Box Turtle Bulletin

Truth In Upcoming “Day Of Truth” Hard To Find

The religious right legal group Alliance Defense Fund started an anti-gay “Day of Truth” in response to the pro-gay “Day of Silence.” The “Day of Truth” is little more than an excuse to push ex-gay misinformation on queer youth in public schools which prompted me to make a video examining and mocking ideas promoted by the “Day of Truth.”

Defense Blames Lawrence King for his Own Murder

Deputy Public Defender William Quest, the defense attorney for Brandon McInerney, the 14 year old who shot his 15 year old gay classmate Lawrence King, has made statements intended to fuel blame against the victim.

From the Ventura Star

Quest said he believes school administrators supported one student expressing himself and his sexuality — King — and ignored how it affected other kids, despite complaints. Cross-dressing isn’t a normal thing in adult environments, he said, yet 12-, 13- and 14-year-olds were expected to just accept it and go on.

Mr. Quest is not being accurate. Other than boots and jewelry, King did not cross-dress; he wore the school uniform.

Further, Mr. Quest is not allowed to use gay panic as a defense in his case. California law does not allow it.

A.B. 1160 declares that it is against public policy for a defendant to play upon the bias of the jury, or for a jury to allow bias against the victim to enter into its decision-making.

So, other than efforts to disparage young Mr. King or to taint the jury pool, it isn’t clear what Quest is hoping to achieve by such claims. Sadly, I fear that his statements may just be the result of the common belief that gay people deserve the violence enacted against them.

Doubly Vulnerable: Homeless Gay Youth

The Columbia Spectator today has a very disturbing story about some very significant threats that some gay youth phase. This story concerns 15-year-old Drew, an “ordinary teenager” from a good neighborhood in upstate New York, a good student getting good grades. But his pretty good life took an abrupt turn when he came out to his parents:

“It all changed the night I tried to tell my parents I was gay,” he said. “My mom was pretty cool with it, but my dad just freaked out and started screaming. Then he started hitting me.”

“He’d never hit me before, never,” he sobbed, “but when I told him who I was, that I was gay, he just got so mad. He said he was going to kill me and I believed him, so I ran.”

After spending a few nights sleeping at a friend’s house, Drew returned home, hoping that things might have calmed down.

“I tried to open the door, but my key didn’t work any more. So I started knocking and eventually my dad came to the door and told me that I was no longer his son and he never wanted to see me again. He said if I ever tried to get in touch with him or my mom again he’d find me and kill me,” he explained.

He now lives on the streets of New York’s Upper West Side, where he begs strangers for food and money. He often has to exchange unsafe sexual favors for it. It’s a dangerous way to drive the live, and the dangers don’t end there:

Terrified and devastated at losing his family, Drew fled to New York City, where he hoped people might be more accepting of his sexuality. But since arriving five months ago, Drew estimates that he has been beaten up on average once a week—just for being gay.

“Mostly it’s other homeless people who do it,” he said. “They find out you’re gay, and then they wait for a chance to punish you. When I first got here I went to a shelter, but once the other kids found out I was gay they started teasing me and then one day they all ganged up on me and beat me up. We weren’t in the shelter at the time so the staff didn’t know, but now I’m too scared to go back or to try another shelter in case it happens again. I prefer to take my chances on the streets.”

The Empire State Coalition estimates that somewhere between 25% and 40% of homeless youth in New York city are LGBT youth (PDF: 378KB/100 pages). According to a 2002 report by the American Journal of Public Health (PDF: 181KB/5 pages), LGBT homeless youth are significantly more vulnerable to physical victimization, substance abuse, and psychological problems.

There are thousands of Drews all across this country. When people say that they aren’t “bashing homosexuals, but…”, it’s important to note that many parents of homeless LGBT youth will probably say the same thing. You know, they just don’t “condone” their kids “lifestyle” — a lifestyle which can often be of their own parents’ making.

