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WTHR
Diana Medley, a special-education teacher at a different school, said Sunday, Feb. 10, that allowing gay and lesbian students to attend the prom at Sullivan High School is "offensive to us."
Students and the principal at an Indiana high school are disavowing a campaign by parents to organize a "gay-free" prom.
Even the pastor of the church that hosted the original organizing meeting says the church doesn't back the effort to throw a straights-only prom for students at Sullivan High School in Sullivan, Ind., south of Terre Haute.
The movement began after Principal David Springer was asked to clarify whether same-sex couples would be allowed to take part in the traditional grand march before the prom, which is scheduled for April 27.
"Anybody can go to the prom," Springer told NBC station WTHR of Indianapolis. "Of course, a girl could go out with another girl if they didn't have a date or that was their choice."
One of those attending the small gathering of parents Sunday night at Sullivan First Christian Church was Diana Medley, a special-education teacher at another school, North Central Junior/Senior High School, in nearby Farmersburg.
Allowing gay and lesbian students to attend the prom is "offensive to us," said Medley, who told NBC station WTWO of Terre Haute that even though she doesn't agree with them, she does care for "homosexual students" who come to her with their problems.
Then, Medley created a firestorm of criticism by equating gay and lesbian teenagers to students with developmental disabilities.
"It's the same thing with my special-needs kids," she said. "I think God puts everyone in our lives for a reason."
Asked whether gays and lesbians have any "purpose in life," she replied:
"No, I honestly don't. Sorry, but I don't. I don't understand it."
Commentators from across the country weighed in to criticize Medley, including syndicated columnist Dan Savage, who publicized a petition to have Medley fired.
Dale Wise, senior minister at Sullivan First Christian Church, was quick to distance himself from the sentiment.
"Our church has no involvement in this whatsoever. It's a community thing where people have met here," he told WTWO.
Jim Davis of Sullivan declared that "we shouldn't be condemning people, and that's what judgment is."
"Christ came to save the people, not to condemn them," he told WTWO. "Love them as a person. You don't have to love what they do, because the gays may not love all the mistakes you make."
Emily Butler, a junior at Sullivan High, said: "You should be able to go with whoever you want. You shouldn't be discriminated against for what you are, what you believe in."
Even Wyatt Land, a Sullivan student who said it was important to remember that "the Bible says for a man to love another woman," told WTHR that he thought gay and lesbian classmates should be welcome at the official prom.
"As long as they aren't sitting there and kissing on the dance floor and grinding on each other, stuff like that, I don't have a problem with that," he said. "I don't see what's wrong with it. Prom is for everybody. It's a high school experience."
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To Windancersong-1494878
“All too often, when someone doesn't agree with it, they are immediately labeled as homophobic. Which simply isn't true. Just as homosexuals would object to being labeled pedophies across the board, it is unjust to classify those who for various reasons, disagree with the lifestyle of lesbians and gays.”
I’m sorry, but I can’t let this go. Homosexuality and pedophilia have absolutely nothing to do with each other. They aren’t the same thing and aren’t related any more than heterosexuality and pedophilia are. The difference between a homophobe and someone who just “disagrees” with the lifestyle can be debated, but pedophilia and homosexuality are two completely different things and there is no reason to bring them up in the same discussion.
I am curious though, what would you call a person who wants to actively limits the rights of gays and lesbians because it doesn't line up with your own personal beliefs?
I would definitely agree with Ms.Medley as would most of the USA. When asked if the gays and lesbians had a purpose in this life, I don't think so either. Just like the Bible says, GOD made Adam and Eve, NOT Adam and Steve. I'm wondering why ALL Churches don't stand up for what is written in the BIBLE, that homosexuality is WRONG. In America, you can be just about whomever you want to be and you can stand up for whatever you feel is right and I will fight to the death to make sure that you can. BUT, SO CAN I and I stand here with my hand to GOD, ALMIGHTY, HOMOSEXUALITY IS WRONG. History has a habit of repeating itself. Do you remember what happened in the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah? No matter what you say or do, jump up and down, scream and yell, you will not see one, single, GAY or LESBIAN in Heaven. All of you smart people out there, READ THE BIBLE from cover to cover, then, tell me if you feel the same. No matter how many people claim that Homosexuality is OK, it is very clearly NOT. GOD bless ALL of us, I will pray for you... Love ya but what your doin' is wrong and if you don't stop doin' it, you will pay very dearly. IT IS WRITTEN.
They are related homosexuality and pedophelia. 2 homosexual men tried to molest me when i was a boy but i got away from before they could thats why i don`t let gay men around my kids.
Two old men tried to molest me when I was a child, But I'm not afraid of hetrosexuals..
Two homosexual men were recently put in prison for adopting boys then raping them repeatedly I think its time for these homosexual men/women should be exposed for what they really are.
