Look away, look away. Homo-hatred rears its ugly head once again in the state of Georgia, my former home-state, where attempts to stop students from creating gay support groups continue. Not detered by the recent failure to enact a rule that would force gay students to come out to parents in order to join support groups, some Georgia officals now want to do away with student clubs altogether.
A White County schools subcommittee recommended cutting all clubs in the school system months after students tried to form a gay support group.
The subcommittee suggested that all extracurricular clubs be replaced with a system of clubs sponsored and led by local adults.
The northeast Georgia county gained attention in February when students tried to form a Gay-Straight Alliance club for gay classmates and supportive students.
The school board agreed to allow the students to start the club, but later school administrators recommended eliminating all non-curricular clubs at the White County High School.
Of course, their excuse is that clubs aren’t doing what they were intended to do, and they want to focus more on academics. It’s really just another backhand slap to gay and lesbian youth, and another attempt to punish them just for being.
We already know what happens in some of the more backward regions of the country, when gay teens come out to their parents. ecause at least some of the hetero peers will jump to the conclusion that the queers caused them to lose their clubs. A move like this will most likely only make things tougher for gay and lesbian youth, as at least some of their hetero peers will blame gays for making them lose their clubs.
The message to gay youth is pretty clear. Keep quiet, and stay closeted. And sometimes, at too great a cost.
They must burn the village to save it!
You know, this is not a southern thing. I came out in a suburb of NYC, arguably one of the most progressive parts of the US and it was freakin’ horrible.
On the other hand I have met people who grew up in south Texas near the Mexican border whose parents were absolutely wonderful and supportive.
There’s ignorance, and enlightenment, everywhere.
Just another example that when they say “it’s all about the children,” they, um, lie.
I feel sad for these people. I can’t imagine the kind of intense fear they must feel of gay and lesbian people to need to go to these extremes. Sadly, they try to cover this fear with their twisted Christian beliefs. They only end up hurting themselves, the children on their community and their own faith.
Also, the best “coming out” story I’ve ever heard is from a friend of mine from the backwoods of Alabama. John is right that ignorance and enlightenment exist everywhere.