If you want to know why it is so fundamentally vital to change attitudes towards acceptance in this country, just look at the face of the next homeless teen you encounter.

Video: Inside “Love Won Out”

Everyone has a personal narrative of how they would like their life to turn out. Oftentimes we have narratives for the lives of our loved-ones, including parents who have narratives for their children. When some of these children are gay and come out of the closet the narratives their parents held are oftentimes shattered. As Jim points out, Love Won Out does little to help this.

Parents’ Narratives For The Lives Of Their Children

Jimmy Iniguez Goes Back to School

We reported on a Kansas student that seemed to have been suspended for being gay. Now he’s had a hearing and the Wichita Eagle reports that he won’t be expelled.

Iniguez, who had been suspended since the incident, said he was innocent and was unfairly accused because he is gay.

He received a letter from the district today saying a hearing officer found him not guilty of the charge. He plans to return to school at the Towne East Educational Resource Center on Wednesday.

“I’m very happy it worked out and I can go back to school,” Iniguez said. “If anybody goes through what I went through, I encourage them to fight it and not give up.”

Fascinating to me, however, were the two other news sources who forgot to mention that Iniguez was found “not guilty”. They both leave the impression that Jimmy was guilty of sexally attacking another student – rather than just telling his best friend what people were saying about him.

Scottsboro, AL Gay Couple Attend Prom

From the Huntsville Times:

Chelsea Overstreet and Lauren Martin were like many other Scottsboro High School girls Saturday afternoon, both nervous and excited about going to their first prom in a only a few hours.

But unlike the others, they went to the dance as a gay couple, something the Scottsboro City Board of Education tried unsuccessfully to stop.

A last-minute court order from Circuit Judge John Graham citing two federal court rulings prohibited the board from barring the girls from last night’s junior-senior prom. He cited one U.S. Supreme Court ruling which said that “states and their agencies … cannot set-out homosexuals for special treatment…” Another ruling “prohibits publicly-funded schools … from barring same-sex couples from school functions.” Judge John Graham’s injunction came down at 10:15 am yesterday.

I find it tremendously inspiring to see the bravery on the part of so many of our young people, especially given the social circumstances of living in small towns and rural communities. The youth truly are our future

Kern Speaks to College Republicans

Rep. Sally Kern spoke last night at the Oklahoma City University’s University of Central Oklahoma’s Nigh Center at the invitation of the College Republicans. While the speech was scheduled well before Mrs. Kern became infamous for her homophobic rant, the leaders of the university’s CR’s took steps to shield Mrs. Kern from students who may wish to challenge her views. According to the student newspaper,

In the release, which didn’t go out to all UCO students, it states that only conservatives and/or College Republicans would be allowed to enter. The release also states that “protestors will not be tolerated.”

Well it would appear that either the CR’s relented and let in the godless liberals, or else not all College Republicans and conservatives share Mrs. Kern’s view that their gay classmates are a greater threat to the nation than terrorists. The Oklahoman reports,

About 40 people attended Kern’s speech, many of whom expressed their displeasure with Kern’s beliefs.

Kern spent much of her speech explaining why she thought Christianity plays an important role in American government before turning her attention to her previous comments and taking questions from the audience. Most of the questions came from people who disagreed with Kern’s views.

But lest we think the national criticism of her extremism and theonomic views have given her any perspective, they also report

If given the chance to do it all over again, state Rep. Sally Kern said she wouldn’t change a thing.

See also:
Sally Kern Is a Little Confused
Sally Kern’s Economic Fallout
Sally Kern’s Meeting with PFLAG on Tape
Exodus’ Local Ministry Aligns with Sally Kern
Certified Cameronite: Sally Kern
Kern Speaks to College Republicans
Sally Kern: Out of Context? The Complete Transcript
We Be Jammin’
Muslims and Gays United
OK State Rep. Sally Kern’s Son is “Straight and Not Gay”
Sally Kern Exaggerates Death Threats
A Letter to Sally Kern
LaBarbera Award: Oklahoma State Rep. Sally Kern

Kansas Public School May Expell Student for Being Gay

Naturally, no public school would openly state that they were expelling a student because he was gay. But the facts of the story, as reported by the Wichita Eagle, seem to indicate that this is what is happening in Wichita.

