Gay Teen Says School Threatened To Expel Him

[W!nston]

Gay Teen Says School Threatened To Expel Him
ThinkProgress | By Aviva Shen | Posted on 7, 2015 at 10:35 AM

Austin Wallis posted an emotional video after he left his school

A 17-year-old student at a Lutheran school in Texas says he was pressured to leave the school because he is gay. Austin Wallis, a video blogger, says the school principal called him into the office after discovering Wallis’ YouTube channel, on which he posts videos encouraging other kids to be comfortable with their sexuality. He was then given an ultimatum: delete his YouTube channel or face expulsion.

According to Wallis, the principal of Lutheran High North, a private school in Houston, told him, “We cannot have you promoting a sinful lifestyle on air to the public.”

In an emotional video posted last week, Wallis tearfully explained that he chose to leave rather than hide who he was. “I had to leave all my friends, and all my teachers, and I don’t want people to think I left just because of the social media,” he said. “It was because I can’t stay somewhere where I feel like I’m being forced into something that I’m not and where I feel like I’m not wanted by my own principal and head of the board.”

The head of the school told the Texas Observer that the situation was being “misrepresented” but defended the school’s right to expel students for being gay, which is considered “intrinsically sinful” by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. “We respectfully require students to adhere to these accepted values and moral beliefs,” the school’s statement read. “Sometimes, as in this case, students have to make choices and decide whether their beliefs align with our community and we respect their choices. We also respect student privacy and do not comment on any individual student or their actions.”

The school also pointed to a “morals clause” in its student handbook that states: “Lutheran High North reserves the right, within its sole discretion, to refuse admission of an applicant and/or to discontinue enrollment of a current student participating in, promoting, supporting or condoning: pornography, sexual immorality, homosexual activity or bisexual activity; or displaying an inability or resistance to support the qualities and characteristics required of a Biblically based and Christ-like lifestyle.”

Morals clauses like this one have been used in many Christian school codes across the country to reject LGBT students who are open about their identity. Because these schools — like Lutheran High North — are private, they are legally allowed to discriminate against gay students. Yet in some states, these anti-LGBT private schools are still reaping taxpayer dollars through state-run voucher programs, tax credits and scholarships designed to funnel money to conservative Christian schools.

In the video, Wallis pledged to keep speaking out against the discrimination he and others like him have faced. “I am a Christian and I love my God and I don’t feel like this is what he would have wanted. And I don’t feel like excluding someone for who they are is anything near Christian,” he said.

Another example why 'exemptions' for religious bigots should never be allowed.

Why are religions above the law? All anyone has to do is create a religion, sect or cult based on some obscure passage of ancient text and they can demand an exemption for any law. There should be no exemptions and there should be no tax-exempt status for religions.

Taxing religions for income and property would go a long way toward balancing the budget and paying off the national debt. Yeah, let me know when that happens.

All religions are based on myth. They are no more than ways to control and exploit the population. Always have been. Always will be. Period.

SOURCE

 

[bigsal]

But what to expect this guy to wake up from the slumber of his indoctrination?

Where's church or religion there's no place for a mind or thought truly free.

 

[gb2000ie]

This is why the US needs non-discrimination laws at the federal level - this should be as illegal as not letting blacks eat at a lunch counter.

The school makes me sick - talk about an insult to the spirit of education.

B.

 

[zeropolis79]

The headmaster has no say over what the boy posted on his Youtube channel..

If that was done here in the UK, then the school would be hit by a lawsuit faster than that...

Good luck to the boy..

 

[noiraud]

If he had access to the school's "student handbook" prior to applying for admission to the school, then he chose to enter a self-declared bigoted institution and suffered the consequences. To me, this is no different from a fundamentalist Christian joining a private club for gay men and women then individually counselling each of them to "follow God and renounce their sinful ways." That person, too, would be ejected.

If he did not review the handbook prior to entering the school, then he failed himself.

While I applaud him for trying to bring change from within the organisation, I think U.S. laws as they currently stand, will back up the school should a lawsuit follow.

My only real problem with this is that the article states that taxpayers' money is still being given to this and other bigoted institutions. As gb2000ie pointed out, clear federal non-discrimination laws are in order. That would halt government funding not only of bigoted schools, but also medical facilities that refuse to provide (for example) a raped and pregnant 13-year-old girl information on abortion and, if asked, to provide a referral to facilities that offer the procedure. There are so very many "religion-based" (read: bigoted) institutions, service organisations and medical facilities that are receiving taxpayers' money and then picking and choosing exactly which taxpayers are eligible for their services that, yes, federal legislation and an appropriate review of where taxpayer money is going are necessary in the U.S.

Thank you, Sniffit, for highlighting this issue with your post! :applause:

 

[gb2000ie]

If he had access to the school's "student handbook" prior to applying for admission to the school, then he chose to enter a self-declared bigoted institution and suffered the consequences. To me, this is no different from a fundamentalist Christian joining a private club for gay men and women then individually counselling each of them to "follow God and renounce their sinful ways." That person, too, would be ejected.

That assumes he had a meaningful choice of school. I know I had no meaningful choice when I was a kid. If schools are allowed to discriminate, and if you live in a rural place, it is very possible, even probable, that this kid could only choose between bigoted schools.

Everyone has a right to healthcare and an education, but that is only possible if those institutions are forced to be open to all.

If he did not review the handbook prior to entering the school, then he failed himself.

Did he know he was gay when he applied? I discovered my sexuality between starting university and finishing.

While I applaud him for trying to bring change from within the organisation, I think U.S. laws as they currently stand, will back up the school should a lawsuit follow.

I fear you are right, and that is a problem that needs fixing IMO.

My only real problem with this is that the article states that taxpayers' money is still being given to this and other bigoted institutions. As gb2000ie pointed out, clear federal non-discrimination laws are in order. That would halt government funding not only of bigoted schools, but also medical facilities that refuse to provide (for example) a raped and pregnant 13-year-old girl information on abortion and, if asked, to provide a referral to facilities that offer the procedure.

I think you've hit the nail on the head here. Maybe it's not necessary to outlaw bigoted institutions, just make it a condition of taking public money that you must service all the public.

There are so very many "religion-based" (read: bigoted) institutions, service organisations and medical facilities that are receiving taxpayers' money and then picking and choosing exactly which taxpayers are eligible for their services that, yes, federal legislation and an appropriate review of where taxpayer money is going are necessary in the U.S.

That problem extends well beyond the US - here in Ireland the Roman Catholic Church runs most of our schools, and they do so with public money

B.

 

[topdog]

... Why are religions above the law? ...

In the US it's because the constitution places them in that position. The government can neither establish state religion nor pass any law that would prevent someone from practicing their religion.

Of course sometimes this clashes with another part of the constitution (like equal protection for everyone under the law).

That's the job of the Supreme Court; to decide what principle gets precedence.

This is why the US needs non-discrimination laws at the federal level...

Exactly. Anyone who says such protections are unnecessary is probably white, male, Christian, and heterosexual.

 

[Shelter]

That problem extends well beyond the US - here in Ireland the Roman Catholic Church runs most of our schools, and they do so with public money

B.

In this special connection I strongly recommend the 2014 Ken Loach film JIMMY'S HALL. When I've seen this film, I really have been shocked!