Earlier this week, a friend told me her children were being teased and attacked because she is gay. It made me wonder, how common this is? I know that as an adult, I receive snide remarks about my sexuality but my child? Sunshine is only 2 right now. So those in her little play circle most likely can not grasp the concept of homosexuality. But what happens when she gets older? How do I go about preparing her for this future adversity?
I know in life, children are teased for a variety of thing. Be it complexion, intelligence, size, or whatever. Shoot, I was teased about being really dark as child. There is really nothing that is off limits. I believe this starts within the home. Children (at their ages) only repeat what they hear their parents say. It is important to teach our children tolerance and compassion from the start. With all the ignorance and plain ugliness we all face in the world, why not instill in our children the thing that the world needs more of? Most of us take time to teach them to their ABCs, 123s, and manners and such. So why not take the time to teach them love and respect for all people?
Monday, May 5, 2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008
What the F-ing World?!?!
I ran across this a couple days ago. I am still a bit speechless by it.
Black Principal Outs Black Gay Students at Memphis School
May 1, 2008
In a story from five years ago, principal Daphne Beasley compared her students to diamonds.
“And they just need to be polished a little bit,” she said.
She’s now accused of publicly humiliating them.
“It’s very hard to understand what was going on in the mind of this principal,” said Hedy Weinberg, Executive Director of the ACLU of Tennessee.
As Memphis Action News 5 was one of the first to report, the ACLU is taking aim after Beasley compiled a “list of couples, including homo couples.”
Among the students on the list were two boys who had just started dating. The mother of one of them claims Beasley told her she didn’t like gay people and would not tolerate them at Hollis F. Price Middle High, located on the campus of LeMoyne-Owen College.
“It’s unacceptable behavior to out students to their families, their classmates, and their teachers,” said Weinberg.
We spoke with several Memphis school board members who did not want to do on-camera interviews on a potential legal matter. However, that doesn’t mean they’re not talking. In fact, more than one told us they’re outraged and believe “heads should roll.”
That could mean Ms. Beasley and possibly others.
Our attempts to reach Beasley at work and at home were not successful.
We spoke with one of the two students who was “outed.” He told us Ms. Beasley basically ruined his life. Meantime, the school district has until next Friday to meet a number of demands. Those include compensation and an apology.
One of the young men, Nicholas, an 11th grader who just made the Dean’s List, spoke with Eyewitness News Everywhere.
“It was actually frightening to see a list with my name on it where not just other teachers could see but students as well,” said Nicholas, an 11th grader who just made the Dean’s List, to Eyewitness News Everywhere.
Nicholas says his teachers and other students treat him differently as a result of of the incident and that both he and Andrew have had to deal with verbal assaults. One of Nicholas’ teachers even denied him to go on a trip to New Orleans to help rebuild homes because he would “embarrass” the school by engaging in gay affection.
“I really feel that my personal privacy was invaded,” Nicholas says. “I mean, Principal Beasley called my mother and outed me to my mother!”
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Help me understand, people. How is who these children are dating important to the educational process? Excuse me for being naive, but I though that a principal's job was to foster a safe and nurturing educational environment? Furthermore, how does one build the audacity to out someone? In my not so small mind, I find this disheartening and ridiculous. It is already sad that for the most part, the school system fails our children. Instead of focusing on rectifying the important issues, they focus on something so trivial. These children where doing nothing but minding their own business. They were on the road to do something that is very important to being successful adults, accepting themselves. What is this world coming to?
Black Principal Outs Black Gay Students at Memphis School
May 1, 2008
In a story from five years ago, principal Daphne Beasley compared her students to diamonds.
“And they just need to be polished a little bit,” she said.
She’s now accused of publicly humiliating them.
“It’s very hard to understand what was going on in the mind of this principal,” said Hedy Weinberg, Executive Director of the ACLU of Tennessee.
As Memphis Action News 5 was one of the first to report, the ACLU is taking aim after Beasley compiled a “list of couples, including homo couples.”
Among the students on the list were two boys who had just started dating. The mother of one of them claims Beasley told her she didn’t like gay people and would not tolerate them at Hollis F. Price Middle High, located on the campus of LeMoyne-Owen College.
