[PattyPan1]

I can't believe in this day and age someone doesn't realize you are born gay, not mixed up or confused.

I feel it is an injustice for a school board to single out one group, whether it is gay or not.

Wake up people. This is the 21st century and should be more in tuned with the world around us.

Stepping off my soap box now.

Originally Posted by buggyone

The situation is at Leesburg Middle School. I believe a middle school is for grades 6, 7, 8, and 9. Ages for the students in those grades are between 11 and 14? I am really wondering HOW a child between 11 and 14 years old KNOWS that they are gay or lesbian. They may have "mixed feelings" when changing for gym class around others of the same sex or in the shower with other students of the same sex but to have experienced gay or lesbian sex on a regular basis at that age seems, to me, to be very young - or to have experienced straight sex at those young ages, to me, seems very wrong, too.

Am I showing my age when I wonder HOW a child of between 11 and 14 is convinced they are gay or lesbian? I can understand an experimentation of sex both ways but to be convinced at that age...?

[jane032657]

I was Chairperson of the 3rd largest school board in British Columbia, vocal and straightforward in my opinions, topped the polls in the election, and a favorite of the media for speaking on behalf of the rights of children. I can barely breathe when I read such predijucial behavior of elected officials. Want to increase the suicide rates among youth? Want to create bullying and violence among students? Want to lower the self esteem and self worth of children? Want to alienate children who have their individual identities ridiculed? Want to create divisiveness? Want to create an educational environment that picks and chooses who can participate? Well, then support this initiative and see if you can live with yourself when the consequences of such outrageous decision making occurs. If you want to be a decision maker in education, then you better understand the children who you have been entrusted to make the best decisions for their well being, education, and safety in the public school system. If you cannot handle the responsibility, then please find another activity to satisfy your desire to have power and control over the lives of the most vulnerable, our children. Shame on you. We are each created as our own person; we are all equal;and we are all unique. Look in the mirror and see who stares back at you before you project your image to our precious children. And the ACLU are Nazi's? Does that mean our children should be in concentration camps? Please, leave our kids to be cared for by those who care for them. Every child deserves to be loved and nurtured, politicians do not get to pick and choose who can belong and who is left on the sidelines to be alone and humiliated. Our job, for all of us, is to create a safety net for all children and ensure they can navigate the road safely to adulthood without falling off a cliff. Do something to make a positive difference in the life of a child. It is surely going to be your ticket to your own road to heaven.

[Skybo]

I too am a bit confused about this. Are there other clubs in middle schools dedicated to sexual/romantic/lifestyle topics? On the one hand I applaud students, parents and school personnel who recognize the need for support, acceptance and anti-bullying. But on the other hand, I wonder how young is too young for sexually related topics to be introduced at schools, especially in the form of organized clubs.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Skybo

I too am a bit confused about this. Are there other clubs in middle schools dedicated to sexual/romantic/lifestyle topics? On the one hand I applaud students, parents and school personnel who recognize the need for support, acceptance and anti-bullying. But on the other hand, I wonder how young is too young for sexually related topics to be introduced at schools, especially in the form of organized clubs.

I believe that sexual orientation and sexual/romantic/lifestyle topics may be able to be separated. This group of middle schoolers, as the gay poster mentioned, already knows which way their orientation lies, may be having problems reconciling themselves to/living within the prevailing wind (especially with the school administration against them), and may be wanting to exist to address many topics other than sex itself.

And for the record, I personally do not believe the ACLU started or is causing a mess in our lives. I believe they are a good watchdog. They may go overboard on occasion, but they have provided good service. JMHO.

[Dancing Queen]

When I was in junior high in the early 70's I knew lots of girls in 7-9th grade who got pregant, and opted for an abortion, so no one would find out, they barrowed older girls Drivers Licenses which were paper with no photo, and they and their boyfriend paid cash for it.
Back then most LGBT were in the closet, and I knew my preferences at that young age, as the song says, I was Born this way.
Just look around at the kids of today, they are going through puberty in Early elementry school now.
I applaude all of you that are open minded, and care about the welfare of all human beings, and thank you for posting your comments here.

[ilovetv]

How does a gender-identity and sexual-orientation club fit with the educational mission the schools are charged with, and with the Clubs list found at the Carver Middle School website. The clubs listed are:

Band, Bowling, Chorus, FBLA, Junior Beta, Robotics, Science Club, Student Council, Yearbook.

I also wonder how effective the Gay-Straight Alliance Club can be in stopping bullying, if the bullies do not join it. I'm assuming it would be voluntary to join the club.

To me a similar example would be this: Let's say there are similar tensions and hurtful behavior being done by thin students who mock and abuse fat students. There are, sadly, cases in which mocked/tormented fat students commit suicide. How would it improve relations if a Fat-Thin Alliance Club is formed at school, and the bullies and antagonists do not join the club? How are the perpetrators going to become more conscious of the plight and humanity of the victim, if they do not join the club?

