Is It Wrong To Advertise You're Straight on Gay Day?

Well, freedom of speech is freedom of speech. I guess it begs the question about his motive. If he wasn't participating in the actual event then the fact that he was straight was a given. If he simply wanted to disrupt the event or offend people, then he's an ass. I personally have no problem with that either as some of my favorite people, myself included, fall into that category.

Either way, he has as much right to express himself as anyone else.

But, as he's straight I doubt the ACLU will be interested in the case.

Yes, he has the right to free speech.



However, I think you should know that the point of "Gay Day" as you called it is to increase awareness of hate crimes, violence and discrimination against homosexuals. It's a national thing... one I participated in at my university. It isn't an attempt to convert people, or even force people to be ok with homosexuality. This is from the official Day of Silence website:



About Day of Silence



Founded in 1996, the Day of Silence® has become the largest single student-led action towards creating safer schools for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. From the first-ever Day of Silence® at the University of Virginia in 1996, to the organizing efforts in over 1,900 middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities across the country in 2002, its textured history reflects its diversity in both numbers and reach.



This kid missed the point. He's also making Christians look like bigoted idiots. Yeah, he has the right to free speech, and as long as his actions were not inflammatory, violent or an attempt to incite others to violence, then let's not trample on his rights.


However, if (notice the IF) the school saw his actions as inflammatory (and it is very hard to find information about this case, so I do not have the facts.) then they had every right to tell him to remove the tape and, upon his refusal, to remove him. That's why schools can get away with dress codes.

Is it wrong to advertise you're gay on all the other days of the year (or should we call them Straight Days)?

So homosexuals have more rights to free speech than heterosexuals?

I don't think so.

If you're trying to incite violence against straight folks, then yup. If not... feel free.



Actually, they probably do. You said it yourself, the ACLU is less likely to get involved in this case since the kid is a straight Christian. That doesn't mean it's right.

Just remember, you have no right to yell "FIRE!" in a crowded theater. As long as the kid was just trying to make a statement, he should have been fine.

Sugar High Elf,

Hey Stupid, how about you answer the question. I don't care about a definition on national day of silence, or if you and your sign waving buddies stood up for some fruits. The question was:
'what would you do if your 15 year old got sent home for taping a piece of paper to his shirt in any kind of protest?"

And yes I think we should have straight days, or how about a school scholarship for the best straight white male? Try getting away with that one, take one guess who will go shut you down. Yeah....ok.

First of all, how sad is it that we, as a society, have dipped down to the point of indentifying oursleves according to our sexuality? Why do high schools allow this nonsense in the first place?


I think that his parents have a good case IF
the "Day of Silence" was a school santioned event and students were allowed to identifying themselves, their cause, their belief,promote their agenda, etc. by putting tape on themselves, then the school should have been equally tolerant of other students, this boy in particular, who chose to identify himself by wearing his own sign.


Sugar High Elf posts:


Sugar High Elf, would you care to explain a little further what you mean by this?

Well, hello to you too.

Perhaps you missed the VERY FIRST SENTENCE I WROTE. But don't worry, I'll repeat it for you:



However, if you need me to be more specific, I will.

If my 15 year old son had pulled this idiotic stunt, I would protest his being sent home if his actions were not inflammatory. If he was doing this to be an ass, you'd better believe he would get several lessons from me, including the purpose of the National Day of Silence. Also, if I believed that he was attempting to incite any kind of violence or even anger towards the homosexual students, I would call the school, apologize and then think of an appropriate punishment for my son.

Now, why don't you go back to whatever small minded and ignorant place you came from and be glad that you also have free speech given to you because you certainly don't deserve it on merit.

Mostly from the quotes written by his father when I looked up this case.

“When is the church of Jesus Christ going to come out of its closet and take its place in society the way it’s supposed to be?" his father asked. “If we don’t stand up sooner or later, we’re going to run into more trouble than we’re going to know what to do with.”

My problem is that I am a Christian -- born and raised Southern Baptist and still a practicing one. When someone stands up and says that being gay is wrong and should not be tolerated... and says so in the name of my faith, I have a problem with that. Also, his actions do not seem to be that of a concerned Christian, but a child standing up and making noise. Christians have a bad enough rap as it is, and incidents like this one don't help. It's just a personal opinion I have.