Jim - A white guy tried to molest as a child - heterasexuals - I was afrraid of
wow. just wow. Pedophilia is pedophilia. It doesn't matter if they are white, straight, gay, bisexual, black, or what.
no purpose in life? Do you like art and classical music? Do you like the clothes you wear? Do you like to read books? Do you watch Ellen before she came out of the closet? How about the movie Titanic? Do you watch Big Bang Theory? How I Met Your Mother? Doogie Houser? Did you listen to Queen? Judas Priest? Ricky Martin and Menudo? New Kids on the Block? NSync? Perry Mason? Do you watch the news? How about the weather? LMAO wow.
Sodom and Gomorrah huh? They were abolished because of their over indulgence and neglect and glutenous ways not because of homosexual sex. That became a later interpretation. They were destroyed by God's angels because of lack of hospitality. And even if it was homosexual sex, its okay for Lot to offer his two virgin daughters to do with as they wished? Come on!!!! Jewish translation is that the story and demise was more about their violent transgressions and lack of hospitality. It was they way their treated others. They would give beggars money and then deny them food and when they starved to death, they would take back the money. They would throw stones and people and then charge them for bloodletting. They hung a girl who was caught giving a beggar food. The Sodomites raped people. Used violent regression against others. That has nothing to do with homosexuality. That was to do with power. (you know like calling for castration for a rapist. A rapist will rape with a stick. Has nothing to do with sexual pleasure). They oppressed the poor, they were used power to get sex, they cheated, they were violent to strangers, and did not help the needy. They were arrogant and brought war against others for the sake of power. It wasn't until later that Christian theorists changed the meanings and interpretations as they saw fit. For example "strange flesh" or to "know". I just think priest thought about sex too much, but that's just me. Strange flesh could mean bestiality, sex with strangers, it could mean homosexuality as well. But it was because they just f'd anything with legs. "To know" well, that could mean to meat and interrogate. Who knows. Later Christians changed the Bible to put meaning what they wanted. You know, King James? He changed the Bible to put in words and meanings of what HE wanted not what GOD wanted. Guess what else you Christian peeps, this story is also in the Quran. And reads exactly the same. And they too mention explicit sex, violence, gluttony, treatment of the poor and needy and rape.
I let my children around my friends. 20% of which are gay. Two of my best friends are gay. One male and one female and my kids adore them. They call one Big Uncle Mike. And love his chicken Alfredo. My other friend is one of the top recognized meteorologist in this country. No purpose? Really?
i think homosexual men/women should be exposed for who they really are, too. HUMAN!
Gr8BnMe
Hate-filled weasels like you serve no purpose in life. Go eat some more of that equally-forbidden bacon... in fact just keep eating that until you give yourself a coronary and remove a bigot from the planet.
Gr8BnMe:
You know what else is WRITTEN in your stupid fictional Bible? An unrelenting, unvarnished, and unambiguous advocacy and endorsement of SLAVERY.
Do you support slavery? If not, why? The Bible makes it abundantly clear that owning and occasionally beating other human beings is perfectly moral and acceptable. I'm betting, however, that you don't personally think slavery is a good thing. Which begs the question: WHY NOT? Why do you pick and choose from what you claim is the inerrant, infallible WORD OF GOD? God loves slavery, so why don't you?
"Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church." (I Corinthians 14:34-35)
One of my new favorites.
Whack jobs like her keep pouring more gas on the fire. Unfortunately, the flame they build serves to light their own idiotic behavior.
Ms. Medley is the devil incarnate, clothing discrimination and bigotry in religion. Shame on her.
I hope that girl who she did a little "experimenting" with while away at college doesn't come forward! Ouch,
I can see my teacher was right society will generally bend the teaching of the Bible to make it ok to do what they feel is good. When the facts are facts. Jesus was not gay and if I'm to emulate his life then I choose not to be gay and those who do are wrong. I'm sorry the local church failed the community. Our church would have been strong even in the face of evil criticism accepting that gays have as much moral rights as heterosexuals.
Spetsnaz,Then you need to convert from being a practicing Catholic to a practicing Jew.Jesus was a Jew.
Yeah, how dare those gays expect to have the right to live free from Spetz's unbridled hatred and bigotry...
Hey spetsnaz, it's worse being a pedophile like you than being a homosexual.
How do you know Jesus wasn't gay? He never got married and hung around with a bunch of guys. He also preached the traditionally feminine ideas of love and peace. And from all the pictures I've seen of him--which I know are accurate since he was DEFINITELY a blue-eyed Caucasian- he has long hair and wears a dress. Hmmmm...not only gay but maybe transgender!
Ms. Medley, be sure to inquire of the doctor or nurse who saves your life, the police officer who keeps you & your church safe, your neighbour who watches over your home when you are away, the firefighter who stops your house from burning down and just about every other person in life you come across if they are LGBTQ because, you know, you wouldn't want to be offended by having them present in your life.
