this is just kinda...

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

weird...

how does "short hair, jeans and sneakers" make an 8-yr-old girl "homosexual"????

[quote name=" source "]A Christian school just rejected an 8-year-old girl for "practicing a homosexual lifestyle or an alternative gender identity."

Until recently, Sunnie Kahle attended Timberlake Christian School in Forest, VA. She got good grades and was never in trouble. But she also preferred wearing her hair short and prefers jeans and sneakers -- which school administrators claim disturbed the classroom.

Unless Sunnie as well as her family clearly understand that God has made her female and her dress and behavior need to follow suit with her God-ordained identity," they wrote to Sunnie's grandparents, who raised her, "TCS is not the best place for her future education."

Perhaps school administrators need to re-read the gospels: Jesus included women in his ministry in ways that shocked the religious authorities of his time. But this school has twisted Jesus' teachings into a cruel weapon of discrimination against a child.

Sunnie's grandparents removed her from Timberlake Christian and enrolled her in public school. They understandably don't want to reenroll her, but they say that she cries every day because she misses her old friends -- and who knows how many other children are suffering under the school's cruel and sexist policies?

Timberlake Christian School owes this young girl and her family an apology -- and they need to drop their unchristian and discriminatory policies immediately.

[Aliensanctuary]

Private schools do have the right to establish dress codes, and those who wish to attend are obligated to observe those codes or go elsewhere.

[bonnie]

Private schools do have the right to establish dress codes, and those who wish to attend are obligated to observe those codes or go elsewhere.

Why do people voluntarily sign up,enroll or attend where they disagree with the guidelines set?

Why place your child in a school that has a dress code and then object when that dress code is enforced?

[phkrause]

They shouldn't!! That's very sad indeed. First, how do they know she's gay, etc.? Second, who did they ask to find out?? Now having said that, I agree with Bonnie, why are the parents sending her there? If the School has a policy about dress code?

[bonnie]

They shouldn't!! That's very sad indeed. First, how do they know she's gay, etc.? Second, who did they ask to find out?? Now having said that, I agree with Bonnie, why are the parents sending her there? If the School has a policy about dress code?

There might be more to their decision than meets the eye

practicing a homosexual lifestyle or an alternative gender identity."

Sounds silly but in this day and age where transgender means special considerations it might not be.

Allowing one to flaunt the rules it would be tough to maintain the dress code

[Gregory Matthews]

Some comments:

1) The school claims that there is more to this than what the media has reported. I wonder what this is?

2) Private schools have some rights as to what they want in a dress code.

3) I wonder what the dress code actually said. E.G. Did it say that girls could never wear jeans and a t-shirt?

4) Has the dress code been enforced evenly? E.G. has no girl ever been allowed to wear jeans and a t-shirt?

5) The local SDA elementary school, supported by the congregation I attend, has required a uniform dress for all students this year. All girls are alike and all boys are alike.

Private schools have rights. But, the above questions are all valid.

[bonnie]

Some comments:

1) The school claims that there is more to this than what the media has reported. I wonder what this is?

2) Private schools have some rights as to what they want in a dress code.

3) I wonder what the dress code actually said. E.G. Did it say that girls could never wear jeans and a t-shirt?

4) Has the dress code been enforced evenly? E.G. has no girl ever been allowed to wear jeans and a t-shirt?

5) The local SDA elementary school, supported by the congregation I attend, has required a uniform dress for all students this year. All girls are alike and all boys are alike.

Private schools have rights. But, the above questions are all valid.

There isn't anything to indicate this girl was singled out while others were allowed to dress in the same manner

LNA sunniekahle2 032714

8-year-old girl's appearance is beyond 'hairstyle and tomboy issue,' Christian school says

Sunnie Kahle's great-grandmother said a teacher at Timberlake Christian Schools raised concerns about the girl's gender identity. The school says Sunnie ought to dress and behave more femininely.

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By Jessie Pounds | The (Lynchburg) News & Advance

Sunnie Kahle and her great-grandparents live just four minutes down the road from Timberlake Christian Schools, but in the past few weeks, a gulf has opened up between the family and the school.

