Blatant Discrimination in Memphis School

Timothy Kincaid

April 30th, 2008

hollandprice.jpgThe Hollis F. Price Middle College High School is undoubtedly a successful school. As a collaboration between the Memphis school district and LeMoyne-Owen College, it provides an opportunity for gifted African-American students to earn credits towards their college degrees while still in high school. And by selecting only 150 of the district’s best students, it avoids many of the problems that plague public schools: fighting, truancy, and falling educational standards.

And Hollis F. Price has admirable stated ideals and intentions including

We believe that every member of our learning community has value and worth and has the right to be respected.

and

All students enrolled at Hollis F. Price Early Middle College are able to participate in many of the approved and available high school and college organizations and activities.

But in her effort to provide an ideal educational environment, Principal Daphne Beasley went way beyond what is appropriate or even legal.

Seeking to eliminate public displays of affection, Beasley asked that students and teachers report suspected romantic couples to her. She then compiled a list and posted it where teachers and other students could read it.

Although this is disturbing in itself, Beasley left all measure of reasonableness when a pair of boys hit her list. Although both boys were A students, had never displayed any public affection, and were an asset to any learning institution, that didn’t stop Beasley from seeking to humiliate them. Memphis Eyewitness News reports

One of the young men, Nicholas, an 11th grader who just made the Dean’s List, spoke with Eyewitness News Everywhere.

“It was actually frightening,” he says, “to see a list with my name on it where not just other teachers could see but students as well.”

Nicholas says his teachers and other students treat him differently as a result of Principal Beasley’s decision and that he and Andrew have both had to deal with verbal assaults. Nicholas was also not allowed to go on a trip to New Orleans to help rebuild homes because, as one of his teacher’s explained, he would “embarrass” the school by engaging in gay affection.

“I really feel that my personal privacy was invaded,” Nicholas says. “I mean, Principal Beasley called my mother and outed me to my mother!”

The ACLU stepped in to support the boys and their mothers. Their letter to the school board clarifies some of Beasley’s motivation.

Specifically, we have been informed that during their telephone call about Nicholas’s inclusion on the “list” as being part of a gay couple, Principal Beasley told [Nicholas’ mother] that she did not like homosexuals and found it hard to deal with homosexuality. Principal Beasley, according to [Nicholas’ mother’s] contemporaneous notes, then informed her that homosexuality would not be tolerated at Hollis F. Price and that she was glad that she didn’t have any kids so she wouldn’t have to deal with these kinds of problems.

Ms. Beasley clearly does not believe that her school’s “all students” statements include gay students, no matter how well behaved. Such an attitude is not conducive to an unbiased and discrimination-free learning environment, and either Principal Beasley should lose it or she should find some form of employment in which she doesn’t have to deal with persons that she does not like.

Alex

May 1st, 2008

Surely this principal appeared out of now where from 1908.
I hope she looses her job for incompetence and being totally insensitive and a bully.

Joshua

May 1st, 2008

Well, that stinks. How exactly did she “go beyond what was appropriate or even legal” though?

Jack

May 1st, 2008

She went beyond that because she’s not allowed to do what she did. I’d sue the crap out of them for pulling this stunt.

pligg.com

May 1st, 2008

Box Turtle Bulletin » Blatant Discrimination in Memphis School…

Gay students outed by principal to classmates and parents….

JAB_au

May 1st, 2008

This has to be the most inappropriate thing that anyone could possibly do in a position like hers. A persons sexuality can be a very private thing, and putting that information in a public place that outs that person for their sexuality is just wrong, especially in a school situation.

I would think they can expect a large cash payout.

David

May 1st, 2008

I dunno… this is actually kinda cool. Imagine being in 11th grade and winning a fucking truckload of cash because of a dumb ass ignorant principal like this. The american tax payers would have to hate yet another law suit tho.

Erica B.

May 1st, 2008

Seeking to eliminate public displays of affection, Beasley asked that students and teachers report suspected romantic couples to her. She then compiled a list and posted it where teachers and other students could read it.

What sort of insane policy is this? Why not just make the students wear a big red F for “FORNICATORS” and be done with it? No surprise she hates gay kids if she’s this frantic about even straight PDA.

People need to get their brains out of the gutters and stop insisting on knowing the details of everybody else’s sex life. This principal is disgusting, and I wouldn’t want my kids in a school that’s so obsessed with sex they need to blacklist couples of either orientation.

I was annoyed when my daughter’s preschool teacher wanted to “inform me” that my daughter had kissed a boy and I should have a talk with her about it. SHE’S FOUR. She kisses people she likes — her parents, her family, her brother, her friends. We kiss her to show her we love her. And now I’m supposed to tell her kissing is naughty? Forget that!

I can only imagine how raging mad I’d be if the school principal felt the need to phone me up to tattle about my son being gay — not mad at him for being gay (well, maybe disappointed that he hadn’t told me) but at the principal for being a nosey bigoted prude.

Damn, this made me mad!

Christian

May 1st, 2008

Is the school private or public? If it is private, they can do anything they want (search lockers, cut your hair, etc) :-(

Heidi

May 1st, 2008

Christian’s right, unfortunately, that if the school is private, they have the luxury of being openly racists/biased/sexist/just about anything they want. The responsiblity is one the parents and staff, and whether they want the stigma on their children attending a school openly biased.

mr.domino

May 1st, 2008

Here’s her email and her name:
Administration
Principal
Daphne Beasley
beasleyd@mcsk12.net

ryan

May 1st, 2008

“…informed her that homosexuality would not be tolerated at Hollis F. Price and that she was glad that she didn’t have any kids so she wouldn’t have to deal with these kinds of problems.”

