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Rural Kentucky High School Student Fights for GSA

Jim Burroway

March 10th, 2008

Ohio County, KY

Ohio County, Kentucky lies in the western part of the state, just south of Owensboro in the Western Coal Fields region. Far from the bright lights of the big city, it’s the last place you’d expect to find a story like this. But this is a new era, and demands for dignity and safety are taking root everywhere:

Clyde Calloway18 year old avid photographer Clyde Calloway is the president of the school choir and a member of the drama club and Kentucky School of the Arts.

The most recent organization he’s joined is the Gay Straight Alliance.

“A lot of people have joined,” Clyde explains. “At first, I was skeptical of what people might think. Now, you see how many people are in there. I feel more open than before.”

So far, membership stands at about fifty people — not bad for a high school student body of 1200. The group has been at Ohio County High for several weeks, but most students didn’t find out about it until the GSA placed a bulletin board in a hallway for poetry and artwork. But threats were posted instead, including one which said that a gun would be brought to the next meeting.

The principal isn’t so sure the school is ready for the GSA, but Clyde says that closing this organization isn’t an option:

“If it’s one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s don’t let people get you down about stuff. Be strong and if it’s something you really believe in, keep behind it until the end,” says Clyde.

Clyde’s mother, Deborah, sounds like a remarkable woman for having raised such a remarkable son:

“I raised him not to judge other people and he’s just carrying that on,” Deborah concludes. “I’m very proud of him.”

You can see the full video at WBKO Channel 13, Bowling Green.

Comments

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Emily K
March 10th, 2008 | LINK

Kudos to Clyde!

Zeke
March 10th, 2008 | LINK

Amazing!

Living, modern day heroes.

Jim
March 11th, 2008 | LINK

Great stuff! How incredibly brave a HS student must be to take a stand, especially in that particular environment. If you don’t think it is an unwelcoming environment, check out the majority of the comments posted at the WBKO video link (excerpt below):

“Parents in Bowling Green do not want the Gideons to give away Bibles at school, yet sexual perversion is being allowed in Ohio county? Were taking away our children’s right to know their creator and his truthful word (which is against homosexuality) and are giving them the scourge of perversion (homosexuality). What is wrong with this picture? We wonder were why crime and violence and drugs have destroyed so many of our youth? The school systems endorse hedonism and actually push children to an early sexual lifestyle before they have the maturity to understand its consequences. If they are allowing teaching homosexuality are they also going to allow the teaching and endorsement of drug abuse, alcoholism and incest, all in the name of “tolerance?” What next school systems of Kentucky, what next?”

This is what Clyde, his Mom and the School Board have to stand up against. They deserve all the support we can provide!

Mombian » Blog Archive » Four Heroes, One Villain
March 11th, 2008 | LINK

[…] student Clyde Calloway, for helping to organize a Gay-Straight Alliance at his high school in rural Kentucky, despite […]

Mitch S
April 18th, 2008 | LINK

Has an Ohio county resident, I must say this clyde must be very couragous. For some reason I had thought things to be so different now, since the time I went to OCHS. Thing were very bad then iwas called fag in hallways while non caring teachers said nothing. One of the adminstrators even agreed with some of the hateful guys. I would just like to say to Rev. Embry we r not the gays, I don’t believe I live on his street. Also I don’t believe myself to be on of those people. That being said I hope things get better at OCHS maybe cleaning out some of the adminstration there or teachers that tolerated such abuse toward students to uphold their narrow minds. Though i did have teachers that were excellent to me! Totally though way to go clyde but remember there is life after high school.

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