Anti-gay shirts bring suspensions (Rio Linda)

SACBEE ^ | 19 April 2007 | Laurel Rosenhall

[radar101]

Rio Linda High School students Tiffinnie McHenry, left, and Annique Barber wear T-shirts promoting the Day of Silence while other students wear shirts and display signs protesting the national day of campus activism organized by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network. Participating students take a daylong vow of silence to raise awareness of the harassment and bullying that many gay teens face.

A handful of students were suspended from Rio Linda High School on Wednesday for refusing to take off anti-gay T-shirts that administrators said were inappropriate.

The shirts, which the students wore in protest of the Day of Silence said "Sodomy is sin" and quoted a Bible passage about homosexuality.

Phil Spears, interim principal of Rio Linda, said the shirts violated the school's dress code. Students were asked to take them off, he said, and were suspended if they disobeyed the request.

"They're offensive to some people and disruptive to school," he said. "Kids are going to react to these."

And that they did.

Protests were not nearly as large or inflammatory Wednesday as at other schools last year. Some of the suspended students and their supporters staged an after-school protest outside Rio Linda High. They held signs saying, "School censors Bible," "School bans free speech" and "Don't silence Christians."

They were met by another group of students wearing shirts that said "Day of Silence." Some of them described themselves as lesbians, others said they wore the shirts in support of gay friends or family members.

"The Day of Silence is about stopping gay bashing," said Brittinnie McHenry, a Rio Linda freshman. "Imagine all those people who are silenced because they got bashed or killed."

[Wallace T.]

PC and teenaged dykes have infested even the town Rush Limbaugh made famous as an example of a backwater community.

[Incorrigible]

For those of you in Rio Linda, gay does not mean happy.

[Psalm 73]

"...raise awareness of the harassment and bullying that many gay teens face."
"A handful of students were suspended from Rio Linda High School on Wednesday for refusing to take off anti-gay T-shirts..."

The gross hypocrisy obviously eludes the school board - (how about them critical-thinking skills...)

[all the best]

World faomous Rio Linda. Does anyone else think its only a matter of time before someone from that town sues Rush for defamation, for making them a laughing stock and ruining their lives?

[Long Island Pete]

The shirts, which the students wore in protest of the Day of Silence said "Sodomy is sin" and quoted a Bible passage about homosexuality.

It amazes me how someones beliefs are deemed inappropriate.

[rhombus]

Children with too much time on their hands.

[Rummyfan]

"They're offensive to some people and disruptive to school," he said. "Kids are going to react to these."

But a day of silence sponsored by GLSEN is not?

[2banana]

What is the difference between that and a Malcom X shirt...you white devils...

[Nextrush]

Rio Linda. I’ve heard about that place somewhere. What happened there yesterday seems like a confrontation I would like to learn more about.

I wonder if it was staged to discredit those who believe in traditional values.

Today April 19th is the day for students to wear clothing as part of a “Day of Truth” to counter yesterday’s protest called “Day of Silence” from GLSEN.

Details at: http://www.dayoftruth.org/about/default.aspx

[BelegStrongbow]

Seems more like they’re glorying in their obliviousness.

Rush might well comment on this today.

[daybreakcoming]

"They're offensive to some people and disruptive to school," he said

That works both ways Mr. Interim Principal. You should be taken to court. You cannot deny one group free speech while allowing another the same.

[originalbuckeye]

T-shirts with Bible passages and anti-gay messages not allowed. T-shirts that promote the gay agenda....perfectly ok. Wow. I wish teachers would just get back to the three Rs.

[End Times Sentinel]

"They're offensive to some people and disruptive to school," he said. "Kids are going to react to these."

 

"Offensive to thee, but not to me.  You must be a hater." - Slogan #1 from the Liberal's little red book.

 

"The Day of Silence is about stopping gay bashing," said Brittinnie McHenry, a Rio Linda freshman. "Imagine all those people who are silenced because they got bashed or killed."

 

Imagine how many felt God's Wrath in the form of AIDS.

Owl_Eagle

If what I just wrote made you sad or angry,
it was probably just a joke.

"They're offensive to some people and disruptive to school," he said. "Kids are going to react to these."

[AndyTheBear]

Normally I would support a school's right to set a dress code that kept political posturing out of the school. The problem here is that the school entered the debate and promoted t-shirts for one side of the issue, and banned t-shirts on the other side.

"They're offensive to some people and disruptive to school," he said. "Kids are going to react to these."

True of the "silence" t-shirts as well. The protesting kids found them offensive, and reacted.

[PrepareToLeave]

Those students are examples to us all who are Christians. God bless them and strengthen them.

[Adder]

“You cannot deny one group free speech while allowing another the same.”

According to some courts, you can do just that. And I think this would be heard by the 9th circus court.

[ConservativeDude]

Phil Spears, interim principal of Rio Linda, said the shirts violated the school’s dress code”

I thought the sixties was all about putting down this sort of tyranny from the establishment! Oh, wait, the sixties hippie generation now IS the establishment....

[BenLurkin]

BUMP!

[libertarian27]

I can listen to Rush for most of the day today....
Rio Linda???? Can’t wait ;)