Tennessee School Alledgedly Threatens Students Over Gay-Straight Alliance

Jim Burroway

September 12th, 2011

Students at Sequoyah High School in Madisonville, Tennessee, have identified a need:

Just yesterday, students across the room would yell, ‘God hates gays,'” said (SQHS Senior Nathan) Carroll. “There is not going to be a gay club in this school. We don’t deserve it.”

Carroll says he has experienced bullying since the sixth grade, and so he and other students decided to try to start a Gay-Straight Alliance to serve as a support group. He and other students approached school officials about starting a GSA, but they were denied permission. They then decided to circulate a petition to gain support. Opposing students have also started a competing petition. The school’s principal, Maurice Moser, then announced over the school’s P.A. that any student found with a petitions would have the petition torn up and thrown away and the individual would be immediately sent to his office for further punishment. Another parent says:

“These students have been following policy and they approached the principal,” said Linda Sigler, who has two children involved in getting the alliance started. “They’ve done this petition and now the school is telling them if they continue with the petition, they will be suspended.”

Rob

September 12th, 2011

Sounds like that principal and the school board is going to get an unpleasant visit by a few ACLU lawyers.

customartist

September 12th, 2011

What exactly IS the “Proper Procedure” that the Principal is referring to?

What/where is that Policy?

Allen

September 12th, 2011

Customartist, the principal may be referring to Tennessee’s idiotic “don’t say gay” bill, but since–as I understand it–that bill only applies to teachers, and doesn’t apply to students at the high school level (only up to middle school, I believe) the policy still wouldn’t apply here.

And I realize I’m probably being overly generous in assuming that the principal really is referring to a real, existing policy.

Regan DuCasse

September 12th, 2011

If that bill applies to teachers, then the kids won’t be able to get a campus based sponsor for their club. Which seems to be required of all campus based clubs.

However, this is a very special situation that should be supported. Children DO bully each other. This principal is saying that having a supportive group would be ‘disruptive’ to campus workings.
However, a suicide, school shooting,, criminal assault or some other tragedy WOULDN’T?
Especially since this club is one formed to specifically PREVENT such an eventuality. Which has some real basis for concern.

What an F’d up twist priorities as an excuse to keep gay kids and their straight allies from forming something that would be HEALTHY. Figures that such a school wouldn’t see it that way.
Ah, educational progress! Apparently, this school isn’t down for that.

Malcolm Blue

September 12th, 2011

I just sent an e-mail to the school’s Prinicpal (moserm@monroe.k12.tn.us) POLITELY advising him that f students are allowed to shout those kinds of statements in the classrooms, that things are much worse than he’s willing to acknowledge. I listed the school’s mailing address, phone and fax numbers and recommended that he contact wwwGLSEN.org. I also BCC’d GLSEN!

Charles

September 12th, 2011

Why does this continue to go on and on? The hate is obvious and it is obviously encouraged.

Charles

September 13th, 2011

Box Turtle, please, keep us posted on this issue at this high school.

Law Abiding Citizen

September 13th, 2011

Hey just go back up in the hills and hollers, drink your Moonshine mixed with Mountain Dew and washed down with Meth, and don’t forget about having sex with your wife, who is your sister.

John

September 13th, 2011

Does this new policy against students caught with petitions apply to straight students, as well? Does anybody want to take bets?

Gregory

September 13th, 2011

Law Abiding Citizen, let’s not reinforce stereotypes about the south. I lived there this whole past summer, and it was quite lovely. Discrimination, paranoia, and asocial behavior exist throughout this country, so let’s please use kinder words.

Malcolm Blue, you are one step ahead of me. I was hoping someone would do that. Planning on following suit, just to let the principal know (respectfully), that these students have national/international support. Which chapter of history does he want to be in?

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