Doris Thompson said she stopped sending 8-year-old Sunnie to the private school near Lynchburg after a late February letter arrived with what seemed like an ultimatum.

It asked Thompson to either help Sunnie to dress and behave more femininely or consider not enrolling the second-grader again in the fall.

Thompson’s husband Carroll chose to share the letter with a local television station, which broadcast a story about Sunnie on Monday. That story sparked a firestorm of national, and even international, publicity.

On Wednesday, Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel and dean of the Liberty University School of Law, issued a statement saying Liberty Counsel would publicly represent the school.

“This matter is far beyond a simple ‘hairstyle and tomboy issue’ as inaccurately portrayed,” the statement said.

School business administrator Earl Prince said Wednesday the school would hold off on commenting further, at least for the night.

Doris Thompson said she heard an apology from a Timberlake Baptist Church pastor who told her she should have been contacted for an in-person appointment, rather than receiving those concerns in a letter.

She said forgiveness is something she’ll have to pray and think on.

The Thompsons have been fielding a steady stream of phone calls since they went public with their story, which has blown up on the Internet as dozens of media and other outlets report and comment on the story. News outlets including CBS News, Huffington Post, New York Daily News, and the Washington Post have picked up the story.

The Thompsons adopted their great-granddaughter Sunnie as a baby and have been raising her as their own. They chose to send her to Timberlake Christian Schools starting in preschool.

“It’s a Christian, private school and I wanted Sunnie to have a Christian education,” Doris Thompson explained.

That same year, Thompson said, Sunnie decided she wanted to wear boy-style clothing and cut her hair short. She gave the extra hair away to a child with cancer.

Thompson said the girl’s pre-K teacher raised questions and concerns with her about Sunnie’s gender identity and behavior, so Thompson sought an outside opinion.

“I took her to the doctor and I asked the doctor and he said, ‘Leave that child alone,'” Thompson explained.

She said she feels confident about her choice to not try to push Sunnie to be more feminine and to let her make decisions for herself.

Thompson said Sunnie, who now attends public school in Campbell County, goes to counseling and gets professional help for mood swings, but that counseling is not specifically targeted at discussing gender identity.

Asked Wednesday if “she” was the right pronoun to use for her in the interview, Sunnie said, “Yes.”

Starting in kindergarten, she wore the school uniform with a collared TCS shirt except on dress-down or dress-up days a couple of times a year. Like other girls at the school, she could choose to wear slacks or a skirt, and she chose slacks.

Thompson said Sunnie had an issue in kindergarten when a girl thought Sunnie was a boy in the girls’ bathroom. The incident led her kindergarten teacher raise concerns about Sunnie’s gender identity again.

Sunnie and Thompson said they both liked Sunnie’s first-grade teacher who didn’t raise the same kinds of issues.

“She was the best teacher ever,” Sunnie said.

Thompson said during the first semester of second grade, some boys tried to pull Sunnie into a boys’ bathroom at the school. That incident, Thompson said, brought concerns from the school about Sunnie’s gender expression and appearance to the forefront again.

A couple months later, the letter arrived.

“We love Sunnie and do want the best for her,” Principal Becky Bowman wrote in the letter sent to the Thompsons. “We would miss her presence here, but we do not want her future years be filled [with] confusion and conflicting input from those who are guiding her.”

At the same time, the letter included a paragraph about reserving the right to refuse readmission to a student if the “atmosphere or conduct” within a home is in opposition to “the biblical lifestyle that the school teaches.”

“This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, living in, condoning or supporting sexual immorality; practicing homosexual lifestyle or alternative gender identity; promoting such practices; or otherwise having the ability to support the moral principles of the school.”

Among other Bible passages, that paragraph referred to the Old Testament Bible passage Leviticus 20:13a, though it did not quote the scripture. The text of Leviticus 20:13 in the New International Version on Bible Gateway.com is: “If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.”

Wednesday’s news release, issued by Liberty Counsel on behalf of the school, noted TCS is “limited in what can be related about this situation.”

