Wow — I returned home late last night from a wonderful weekend in Milwaukee introducing Truth Wins Out to pro-LGBT Catholics from across the country, and the first thing my husband Michael did when I walked in the door was sit me down and show me this video (fair warning, you may get a little misty-eyed):
Students at Essex High School in Essex Junction, Vermont staged a sit-in last Friday to show support for and solidarity with one of their classmates, 15-year-old freshman Cole Peterson, who was allegedly bullied by two students for being bisexual. In response, his peers organized a sit-in that was attended by at least 300 students who chanted anti-homophobia slogans, made anti-bullying and pro-equality signs, and met with representatives of Outright Vermont, a local group that works with LGBTQ youth. The faculty advisor to the school’s Gay Straight Transgender Alliance addressed the crowd. Cole’s father, Duane, was also in attendance and was very moved by the outpouring of support for his son. Essex High School alumni and students from other nearby high schools demonstrated outside, holding anti-bullying signs and waving at passing motorists.
Wonderfully heartwarming, no? It also speaks to something that I and many others in the LGBT movement have been saying for a long time: while homophobia, bullying, and bigotry remain serious problems across all age groups in our society, especially in areas of the country where religious extremism still holds sway, the fact is that overall, when it comes to LGBT equality, most young people get it. They ignore the homophobic rhetoric coming out of their churches or leave them altogether. They overwhelmingly support marriage equality. And they rally around their peers who are singled out because of who they are and who they love. That gives me hope.
My favorite part of this report? The banner signed by Essex High School students and emblazoned with a quote from principal Rob Reardon: “In my 32 years here, I have never been more proud of the students than I am today.”
In a new GQ profile, Rev. Ted Haggard addresses the continued assumptions that he’s gay, following revelations years ago that the prominent evangelical had a drug-fueled sexual relationship with a gay male former escort: “I think that probably, if I were 21 in this society, I would identify myself as a bisexual.”
But, he told GQ’s Kevin Roose: “I’m 54, with children, with a belief system, and I can have enforced boundaries in my life. Just like you’re a heterosexual but you don’t have sex with every woman that you’re attracted to, so I can be who I am and exclusively have sex with my wife and be perfectly satisfied.”
The profile provides a few other tidbits about Haggard, who resigned from the New Life Church and from his position as president of the National Association of Evangelicals after he admitted to the affair with his male meth dealer, who was also a prostitute.
It’s happening everywhere, all corners of the country, in all kinds of neighborhoods. I’m glad The News is paying attention:
A Mid-South teen said he was teased and beaten by a gang because he is bisexual.
Sharon Poindexter said she is angry about the recent assault on a bisexual teenager in her neighborhood. She said it is time for the violence to stop.
“Hitting with fists,” said Poindexter. “Kicking him with their feet.”
The attack on the 16-year-old happened right in front of her apartment on Thomas Street. Poindexter said when she heard the commotion, she ran outside and say eight other teens attacking the victim.
“He wasn’t crying,” said Poindexter. “He was lying there with his head covered up.”
Poindexter said she told the teens to stop, but they refused.
Memphis people are sharing this all over Facebook today, because I’d venture to say that this city has had it about Up To Here with stuff like this.
On October 10, 2009, President Barack Obama spoke to the Human Rights Campaign about GLBT issues. On Oct. 11, 2009, Truth Wins Out’s Executive Director, Wayne Besen, commented on the speech and the National Equality March that took place later that day.
