Comments on: Anti-Gay T-Shirt Wars

By: theresa

theresa — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:17:59 +0000

i think that this is really ignorant…at a student who has participated in the day of silence i dont understand the point of opposing it…its not like we’re doing anything to you by not talking…we are simply making a statement…it is not anti-straight day or anything…its just to simplify the struggle of silence that millions of homosexuals go through so that nobody “condems” them…and if you cant respect that then you my dear are going against god.

By: paul

paul — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 05:41:09 +0000

When gay people can have a day of silence and its ok with school officials and everyone else and no one has a problem and considered free speech. But when a person decides to have the day of truth everyone is panicking. You cannnot have total free speech and equality if one agenda is being pushed and another agenda being silenced off. Free speech comes from both sides if it doesnt then we will soon become a nation of chaos. Neither the day of silence nor the day of truth should be in schools but if the day of silence is in schools then the day of truth should have a place in school too.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:11:33 +0000

There is something seriously wrong with this world. Let the kids wear what they want. They will have to deal with homosexuality in the real world, why should they not experience it early, and get it over with?

By: Equality Loudoun » LCPS on a slippery slope

Equality Loudoun » LCPS on a slippery slope — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 02:14:23 +0000

[...] censorious parent dislikes? Anti-gay activist litigation groups like the Alliance Defense Fund are drooling over the prospect of such lawsuits. Their reason for being is to exploit local controversies in order to set legal precedents, and [...]

By: SharonB

SharonB — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:47:07 +0000

Tilts:
You need to read the case. There were several disruptions, as the Harpers hoped there would be. Harper was not disciplined for wearing the shirt, merely moved to an area where it was unlikely to provoke other students. There was a history of oppressing GLBT students at the school; several students were in off-campus programs because of the harassment. The school administration went out of their way to accommodate Harper, who was spoiling for some sort of punishment to bring a suit, but the school didn’t take the bait.

And what has this to do with spreading the good news of the Gospel? Nothing!

The ADF is a self-promoting, lying hate-group.

By: Erica B.

Erica B. — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 05:40:21 +0000

@tilts_at_windmills: Insulting religion (or orientation) doesn’t really compare to. In any case, I would back a ban of a T-shirt that said “Republicans should die” or “Democrats are abominations”.

Children go to school for an education. As Lisa points out, they can’t just leave if disgusting opinions are spoken (or worn) around them. Growing up is hard enough without being forced to endure adult moral/ethical arguments. I’m not suggesting that they can’t understand them, or shouldn’t think about them — but limiting extremist expression in a school setting is something that I fully support.

Having a conversation after daughter was told in preschool, “Santa doesn’t bring presents to bad children” and explaining she wouldn’t get Christmas presents because she’s Jewish, not because she’s naughty — that sort of cultural confusion I expect, and I can handle. I would hope that any school district we are in has the backbone to prevent any more serious antisemitism, either by teachers or students, from occurring. And if it turns out she likes girls more than boys, they’d better protect her from the homophobes too.

By: tilts_at_windmills

tilts_at_windmills — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:44:57 +0000

In defense of the ADF’s position, the T-shirt didn’t target a particular individual and apparently didn’t cause disruption.

Of course, the student’s opinion is disgusting, but the First Amendment protects disgusting opinions. Some people would take offense at a student wearing a cross on the ground that Christians believe non-Christians deserve to go to Hell, or at a student wearing a headscarf because it symbolizes the oppression of women.

Yes, the principle put forward by the ADF/ACLU would allow for a shirt calling Catholics idolators, and yes, I’m fine with that (although I doubt the ADF is). Few people would back banning a T-shirt that insults the Republican or Democratic parties. Insults to religion are the same thing.

By: Ostelek

Ostelek — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:37:19 +0000

(*Screams inside)
The world is broken

By: Suricou Raven

Suricou Raven — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 08:47:27 +0000

How the ADF hopes this will work:

1. Get the student a right right express his homophobia.
2. In the process, give all the other students a right to express their support of homosexuality.
3. Wait for the latter group of students to get beaten up by the former.
4. Explain that the latter group was disrupting the school by wearing tshirts that would incite others to attack them.

I know of many cases of dedicated anti-gays physically attacking gay people or those who support them. I know of two cases of the reverse situation, and both of those were in the face of heavy provocation and taunting.

By: homer

homer — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 01:37:20 +0000

You wonder why that group is so obsessed with this. I guess it gets them a lot of attention and money.