School site: Carver Middle / Overview

[Golfingnut]

Hatred or violence used to drive out anyone different than you is still in our DNA and was a survival defense in the early existence of mankind. Survival of the fittest comes to mind. Modern man as evolved to accept and even embrace a change in that primitive mentality in an attempt to share this wonderful planet with everyone. Thankfully we have moved beyond some horrible words used to refer to others and now have these two examples:

R----d is now Mentally Challenged
Q---r is now Gay or Lesbian

Can you see the difference? You would be surprised how easy and liberating it can be to accept everyone for their differences rather than trying to drive them out of your cave.

[Monkei]

I think a club like this best accomplishment would be letting the individual that it is indeed OK to be gay or lesbian. The next accomplishment, which is even harder, would be convincing the hetero world that it is OK to be gay or lesbian.

[babbs455]

This young lady is a friend of my son at Carver Middle school. I can tell you that there is so much bullying going on there as well as other schools as well..Don't know what it is going to take to get this bullying to stop..ITS insane. They need to do something to deter this activity and if this will help I say have at it.

[billethkid]

no progress on stopping bullying due to the overwhelming need to be absolutely certain the bully'ss rights or feelings or their parents are not infringed upon. As a result, the victims become secondary.....another by product of a too permissive, NIMBY (not in my back yard) society.
It becomes more apparent each and every day.
btk

[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by Skybo

I too am a bit confused about this. Are there other clubs in middle schools dedicated to sexual/romantic/lifestyle topics? On the one hand I applaud students, parents and school personnel who recognize the need for support, acceptance and anti-bullying. But on the other hand, I wonder how young is too young for sexually related topics to be introduced at schools, especially in the form of organized clubs.

Well, I wasn't going to comment at all.......but in response to your question, back in about 1979, Planned Parenthood got a foothold in our Jr. High School which was 2 grades...7th grade and 8th grade. All of us parents felt the kids were too young for the things they were teaching. Not anatomical discussions but, case in point, things like putting a condom on a banana.

Dead serious. They slowly infiltrated all the schools. Vermont was a very conservative state at one time. It has totally changed since we arrived in 1970. I do realize "times have changed".....but parents of our age were not happy about what was taught, at that time, in Jr. High.

Middle School is now 6th grade to 8th grade and often it is even on the same campus as the high school which would be 9th grade to 12th grade.

I have no idea what is taught nowadays in our schools......but nothing would surprise me.......

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by ilovetv

How does a gender-identity and sexual-orientation club fit with the educational mission the schools are charged with, and with the Clubs list found at the Carver Middle School website. The clubs listed are:

Band, Bowling, Chorus, FBLA, Junior Beta, Robotics, Science Club, Student Council, Yearbook.

I also wonder how effective the Gay-Straight Alliance Club can be in stopping bullying, if the bullies do not join it. I'm assuming it would be voluntary to join the club.

To me a similar example would be this: Let's say there are similar tensions and hurtful behavior being done by thin students who mock and abuse fat students. There are, sadly, cases in which mocked/tormented fat students commit suicide. How would it improve relations if a Fat-Thin Alliance Club is formed at school, and the bullies and antagonists do not join the club? How are the perpetrators going to become more conscious of the plight and humanity of the victim, if they do not join the club?

School site: Carver Middle / Overview

I believe the benefit of having a group like this--for gay kids, fat kids, any kids who are mocked or bullied--is in giving these kids a support group.

It could also lead to pressure being put on the schools to stop the bullying. You are right in saying these kids feel alone and that can lead to suicide. If one kids is saved from this terrible fate, it is a worthwhile club.

[DaleMN]

Must be a good conspiracy theory here somewhere. Good grief.

[redwitch]

Yes, there are gay/straight alliance clubs at other middle schools throughout the country. Do they stop bullying? Sometimes. What they definitely do do is give kids a place to talk, feel and know it is okay to be themselves.

Kids in middle school are pretty sure of their sexuality. They may not be comfortable with it, but they know their preferences. To be teased and bullied because a child is different is just plain wrong. To have adults condone and, in some way, approve of this bullying is downright evil. A school board that threatens to stop all extracurricular activities to stop one club for children that know they are different, that are harassed daily, that need help and guidance is evil and ugly. The school board should be starting programs to stop the bullying; to immediately suspend the offenders; to protect those being bullied whether gay, straight, mentally challenged or just different in any way. This school board has worked to cause even more harassment and fear.


Sorry, but this thread has just pushed so many buttons to me. I can remember an exchange student in 7th grade having her face slashed. Why? Because she from Israel and a "dirty Jew." I can remember a dear, intelligent friend dropping out of high school. Why? Because he couldn't handle the daily harassment of being flamboyantly gay. Back then, bullying was accepted as being normal for children. The thought was the bullies would grow up and become productive adults. Those bullied would get over it. Fortunately, that is no longer the case in most parts of the United States. Apparently, that is not the case in Lake County -- it still lives in the 50s and 60s. Bullying is wrong. Accepting bullying is contemptible. Condoning bullying is heinous. Causing more bullying is evil.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by DaleMN

Must be a good conspiracy theory here somewhere. Good grief.

Probably just some over zealous parents who heard their preacher going on about gays rights and the decline of civilization as we know it. Unfortunately for this argument, many of the advances in culture here and abroad came from gay/lesbian/bi-sexual people.