This evening when I was watching the local news a story in particular caught my eye. Normally I'm not a big fan of the news, however I felt compelled to watch this particular story. It was about a fifteen year old girl who got suspended for wearing a shirt to school. What was so wrong with this shirt? Nothing as far as I'm concerned. However according to the Fort Smith Arkansas school district this particular shirt disrupted the education process. Now that I have your attention let me explain what it was that the shirt had on it. Fifteen year old Sommer Collins wore a homemade shirt to school, in which displays gay pride. As you can see in the picture the words 'Proud to be a Lesbian' and 'Support Homosexual Love.' are written on the t-shirt itself. These are what initially got her suspended.
In no way is the shirt offensive it contains no slandering on the school's part nor any sexual content. Collins was speaking out against an act previous to her deciding to make the shirt. The day before her teacher made her take off a rainbow bracelet, which has become a symbol for the LGBT community. The teacher claimed it supported an immoral cause, and what right does that give her to judge what's moral and what's not? It doesn't. Are rainbows suddenly going to become outlawed, just because one group or the other decides to use it as a symbol? Will there come a day when Lucky Charms will no longer be available, simply because there's rainbow marsh mellows?! I'd hope to think not. There is no right in the action the bracelet was harmless, the shirt was harmless. Therefore the girl should not have been suspended for three days, along with not being able to make up the work she missed. Which was one of the 'consequences' of her suspension. Collin's own mother who was appalled by the action asked the teacher in question, what was so wrong with the shirt.
The teacher went on to reply that the word: Homosexual referred to a sexual act. For those who know that this is not the truth, that homosexuality refers to person who likes a member of the same sex, rather than the opposite. In no way does it have anything to do with the act itself, obviously this teacher needs to go get the dictionary to look up the definition. This girl has done nothing wrong as far as reasons go they are unjustified and invalid. The school obviously just wants an excuse to nip any support for homosexuality in the bud. Showing that they are obviously homophobic persons who care more about what they think is not right. Rather than their students who just so happen to be gay or lesbian. This is the message they are sending out with having suspended Collins. Furthermore her shirt didn't even violate the school dress code!
No where in the handbook does it say that it is against school policies to wear an article of clothing, or accessories pertaining to the support of homosexual love. Collins parents both have filed a formal complaint against the school. The board is looking into the matter as we speak, one can only hope that the right thing is done in the end. All I have left to say is that people need to come to their senses,this right here is only displaying how ignorant humans can be. A petition has been started to tell Arkansas schools that supporting gay pride doesn't merit suspension. If you'd like to become a part of the petition follow the link below.
http://gayrights.change.org/blog/view/arkansas_ninth_grader_suspended_for_wearing_a_gay_t-shirt
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