“This matter is far beyond a simple ‘hairstyle and tomboy issue’ ... The School has never told S.K. she cannot return to school,” it stated.

“Parents and guardians send their children to the School because of our Christian beliefs and standards. We have a duty to create an environment that is supportive of these Christian values. We cannot have conflicting messages or standards because such conflict will confuse our students and frustrate the parents and guardians who have entrusted the education of their children to us.

“When elementary children and their parents or guardians express concerns regarding use of the restroom and other matters arising from the sensitive issues here, the School has a duty to address those concerns and to ensure that all interests are heard and protected in accordance with the Christian mission of the School.

“While we welcome all students, parents and guardians are made aware of the School’s Christian mission and beliefs. We not only have a right, but we also have a duty to uphold these Christian standards.”

[phkrause]

Again I ask, but maybe I'm missing it somewhere?, where does it mention that anyone has actually asked her what gender she wants to be?? She's 8 and wants to dress like a boy! So what, I say. How many 8 yr old's do we know that like to dress up like tomboys, etc., and grow up to be very beautiful young ladies?? As far as I know there are many!! Not trying to stir up any bad vibes here, but it seems the school is making a judgement, based on whatever comes to there mind??

[Gregory Matthews]

Quote:

Thompson said during the first semester of second grade, some boys tried to pull Sunnie into a boys’ bathroom at the school.

I wonder if the school dwelt with the issue of the boys attempting to do that?

[bonnie]

Again I ask, but maybe I'm missing it somewhere?, where does it mention that anyone has actually asked her what gender she wants to be?? She's 8 and wants to dress like a boy! So what, I say. How many 8 yr old's do we know that like to dress up like tomboys, etc., and grow up to be very beautiful young ladies?? As far as I know there are many!! Not trying to stir up any bad vibes here, but it seems the school is making a judgement, based on whatever comes to there mind??

I don't think there was a bigger tomboy around than I was.

I grew up with three brothers and mostly boy cousins.I could play ball better run faster,climb trees better than most boys.

That didn't mean I dressed like a boy for school. I was allowed to change clothes for recess as a dress wasn't really appropriate for the games I played.

Nor did my parents encourage or allow me to defy the rules as we all knew them.

Wonder if one of the boys wanted to dress as a girl and start wearing dresses and bows in their hair what would happen

[phkrause]

Wonder if one of the boys wanted to dress as a girl and start wearing dresses and bows in their hair what would happen

Well that would be very interesting. :)

[CoAspen]

Quote:

A Christian school just rejected an 8-year-old girl for "practicing a homosexual lifestyle or an alternative gender identity."

But she also preferred wearing her hair short and prefers jeans and sneakers

What has jeans and sneakers have to do with gender identity???

In all of the articles I do not see anything about this being a school uniform issue, but I do see the school expressing concerns about gender. Perhaps some 'education' is needed for school admin...oh....yeah, they are private and can make up their own definitions of what 'jeans and sneakers' on girls mean!

Yada-yada....

[bonnie]

What has jeans and sneakers have to do with gender identity???

In all of the articles I do not see anything about this being a school uniform issue, but I do see the school expressing concerns about gender. Perhaps some 'education' is needed for school admin...oh....yeah, they are private and can make up their own definitions of what 'jeans and sneakers' on girls mean!

Yada-yada....

If a issue or disagreement includes "christians' it doesn't take long before any action by a christian,understood or not,is suspect.If you read the articles on this,this issue goes beyond tennis shoes and jeans.

Possibly they have very valid reasons that does not justify the sarcastic remarks.Possibly you know the whole story that is not being told at this time and will share it with us

Wednesday’s news release, issued by Liberty Counsel on behalf of the school, noted TCS is “limited in what can be related about this situation.”

“This matter is far beyond a simple ‘hairstyle and tomboy issue’ ... The School has never told S.K. she cannot return to school,” it stated.

“Parents and guardians send their children to the School because of our Christian beliefs and standards. We have a duty to create an environment that is supportive of these Christian values. We cannot have conflicting messages or standards because such conflict will confuse our students and frustrate the parents and guardians who have entrusted the education of their children to us.

