Quote of the day

"We are shut up in schools and college recitation rooms for ten or fifteen years, and come out at last with a bellyful of words and do not know a thing. "

-Ralph Waldo Emerson




Sunday, May 25, 2008

Reaction to Irmo Principal Resigning




Slain man's mother denounces principal who resigned in protest of gay-straight alliance.

Sean's Last Wish today denounced the resignation announcement of Irmo High School Principal Eddie Walker because of his opposition to the formation of a Gay-Straight Alliance. The organization also criticized his explanation for opposing GSA's.

"Principal Walker's problematic statement, '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,' is completely ludicrous and unfounded," said Sean's Last Wish Founder, Elke Kennedy, whose son Sean (pictured) was murdered last year in Greenville in an anti-gay hate-crime. "GSA's give students who are gay bi and straight, a safe place to support each other, talk about issues and work to end homophobia. Many GSAs function as a support group and provide safety and confidentiality to students who are struggling with their identity."

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Group demands immediate termination of Irmo Principal

IRMO, SC (WIS) - Irmo High School Principal Eddie Walker's has announced he'll resign effective June 2009 over the creation of a Gay/Straight Alliance club at the school.

But for one group, June 2009 isn't soon enough.

South Carolina Equality is demanding that either Walker's resignation be effective immediately, or he be terminated.

"This Principal has emphatically and publicly stated that he does not support a significant portion of his student body. He has created an atmosphere where intolerance is considered a principled stand," says SCE Executive Director C. Ray Drew.

The group says research shows 80% of gay students do not know a single supportive adult at their school, 38% of gay students face hostility and violence, and 18% of gay students experience physical assault.

"Eddie Walker has created a liability problem for the school. If a gay student is harmed, the District could be held accountable for creating a hostile school environment," says Drew. "Every day that this Principal remains at Irmo High, students will continue to live in fear for their safety. These unsafe and dangerous conditions for gay students are intolerable. "


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10 comments:

Anonymous said...

An open forum for parents and students of Mt Si high school to discuss academic issues.


WHERE ARE THE DISCUSSIONS ON ACADEMIC ISSUES?

Anonymous said...

If you need to ask that, you must be somewhat dense?

As I recall, the GSA and the DoS at Mount Si were attacked by outsiders. This post is certainly germaine to our experiences.

I think you just can't handle open minded adults and more importantly, open minded young people who will put an end to this disgraceful disrimination the simple minded parents love to embrace.

Anonymous said...

Where is the Tolerance?!?

This hypocrisy is amazing! You people don't want true tolerance, only tolerance for you and your lifestyle choices. What about those who have chosen another way, don't they deserve tolerance as well.

Personally I applaud the man! If only we had an honorable principle like this at Mt. Si! Someone who is willing to stand up to political activism at our school!

Anonymous said...

This hypocrisy is amazing! You people don't want true tolerance, only tolerance for you and your lifestyle choices. What about those who have chosen another way, don't they deserve tolerance as well

Sexuality is not a choice.

Being a bigoted homophobic jackass is a lifestyle choice.

Choosing to reason contempt and hatred with the words of other men demonstrates your intense level of ignorance and gullibility.

"Man is free at the moment he wishes to be."
-Voltaire

Anonymous said...

Personally I applaud the man! If only we had an honorable principle like this at Mt. Si! Someone who is willing to stand up to political activism at our school!

I would have had a lot more respect for the principal if he had resigned when the Conservative Club was formed at the school this spring as well. Their political agenda will bankrupt our youth and send them off to wars.

Anonymous said...

political activism can be a positive hallmark for the youth, no matter whose side you are on.

Anonymous said...

Sexuality is not a choice.

Oh my friend, but it is! Believing otherwise is just self-delusion. I won't bother to convince you because the evidence speaks for itself. As do all the recovered gays out there.

Anonymous said...

Sexuality is not a choice.

Oh my friend, but it is! Believing otherwise is just self-delusion. I won't bother to convince you because the evidence speaks for itself. As do all the recovered gays out there.


Keep on deluding yourself Hutch!

Anonymous said...

As I recall, the GSA and the DoS at Mount Si were attacked by outsiders.

Because the conservative students of the school are outsiders?

Being an outsider yourself you obviously don't know how a considerable amount of students feel about this issue.

Anonymous said...

Because the conservative students of the school are outsiders?

The GSA and the DoS were attacked by Hutch and CoDE. ADULTS!

There was no conservative student uprising, just a bunch of fundamentalist parents on a witch hunt.