lamb?
re Peterson?
I was more concerned that a teacher in the building was leading the charge. She needs to be transferred or perhaps removed all together for being that outspoken. She really is out of line.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/12/anti-gay-diana-medley-billy-madison-video_n_2671353.html
There is an update to this story. Miss Medley is not a teacher in that particular school district. I am not sure why she is even involved. See 2nd video.
Sounds like this had very little to do with the “kids”, and much more to do with a few cranky adults.
PS: Moon. as you surmised, I did spend some time with Westminster this week. My big dog bias was not at all rewarded. My Black Russian Terrier breed got nowhere. Oh well, there’s always next year.
I think they could do a world of good to have a companion mixed breed show. Not sure quite how it would be organized. But it would be good for encouraging pound adoptions to show off some of the amazing varieties one gets when the AKC genomes are thrown to the winds of dog-lust chance.
WHAT!!!!????
Kids dancing? toGETHER!? (imagine shriek going into a higher range)
When did this start!? Abomination!
Cargo – I am told that some of the more strict, fundamentalist Christian denominations in the U.S. are opposed to sex because they are afraid it might lead to dancing.
Scout, you are bad!!!!
@Scout
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA but soooo true.