School Principal launches "witch-hunt" against gay studens.
By Latrivia
@Latrivia (2878)
United States
August 22, 2008 6:30pm CST
Article can be found here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26316235/
From article:
"PONCE DE LEON, Fla. - When a high school senior told her principal that students were taunting her for being a lesbian, he told her homosexuality is wrong, outed her to her parents and ordered her to stay away from children.
He suspended some of her friends who expressed their outrage by wearing gay pride T-shirts and buttons at Ponce de Leon High School, according to court records. And he asked dozens of students whether they were gay or associated with gay students.
The American Civil Liberties Union successfully sued the district on behalf of a girl who protested against Principal David Davis, and a federal judge reprimanded Davis for conducting a "witch hunt" against gays. Davis was demoted, and school employees must now go through sensitivity training.
And despite all that, many in this conservative Panhandle community still wonder what, exactly, Davis did wrong.
"We are a small, rural district in the Bible Belt with strong Christian beliefs and feel like homosexuality is wrong," said Steve Griffin, Holmes County's school superintendent, who keeps a Bible on his desk and framed Scriptures on his office walls.
Holmes County, on the Georgia line, has about 20,000 residents. There is some agriculture, but most people are employed either by prisons or schools; some commute to the Gulf Coast to work in tourism. Ponce de Leon, with fewer than 500 residents, has a cafe, a post office and an antique store.
Many in the community support Davis and feel outsiders are forcing their beliefs on them. Griffin, who kicked Davis out of the principal's office but allowed him to continue teaching at the school, said high schoolers here aren't exposed to the same things as kids in Atlanta or Chicago.
"I don't think we are that different from a lot of districts, at least in the Panhandle, that have beliefs that maybe are different from societal changes," Griffin said.
Gay rights activists said that's no excuse for what Davis did." --full article in link
This is just disgusting. That man needs to be fired, not demoted. He has no business working with children. He lifted up girl's shirts just to see if they had "gay pride" written underneath. Likely story - I think the guy just wanted a reason to see some high school girly flesh. He's a sick minded individual, and a bigot to boot. We don't need people like him teaching kids.
The sad part is, a lot of the community is perfectly fine with what he did. These people are the shining example of what is wrong with the fundamental religious community. What if this had been their child or grandchildren? They'd be singing a different tune. Those people disgust me. I can't believe they actually think what he did was a good thing. Is anyone else disgusted by this man and the community that backs him?
7 people like this
14 responses
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
23 Aug 08
I am absolutely disgusted! He needs to be not just fired but disallowed from ever working for a school district or with children again. Adults that work for a SCHOOL need to be protective and understanding of ALL students, and if they cannot be, then they should not work there.
They wonder what Davis did wrong? WONDER? He used his personal beliefs to interfere and used his power to threaten and harrass a student at his school! I think that people should strive to be more accepting and tolerant rather than less accepting and tolerant, even if they have beliefs that get in the way. At a school, the children there are not yours, they are other people's and you are not supposed to shove your beliefs down other people's kids' throats.
2 people like this
@Latrivia (2878)
• United States
23 Aug 08
If you make a child feel persecuted in school, it will effect their ability to learn. This man is not only unlawfully silencing students, but he is affecting their ability to learn and/or feel safe in school. He's creating an unsafe and intolerant environment, and he needs to be punished for it. Demoting him isn't enough, he needs to be fired. Any teacher who picks out students to project his bigotry on is not a suitable teacher for any child, and has no place in a school. It's a shame the community doesn't understand this.
1 person likes this
@mynameismine (771)
• United States
23 Aug 08
I will be so glad when these people grow the heck up and get with the times of here and now. The world has changed and the backwoods mentality is long overdone and no welcome anymore. Either get with it or find yourselves a deserted island to inhabit where only the chosen ones can live. Although I shouldn't say that too loudly cause there is a group actually trying that with the state I live it, but they won't make it cause too many of us have an IQ over 15.