“When elementary children and their parents or guardians express concerns regarding use of the restroom and other matters arising from the sensitive issues here, the School has a duty to address those concerns and to ensure that all interests are heard and protected in accordance with the Christian mission of the School.

“While we welcome all students, parents and guardians are made aware of the School’s Christian mission and beliefs. We not only have a right, but we also have a duty to uphold these Christian standards.”

[phkrause]

Quote:

A Christian school just rejected an 8-year-old girl for "practicing a homosexual lifestyle or an alternative gender identity."

But she also preferred wearing her hair short and prefers jeans and sneakers

What has jeans and sneakers have to do with gender identity???

In all of the articles I do not see anything about this being a school uniform issue, but I do see the school expressing concerns about gender. Perhaps some 'education' is needed for school admin...oh....yeah, they are private and can make up their own definitions of what 'jeans and sneakers' on girls mean!

Yada-yada....

That's what I'm seeing also! They are determining what a girl can dress or look like!

[bonnie]

That's what I'm seeing also! They are determining what a girl can dress or look like!

They have every right to have a dress code and enforce it.

A eight year old should not have the authority to determine whether she abides by the rules of a school she was voluntarily attending.This was not a sudden decision catching the family off guard.

There are a couple of pictures of this girl and she definitely

is wearing boys clothes.Not just jeans and sneakers but clothes that are designed to be won by boys. If the school is opposed to that they have that right,just as they have the right to deny a eight year old boy to dress in dresses and hairbows

“You can be assured that we have cared for Sunnie and worked with her grandparents for several years to assist them,” read the statement. “Our TCS teachers and administrators love Sunnie and we can assure everyone that this has never been an issue of hair length or boots as it has been portrayed. It has been our constant desire over the last several years to work with this family and to shepherd this precious little girl in a way consistent with traditional values.”

[phkrause]

Originally Posted By: pkrause

That's what I'm seeing also! They are determining what a girl can dress or look like!

They have every right to have a dress code and enforce it.

A eight year old should not have the authority to determine whether she abides by the rules of a school she was voluntarily attending.This was not a sudden decision catching the family off guard.

There are a couple of pictures of this girl and she definitely

is wearing boys clothes.Not just jeans and sneakers but clothes that are designed to be won by boys. If the school is opposed to that they have that right,just as they have the right to deny a eight year old boy to dress in dresses and hairbows

“You can be assured that we have cared for Sunnie and worked with her grandparents for several years to assist them,” read the statement. “Our TCS teachers and administrators love Sunnie and we can assure everyone that this has never been an issue of hair length or boots as it has been portrayed. It has been our constant desire over the last several years to work with this family and to shepherd this precious little girl in a way consistent with traditional values.”

I'm in agreement, my problem is there determining that this girl is gay. Like I said, she should never have been sent to this school because of the dress code. But there telling all that she is dressing like a boy because she is wanting to live a gay lifestyle!! Not only that, it seems that everytime they make a new comment, they add something to it. Now they say they've been working for several years! what does that mean, it was OK till now??????????

[bonnie]

I'm in agreement, my problem is there determining that this girl is gay. Like I said, she should never have been sent to this school because of the dress code. But there telling all that she is dressing like a boy because she is wanting to live a gay lifestyle!! Not only that, it seems that everytime they make a new comment, they add something to it. Now they say they've been working for several years! what does that mean, it was OK till now??????????

[LifeHiscost]

Quote:

The above does not say the girl is gay.Nor was she expelled.The grandparents need to send her where she can do as she pleases

Agreed. But that attitude is of another generation.

God saves! Jasus cares!

[Tom Wetmore]

From the report I read, the school dress code included slacks for girls. It has also been reported that she cut her hair short to donate her long hair for wigs to cancer victims. It also is reported that a girl in the girls bathroom mistook her for a boy as a result and apparently some boys had actively harassed her by trying to drag her into the boys' bathroom. Source

It does not appear that she was in violation of the school dress or hair code. It appears more likely other students' treatment of her related to her boyish appearance was more likely the issue. It doesn't sound like the school handled their behavior very well.