But then, perhaps I'm making Christians look like tree-hugging hippies. I suppose some people would have problems with that as well.

Yeah, freedom of speech should only be extended to those who have something to say that wasn't written down 2,000 years ago.

The infamous double post

That's not what I'm trying to say, and I hope it isn't coming across that way. If he was making a simple statement, then he should have been allowed to stay at school. If he was protesting the acceptance of homosexuality in American culture, then he should have been fine. IF his actions went beyond that and into dangerous territory... that's when I've got a problem with it.

Personally I hate having tape on my clothes...but that's just me.

Should he have the right? Sure... Was he being an ass? Probably.

I, myself, let people be...I have no right to tell them who to screw, and as long as they aren't screwin' me then I'm fine with their existence. I don't know why people get so incensed about homosexuality...if it disgusts you, then stay away from it. I don't like getting burned, so I stay out of fire. Get the drift? I don't have to go around declaring I'm straight like some homophobic nutjob and I think that's what this kid was trying to do. I'm just tired of antigay crusades...I honestly do not see the point. If someone could tell me some kind of rational argument then perhaps I'd consider it...you know, if homosexuals ate babies or something, then I might understand but so far I don't believe that's happening. Also, truthfully I don't agree with the gay lifestyle, I also don't like smoking, drinking, or other kinds of drugs but I'm still friends with people that take part in those activities and I'm okay with that, their life their decision. I'm pretty sure there's something Christian about that kind of thing.



Oh, and Wally...you're a dick.

~Zoo

Hahaha... but then that's what these kinds of post are good for -they just stir the pot and cause more division and discord and in the end, solve and accomplish nothing.

There's nothing to indicate that he was doing anything of the kind, but of course we only know what's been written about it. I agree that if he was trying to incite violence he should have been punished but based upon the information given he was simply and quietly expressing himself and the school punished him for it. That's just wrong.

KFC POSTS:


Well said, KFC. This is true on many fronts. The first duty of Christian preachers, Catholic priests, indeed all Christians, is to stand up for Jesus Christ and God's moral laws on sexuality. Jesus gave all His followers (Christians) the mandate, "Go out to all nations and preach and teach what I have taught you." Throughout history, we've seen it always takes courage to do this. The early Christians were stoned, imprisoned, persecuted, and killed for having the courage to stand up for Jesus Christ in this world.
Fast forward to 2007. From all accounts, this boy acting non-violently and rightly stood up for what he believes and for that got punished by the state.

The great unmentioned fact is that man can't change God's Laws and make acceptable what is not and never will be. Practically all known human societies and certainly all the great world religions have judged the practice of homosexuality to be disordered, unnatural, immoral and in a word, sinful, as well as harmful both to society and to the persons who engage in them.

It is exactly as the preacher dad says, that is, we are in "the mess we are in today". This is because ever since the 1960's sexual revolution, the sexual behaviors of homosexuality, bisexuality, etc. have come out of "live and let live" bedroom and thrust upon us by state and national laws. These sexual behaviors have been turned into politically protected and sanctioned "rights". In reality, these sexual orientation anti-discrimination and "hate crime" laws are nothing other than state-forced acceptance of homosexuality which have now been set as stone via sex-ed in all public schools. Those who disagree, as this boy has, get silenced, sued, fined, punished and sometimes imprisoned.

IF his actions went beyond that and into dangerous territory... that's when I've got a problem with it.

IF - the biggest 2 letter word in the english language.

Sadly, the information of this case indicates that he may have been making a statement, but definitely not inciting violence.  And in that his free speech was infringed.  However, the courts have upheld restrictions in schools since - A - Minors are not adults, and - B - discipline mustbe maintained.

IN all seriousness, the only dick in this situation is the school admin.  Who if they ignored this - as they should have - no one would know what the student did, or paid him a second thought.

ZOOLOGIST03


Zoo--I wish it was this easy.