1 person likes this
@Latrivia (2878)
• United States
23 Aug 08
My husband once made an interesting observation that I think has some truth to it. Homophobic and religious bigotry tends to occur more in older generations in America. It's not so much a matter of "growing up", as it is a matter of "giving way" to the ideals of the younger generation. People in my generation are more sexually tolerant than, oh say, my grandmother's generation. When they go, much of their intolerance goes as well. Some of it will live on through their children, of course, but it will eventually die off. Give it 20 or 30 years, and situations like this will be far less abundant than now, because then it will be my generation pulling the strings.
@philjas (1134)
• United States
23 Aug 08
But that's why these people often homeschool their kids, to keep them away from opinions that conflict with "their beliefs", they probably keep them off the internet too or block anything besides Christian sites. They have ways to ensure that they can go on with their brainwashing without interference.
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
26 Aug 08
Augh. This just sends...icky feelings through my bloodstream. This is awful.
I agree, he should be fired.
But I'm gonna take this on the student rights angle;
There's no ordinance in the school about sexuality right? It would be highly inappropriate if there was. Therefore, the school has no legal grounds to suspend her and the girl has a right to her education.
I don't care that they're on the Bible belt, I know what his beliefs are..and religious freedom is good...but to go so far as to say, "ZOMG YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED IN MY SCHOOL 'CAUSE I DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU ARE"...is wrong.
I don't think that man is very stable, and should be fired so that someone more fair-minded can take his place (he can be a christian fundementalist too, just as long as he knows that schools are a public place and for all children's education...and for nothing else. It's not a grand stage to duke out one's personal religious battles. It's not for "correcting what's wrong with the youth today"...it's to provide them with an education. Period.
@Raymo23 (463)
• Uganda
23 Aug 08
Maybe because I'm from Uganda which is a conservative country, or because I have strong Christian beliefs, and I think they, and the Bible, are infallible and not subject to debate, but, I don't believe Homosexuality is right. I don't support him for lifting girl's skirts, but I support him for expelling the gay students and punishing those who suspended her.
Whatever you guys say about freedom and rights and 21st century, that stuff is wrong. It's attitudes like yours that are giving Islamic Fundamentalists reasons to attack you, and I don't blame anyone who calls the United States 'The Great Satan' after reading attempts like those made above to defend deviance.
Homosexuality is wrong, take it or leave it.
@wachit14 (3595)
• United States
23 Aug 08
I totally support religious freedom, but when people use religion as a reason to either attack or worse yet, kill other people, then that's just wrong. Our country was built on freedom and democracy and we have a Constitution that strongly supports the rights of ALL people, even people like you who are so bent on punishing and even killing people because it doesn't jive with your so-called Christian beliefs...doesn't sound very Christian to me.
1 person likes this
@Raymo23 (463)
• Uganda
23 Aug 08
I don't hate gay people, I want to stress that. And if you believe in religion then who are you to say that something that God forbid is right? It isn't, and we cannot change that. If the Bible said that homosexuality is right, then I would be in the same boat with you. But it says several times that it is wrong: I didn't form that opinion for myself.
@ayumitakashi (4462)
• United States
23 Aug 08
I am shocked, appalled, and disgusted at what this man did. He is really stupid and what he did should have not happened. What kidn of a principal does that? I think that he should have been fired. He does not deserve to be a principal. Principals are supposed to protect their students and help them out with what they need whenever they have a problem. This student came to him and instead of talking to her and helping her out he made things worse.