WHAT
THE
FUCK

Fuck losing her job or getting sued; this woman should actually be decapitated.

mark

May 1st, 2008

umm actually even though it is private you absolutely do not have the right to discriminate based on race sex or orientation. that is in the constitution and can absolutely not be violated because of its “private” status. this is rediculous this woman should not be able to be making the rules for children who are probably confused and frightened and now have this bs to deal with.

Timothy Kincaid

May 1st, 2008

Those who have questions about the story may find more information on the links.

In Tennessee it is legal to discriminate based on orientation within the private sector. However, the school is part of the local school system. It is not a private school.

The illegalities (case law provided) are clearly laid out in the ACLU letter, to which a link is provided.

beedogs

May 1st, 2008

“unfortunately, that if the school is private, they have the luxury of being openly racists/biased/sexist/just about anything they want.”

heh, actually, no they don’t.

Brock Lesnar

May 1st, 2008

Good old America.

omnot

May 1st, 2008

Headline: Principal outs herself to the whole world as being a homophobic, child-hating dinosaur.

Leave A Comment

All comments reflect the opinions of commenters only. They are not necessarily those of anyone associated with Box Turtle Bulletin. Comments are subject to our Comments Policy.

(Required)
(Required, never shared)

PLEASE NOTE: All comments are subject to our Comments Policy.

 

Latest Posts

The Things You Learn from the Internet

"The Intel On This Wasn't 100 Percent"

From Fake News To Real Bullets: This Is The New Normal

NC Gov McCrory Throws In The Towel

Colorado Store Manager Verbally Attacks "Faggot That Voted For Hillary" In Front of 4-Year-Old Son

Associated Press Updates "Alt-Right" Usage Guide

A Challenge for Blue Bubble Democrats

Baptist Churches in Dallas, Austin Expelled Over LGBT-Affirming Stance

Featured Reports

What Are Little Boys Made Of?

In this original BTB Investigation, we unveil the tragic story of Kirk Murphy, a four-year-old boy who was treated for “cross-gender disturbance” in 1970 by a young grad student by the name of George Rekers. This story is a stark reminder that there are severe and damaging consequences when therapists try to ensure that boys will be boys.

Slouching Towards Kampala: Uganda’s Deadly Embrace of Hate

When we first reported on three American anti-gay activists traveling to Kampala for a three-day conference, we had no idea that it would be the first report of a long string of events leading to a proposal to institute the death penalty for LGBT people. But that is exactly what happened. In this report, we review our collection of more than 500 posts to tell the story of one nation’s embrace of hatred toward gay people. This report will be updated continuously as events continue to unfold. Check here for the latest updates.

Paul Cameron’s World

In 2005, the Southern Poverty Law Center wrote that “[Paul] Cameron’s ‘science’ echoes Nazi Germany.” What the SPLC didn”t know was Cameron doesn’t just “echo” Nazi Germany. He quoted extensively from one of the Final Solution’s architects. This puts his fascination with quarantines, mandatory tattoos, and extermination being a “plausible idea” in a whole new and deeply disturbing light.

From the Inside: Focus on the Family’s “Love Won Out”

On February 10, I attended an all-day “Love Won Out” ex-gay conference in Phoenix, put on by Focus on the Family and Exodus International. In this series of reports, I talk about what I learned there: the people who go to these conferences, the things that they hear, and what this all means for them, their families and for the rest of us.

Prologue: Why I Went To “Love Won Out”
Part 1: What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Part 2: Parents Struggle With “No Exceptions”
Part 3: A Whole New Dialect
Part 4: It Depends On How The Meaning of the Word "Change" Changes
Part 5: A Candid Explanation For "Change"

The Heterosexual Agenda: Exposing The Myths

At last, the truth can now be told.

Using the same research methods employed by most anti-gay political pressure groups, we examine the statistics and the case studies that dispel many of the myths about heterosexuality. Download your copy today!

And don‘t miss our companion report, How To Write An Anti-Gay Tract In Fifteen Easy Steps.

Testing The Premise: Are Gays A Threat To Our Children?

Anti-gay activists often charge that gay men and women pose a threat to children. In this report, we explore the supposed connection between homosexuality and child sexual abuse, the conclusions reached by the most knowledgeable professionals in the field, and how anti-gay activists continue to ignore their findings. This has tremendous consequences, not just for gay men and women, but more importantly for the safety of all our children.

Straight From The Source: What the “Dutch Study” Really Says About Gay Couples

Anti-gay activists often cite the “Dutch Study” to claim that gay unions last only about 1½ years and that the these men have an average of eight additional partners per year outside of their steady relationship. In this report, we will take you step by step into the study to see whether the claims are true.

The FRC’s Briefs Are Showing

Tony Perkins’ Family Research Council submitted an Amicus Brief to the Maryland Court of Appeals as that court prepared to consider the issue of gay marriage. We examine just one small section of that brief to reveal the junk science and fraudulent claims of the Family “Research” Council.

Daniel Fetty Doesn’t Count

Daniel FettyThe FBI’s annual Hate Crime Statistics aren’t as complete as they ought to be, and their report for 2004 was no exception. In fact, their most recent report has quite a few glaring holes. Holes big enough for Daniel Fetty to fall through.