UT Gay Couple Needs Permission to Attend Dance

[OneFinger]

A gay teenager wanted to go to a dance with his partner at Copper Hills High School in West Jordan. The principal said they could come together, but only with permission from his parents.

 

(KSL News) -- If gay student at Copper Hills High School wants to attend a dance with his partner, he must first get parent permission. Principal Tom Worlton says it's an issue of safety. "I think it's reasonable for me to say this is a concern, do you know that your child is coming into this circumstance?"

 

The Jordan School District fully supports Worlton, and the principal says he has had numerous calls from the community in support of his decision.

 

Groups like the ACLU have spoken out against the school, saying the decision is discrimination. Worlton says he will continue to enforce this policy for future dances at the school.

[+ deej]

>(KSL News) -- If gay student at Copper Hills High School wants

>to attend a dance with his partner, he must first get parent

>permission. Principal Tom Worlton says it's an issue of

>safety. "I think it's reasonable for me to say this is a

>concern, do you know that your child is coming into this

>circumstance?"

 

Oh gosh, yes, parents should know about this circumstance. Kids just shouldn't be allowed to go to a dance without parental permission!

 

Wasn't there a Kevin Bacon movie about this? (Oh, yeah FlashDance! It's on DVD now, Rick.)

 

The sad irony here is that they're requiring the gay boy to have parental permission to bring his date, and his are probably the parents who are already clued in and supportive. Meanwhile redneck Bubba will bring passaround Jane and neither set of parents will have a clue. Both couples will fuck like jackrabbits afterwards behind the trailer park and only one couple will make an unwanted child who either ends up in adoption or foster care.

 

Yep. Somebody needs protection from "this circumstance"! Sadly, they're not gonna get it.

[OneFinger]

>Wasn't there a Kevin Bacon movie about this? (Oh, yeah FlashDance! It's on DVD now, Rick.)

 

Actually, you're thinking of the movie "Footloose" which, BTW, was filmed in Hatu (the backward state). What is it with Utah and dancing???

 

Here's a link to a more detailed story from the local paper.

 

http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_2477021

 

A number of students actually staged a demonstration in protest to the policy. One caring and understanding redneck threw a soda can (not beer can) and hit the gay student in the head. He responded with the following statement:

 

"It's something no student should experience, especially in a place where they're supposed to be learning," he said. "But it's something I've been dealing with since I was 13 . . . and I've been raised to stand up for what I believe in."

 

I also liked the comment from the director of the ACLU, "Would you require a note for a disabled student to go to a dance?"

[+ deej]

Yep, that's the movie I'm thinking of. (And yes, it's available on DVD, Rick. Mine should arrive tomorrow. ;-))

 

I do not find it remarkable that permission slips are required to attend school-sponsored after-hours events. That's been done for years to avoid legal repercussions.

 

What I find remarkable is that it's OK to require the gay boy to have one BUT NOBODY ELSE.

 

The mind just boggles.

[noviceny]

Does the gay kid have to enter through the handicapped entrance ?:-)

[uptownmike]

Very much about very little

[OneFinger]

>Very much about very little

 

Perhaps that true if you're used to sitting at the back of the bus and enjoy being treated like second class citizens while paying prime tax dollars. (I don't get the same break on my taxes that are given to breeders. Plus, 50% of my property tax goes to the school system where I have no kids. So, I feel I've paid for my right to be OUTRAGED at this policy.)

 

Now for the good news. The principal is "re-thinking" the policy. For more info see:

 

http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_2481281

 

Here's a picture of the protest.

 

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site297/20041204__ut_copperplug_1204~1_200.jpg

[OneFinger]

VICTORY!!!

 

SALT LAKE CITY-(KSL News)-- Copper Hills high school will no longer require gay students to get a parental permission slip to bring their gay partners to school dances.

 

Jason Atwood has been protesting outside the school with other gay students, and he believes the principle finally has listened to them.

 

"I think he had to see that we were really willing to fight for this. We really wanted this." Atwood says.

 

The school will still be able to call parents and alert them to the situation if a safety concern is raised.

 

The students can now show up to the dance with any partner they want without having to notify their parents.

[Guest zipperzone]

>>Very much about very little

>

>Perhaps that true if you're used to sitting at the back of the

>bus and enjoy being treated like second class citizens while

>paying prime tax dollars. (I don't get the same break on my

>taxes that are given to breeders. Plus, 50% of my property tax

>goes to the school system where I have no kids. So, I feel

>I've paid for my right to be OUTRAGED at this policy.)

 

Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

Any gay man who thinks "very much about very little" is part of the problem - not the solution!

[Muscle Lover]

Well Good

Now Finger maybe you can take two Xanax, sit down in your favorite chair, and chill out.

As The World Turns