Parents Can Keep Kids Out of GSA in South Carolina

I have twice commented before about the controversy in the Richland-Lexington District Five school district in South Carolina over the formation of a Gay/Straight Alliance club ("GSA"). Turmoil to date has included a wingnut high school principal's decision to resign rather than work at a school that allowed the formation of the GSA in the school. At first the local fundie element was pushing the school board to eliminate ALL non-academic clubs rather than have to allow the GSA under the federal equal access laws. Fortunately, the school board grew some balls (or maybe just one ball) and rejected the option of eliminating all clubs, but put in place a provision where parents can block their children from attending clubs. I'd be willing to bet that it is precisely the kids of the parents blocking their involvement in the GSA who need the GSA the most. At some point something needs to be done in my opinion about loony parents who inflict emotional and psychological harm on their children due to their kookie/hatee based religious views. Physical abuse is not the only way to seriously mess up children and teenagers. Here are some high lights from WIS News 10 in Columbia, South Carolina:

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IRMO, SC (WIS) - High school students in one Midlands school district are in for some changes when they go back to school this fall. At a meeting Monday night, Richland-Lexington District Five board members decided to allow the formation of non-academic clubs. That would include clubs like the Gay/Straight Alliance. Plans for that club at Irmo High School in the district have caused a lot of controversy lately. But while non-academic clubs will be allowed to form, parents still have a way to keep their children from joining them.

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"Passing a policy which has never been necessary in the past at this point is because of the GSA. We look at this as a way to circumvent federal law," said Ray Drew of South Carolina Equality. My group is already training students, teachers, parents and administrators at Irmo High School for what they should be looking for next year. Anything out of compliance with federal law, we are going to be watching everything," says Drew.

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Some parents have already said when they see the Gay/Straight Alliance club as an option for their child's list, it will be the first club to be marked off. "I can make the decision. Not the Gay/Straight Alliance. What kind of assistance he needs. Protect him physically, emotionally and any way it goes," said one parent. "I don't want any organization to sway my child one way or the other." Some opponents of the policy say it is going to make kids who can't talk about their sexuality with their parents feel alone.

Wingnut High School Principal Resigns Over Gay-Straight Alliance

WISTV-10 in Columbia, South Carolina is reporting that Eddie Walker, Principal of Irmo High School (pictured at left), has resigned effective June 30, 2008, because the school district is allowing a Gay-Straight Alliance to form at Irmo High School. Frankly, if Mr. Walker is such a fanatical Christianist that the mere existence of a GSA put him over the edge, both the high school and the school district will be better off without him. Perhaps he can convert to Islam and move to Iran where such closed mindedness and religious based bigotry are accepted. His intolerance towards others surely is not the type of example that should be presented to high school students who need to be learning how to live in a multicultural and religiously diverse nation and larger world.

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It is precisely bigots like Eddie Walker that create atmospheres where LGBT youths come to believe that suicide is their best option. It is also an atmosphere that progressive businesses and emplyers avoid. Last time I checked, South Carolina is not exactly an economic powerhouse. Bigotry and intolerance have a clear economic price. May God judge Mr. Walker as he judges others. I would also note that, not surprisingly, Walker is not the only bigot in the school district as evidenced by the remarks of parent, Brenda Enoch (who hopefully will be blessed with gay grandchildren). Here are some story highlights:

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IRMO, SC (WIS) - The Irmo High School Principal's announced resignation over a controversial student group is already drawing national attention. Principal Eddie Walker told WIS News 10 his resignation won't take effect until June, 2009 - the end of the 2008-2009 school year. Walker says it comes after he was asked to allow the creation of a Gay-Straight Alliance club at the school.

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Tuesday Lexington School District Five issued a statement through Director of Community Services Buddy Price. It says, "The federal law known as the Equal Access Act does not permit the school to discriminate against a club based on the club's purpose and viewpoint by not allowing it to form unless the purpose of the club is unlawful." Wednesday, the district followed up with a statement from spokesperson Michelle Foster. "Attorneys have advised the school district that prohibiting the formation of this club would most certainly result in a costly lawsuit ... The only other recourse the school district would have would be to eliminate all non-curricular clubs all together."

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"We are not putting them like, 'ugh. You know you're lepers.' But we have to stand for what our foundation of our nation was about," says parent Brenda Enoch. Enoch supports Walker's decision to resign. She feels the formation of the Gay/Straight Alliance club would lower values in schools that parents have fought hard to achieve.

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Ashlei Tate, who graduated from a high school in Glorida with a Gay/Straight Alliance club, compares banning groups like the GSA to racial segregation of the past. "Everyone has equal rights. We shouldn't discriminate from what they need to do," says Ashlei Tate. "People used to make fun of and beat up gay people, just because they were different. This is actually a program to make everyone feel that they belong."

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The following are highlights from Walker's resignation letter submitted to the school division:

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On May 14, 2008, I was instructed by email to allow the formation of a Gay/Straight Alliance Club at Irmo High School. On May 15, 2008 I told Ms. Ann Pilat to allow the formation of this club for the 2008-2009 school year. Allowing the formation of this club on our campus conflicts with my professional beliefs and religious convictions.

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The formation of this club conflicts with my professional beliefs in that we do not have other clubs at Irmo High school based on sexual orientation, sexual preference, or sexual activity. In fact our sex education curriculum is abstinence based. I feel the formation of a Gay/Straight Alliance Club at Irmo High school implies that students joining the club will have chosen to or will choose to engage in sexual activity with members of the same sex, opposite sex, or members of both sexes.

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Both Faith in America and South Carolina Equality released statements in response to Walker's resignation and the ensuing publicity. Here is a portion of Faith in America's statement:

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"It is a shame that the principal at Irmo High School in South Carolina decided to place religion-based bigotry and discrimination over his former commitment to his students and staff," said Faith In America Executive Director Brent Childers."We truly believe it is unfortunate that this principal cannot see the immense harm that is caused when a social climate of rejection, condemnation and violence is justified with misguided religious belief. To make such a choice over simply allowing gay youth a forum to meet and talk, alludes to the apparent deep-seated prejudice that must exist in the religious mindset of this person.

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This is a highlight from South Carolina Equality's statement:

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"It's unfortunate that this principal is so grossly misinformed about the intent of a GSA group. This group is forming to provide support for gay, lesbian, and straight students-a reprieve from the often hostile environment in our schools. Drew continued, "Statistics on harassment and violence for gay students are astounding. Gay students face more verbal harassment and physical violence than any group of students. In fact the conditions are often tortuous. We would never allow these conditions for any other group of students in our schools." Drew said, "Four out of five gay students report that they don't know one supportive adult at school. Principal Walker further alienates these students and causes them greater harm."