Gay High School Students Outraged After Principal "Outs" Them

[cynatnite]

MEMPHIS, TN (NBC) -- The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a complaint against Memphis City schools demanding new school policies, a reprimand of a school principal, and money for the two male students who said they were put on a gay list by the school's principal.

All of this took place at Hollis F. Price Middle College High School on the campus of Lemoyne Owen College.

The charges are of discrimination, accusing principal Daphne Beasley of creating a "list of couples including homo couples."

According to the complaint, in September principal Beasley demanded over the school intercom that she get "names of all students who were couples...hetero or homo."

"It was very terrifying for one. I am still private or in the closet," outed student "Nicholas" said.

Nicholas was one of the students outed on the list. Another was his partner Andrew, who is also a student.

The complaint goes on.

The principal then called the parents and told them about the gay list and informed them "that homosexuality would not be tolerated at Hollis F Price."

http://www.wlbz2.com/news/watercooler/article.aspx?storyid=86209

[Ava]

1. asshole

sometimes there is no better word

[Midlodemocrat]

2. She needs to be fired. Immediately. What an asshole.

[Warpy]

3. Consider she put their lives in danger

since junior and senior high represent the peak of gay bashing as kids confront their own sexuality and conformity is king.

She needs to go.

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

4. On what Fing planet is this a good idea?

"According to the complaint, in September principal Beasley demanded over the school intercom that she get "names of all students who were couples...hetero or homo.""

Ok lets assume for a second that there was not one homosexual in the school its still completely moronic for a principle to ask for such information. Who dates whom is between the kids and, hopefully if not overbearing, their parents...

[leftofcool]

5. And people wonder why our public school system is going to

hell in a handbasket. Here is a principal worried about two boys kissing instead of worrying about academics.

[Hugabear]

6. "Homosexuality will not be tolerated"

This principal should be fired immediately.

[LynzM]

11. Agree- she should absolutely be fired immediately.

What business is it of hers who dates whom? Never mind that "dating" in middle or high school is nebulous at best, changes every day or week or hour, but WTF is a principal doing getting involved like that?!

[jberryhill]

16. The school is located on a college campus

...and the claim is that the college had complained about public displays of affection among the high school students, which is a behavior code violation.

Apparently the principal wanted to notify parents of "couples" generally, and things degenerated from there.

[yardwork]

22. The two gay students were in the closet - they did not show any affection publicly.

If you read the articles, the students state that they were outed to the principal by another student. They had never shown affection for one another in public.

Furthermore, even if they had, what possible justification is there for this principal's behavior?

[jberryhill]

23. What "the claim is"

...and its certainly not my claim...

...is that the principal was acting in response to a complaint from the college about student PDA behavior, that was not specific to any couple. The principal, and this is the stupid part, apparently decided she wanted a list of all couples, in order to specifically notify their parents about the relevant code of conduct on the subject.

I'm willing to bet that the principal, given that the school is for high-achieving students and operated in conjunction with a historically African American college, believed she was being "inclusive" by requesting a list of ALL alleged couples in order to communicate with them and their parents about the complaint from the college.

The better course would have been to issue a clear communication to all students and parents about the behavior which was the basis of the complaint, rather than to have limited the communication to students and parents of the alleged "romantically involved".

I'm not defending the principal, though, because even given the alleged motivation for collecting the list of couples, it still seems a little weird. High school relationships come and go, and if the campus is having a general problem with inappropriate public displays of affection, then a reminder to all is the appropriate response.

[yardwork]

26. You haven't read all the articles. The principal said that "homosexuality will not be tolerated"

in her school. The principal called the parents of one of the gay students into her office and informed them that their son was gay, then went on an anti-gay rant, according to the parents.

[roguevalley]

18. she's a complete bastard. you are not allowed to harm students.

most states have a listing of things you are responsible to do and not. that is NOT allowed. She should lose her license, the cow.

[Fran Kubelik]

7. This is unbelievable.

:o

That's just sick.

[RL3AO]

8. ACLU needs to take this to the next level.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

9. This is in her job description?

Fucking closet case.

[grassfed]

10. Outrageous but it's an African-American campus, Hillary Rove trick?

Proceed with caution.

http://www.loc.edu/Hollis%20F.%20Price%20Middle%20College/Hollis%20F.%20Price%20Middle.htm

[Dogtown]

12. I cannot imagine what is wrong with these people.

The level of arrogance and viciousness with which they abuse their positions to bully folk minding their own business is astounding, no matter how often I see it.

[donheld]

13. I'd agree with her firing.

what she did is inexcusable. There's not one good reason for what she did.

[Richard Steele]

14. That shithead Principal should never be in a position of authority over anyone, let alone kids.

And where did this list come from? The story doesn't say.
Was it the 'couples' themselves, teachers, other kids? :shrug:

[Harry Monroe]

15. What the HELL??

Who the fuck does she think she is?? What business is it of hers who dates who straight or gay?? Remove this idiot immediately, she has ABSOLUTELY no business being at any school or around young adults!!! OUTRAGEOUS!!!!!

[progressoid]

17. Turns out she's on a list too...

Tennessee's Biggest Assholes

[riderinthestorm]

19. Despicable. Fire her ass. nt

[Manifestor_of_Light]

20. LAWSUIT!! Invasion of privacy!! That's a tort.

Hope the ACLU gets involved.

[yardwork]

21. They are. I'm glad that my contributions to the ACLU are being put to good use.

[Dr Fate]

24. Picking on kids- what a brave person. n/t

n/t

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

25. Kids in High School can be very cruel

This type of sick behavior by this Principal is especially egregious because kids of this age can make life for the outed ones a living hell, marking them for life, and even driving them to suicide. It's especially bad for the gay students, but even for the hetero kids, branding them publically in front of their young peers can make their lives miserable. I just don't see why someone's private sex life should be an issue, even in High School. Schools should stick to teaching their curriculum and not get involved in whether someone is having sex and with whom. Schools don't own the kids who attend them. The Principal should be fired immediately and the school board should demand a public apology, making an example of this lunatic.