Comments on: High School Principal Quits Over Gay/Straight Alliance Group

By: Brittany H.

Brittany H. — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 20:13:00 +0000

ok have the parent MAKE THE DECISION FOR THE CHILD WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE “REALLY GAY”-are you kidding me? Oh wait your not. B/ H/ Irmo ulumni of class 2008, oh and those students at Irmo now, this resignation could have easily came the 1st year Walker taught there-want to know why, bc I attended the 1st GSA meeting to ever grace Irmo, and you know why Ms. Talcove is the representative now, BC one of the girls had her for Spanish and thought that she had the “stuff” and was ACTUALLY ACCEPTING OF GAY People, as well as of Bi and Straight People, that was actually around Early spring semester 2006. oh and at that meeting 1/2 straight, 1/3 by another 1/3 Gay, and a 3 or 4 to 1 Girls to Guys ratio. and then somehow by the end of that year it all fell apart, oh and myself raised Baptist by my Baptist parents who aren’t or rather don’t necessarily feel that Gay people or others “like them” are doomed for hell for their “sexual acts”- BUT I will acknoledge that of ALL the people I know at Irmo whose actual parents feel that way-IT”S RARE! and No no one, extended family included. that I know of in my own family is bi, gay, etc. and no not all of that extended family takes the opinion that my parents have, and if where talking about Politics here uh my parents aren’t LIBERAL in any other way, and they aren’t young either-they both grew up in SC and were born in the early 1950s, so?…-B.H., oh and I am a female and in a “place like Irmo” uh in Walker’s defense um it could’ve easily have been almost ANY Person the School Board has hired in the past for that position in his shoes. but that’s my only “defense” for Mr. Walker.

By: Friendly Atheist » The Bigot’s Guide to Stopping a Gay/Straight Alliance from Forming

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:00:42 +0000

[...] month, there was news about how principal Eddie Walker opted to resign from his position because a Gay/Straight Alliance group was being formed at his high [...]

By: absent sway

absent sway — Fri, 23 May 2008 20:36:39 +0000

While GSAs have the potential to make believers very uncomfortable, they are not to be feared by anyone who has honest questions (which is true of so many high schoolers regardless of background when they realize that homosexuals are not some distant foreign creatures to be suspicious of but are people they already know and care about). GSAs make an uncomfortable reality more visible, and I think that in itself is enough to make people wish they wouldn’t be formed. They can more easily pretend that the struggles of gay people don’t affect their lives when they don’t have to be exposed to them as much. My high school was one of the first, if not the first, in my area to form a GSA, which I reluctantly signed the petition for in 12th grade. As a very conservative evangelical at the time, I just wanted to support my friends and have the opportunity for a constructive dialog about these things–I hoped I had done the right thing and worried over it a little. People who think GSAs are about promoting sex should consider that gay high school students (whether out or even simply suspected) are still often subjected to bullying and violence in schools, and it is helpful for them to have a safe place, or a few people they know they can trust if they need help. On a side note, that same year for prom I wanted to bring a friend who had graduated the year before who hadn’t had the chance to go to her prom (and I didn’t have a date), and the school made me sign a form stating that we were not a lesbian couple before they gave me permission to get tickets!

By: High School Principal Resigns Over Gay Student Group | TREYCRUZ.COM - Pop Culture and Media Gossip at its Gayest

Fri, 23 May 2008 18:16:56 +0000

[...] at Irmo High School in South Carolina, is resigning at the end of the next school year, reports the Friendly Atheist. Walker apparently could not handle the news that the district is allowing the group to form at his [...]

By: Spurs Fan

Spurs Fan — Fri, 23 May 2008 13:36:29 +0000

ATHEISTS. The gays are slowly battering down the social structure of hate and fear that has oppressed them and atheists are learning lessons and taking inspiration from their struggle. But we are still a few years behind them. I know people who have no bigotry against gays, people of color, women, foreigners and even people of different religions, but they still cling to their ignorance and loathing of non-believers. A recent poll showed that more people would be willing to vote for a gay presidential candidate than an atheist.

I thought it may be, but it’s strange because I feel less persecuted because of that. I feel like I personally would have to go through more struggles if I was a gay Christian in here rural texas, as opposed to a straight atheist.

(BTW having grown up in San Antonio, I like your handle.)

Mikespier,

I actually grew up in the Austin area, so I’ve been a big fan all of my life!

By: mikespeir

mikespeir — Fri, 23 May 2008 10:21:25 +0000

So, let’s be honest. This Principal has strong religious beliefs that forbid homosexuality or a strong fear of gay people because he doesn’t understand them or both, so he’s using the professional argument as a mask

We’ll agree on that much, Spurs Fan. (BTW having grown up in San Antonio, I like your handle.)

By: mollishka

mollishka — Fri, 23 May 2008 02:51:23 +0000

Thanks for bringing this to my attention, Hemant. I grew up in the area and am somewhat surprised that a school like Irmo would have trouble with a GSA club (but then, they didn’t exist when I was in high school 10 years ago, and I was much more naive about bigotry in others then than I am now…).

By: Adam / Phoenix

Adam / Phoenix — Thu, 22 May 2008 22:06:46 +0000

It seems the author of this article is a reversed BIGOT! Anyone who does not agree with your beliefs is called a bigot, homophob or a hatemonger. This principle was sincere in his faith and expressed his disagreement with professionalism that in no way promoted hate.

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:49:23 +0000

Principal Walker is a social/philosophical dinosaur and the asteroid has struck. Bye, Eddie.

I love it! So true…

By: Richard Wade

Richard Wade — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:39:24 +0000

This may be a dumb question, but what’s first?

ATHEISTS. The gays are slowly battering down the social structure of hate and fear that has oppressed them and atheists are learning lessons and taking inspiration from their struggle. But we are still a few years behind them. I know people who have no bigotry against gays, people of color, women, foreigners and even people of different religions, but they still cling to their ignorance and loathing of non-believers. A recent poll showed that more people would be willing to vote for a gay presidential candidate than an atheist.

Persevere.