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Welcome to the blog of Connor Boyack, a 20-something husband, web designer, Latter-day Saint, constitutionalist, paleocon, classical liberal, preparedness practitioner, budding philanthropist, and master's student of political economy. I'm from Poway, CA but live in Happy Valley.


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That’s So Gay

Posted by Connor on March 2nd, 2007

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photo credit: Ichor

Using current vernacular, the issue I’m about to discuss is “gay” (read: stupid, idiotic, absurd, etc.).

The Associated Press has a report discussing a new lawsuit by an LDS family. The issue? “Hate speech”.

Rebekah Rice, a high school freshman in California and a Latter-day Saint, was harassed (you might call it “hate speech”!) by fellow classmates about her religion. Evidently ignorant to the fact that Mormons do not practice polygamy, the classmates asked Rebekah such questions as “Do you have 10 moms?”.

Rebekah’s response: “That’s so gay.”

While her response was void of wit and sagacity (which can only be expected of a freshman), Rebekah’s response was no more “hate speech” than were the religiously-saturated comments her classmates were sending her way.

But who got in trouble? The Mormon girl that said the word gay.

Those three words landed the high school freshman in the principal’s office and resulted in a lawsuit that raises this question: When do playground insults used every day all over America cross the line into hate speech that must be stamped out?

After Rice got a warning and a notation in her file, her parents sued, claiming officials at Santa Rosa’s Maria Carillo High violated their daughter’s First Amendment rights when they disciplined her for uttering a phrase “which enjoys widespread currency in youth culture,” according to court documents.

Testifying last week about the 2002 incident, Rice, now 18, said that when she uttered those words, she was not referring to anyone’s sexual orientation. She said the phrase meant: “That’s so stupid, that’s so silly, that’s so dumb.”

But school officials say they took a strict stand against the putdown after two boys were paid to beat up a gay student the year before.

One might do the school officials a favor and inform them of the many persecutions Mormons have suffered at the hands of religious bigots. Clearly a young Latter-day Saint such as Rebekah deserves to be equally defended. Where are the officials and their “strict stands” when it comes to religion?

“The district has a statutory duty to protect gay students from harassment,” the district’s lawyers argued in a legal brief. “In furtherance of this goal, prohibition of the phrase ‘That’s so gay’ … was a reasonable regulation.”

The teachers aren’t apparently hip to the latest jargon, otherwise they would know that “that’s so gay”, as Rebekah stated in her court hearing, has nothing to do with homosexuality. While such language shows a lack of intellect, it is far from vitriolic and persecutory. Would these teachers react similarly upon hearing another slang term such as “that’s so jewish”? Why is it that sexual affiliation has received any greater weight and protection than religious affiliation?

In recent years, gay rights advocates and educators have tried teaching students that it is hurtful to use the word “gay” as an all-purpose term for something disagreeable. At Berkeley High School, a gay student club passed out buttons with the words “That’s so gay” crossed out to get their classmates to stop using them.

Here’s an English lesson for the gay student club at Berekely High School in an effort to help them understand the nature of this “all-purpose term”:

gay /geɪ/ -er, -est
–adjective

1. having or showing a merry, lively mood: gay spirits; gay music.
2. bright or showy: gay colors; gay ornaments.
3. given to or abounding in social or other pleasures: a gay social season.

Put that on your buttons, kiddos.

Rice’s parents, Elden and Katherine Rice, also claim the public high school employed a double-standard because, they say, administrators never sought to shield Rebekah from teasing based on Mormon stereotypes.

In addition, the Rices say their daughter was singled out because of the family’s conservative views on sexuality. They are seeking unspecified damages and want the disciplinary notation expunged from Rebekah’s school record.

While it’s sad that a lawsuit is required in order to bring attention to this issue, Rebekah’s parents are right to observe a double standard and blatant hypocrisy on the part of these school officials. As the Congress-controlling democrats continue to push their hate speech legislation, we’re bound to see more threats to free speech. I applaud the Rice family for taking a stand for conservative values and the license to tout them just as freely as their opponents tout theirs (could you imagine what kind of ruckus a polygamy club on a high school campus would cause?!)

Eliza Byard, deputy executive director of the New York-based Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, said nearly nine out of 10 gay students her organization surveyed in 2005 reported hearing “That’s so gay” or “You’re so gay” frequently.

So? I was made fun of all the time in school for being LDS. Life is difficult, people are mean, and not everybody agrees with your moral and religious persuasion. Get over it! This is hardly any reason to enforce punishment for mere words.

“The job of a school is to deal proactively and consistently with all forms of bullying, name-calling and harassment,” she said.

So our compulsory education system is also an arm of the police state entity? That’s so gay. Oops, I just said it!

Jordan Lorence, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal organization, agreed “That’s so gay” carries a negative meaning and said he would not want his children to say it. But he said formal discipline is not the answer.

“Reasonable people should say, `Let’s put a stop to this kind of search-and-destroy mission by school officials for everything that is politically incorrect,’” he said.

Ah, finally, somebody with a good head on their shoulders. As Lorence mentions, school officials are hardly worthy advocates for policing children, enforcing PC language, defending the minority, and promoting the ideals coming from the appointed boards and institutions (such as the liberal NEA).

They’re educators, not enforcers!

Or are they?

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7 comments so far. Care to chime in?