[bonnie]

From the report I read, the school dress code included slacks for girls. It has also been reported that she cut her hair short to donate her long hair for wigs to cancer victims. It also is reported that a girl in the girls bathroom mistook her for a boy as a result and apparently some boys had actively harassed her by trying to drag her into the boys' bathroom. Source

It does not appear that she was in violation of the school dress or hair code. It appears more likely other students' treatment of her related to her boyish appearance was more likely the issue. It doesn't sound like the school handled their behavior very well.

No she did not cut her hair to donate it to cancer victims. She cut her hair and then donated it. Cancer victims didn't have anything to do with her decision.

The school dress code includes slacks not boys jeans for girls.

"Sunnie decided she wanted to wear boy-style clothing and cut her hair short. She gave the extra hair away to a child with cancer".Sunnie decided she wanted to dress like a boy.There is a difference between girls and boys clothing.

{quote]8-year-old girl's appearance is beyond 'hairstyle and tomboy issue,' Christian school says

“This matter is far beyond a simple ‘hairstyle and tomboy issue’ as inaccurately portrayed,” the statement said.

School business administrator Earl Prince said Wednesday the school would hold off on commenting further, at least for the night.

“This matter is far beyond a simple ‘hairstyle and tomboy issue’ as inaccurately portrayed,” the statement said.

School business administrator Earl Prince said Wednesday the school would hold off on commenting further, at least for the night.

That same year, Thompson said, Sunnie decided she wanted to wear boy-style clothing and cut her hair short. She gave the extra hair away to a child with cancer.

Thompson said the girl’s pre-K teacher raised questions and concerns with her about Sunnie’s gender identity and behavior, so Thompson sought an outside opinion.

[bonnie]

From the report I read, the school dress code included slacks for girls. It has also been reported that she cut her hair short to donate her long hair for wigs to cancer victims. It also is reported that a girl in the girls bathroom mistook her for a boy as a result and apparently some boys had actively harassed her by trying to drag her into the boys' bathroom. Source

It does not appear that she was in violation of the school dress or hair code. It appears more likely other students' treatment of her related to her boyish appearance was more likely the issue. It doesn't sound like the school handled their behavior very well.

Maybe the best interest of this little girl would have been better served by the grandparents if they had observed the rules of the school instead of rushing to the media to make another victim of their granddaughter. It is not for an eight year old to write the rules.

Let her dress as she pleases after school and on weekends and comply with the school dress code during school hours.

She didn't have to wear dresses ,simply not dress as a boy.

That doesn't capture as much public attention or produce enough victims tho.

This little girl is more of a victim of her grandparents than she is of a "christian school"

[Gregory Matthews]

Bonnie has told us that cancer had nothing to do with her decision to cut her hair and that she simply cut her hair first and then decided to give to a person with cancer.

Well:

Quote:

"Sunnie realizes she's a female, but she wants to do boy things," said Doris Thompson, Kahle's great-grandmother and legal guardian. "She wants to play rough and tough."

Thompson has raised Kahle since she was an infant. When she turned five, Thompson said she asked for a short hair cut.

"She had hair down to her waist and she wanted to give it to a child with cancer," said Thompson. "After we cut her hair she started wanting to wear jeans and a t-shirt. She didn't want to wear her frilly dresses anymore."

Based upon the above, I would think that her desire to give it to a person with cancer came first and that it was that decision that caused her to ask for her hair to be cut.

However, based upon the above, I will also say that Bonnie has a point.

If she cut her hair three years ago, it is clear that she has wanted to continue to have it cut short.

I am not certain that any of my post is important. :)

[bonnie]

Bonnie has told us that cancer had nothing to do with her decision to cut her hair and that she simply cut her hair first and then decided to give to a person with cancer.

Well:

Quote:

"Sunnie realizes she's a female, but she wants to do boy things," said Doris Thompson, Kahle's great-grandmother and legal guardian. "She wants to play rough and tough."