1 person likes this
@rogue13xmen13 (14402)
• United States
23 Aug 08
Dammit people, how many times do I have to say that homosexuals are like everyone else?! This is insane, quit bashing homosexuals. People who are true homosexuals cannot help it that they are they way that they are, they are born that way and it is something that they have to come to terms with over time. It is biological and environmental. Geez! Anyway, this bigot does disgust me because I have friends and some family who are homosexuals, and again, they cannot help who and what they are. People do not actually choose to be gay, lesbian, or bi. Most people are conflicted with it their whole lives, and when they come out of the closet, it can be difficult on them and everyone around them. Griffin needs to quit being so closed-minded and start seeing things for what they are. He needs to accept people for their differences. My family had a difficult time as well when my cousin came out of the closet, but we all learned to accept it and live with it because we knew that it was not her fault. She is who she is. I wondered at one time too if I may have been a Lesbian or bi because I saw a women who I thought was extremely beautiful, but then I found out that I was only envious of her, and not sexually attracted to her. I am attracted to men because I like what men have to offer (*wink* *wink*). If my child came out of the closet, I would still love them no matter what because I know that it was not something that they really chose, and they are my blood. My child could have any problem and I would still be there for them and love them. If I can take in a cat that is not like other cats, I can surely love my own child if he or she were not like other children. Heck, I would probably love them more if they were unique because I myself am a very unique person. I should not have to keep defending people who are different all of the time. I am tired of it. People just need to start accepting people for who they are.
@oscarbartoni (2581)
• United States
23 Aug 08
People like this probably still think that slavery is right. I bugs me to no end of this bigotry. When will it end? I happens to all races and religions as well as anybody that is is any way different from their selves. It has happened throughout American history, starting with the Native Americans, they tried to exterminate them (and are still trying) so as to get all of the land that once were the homes to the Native Americans. It has happened to African even after they became citizens and free. No matter whether you believe in evolution or creationism we all came from the same beginnings. I think that people that think that they are better are really just trying t cover up their shortcomings.
@wachit14 (3595)
• United States
23 Aug 08
When I see things like this it makes me want to scream. I live in a very cosmopolitan part of the country that is less than an hour from the greatest city in the world and yet, here we still see signs of ignorance and prejudice. Having said that I can't even imagine what it must be like to live in a part of the country where it is considered the norm to bash gays and anyone else who isn't like the rest of the community.
I have nothing against religious freedom, but all too often public schools overstep the boundaries between state and religion when there are laws that clearly dictate otherwise. Under those circumstances, that principal should have been removed from the school district. Considering that the school board and/or administration is much like him, that would be unimaginable and that really leaves the parents to make decisions in the best interest of the child which is either home school or move.
@devilsangel (1817)
• United States
23 Aug 08
I get so damn tired of these so called "Christians" hiding behind religion to promote their own hatred and bigotry.
These are the same people who used "God" as a reason to kill and promote slavery.
How many countries and people have been killed because "God said they should?"
Those that defend this sort of behavior to me are no better than those who are doing it. They are bigots and are far from anything God would want them to be.
They use the Bible and religion as a shield to hide their hate behind and expect people not to say or do anything about it.
@SHAMRACK (8576)
• India
23 Aug 08
Dear friend,
I too agree with you and moreover no principle has right to treat the students like this and more than childern they are students and and there is other better ways to treat them. As you noted if it was their childern or grand childern I hope they would never be treated like this. The humanitarian considerations are becomeing far away from humans.
@twallace (2675)
• United States
23 Aug 08
When you hear things like this it really makes you mad. A principle doing something like this. They are asking for trouble, it could be a law suit of discrimination towards a student of a different nature. That would really make the school system look bad. The principle didn't think of the student but of the personal reason. Eventhough the principle felt that being gay is not right. He or She should have defended the student instead of kicking her out of school. That is going to have problems for the school. That will not turn out good at all. This is one time where a personal issue should not have come into play with how the principle delt with the students of the school.
@philjas (1134)
• United States
23 Aug 08
many in this conservative Panhandle community still wonder what, exactly, Davis did wrong.
That's the worst part. I get so sick of these people who think their beliefs should be law. Count our current President in with those people.
BUT, I applaud the girl's friends for wearing Gay Pride t-shirts!
