North Penn High School Social Studies teacher, Dr. David Hall, recently wrote a blog for CNN, in which he examines the issue of parents communicating with their lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender children. Dr. Hall’s column also connects with recent questions posed to Republican Presidential Candidate, Rick Santorum, regarding how he would respond if he knew one of his children was gay.
The article written by Dr. Hall can be found by clicking the following link:
http://inamerica.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/09/attention-santorum-how-to-support-a-gay-child/
Nicollette V • Feb 6, 2012 at 10:03 pm
I honestly cannot even believe that I’ve stumbled upon such a comment.
In agreement with Parnell – absolutely.
When did you decide to be heterosexual? When did you wake up in the morning and go, “Wow – I feel like I’ve really considered the possibly consequences but I am going to fall in love with a man”?
I have a low tolerance for ignorance especially in a community as large as North Penn’s. Even if you don’t like something doesn’t mean you have the right to chastise someone for it, nor is it your “duty” to speak out about how wrong you think it is.
Sexuality is not a choice. I sincerely doubt that teenagers that go through something as life-changing as figuring out/coming out do it purely for fun. A lot of abuse, ridicule and feelings of isolation come with it, too. I have several friends who consider themselves either bisexual or homosexual and each and every one of them has been bullied in one form of another.
Who chooses to be picked on instead of accepted by peers? (Especially in High School/Middle School, when fitting in is on everyone’s mind, admittedly or not.)
Brave people that know who they are and aren’t ashamed of it.
They should never, EVER be insulted for being so courageous -and to allude to them as attention-seekers who chose to be beaten, called names, and degraded is purely pathetic.
Excuse me while I reevaluate my being heterosexual – I’ve decided a bit of abuse might spice up my daily life.
Parnell Kelley • Jan 20, 2012 at 7:32 am
Oh and Cassie, tht had nothing to do with the article on Santorum. (?)
Parnell Boyd-Kelley • Jan 17, 2012 at 3:11 pm
I unintentionally posted my comments on the actual article. haha but in summary: Santorum should seriously evaluate where his beliefs and his practices fall into the national agenda. If he is to have any hope of becoming the next president, it would behoove him to please the people who have not guaranteed his his vote.
Cassie Witner • Jan 12, 2012 at 11:52 pm
Being gay is a choice. You are not born that way. If you choose to live of that lifestyle, you should be aware of the consequences and weigh the pros and cons of it, or just change your choice of lifestyle.
Parnell Kelley • Jan 20, 2012 at 7:31 am
Correct me if im wrong, but my understanding is that your comment is coming from someone who is not only heterosexual, but also never once “weighed the pros and cons” of their sexuality. Furthermore it seems to me that you are condoning the “consequences” of being gay, of you read the article, you’d know that there are millions of LGBT youth that are mistreated and abused everyday. What right minded person makes the “decision” to go through that? Being gay is not a lifestyle choice. Your making it the equivenlent of smoking when in actuallity, it’s more like being African American. Being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender is not a choice.
Katie Blocklove • Feb 6, 2012 at 10:18 pm
I can think of nothing more offensive that you could have said. That point of view is antiquated and is readily being disproved by a multitude of scientific discoveries.
I sincerely doubt that you *chose* to be straight, and I can say for a fact that I did not *choose* to be straight. Furthermore, do you think that people would come out in an environment where comments like these are made? Where people are openly hostile and go out of their way to alienate and bully people who are gay? People don’t actively choose a self-harming environment.
Even worse is that you imply that they deserve the “consequences,” that it is somehow acceptable to act in such a way towards people who are gay simply because you view it as a choice. Parnell really gave the best comparison, and I could not echo his sentiments more heavily. However, I would like to add that I do not believe that, in this context, it matters very greatly. People are gay. Whether the product of nature, like one’s race, or the product of one’s choice, like religion, there should not be such a stigma. If someone had said what you did in terms of either race or religion, you would likely have critiqued their opinion.
I cannot more strongly condemn your statement. It was ignorant and condones harassment, discrimination, and alienation.