Perhaps you could made a delicate little card (wouldn't want to offend your sensibilities) with a check list to give to them as your non-existent heart stops.
Unbelievable.
KCh1954,Exceptionally well done.I agree with you.Ms.Medley will never agree with you and I.It's a shame that she is allowed to be a teacher.
And how are you going to keep out the LGBTQ students who show up with an opposite sex friend? What a conundrum???? You know "they're" sneaky!!!!!
I s'pose they better make sure their prom is black free. ..and mexican free.....and irish free......and muslim free....
oh hell.....why don't they just say it is for lily-white christians.....and be done with it.
I myself do not enjoy gay free porn, or any other types of gay porn, and specifically "back fire" gay porn. But live and let live I say.
As long as the churches preach their unscientific nonsense about gay and lesbians,
there will alwaus be people who take that as a backing for their own bigottry.
Diana Medley is a vile women using christianity to continue to be a vile women
Seems to be a lot of stir and opinions. Sorry for people who justify, when it has been settled in heaven long ago.
And you know this how? Are you God to know that?...
And you know this how? Are you God that know that with such cocksureness?...
Well, Beulana, if the Master on the throne knew for some time just how the issue at hand should be settled, it might be nice if us he let us mere mortals in on a few of the details.
Oh I know the old testament says a thing or two about gays. Take Sodom and Gommorah. A wild mob sieges a household, a house of morals amongst debauchery. The mob demands the strangers be given up so as to be brutally raped by the mob. To avoid this the head of the household, a supposed moral man offers up his daughters for brutal rape instead of the angels. That's some dad. And on that count, if the strangers were angels wouldn't they have some powers to quell the mob. At any rate, just like much from the bible, the story is of no credence.
It's just that I figured the all-mighty, all powerful, Alpha and Omega might do something about the mess we're in down here, and help us without copping out that we made our own bed, now we've got to lie in it. I mean, an all-powerful God must have known when he molded us just how fallible his new creation would be.
In the garden one of the new creations faces a test of almost unreal consequences. The contest is decidedly uneven, pitting an innocent but curious young girl against a smooth talking slickster with a forked tongue. Is it any surprise Eve is unable to rebuff the serpent's offerings?
I don't know the nature of God. It's a great mystery to me. But I just wish so-called Christians would really look at what their holy book says, sometime, and admit it is full of contradictions and unexplainable passages.
Dan Savage is absolutely pathetic and a piece of crap. Why must Liberal/Progressives always demand a person may fired or a business be ruined because someone disagreed with their opinion? Chicken@!$%# is probably the best way to describe idiots like Dan Savage. I wonder if it ever occurred to him to engage in a civilized exchange and if no common ground can be found then just agree to disagree and leave it at that.
I don't know. Maybe it's a lot like this woman throwing a temper tantrum based on something that goes against her opinion?
I agree with Larry-314720. Since when did freedom of speech become a reason to be fired? She said nothing wrong. Even if you don't like what she said she is still free to speak it. It's still America the last time I looked. I'm so tired of people tell us that we have to be politically correct. Homosexuality is not the norm, it is not an opinion, your body tells you that. And I noticed that those who agree with homosexuality resort to name calling when they can't think of anything to justify their thinking. Don't lower yourself to there standard. Mark Twain said
“Do not argue with an idiot they drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.”
she's not just simply disagreeing, for one. She's trying to segregate people. Disagreeing would be "Oh, well I don't agree with that lifestyle, but live and let live" not "RAWWWWRRR NO GAYZ AT TEH PROM RRRR!!
also, she should NOT be teaching at a public school, private school, sure, but not Pentecostal, cause they'd bounce her butt out of there in two seconds FLAT. (odd how one of the strictest religions are the most tolerant, at least, from what I've seen)
Oh, and also, Mark Twain, yeah..BIG FLAMIN HOMOSEXUAL
First of all, this entire post started with someone talking about liberals/ progressives as if that's a defining factor in a person. If you want to get technical, that's name calling as well. Don't assume that everyone who wants this woman fired is either of those thigns, they are simply A PERSON with an opinion. Just as this woman had her opinion, they should be allowed the same thing.
That's generalizing. Generalizing is just as lazy/ irrelevant as name calling.
Seems pretty simple to me. If someone is offended by going to a prom where gays are allowed, then don't go! What's the problem!?! I don't really like having dinner with a bunch of kids so I choose not to go hang out at Chuck E. Cheese, I don't play soccer so I choose not to join a soccer team. Get my point, what's the difference?... We all have a choice, make yours (whichever is more important to you) and stop complaining.
