Wichita’s East High School student newspaper, The Messenger, has published an editorial which some say argues that any discussion of homosexuality should be kept out of schools and argues in favor of executing gays.
Surprisingly, that seems to have stirred up a bit of controversy.
The headline Homosexual teens alienated by current societal trends almost makes it sound like a call for toleration. In fact, it starts out sounding that way.
That bit about executing gays comes up in a section that seems to be listing common anti-gay arguments.
However, his conclusion seems to be advocating a sort of don’t ask don’t tell policy for high school.
To me, that’s the offensive part of the article. Gays should’t date in high school but straights can?
Why? Because it’s a “social disruption,” whatever that means.
Don’t school papers have advisors any more? I think I would have told the kid to rewrite it and maybe give some examples of how same sex dating causes social disruption in school.
Because of all the controversy, The Messenger has published an editorial response. Nothing surprising in it.
Surprisingly, that seems to have stirred up a bit of controversy.
The headline Homosexual teens alienated by current societal trends almost makes it sound like a call for toleration. In fact, it starts out sounding that way.
- The topic of same sex relationships is a minefield for any writer, especially for a high school reporter. It ranks at the top of highly debated issues including abortion and interracial relationships. Not only is this a big controversy in the adult media, but also is prominent with the teenage population, as many homosexual students have to suffer insults and jibes by ignorant teens.
That bit about executing gays comes up in a section that seems to be listing common anti-gay arguments.
- Also, less commonly cited, is the death penalty called for in another Bible verse, Leviticus 20:13, “If a man also lie with man, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.” These are the most common arguments against homosexual marriage and/or dating.
However, his conclusion seems to be advocating a sort of don’t ask don’t tell policy for high school.
- Same sex dating in high school is not accepted by many, despite the efforts of a few. It is a social disruption in many cases, and should be kept out of school to ensure our educational mission with as little of a distraction as possible.
To me, that’s the offensive part of the article. Gays should’t date in high school but straights can?
Why? Because it’s a “social disruption,” whatever that means.
Don’t school papers have advisors any more? I think I would have told the kid to rewrite it and maybe give some examples of how same sex dating causes social disruption in school.
Because of all the controversy, The Messenger has published an editorial response. Nothing surprising in it.
- First and foremost, we as a staff and a newspaper do not condemn LGBT students and relationships in any way. The assumption that the “Messenger” as a paper supports intolerance is simply untrue. The editorial was written from the perspective of one individual only, not written as a staff editorial.
- As editors, we would like to apologize for the clarity of the work. Many of the comments we have received have criticized the inconsistency of points made in this editorial, and we take responsibility for not ensuring that the editorial was concise and easy to understand.