This is exactly where the rub is and I think the main point of this problem and thus this discussion. You are young and may not know that up until 40 some years ago, most everyone had a 'live and let live' attitude about homosexuality. Then, homosexuality was, just as all sexual behaviors, kept in the bedroom. Today, that's totally changed. American society is currently embarked on a novel and unprecident social experiment of refusing to judge or condemn any kind of sexual behavior provided only that it is "consensual". We identify ourselves according to our sexuality with an "in your face" mentality. Acceptance and approval of homosexuality "as good" is codified in law and made a part of the educational system.

Evidently, this Christian student was punished by his Michigan high school for demonstrating opposition to a school event celebrating homosexuality, bisexuality, etc. The boy's father, a pastor, says he's frustrated the rights of Christian students are being constantly trampled on campus. Oakridge High School in Muskegon, Michigan, is one of many schools across the U.S. that took part in Wednesday's "National Day of Silence" -- an event promoted heavily by homosexual activist groups, which view it as a day to protest alleged discrimination faced by students who identify as "gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender (GLBT).

The high school, by sponsoring a "Day of Silence" event that is meant to affirm and approve homosexuality, was "in this boy's face" and there was no way for him "to stay away from it" as you say. The boy's father being frustrated that his son's rights were trampled and that he was wrongly punished would not be properly caring for his son if he did as you say and just stay away from it.


As I see it, the high school essentially silenced the boy's rightful and lawful opposition of affirming homosexuality by punishing him. Can you see this as misjustice? I do, and if there is misjustice, how can one just 'stay away from it"? We can't.

That's why the anti-discrimination laws that force societal approval and affirmation of abberant sexual behavior have to be seen for what they are----inherently injust laws. Upon close examination, you will find that they are not really about unjust discrimination at all, for people overall are very tolerant. Anti-discrimination laws are all about---silencing and punishing the critics who most oftentimes are those Christians who are willing and courageous enough to call sexual immorality, just that---sexual immorality.

Ah, you mean the 'live and let live' attitude that made it a crime in most parts of the world? The attitude which put gays in prison? I must agree - that was a most enlightened and fair time!

SUGAR HIGH ELF POSTS:




I guess then that you would have a problem with Almighty God and the writers of Sacred Scripture for they condemn homosexuality every time it is mentioned. Here are a few examples.

"The Lord said to Moses...I, the Lord, am your God. You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; such a thing is an abomination." Lev.18: 1-2, 22.

"For their women have exchanged the natural use for that which is against nature, and in like manner, the men also, having abandoned the natural use of women, having burned in their lusts one toward another, men with men doing shameful things, and receiving in themselves the fitting recompense of the previsity." Romans 1:26-27.

"Do you not know that the unjust will not possess the Kingdom of God? Do not err; neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor the effeminate, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor the evil-tongued, nor the greedy will possess the Kingdom of GOd. 1Cor.6:9-11.

"But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully: knowing that the law is not made for the just man, but for the unjust and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the wicked and defiled, for murderers..., for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine." 1Tim.1:8-10.

"And the angels also who kept not their principality, but forsook their own abode, he has kept in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day. Just as Sodom and Gomorrha and the neighboring cities, which like them committed fornication, and going after other flesh, undergoing punishment of eternal fire. St.Jude 1:6-7.

CACTOBLASTA POSTS:


In honesty, I don't know whether homosexuality was considered a crime 40 years ago in most parts of the world or not. In this instance, I'm speaking mainly of the US up until the time of the sexual revolution when radical feminism and pro-sodomy forces pushed forward their atheist and secular humanist agendas through all segments of society, by changing our laws and infiltrating our institutions.

Up until 1960 every state had laws banning the sexual practices of sodomy, bigamy, adultery, polygamy, incest, and prostitution. For the common good of the people, States were free to enact its own laws and statutes promoting and in defense of moral standards and public health and welfare.

From what I understand, back then, even though sodomy was banned, what went on behind closed doors was pretty much live and let live attitude and not so much a system of putting "gays in prisons" as you assert.

In 1998, the US Supreme Court ruled against State prohibition laws against sodomy. So now that homosexuality has been made a 'right', we must be on the true road of enlightenment and fairness!! Are we a happier, gentler nation as a result of our society turning sexual vice into freedom and pretending that homosexuality is just a harmless alternative lifestyle? Or, on the contrary, has our society descended deeper into the morass of no-fault divorce, co-habitation, single parenthood, illegitimacy, domestic violence, abortion, epidemics of STDs, AIDS, and other social evils?

was "in this boy's face" and there was no way for him "to stay away from it" as you say.