One sin is no greater than another..in the eyes of "religious" folks..to treat someone differently because of one sin in particular is going AGAINST the teachings of the Bible and what Jesus Christ would have done.
If that woman wants to prevent equal rights to people because of what she views as a sin(their sexuality) then she should also support her equal rights being infringed upon because of her sin.(the bible clearly states that NONE of us are without sin.) and since no sin is greater than another all her sins she commits throughout the day..you know..hatred..bad thoughts..coveting..lust..prejudice are just as bad in Gods eyes as those human beings sexuality sins...so..she should be Thankful someone holier than her isn't judging her for her sins.
"Yeah, but...but...but...Teh Gayz (tm) is LOTS worse! It's an abomination!!1!1!one!!"--ItIsWhat!t!s's intern
That's gay.
Jesus came into the world, not to condemn the world, but that they might repent and be saved... Repent from what? It is clear in the bible what he hates.
The self-righteousness of loudmouthed hypocrites? He speaks about that much more than He does sexuality--of any stripe...
and I'm sure actions like these ladies will produce repentance..not hatred...right?
There are many people who hold a strong personal opinion about homosexuality, abortion, adultery, religion, politics, etc. This does not mean they cannot perform their job correctly. Professional people have the abiity to separate their personal feelings from their professional jobs. Calling for her to be fired because she expressed her personal opinion on a matter is plain wrong. She expressed that she shows homosexual students understanding even though she does not agree with the lifestyle choice they have made. That is her right as a citizen in the United States. The freedom to believe how you want to.
They didn't make a choice, liar...
So, her rights as a citizen allow her to clearly discriminate against other American citizens becaue of something that has nothing to directly do with her? Interesting...
The fact that they use their damn religion to discrimminate makes me sick. How very christian of them/S
tell.,
Its called the First Amendment, everybody gets to use it. Her, me, and yes, even you. Rejoice in that right.
It's not about her SAYING it, it's about her DOING it.
You can say whatever you want. The First Amendment doesn't protect you from not allowing others to do something based on your own opinion. I'm pretty sure that there is something in there about peacfuly assembly also. If I'm to assume that her right to freedom of speech should be upheld, shouldn't the rights of gay high school students to "peacfully assemble" at the prom also be upheld?
I see ignorance is still alive and well in some parts of the U.S.
After her statements though and saying that she cannot "see the purpose of homosexuals"?..cmon..that calls into question her ability to carry out her job fairly and efficiently.
I'm all for her having the right to believe a certain way..to be stupid enough to voice real feelings in such a manner places her head on the chopping block.
Ms. Medley,
You need to just die. Seriously, you offend me. No. I'm not gay. Far from it. I'm a heterosexual. I enjoy the opposite sex far more than I should. But you, are a dirty piece of trash. You find Gays offensive? Yeah, Right. I think it's just you are a control freak. It's fools like you who set society back, and that is what you are doing here. Please go commit suicide, you sub human, and do a favor for society.
If the trend extends beyond a couple of hundred years, any normal ordinary humanbeing with common sense and norms will have no voice to say and all the inordinary will dictate how things have to be. Are we witnessing the Roman again?
No, but based on your post I would say we're witnessing the tragic consequences of typing while intoxicated--probably on crystal meth...
There is an element of homophobia if you play out the logic. It's the old I don't understand that so I need to keep it away from me and out it down. Yes, that does have to do with fear-- fear of the unknown. This fear is reinforced by her statement that she doesn;t understand them and that they have no purpose. It's actually pretty simple.
No, going to the prom is not a right, however, equal protection is a right. Unfortunately, due to an overwhelming history of bigotry homsexuality is not protected in the same class as race. It's not even as protected to the same degree as sexual orientation. Before you think it, nope not gay, but I've known many who are. It is a sexual orientation just the same as being male or femal and it does deserve the same equal protection. But, again, at the root of the treatment of homosexuals is the fear of the unknown, that grade school "eew they're different than me" attitude. This country really needs to mature.
Oh, by the way, in this country there is freedom of association. So if your private (nongovernment sponsored) club, church, etc... does not want to associate with a certain type of people, guess what, you can't be forced to. Don't believe me, check out the boy scouts. So, know recognizing equal protection and equal rights for homosexuals does not mean that they will "flaunt their 'life-style' in front of you." That is yet another rediculous argument-- again grade school immaturity.
This is an extremely offensive article. Thank God I don't live in Bible-humping Indiana. Homophobic @!$%#s.
Way to pass judgment on a whole state because of an article about some bigots in one part of the state. That's a lot like judging a group of people because they don't believe the way you do--sound familiar? You really should try to put some individual thought into your statements. Yes-you.
I have Family from Indiana. Trust me. They're all homophobic, bigoted @!$%#s. I've never met a nice person out of Indiana.
I could be wrong though. Just speaking from personal experience. I have yet to have someone prove me wrong.