I of course saved the piece before it got pulled down, here was their report;
Hutcherson's wife says family is being harassed
Story Published: Feb 7, 2008 at 11:48 PM PST
Story Updated: Feb 7, 2008 at 11:50 PM PST
By KOMO Staff
Watch the story
SNOQUALMIE, Wash. -- The family members of pastor Ken Hutcherson say they have been under attack ever since the pastor made controversial comments during a school assembly.
Hutcherson's wife addressed the school board on Thursday night.
"In the three weeks since the assembly, our life has been anything but back to normal," said Pat Hutcherson.
It was standing room only at the school board meeting as Pat discussed the harassment that has followed the couple and their four children since her husband spoke at an assembly at Mount Si High School on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
"My family is boldly called names like 'bigot', 'homophobe' and we've been permanently branded in the valley," she said.
The pastor, who is known for his anti-gay stance, was booed and publicly questioned by two teachers during the assembly. The incident has raised numerous concerns and issues, including bad manners and the acceptance of gays and lesbians. Some students are even concerned that teachers are imposing their personal beliefs on the students.
"I have six classes a day. I know the personal beliefs of all six of my teachers and I don't want to," one student said at the meeting.
"I also think that to invite an anti-gay person was sending wrong message to students at Mount Si," another said.
"We shouldn't cast blame..but rather learn from this and accept diversity," a third said.
Mount Si's principal said the two teachers involved in the incident were dealt with appropriately, but refused to discuss the details of the school's personnel matter.
Where is the focus on our children? Dozens of students spoke out, some spoke of their ongoing harassment and abuse because of their orientation. This is all about our kids. Why are their voices not being heard?
Contact KOMO and urge them to report the REAL issue. They have all the footage available to them. E-mail KOMO
Or contact Ken Schram to help us get the focus of this issue on our kids where it belongs.
The Seattle Times has a more accurate report of the events.
Thanks to a contributor who sent this;
FYI: Pam Spaulding has the KOMO news video on her website:
Hutcherson's wife: we're being harassed because of Ken's views
10 comments:
TO: KenSchram, NewsInquiries
Ken,
I'm not sure if anyone noticed, but KOMO TV was at the Snoqualmie Valley School District Board meeting on February 7th.
The story they filed was so off target to the message presented that they were pressured to retract their piece. DEAD LINK
The original story can be seen here;
Mt Si Parents
The story focused on Ken Hutcherson and his family being victimized, while dozens of students stood up and spoke out with great courage, some spoke of their ongoing harassment and abuse because of their orientation. This is all about our kids. Why are their voices not being heard?
Surely the safety of our children merits an accurate report on their struggle for equal rights. I encourage you to review your footage for a much better story on the struggle for human rights being led by our children.
Hutcherson is on a witch hunt to destroy two of our best teachers. He has now engaged national evangelical organizations to mount a campaign against the theachers, see Focus On The Family.
In the article he actually libels one of the teachers by stating "One of the teachers — one who booed him, Hutcherson said — accused Hutcherson of taking away gay rights and suggested "a movement to bring back slavery."
This is absolutely false and can be verified by your footage.
This man is getting out of hand and he is hurting our children. Please encourage your news team to cover the real story. Our kids would appreciate it.
Concerned Parents of Mt Si Students
MtSiParents@gmail.com
Seems to me the article does quote some of the students. Obviously KOMO can't quote everyone or give a blow-by-blow account of the meeting in one article. I don't think it was "off target" at all; it was presented in a fair and balanced manner, not something you see a lot of with most media outlets today. Hey, you can't win 'em all!
I don't think it was "off target" at all; it was presented in a fair and balanced manner,
If you think that Ken Hutcherson's victimization somehow outweighs the victimization of a group of our children, then I have to question your judgement as well as your morals.
This is about our kids, not Hutcherson's bruised ego. He has labeled himself in this community. We will not allow him to label our kids as abominations!
FYI: Pam Spaulding has the KOMO news video on her website:
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=88BC0DC89B2F7C41A072972FE92EA0CA?diaryId=4441
Yes, yes, I know. Everyone's a victim... We all face the consequences of the choices we make. It's that "reap what you sow" principle the Bible speaks of.
I did notice that the Komo reporters left early. I think as the evening went on a lot more people came forward in support of the GSA in the anti Hutcherson camp. I think the newscast was slanted and focussed too much on Hutcherson and the threats his family say they received. I suspect they went into the meeting wanting to focus on the Hutcherson angle. I think they quit filming early. I am sorry if Hutcherson's family has received threats. That is just wrong. As one speaker pointed out though a former student of Mt Si outlined harassment of gay students and violence against them too. Let's not ignore that the abuse runs both ways. I think it is really selfish that Mrs. Hutcherson failed to request safety for the gay students too who have felt threatened. Closed hearts are not Christian hearts. I want all kids to be safe and free to express themselves. That is why I support the GSA and the straight students.
As far as I can tell - Pastor H should not even be a part of the discussion. No one is accusing him of doing anything wrong at the assembly --- he stayed "on topic" as instructed. The issue is the poor judgment by the principal to invite a speaker whose views on civil rights are well known and then discipline teachers who were brave enough to step forward. There was no booing through his speach, and he was not "interrupted by teachers questions". The only reason Pastor H is still part of this is because he is choosing to stay involved in order to further his agenda. He's using the media coverage to portray himself as a victim.
The district needs to stop playing into his games. Get back on the subject - how are our administrators protecting the rights of all students at Mount Si - gay or straight. The climate at Mount Si is unhealthy and principal Taylor sits in his office studying the issue and writing letters of apology instead of getting out in the halls and connecting with his kids.
why was The pastor invited
I just can't believe all the misrepresentations in the press. I was at the meeting. The entire time. I'm in the video that WAS on KOMO. I'm the one holding the crying girl. The news story even cut that in a misleading way. She was crying because of what one of the students, not Hutcherson's wife, said. She was crying because she heard her friend talking about how difficult it is as Mt. Si to be different. And when people who have no respect for the rights of others and have no respect for entire groups of people is invited to speak to a captive audience no matter what the subject, it is just plain wrong. The fact that Taylor has apologized is completely outrageous and ridiculous. Hutcherson deserves no apology. It is the students who deserve an apology. I commend McCormick for standing up for those who cannot stand for themselves. Hutcherson has so twisted any words that he has the ability to that nothing he says can be trusted any longer. Does no one realize that McCormick has a child that goes to Mt. Si? So maybe Hutcherson's children aren't the only ones in danger. And to the comment Pat Hutcherson made about her family being labeled as "bigot" and "homophobe," I respond in two ways. You were called that long before this debacle; and if you don't want to be called a bigot, maybe you shouldn't be bigots. Sorry that was so long, I'm just so ashamed to even be a student at Mt. Si during this time of incorrect action.
Austin,
You rock! Great Points.
Molly Jester
Valley Parent
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