“It’s unacceptable behavior to out students to their families, their classmates, and their teachers,” said Weinberg.
We spoke with several Memphis school board members who did not want to do on-camera interviews on a potential legal matter. However, that doesn’t mean they’re not talking. In fact, more than one told us they’re outraged and believe “heads should roll.”
That could mean Ms. Beasley and possibly others.
Our attempts to reach Beasley at work and at home were not successful.
We spoke with one of the two students who was “outed.” He told us Ms. Beasley basically ruined his life. Meantime, the school district has until next Friday to meet a number of demands. Those include compensation and an apology.
One of the young men, Nicholas, an 11th grader who just made the Dean’s List, spoke with Eyewitness News Everywhere.
“It was actually frightening to see a list with my name on it where not just other teachers could see but students as well,” said Nicholas, an 11th grader who just made the Dean’s List, to Eyewitness News Everywhere.
Nicholas says his teachers and other students treat him differently as a result of of the incident and that both he and Andrew have had to deal with verbal assaults. One of Nicholas’ teachers even denied him to go on a trip to New Orleans to help rebuild homes because he would “embarrass” the school by engaging in gay affection.
“I really feel that my personal privacy was invaded,” Nicholas says. “I mean, Principal Beasley called my mother and outed me to my mother!”
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Help me understand, people. How is who these children are dating important to the educational process? Excuse me for being naive, but I though that a principal's job was to foster a safe and nurturing educational environment? Furthermore, how does one build the audacity to out someone? In my not so small mind, I find this disheartening and ridiculous. It is already sad that for the most part, the school system fails our children. Instead of focusing on rectifying the important issues, they focus on something so trivial. These children where doing nothing but minding their own business. They were on the road to do something that is very important to being successful adults, accepting themselves. What is this world coming to?
Saturday, May 3, 2008
The Beginning
Ok, I have been meaning to start a blog since . . . the beginning of blogging. Watching the episode of Jenn and Dee below finally got me in the mood to truly do it. Jenn and Dee is my newest obsession. Fione arse women, educated, funny, and did I mention fione? You know I am on top of it. I must thank my little sis, Shay, for putting me on to it. Thankies Shay! The actual video is 41 mins long but this is just a preview. Y'all be sure to support Jenn and Dee.
Jenn and Dee on coming out.
..
The reason that it inspired me so was the coming out stories they started telling. It made me reflect on my personal story and the drama behind it. That is a whole other post, though.
I am going to go ahead and tell y'all about me. I am 25 from South Carolina and openly of the lesbian persuasion. Unapologetically so might I add. I am currently a student (don't ask my major because I couldn't tell you) and have a two year old daughter that you will probably hear loads about. My obsessions include my daughter, here on known as Sunshine, my hair, Nappturality.com, and The Fam and our issues.
Since I have already plugged NP.com, I am going to go ahead and tell you about it. It is a forum dedicated to the maintenance and beauty of natural black hair. Natural meaning no products with goal of loosening or straightening the texture of kinky, coily black hair. Here you can find thousands of women who are natural, transitioning, and thinking about making the BC. These women are always ready with helpful advice 24/7. Be sure to check it out . It is definitely worth the look.
I am running out of things to talk about now. So I am signing out. Be sure to tune in for more.
Jenn and Dee on coming out.
..
The reason that it inspired me so was the coming out stories they started telling. It made me reflect on my personal story and the drama behind it. That is a whole other post, though.
I am going to go ahead and tell y'all about me. I am 25 from South Carolina and openly of the lesbian persuasion. Unapologetically so might I add. I am currently a student (don't ask my major because I couldn't tell you) and have a two year old daughter that you will probably hear loads about. My obsessions include my daughter, here on known as Sunshine, my hair, Nappturality.com, and The Fam and our issues.
Since I have already plugged NP.com, I am going to go ahead and tell you about it. It is a forum dedicated to the maintenance and beauty of natural black hair. Natural meaning no products with goal of loosening or straightening the texture of kinky, coily black hair. Here you can find thousands of women who are natural, transitioning, and thinking about making the BC. These women are always ready with helpful advice 24/7. Be sure to check it out . It is definitely worth the look.
I am running out of things to talk about now. So I am signing out. Be sure to tune in for more.
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