Thompson has raised Kahle since she was an infant. When she turned five, Thompson said she asked for a short hair cut.

"She had hair down to her waist and she wanted to give it to a child with cancer," said Thompson. "After we cut her hair she started wanting to wear jeans and a t-shirt. She didn't want to wear her frilly dresses anymore."

Based upon the above, I would think that her desire to give it to a person with cancer came first and that it was that decision that caused her to ask for her hair to be cut.

However, based upon the above, I will also say that Bonnie has a point.

If she cut her hair three years ago, it is clear that she has wanted to continue to have it cut short.

I am not certain that any of my post is important.

Deciding she wanted to give it to a person with cancer sounds like it came after the decision to have her haircut.She wanted to wear boys clothes and have her haircut. Regardless there isn't any reasonable explanation for a eight year old child to dictate what rules she wants to follow and those she doesn't.

Nor is there one for the grandparents deciding she didn't have to.

We had four boys and raised my nieces.They were pretty rough and tumble girls and could give the boys as good as they got.

They dressed in jeans and shirts at home,but they would never have been mistaken for boys. School attire was not boys clothing anymore than my boys would wear girls clothing. Wonder what the response would be to this if Sunnie were a boy and wanted to wear frilly dresses to school?

Neither of the girls like frills and lace,yet managed to dress appropriately.

That same year, Thompson said, Sunnie decided she wanted to wear boys’ style clothing and cut her hair short. She gave the extra hair away to a child with cancer.

The grandparents seem to want this little girl to appear as a victim of self righteous christians.

She is a victim of the grandparents wanting their fifteen minutes of fame by going to the media because their granddaughter is not given a green light to flaunt the rules.

Our boys went to boarding academy and there were rules I thought was silly and a couple just plain wrong.Tough bounce.

No one forced us to enroll them there,we knew the rules and it was up to us as parents to make sure the boys followed them. Of course they did not always do so,and paid the price for their decisions.

[Naomi]

I have followed this thread in amazement.

If she was not observing the dress code, should have been reason enough for the school to give the grandparents the option of putting her into dresses and allow her hair to grow out or change schools.

Unless there were other incidents indicating that she was homosexual it seems to me to be cruel and damaging to the little girl's reputation to suggest that she was "practicing a homosexual lifestyle". Without definite proof, How Dare Them!!!

To carry this a bit further, I spent most of my younger years in jeans, t-shirts, boots and my best friend was my horse and dog. Mother would get me all of those disgusting dresses with frills and try to curl my naturally very straight, thick hair. YUCK!!!

Mother would also buy me dolls and had Daddy build me a playhouse. I think mother enjoyed the playhouse, dolls, etc. I didn't!

I suspect that Timberlake (and some of the old people in the church) would have rejected me for practicing a homosexual lifestyle. I am sure when I reached my teenage years mother and daddy would have preferred I had stayed in boots and jeans.

As for my daughters: short hair (long hair becomes tangled and is hot and just gets in the way) jeans, sneakers and t-shirts (except for Sabbath). By 12-13 years old the jeans and sneakers stayed but became designer, hair grew long and became a crisis every day. Prom dresses, homecoming dresses, etc became increasingly expensive until they topped out with wedding dresses! Sadly the days of short hair, jeans, sneakers and t-shirts a thing of the past.

I realize I have ran around this mulberry bush a couple of times, but my point is if there was nothing more to it than how she wore her hair and how she dressed, the good folk at TCS were (in my opinion) way out of line in calling her homosexual!

Oh, you'll never guess what my daughters & myself wear almost every day ..........

[phkrause]

Exactly Tom. The article right of the bat mentions "homosexual" in it. Now is that the article itself adding that or did they get that from any interviews they had with the school!!! That was my point to begin with. I have no problem with the school saying that she is going against the dress code and should find another school, but again, from what I've read the school has been working with her for a few years!! Now working with her can be lots of different things I would guess. It also seems to me a lot of peer pressure and probably the kids going home and telling there parents and who knows what there being told there. The school should be working on that problem as well.