According to [Jimmy] Iniguez, the incident began when a female friend told him she had heard a rumor that a mutual male friend of theirs was gay.

“I told her that rumor was false,” Iniguez said. “I said I would know, because I was his best friend.”

But, “it’s like you can’t be straight and have a gay friend,” he added.

When the male student saw Iniguez in the bathroom later that day, he asked Iniguez what was going on.

“So I told him, ‘Some people are saying you’re gay, but don’t worry. I told them it wasn’t true,’ ” Iniguez said. “But he still got kind of upset.”

The student, who is 18, allegedly returned to class and threatened students and a teacher, Iniguez said. He was suspended and later expelled.

School officials then suspended Iniguez, saying he was partly to blame because he harassed the teenager in the bathroom.

Jimmy denies that he was harassing the other teenage in the bathroom. And the other kid is showing up at his hearing to testify for Jimmy.

That doesn’t seem to matter to the administration.

School officials said they could not comment on Iniguez’s case because of privacy restrictions. But spokeswoman Susan Arensman said the district’s anti-bullying and sexual harassment policies, as well as its student code of conduct, ensure safe schools.

“Harassment is harassment, and we write that broadly to apply to all students,” she said.

Aparantly very very broadly if punishing gay students.

However, not quite broadly enought to protect gay students. The district’s current policy offers protection from discrimination on the grounds of a person’s religion, race, gender, nationality, age or disability – but not on the basis of sexual orientation.

Jimmy and his attorney think that he’s being punished for being openly gay. And while there may be more to the story, so far it looks as though he has a point.

A Reason to Hate

There is no reason anyone should like billy he’s a little bitch. And a homosexual that NO ONE LIKES

That was the heading of a Facebook page called “Every One That Hates Billy Wolfe.”

The NY Times tells us that Billy “likes girls”, but that matters little to those looking for a reason to beat him. And they have beat him. Badly. And repeatedly.

So his family is suing one of the bullies. And they are considering suing his public high school in Fayetteville, Ark.

The school has a tolerance program. But somehow this didn’t stop Billy from being beaten. Nor did it stop some administrators from blaming Billy first (only to have to retract their accusations when presented with videotape). I don’t know if their policies specifically include tolerance lessons based on sexual orientation or if bullies and administrators just chose not to take them seriously.

Anti-gays tell us that kids get picked on for lots of reasons: wearing glasses, being a little heavy, or just no reason at all so we shouldn’t have anti-bullying policies that specifically protect gay kids. But it sure seems to be the gay kids – or those like Billy who are labeled “homosexual” by their tormentors – that end up bloody or dead.

A Young Man Fights Back Against The Christian Counselor He’s Sent To By His Parents

When Jeff Williamson of Denver came out to his parents a year ago they sent him to see Christian counselor [name removed] whom they had been referred to through Focus On The Family. Jeff, who knew there’s nothing wrong with being gay, researched the ex-gay movement and pro-gay theology before his appointment, during which he ceded no ground to his counselor’s agenda. Jeff’s story is presented as a triumphant model for all too many youth who are sent, by their parents, against their will to ex-gay programs.

Update 03/26/08: After realizing the ramifications of having certain aspects of his story in the public domain Jeff has requested I pull his video with the intent of re-shooting a more focused version of his story this weekend. My editorial concerns with pulling content are far outweighed by my desire to respect Jeff’s right to control the way in which his own story is told.

Update 03/31/08: As promised Jeff and I re-shot the video this weekend. This new video appears above in place of the old one. Per Jeff’s request I have removed the name of the counselor he saw from the post.