I agree with some of the main points (”gay” isn’t often used as a sexual term, the school was being unfair by punishing only the young woman, etc.), but some of the side comments seem to go too far.

While it’s sad that a lawsuit is required in order to bring attention to this issue, Rebekah’s parents are right to observe a double standard and blatant hypocrisy on the part of these school officials.

Its my humble opinion that lawsuits like this do nothing but enrage both sides. It doesn’t very much seem the Christlike thing to do, especially for something as trivial as a “warning and a notation in her file.”

“Dear goodness, this young lady looks like she has a note in her file for saying naughty words. I can’t recommend we admit her to Harvard.”

I don’t see it. :)

There’s probably a better way to stand up for conservative values and free speech than dragging the already taxed public education system into a legal battle over a warning and a note.

Seems rather hypocritical to follow Christ, who gives specific advice on what to do when others persecute you, and slap someone with a lawsuit. I don’t know all the reasons and history behind this particular situation, and while a lawsuit may have been needed, it really seems unlikely given what you’ve explained here.

As Lorence mentions, school officials are hardly worthy advocates for policing children, enforcing PC language, defending the minority, and promoting the ideals coming from the appointed boards and institutions (such as the liberal NEA).

I don’t know what you mean by “police”, but if warning a student and making a note about inappropriate language in their file is “enforcing” or “policing” to you, I’d argue that its quite an exaggeration. Discipline in schools is a necessary part of education, as people can’t learn when others are trying to distract, *especially* in the younger grades. Discipline is education.

I’d also hope that everyone defends the minority. That’s what makes America what it is.

I also don’t think “liberal ideals” are bad just on account of being liberal. If you’re going to say that its a bad idea, let it be a bad idea on its own rather than having to label it as “liberal” in order to give it weight.

#1 John David Anderson on March 2nd, 2007

Its my humble opinion that lawsuits like this do nothing but enrage both sides. It doesn’t very much seem the Christlike thing to do, especially for something as trivial as a “warning and a notation in her file.”

I agree that a lawsuit is an overreaction to a reprimand, but I believe that there is a larger battle going on here: that of free speech. And for that reason, the public needs to be educated on just what sort of things are happening in this regard, namely, educators taking the law into their own hands. A lawsuit is a very easy way to throw media attention at an important matter.

I see your point, but I still feel that this issue needs media exposure. Perhaps there is a better way at getting that exposure? Any ideas?

#2 Connor on March 2nd, 2007

I wasn’t really commenting on how to get attention, I was trying to point out that there are better ways to resolve a problem than a lawsuit, especially where the damage done is really trivial.

Sure, attacking someone using the legal system will get you media attention, but if that’s a reason you’re suing someone, I think that’s unethical. I don’t have to have a better idea to know that this particular approach is a bad one.

How does an issue get better exposure? That’s a complicated question any politician, advertiser, or missionary would love to gain a complete answer to. I’d just suggest using more conventional channels, however: blogging, contacting your representatives and school officials, raise money to advertise… there are established methods of campaigning that are tried and true methods of reaching people.

Almost anything is better than legal action, really. Exposure might be greater, but it is my opinion that doing so undercuts your underlying principles however benevolent they might be.

#3 John David Anderson on March 2nd, 2007

They’re educators, not enforcers!

Have you ever tried to teach a group of kids without being an enforcer as well as an educator? It’s not gonna happen :). Furthermore, you can rant about the “liberal” NEA all you want, but most teachers come from the communities in which they teach and share those same values. For instance, there are a lot of conservative teachers in Utah even though that might not be in their best interest :).

As for the rest of your post, I agree that the girl was unfairly punished; however, I tend to agree with John that the whole situation doesn’t merit a lawsuit.

You said:
So? I was made fun of all the time in school for being LDS. Life is difficult, people are mean, and not everybody agrees with your moral and religious persuasion. Get over it! This is hardly any reason to enforce punishment for mere words.

Since Columbine, words in school are taken far more seriously. Schools have a responsibility to help kids learn in a safe environment, that includes words. A workplace does the same thing–have you ever been to a sexual harassment training for your job? That is often “enforc[ing] punishment for words.” It is done to provide a safe, comfortable work environment. Schools have the same mandate for their students, although it’s even more inclusive because we deal with kids.

#4 Jeff on March 3rd, 2007

At my current job many co-workers and I use the phrase “That is G dude,” the G meaning “Gay.” If something is extra bad we use the phrase, “That is SG” the S meaning “Super.” These co-workers are in there late 20’s and early 30’s. It is gay that we live with such a society that simple phrases that have been around for years can cause the situation like the one you illustrated in your post. Those teachers are SG if you ask me.

#5 Spencer J on March 3rd, 2007

[...] Connor’s  Conundrums [...]

#6 That’s So Ridiculous aka That’s So GAY « Messenger and Advocate on March 4th, 2007

There’s certainly a double-standard at play. It makes no sense to discipline one student for making a remark that could be interpreted as being disrespectful of homosexuals while not disciplining other students for making remarks that were clearly disrespectful of someone’s religion.

That having been said, I think it’s about time we abandon the use of the word “gay” in question. While it doesn’t specifically refer to homosexuals, it was derived from that usage of the word. Even for those that believe homosexuality is immoral, I think it’s time to move past such expressions.

#7 Steve M on March 6th, 2007

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