Perhaps, but it wasn't like there were two men sodomizing each other in the classroom.

As I see it people can be forced to encounter things they may not necessarily like or agree with a lot in life...it's not going to help to pitch a bitch about everything you don't like...that's immature. The point of my post was to be tolerant...tolerance does not demand that you have to like something, it only asks that you don't be a dick about it.

~Zoo

What you mean is that STRAIGHT people can be forced to encounter things they might not necessarily like or agree with, right? Because, ironically, as you plea for "tolerance" from the straight community, you seem to ask nothing of the sort from the gay community. Did he wear a shirt saying "I hate fags"? NOPE. Did he wear a shirt listing biblical verses against homosexuality? NOPE. In fact, you might say his silent protest was entirely in keeping with the spirit of the day. If the gays have a right to advertise their sexuality, he should have the same right to advertise his.

Think about it, zoo. Tolerance only for alternative lifestyles is just as wrong as tolerance only for traditional lifestyles. And it has with it the added hypocrisy of denying others the same rights they are demanding.

To SHE: From a Christian Sister to Another

He's also making Christians look like bigoted idiots.

Well this is the first time I've heard Christians called bigoted on this issue. But then when I considered what the word "bigot" means I have to say I guess I agree with you. But consider this....we are all are bigoted in some manner. To be bigoted means to be intolerant against a belief system among other things. Well are you saying you're not bigoted? Are you FOR men having sex with boys? Are you for anyone having sex with animals? What about Polygamy? Do you see where I'm going here?

Consider this as well. Homosexuality has been considered abnormal or unnatural for thousands of years since the days of Moses. We've managed in the last 30 years or so (in this country) to turn that all aside. In, I believe, in 1973 homosexuality was taken off the list of mental disorders and the guy (I can't remember his name but can get it) who was instrumental in doing so has now totally switched his belief 180 degrees that homosexuality is a legitimate lifestyle. He now speaks strongly against this lifestyle.

What has changed? Not scripture. The culture has changed or more like it has desentized us to the truth. We are being pressured to allow the culture to declare what is right and wrong, what is sin and not. The culture isn't safe ground to stand on. It's constantly moving us. It is constantly and consistenly moving us away from God.

What do you think 50 years down the road are going to bring? What about men having sex with boys? There is a movement out there but right now it disgusts most of us. But so didn't homosexuality 30 years ago. Marriage between two men? Are you kidding me? There was no way this was going to happen.....or so we thought. Today it's being forced upon us as a legitimate lifestyle. Now I don't care what others do in their bedrooms....but when they start bringing this into the elementary schools to indoctrinate the kindergardeners (and they are doing this) then I've got a problem.

We who are deeply rooted in what we believe is the truth of scripture will not be easily swayed by the deception. Christians are not to be like tumbleweeds with no roots and are blown about by every wind of doctrine. I'm sure you've heard the saying......"if you don't stand for something....you will fall for everything.

My problem is that I am a Christian -- born and raised Southern Baptist and still a practicing one. When someone stands up and says that being gay is wrong and should not be tolerated

Since when is being a Christian a problem? I think you may want to rethink your affiliation to something that is more suited to your belief system. From your statement here, while you claim to be SB , you're not adhering to their belief that homosexuality is a sin. Your roots, at least in this organization and the words of scripture, are in danger of being too shallow. I agree with Lula. Your problem is not with us Christians who believe this to be sin but your problem is with the Word of God.

You may want to check this out FYI. It's taken directly off the SB's (your denomination) website. You may want to talk to your Pastor about this:

Link

Funny, but I just came back from a bible study tonight and in this study we learned a new Gk word. Paul was warning the Christians NOT to be swayed by the philosophy of men. The word was "sylagogeo" and comes from the word "syle" (booty) and "ago (carry) and it literally means to "carry off as spoil; lead captive. Basically meaning that many will be carried away from the truth into the slavery of error....basically a kidnapping is taking place when one leaves the word of Christ for the traditions or philosophy of men.

""Beware least any man SPOIL (sylagogeo) you through philisophy and vain deceit after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ." Col 2:8