“That’s So Gay”

It’s the number one insult among school kids, and why strong anti-bulling measures which specifically address sexual orientation is so badly needed. After all, if you can’t even talk about the most common insult, what is there to talk about?

Hutcherson Threatens and Intimidates High School Librarian

Ken Hutcherson, known for his anti-gay activism, is continuing his harassment of teachers at Mt. Si High School where his daughter is a student.

The Snoqualmie Valley Record reports:

Mount Si librarian Elaine Harger said she had received an e-mail from Rev. Ken Hutcherson that referred to Mount Si’s Gay-Straight Alliance as a “sex club” and asked if Harger wanted to be added to the list of Mount Si teachers he was pushing to have fired.

“What had I done to justify that he would try to get me fired from my job? This is intimidation, pure and simple,” said Harger.

Hutcherson may call himself a Reverend and a Christian. He may even pastor a church. But I find his behavior to be indicative of a heart full of arrogance, anger, and self-righteousness and I want nothing to do with his form of religion.

UPDATE: (hat tip to reader a. mcewen)

The text of the letter was:

Dear Elaine Harger,

I see that my name was used many times in your letter to Mrs. Garding,(names removed). These are concerned parents, in which I am one, and not Hutcherson supporters as you have said. I could disappear at this very moment but the parents are not going away.

I want the teachers Kit McCormick and George Potratz fired and I will not stop until they are gone. Do you wish to be added to that list? I want the day of silence silenced and it will not happen during school time anymore. I have never said that the GSA should not be a club but have asked why a sex club is pushed on campus.

You have the right to invoke my name for being an invited guest, and as an invited guest that was treated very poorly, I demand that all students have a safe environment and not just the students of the GSA.

Do you think my daughter feels Mount Si is a safe environment for her? Do you think that conservative, ultra-patriotic, pro-war, Bible-stumpers as one administrator has said feels safe at Mount Si? Do you think Christian, Mormon, and any other religious groups of kid think Mount Si is a safe environment for them?

You and others may have wished I was never invited but I was so now you have to deal with me and how I was treated. I am here for the long run and I am not going away, even if letters like yours are continued to be written. Please do continue to write because I am collecting them for my case of a hostile environment for me as a parent, for me as an invited guest, for me as a Christian, and for me as a resident of the Snoqualmie School District.

Dr. Ken Hutcherson
Senior Pastor Antioch Bible Church

Rural Kentucky High School Student Fights for GSA

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:

18 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.

Interview With Ex-Gay Survivor Jacob Wilson

Jacob Wilson attended Love In Action the summer of 2005 while the whole Zach fiasco was unfolding. Jim Burroway interviewed Jacob about his time at LIA while we stood out front of Memphis’s Central Church where the Love Won Out ex-gay conference was being held.

Jacob speaks about “drinking the kool-aid” having convinced himself his same-sex attractions were lessening. He also speaks about how Love In Action made him feel like “part of myself was dying inside” and lastly the value of affirming friends, family and loved ones now that he’s trying to move beyond his ex-gay experience.

LA Times Article about Larry King

The Times has a good article filling in a few details of the life of young Larry King, a 15 kid shot by a schoolmate because he was gay.

Larry had searched elsewhere for a safe harbor. After he landed at Casa Pacifica, he joined a youth group sponsored by the nonprofit Ventura County Rainbow Alliance, which offers social services to the gay community.

Alliance Executive Director Jay Smith would not reveal what Larry had talked about during the group’s Friday night meetings. But Smith said that no teenager should have to wake up in a shelter knowing the school day ahead would bring a fresh heap of rejection and scorn. “Not having a mom or dad to run to. . . . I can’t imagine what that is like,” he said. “His life was tough.”

While there is no part of this story that isn’t tragic, it is encouraging to know that there was someone to turn to. When anti-gays and homophobes claim that youth groups or Gay-Straight Alliances are “recruiting” and “sex clubs”, think of Larry King.