Students conduct mock 'gay marriages'

[Amelia]

Students conduct mock 'gay marriages'

Parents angered by lunchtime ceremonies on campus

February 19, 2005

WorldNetDaily.com

Students at a California high school conducted mock same-sex "wedding" ceremonies at lunchtime on campus, prompting protests from angry parents.

The school's Gay-Straight Alliance promoted the event at Silverado High School in the high-desert town of Victorville Feb. 11 to mark National Freedom to Marry Day.

Six female couples and three male couples took part in the ceremonies at the school's outdoor central gathering area.

About 40 parents, community members and students showed up in chilly, rainy weather to protest the event, the Los Angeles Times reported.

One protester, Therese Shore, said her son Andrew Stading, a Silverado senior, was reprimanded by school officials the day of the event for wearing a custom-made protest T-shirt bearing slogans such as "Gay is not the way" and an obscene slur about homosexuals, according to the Times.

"I don't want them shoving homosexuality down my child's throat," Shore said.

One student's father, objecting to a taxpayer-supported school holding such an event, held up a sign reading "I don't."

"I think the school and the district made a terrible, terrible judgment," he told the Times.

The district issued a statement, calling the ceremonies "a lawful exercise of the right of free speech guaranteed to public school students under state and federal law."

Some protesters objected to school rules barring religious demonstrations on campus.

"I'm Christian. I'm not allowed to bring my Bible, preaching to people," said sophomore Christina Wilson, 15.

Wilson and others carried signs with such slogans as "God objects."

[Dr. Shane]

Another good reason for vouchers. If vouchers were in place we would not see schools do such silly things becuase they would be concerned about how many parents would pull their kids out of school. However since the children are all held hostage by the school district they can ban Bibles but permit open homosexuality. A fine example of what extreamist liberals consider free speech.

[Nicodema]

I don't see the problem here. All students were permitted to express their point of view. The Christians were not censored, nor were the Gay-Straight alliance kids. Each had the opportunity to express themselves. That is what freedom is about, provided it is kept civil. I sure hope the "protestors" were civil, considering they did not have to watch the ceremonies if they did not want to. Most high school campuses have several outdoor spots and those not participating certainly were not compelled to witness if they chose not to. It's like, if you don't like something racy or risqué on HBO or MTV, you change the channel and don't watch it. You don't watch it and then complain to the channel about what they "made" you have to look at. If anyone is being "silly" here, it is those who made THEMSELVES watch something they didn't want to look at and then complained as if they'd been forced. Then they go forcing their protest on those who never asked them to be present in the first place. Now who's being silly?

Not a bias, just another perspective. Technically, both are exercising their rights in a free country, again, so long as things stay civil.

[Nicodema]

P.S. ===> likewise I think Christians SHOULD be allowed to bring Bibles to school, to share info on Christian things with anyone interested, and/or discuss religion with peers SO LONG AS (a) it is done courteously and civilly; ( it does not disrupt class; and © ALL parties are consenting thereunto.

I did when I was first converted. I first met Christ at 16, went to public school at the time. Everyone heard about it, let me tell you. Everyone saw how the former acidhead who dressed like a displaced hippie (this was 1981, not 1968!) suddenly started dressing like a "normal" person and talking about Jesus Christ and carrying a Bible. I had my Bible and my special edition of Signs of the Times with the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation and I'd give the entire mark of the beast shpiel to anyone who stood still for it. I was so eager to sound the 3 Angels' Messages and I was so young and naive I did not realize this was not necessarily "witnessing for Christ" per se -- but my point is this: I carried a Bible and talked about Christ all the time. I even challenged teachers when they mentioned evolution. I called it EVIL-lution. I was a downright brat for Jesus. LOL. Obnoxious. But no one took me to the principle's office or got me in trouble. They were all glad I was off drugs and doing something positive with my life, or at least, that's what I thought they ought to be.

BUT ... the problem -- if there is one -- is probably the tax exempt status of religious organizations mixed with the tax-funded status of public schools. That's where the real issue lies. It is NOT about "censorship". It's about a conflict of legal interest.

[Dr. Shane]

Actually the Christians are not allowed to express themselves. Moreover there is a difference between tolerance and promotion. I suspect most parents would have no issue with their school tolerating homosexuality but do have an issue with their school promoting homosexuality.

This type of stuff also brands these kids that participate. Remember that contrary to pro-gay propaganda once-gay-always-gay is simply not true. Many homosexuals spontaneously tend to change or grow out of their homosexuality over their life time. The gay activists simple cannot handle that reality.

Massachusetts Senate Committee Studying Gay Marriage

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Let me put this in context: Roughly ten out of every 100 men have had sex with another man at some time - the origin of the 10% gay myth. Most of these will have identified themselves as gay before turning eighteen and will have acted on it. But by age 18, a full half of them no longer identify themselves as gay and will never again have a male sexual partner. And this is not a population of people selected because they went into therapy; it's just the general population. Furthermore, by age twenty-five, the percentage of gay identified men drops to 2.8%. This means that without any intervention whatsoever, three out of four boys who think they're gay at age l6 aren't by 25.

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You can see the urgency for the gay activists to get into our schools and convince these young people they are gay for life and cannot change.

Many that responded to my ministry were young men who had a sexual relationship with another man and were confused about their sexuality. These are the type of canidates the gay activists want to get a hold of so they can convince them that being gay is genetic and can never be changed.

[Dr. Shane]

Sister Nico, I don't know the specifics in this case but I have been involved with Bible studies in public schools and it is allowed by law. However it has to be done either during lunch hour or after school hours. The students can invite their friends and put up fliers on school property and the leader of the Bible study doesn't have to be another student. An ordained minister can lead the Bible study.

I have no idea why this school wasn't letting students bring Bibles to school. Most public school libraries have Bibles in them.

[Nicodema]

I know -- that's why I was surprised too. Of course, most public schools do not allow Wiccan or pagan-religion clubs to meet. Now, I wonder why that is? While as Christians we might think that's a good thing, from a secular and objective standpoint, it is simply unfair.