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Ga. Principal Defends Anti-Gay Student Editorial
by Kilian Melloy, EDGE Boston Contributor
A high school paper op-ed piece that characterized GLBT people as the result of "reproductive errors" has ignited a controversy in the Georgia school where the paper was published.
CNN and rawstory.com reported yesterday on the outcry that greeted the publication of an opinion piece titled, Homosexuality: Beyond the Bible.
Some students at Kell High School said that the piece was hurtful, and that they found it to be shocking. Others said that the paper has an obligation to report on issues from various perspectives.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on Oct. 2 that that article, written by a student named Thomas Benjamin, offers the theory that GLBT people are not heterosexual because of their upbringing, or due to "reproductive error."
Kurt Webster, a Kell High School sophomore, said of the op-ed piece, "It should not have been in the paper."
Continued Webster, "It could hurt people’s feelings."
The school’s principal, Trudi Donovan, acknowledged having read the piece before its appearance in the paper, but said that excising the piece or asking it to be modified fell outside her purview.
Said Donovan, "My job is the safety and security of the school, not censorship."
A spokesman for the Cobb County school district, Jay Dillon, echoed that, saying that principals have no legal right to prohibit what goes into the school paper, due to school district policies and court rulings that specify that students have the right to self-expression, including written expression in the school paper.
Said Dillon, "There may be no interference with that, even if a student’s opinion is unpopular."
Certain exceptions to that rule apply, such as prohibiting obscenities or articles that might provoke a major disturbance, according to Dillon, who went on to say of the principal, "In such cases, she would be protected in censoring materials."
The article was published last Friday, Sept. 28, in the inaugural edition of the school’s new student paper, Inkwell.
The author of the piece wrote that his suggestion that gays were the result of "reproductive errors," and that they should be denied marriage equality, was not rooted in religion, but on science and reasoning.
Wrote Benjamin, "I realize biology commits many reproductive errors. Homosexuality can be one of them."
Stephen Davis, a junior at the school, offered the opinion that GLBT students ought to have been consulted before the piece ran. Another junior, Allison Koons, said that the article’s text did not offend her, but that its appearance in the school paper "shocked" her.
Rawstory.com reported that another student had a different view, saying, "Everybody’s opinion’s going to offend somebody."
Said the student, "I mean, if that’s the case, then you can’t publish anything."
Lisa Jordan, a teacher, said, "Some of the kids are upset about it," and suggested that the paper’s next issue might include a rebuttal.
Dillon also said that a future issue of the student publication would probably contain an article offering another perspective on the issue.
The Atlanta journal-Constitution noted that in 2004, at Berkmar High School in Gwinnett County, principal Kendall Johnson ordered two LGBT-related articles to be excised from the school paper.
The articles, editorials addressing a gay / straight alliance at the school called the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Society, were pulled, according to school district authorities, because Johnson was concerned that they would create tension at the school during end-of-semester exams.
Sloan Roach, a spokesperson for Gwinnet Schools, said at the time that the editorials took a "point-counterpoint" format on the issue, and that they could have had a disruptive effect.
Said Roach, "People have very strong feelings about this issue."
The article’s claim more or less parallels an argument advanced by "Dr. Laura" Schlesinger, who posted a comment on her Web site in 1998 reading, "If you’re gay or a lesbian, it’s a biological error that inhibits you from relating normally to the opposite sex."
Dr. Laura’s comment that homosexuality was attributable to "biological error" was cited numerous times in 2000, when GLBT groups lobbied to prevent her short-lived TV talk show from debuting on UPN, the netlet that later merged with the WB to form the CW.
edgeboston.com
(\\__/) And if you don't believe The sun will rise
(='.'=) Stand alone and greet The coming night
(")_(") In the last remaining light. (C. Cornell)
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a little news from the south
By: E.J. on Sat, 06 October 2007 01:20 |
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Re: a little news from the south
By: timmy on Sat, 06 October 2007 08:55 |
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Re: a little news from the south
By: Deeej on Sat, 06 October 2007 09:58 |
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Re: a little news from the south
By: jack on Sat, 06 October 2007 10:37 |
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Re: a little news from the south
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Logic
By: timmy on Sat, 06 October 2007 19:17 |
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Re: Logic
By: marc on Sat, 06 October 2007 20:18 |
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Re: Logic
By: kupuna on Sat, 06 October 2007 23:07 |
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Re: Logic
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Ho hum, off we go again!
By: cossie on Sun, 07 October 2007 04:27 |
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Re: Ho hum, off we go again!
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Re: Ho hum, off we go again!
By: saben on Sun, 07 October 2007 08:53 |
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Re: Ho hum, off we go again!
By: E.J. on Sun, 07 October 2007 16:03 |
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Can you clarify your post a bit?
By: cossie on Mon, 08 October 2007 05:39 |
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Re: Can you clarify your post a bit?
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Re: a little news from the south
By: acam on Sat, 13 October 2007 22:17 |
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Re: a little news from the south
By: timmy on Sun, 14 October 2007 08:06 |
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Re: a little news from the south
By: acam on Sun, 14 October 2007 11:55 |
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Re: a little news from the south
By: timmy on Sun, 14 October 2007 21:50 |
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Re: a little news from the south
By: Deeej on Sun, 14 October 2007 12:59 |
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Re: a little news from the south
By: JimB on Sun, 14 October 2007 19:19 |
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Re: a little news from the south
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Re: a little news from the south
By: Deeej on Sun, 14 October 2007 19:36 |
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Re: a little news from the south
By: JimB on Sun, 14 October 2007 22:44 |
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Re: a little news from the south
By: M on Tue, 09 October 2007 01:57 |
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Re: a little news from the south
By: Benji on Thu, 11 October 2007 23:17 |
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Re: a little news from the south
By: E.J. on Fri, 12 October 2007 01:17 |
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Re: a little news from the south
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Re: a little news from the south
By: timmy on Fri, 12 October 2007 14:41 |
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Re: a little news from the south
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Re: a little news from the south
By: timmy on Sat, 13 October 2007 22:29 |
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