Judge: Excluding anti-'gay' view at school forum troubling -

World Net Daily ^ | November 25, 2003 | David Ashenfelter

[UnklGene]

Judge: Excluding anti-'gay' view at school forum troubling -

November 25, 2003

BY DAVID ASHENFELTER

Excluding a cleric opposed to homosexuality from a school-sponsored forum on gays and religion was akin to Nazi book burning of the 1930s, a federal judge said Monday.

Hinting at how he might rule in a lawsuit filed by former Pioneer High School student Elizabeth Hansen, U.S. District Judge Gerald Rosen said during a two-hour hearing that he is troubled that school officials at the Ann Arbor high school allowed only pro-gay clergy to participate in the discussion during the school's Diversity Week program in March 2002. He said the panelists expressed only the view that school officials and the school's Gay/Straight Alliance wanted to project.

"Isn't this cultural hegemony, where you're only going to present one view to the exclusion of others?" Rosen asked, demanding to know why school officials were afraid of letting students consider diverse viewpoints.

"Don't you think that smacks of government and religious totalitarianism. Isn't that what this government was founded to get away from?" Rosen asked. "Isn't that how we got to book burning in Nazi Germany back in the 1930s?"

"We're not for the equivalent of Nazi book burning," said Detroit lawyer Seth Lloyd who represents the high school and six school administrators and faculty members. He said the school was only interested in exerting some control over the theme and content of the diversity week program.

Hansen, then a senior, sued last year saying teachers and school officials violated her rights by refusing her request to allow a clergyman to sit on the panel to present a view more in keeping with her traditional Catholic beliefs. She said school officials rejected the request because they wanted to present only one view: that religion and homosexual behavior are compatible.

The lawsuit, filed by the Thomas More Law Center in Ann Arbor, said Hansen feels compelled by conscience to speak out on social issues and believes that homosexual behavior is immoral.

Hansen, an honors graduate who now attends college, said the panel was organized by the school's Gay/Straight Alliance.

She said school officials selected the panelists, pre-screened and approved questions and prohibited students from personally questioning panelists.

School officials said Hansen failed to attend the required planning sessions or provide the name of a clergy member to represent her point of view. They said she was allowed to participate in other panel discussions, permitted to address the student assembly and that all three of the questions she submitted were asked of the clergy members.

At one point, officials decided to cancel the panel discussion after one official said excluding an opposing viewpoint was illegal. But the Gay/Straight Alliance persuaded officials to relent and exclude anyone with an opposing point of view to sit on the panel.

During Monday's court hearing, Lloyd said officials wanted to present a positive message to offset the views of the school's Pioneers for Christ club, of which Hansen was a member. Lloyd said officials also wanted to encourage tolerance and discourage violence and harassment inflicted on gay students at the high school. He also said the Pioneers for Christ were offered an opportunity to hold their own panel discussion but declined.

Lloyd declined after court to predict how Rosen might rule. Robert Muise, who represents Hansen, said he was pleased with the hearing.

Hansen wants Rosen to enjoin the school from holding similar panel discussions in the future. Rosen said he would decide the case in a week or two.

[rovenstinez]

So. Freedom of Speech? Maybe it's time for mommas and daddys to take junior back home and give him a REAL good education- and avoid all of the PC that confuses him.

[The Brush]

Part of the problem is the word "gay".
The term "Gay" is a liberal approach at making their sexual choice seem normal.
It isn't and it shall never be. They are homosexuals as defined by their sexual preference. It isn't natural, it defies the common sense design of creation and the act adds nothing to the creation.
When a judge determines that logic has no place in a discussion or a school room we need to question the logic of his courtroom and his ability to interpret the Constitution.
Silencing an opinion because it doesn't enable an individual who has thrown away logic is not free speech.

Don't get me started!

[The_Pickle]

...He said the school was only interested in exerting some control over the theme and content of the diversity week program.

Interesting that when "Private" groups wish to exercise their Constitutionally protected right to freedom of association and exclude persons that flagrantly disregard their beliefs they are labeled as "intolerent" or "racist" or "Nazi's".

Yet when a governement institution, like a school, wishes to flagrantly violate the Constitution and exclude those that do not agree with their point of view they are just trying to exercise some "Control".

Yes they are trying to exercise "Control" alright. The type of control specifically forbidden to the Government in the very first Article of the Bill of Rights.

I have yet to see a more pointed example of a Government Institution pushing a particlular "religious" point of view. Judge Roy Moore, while insisting that he had a right to display his religious beliefs in a public forum, never went the route of these Nazi's, of denying anyone else the right to do the same.

[longtermmemmory]

The left: when diversity is not diversity. Is it me or is it only conservatives who enjoy arguing with the enemy.

[longtermmemmory]

Try and talk about abstinence or immorality of homosexual behavior or homosexuality is a choice during a GLSEN lecture.

[longtermmemmory]

But the Gay/Straight Alliance persuaded officials to relent and exclude anyone with an opposing point of view to sit on the panel.


** ****

Gay/straight alliances are just the recruiting arm of GLSEN

[dagnabbit]

In related news, the school's outing for 7th graders to Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch was postponed "until nobody's looking".

[longtermmemmory]

Neverland Ranch, where GLSEN has their anual "bring a straight victim, I mean "friend" day."

[narses]

Hansen, then a senior, sued last year saying teachers and school officials violated her rights by refusing her request to allow a clergyman to sit on the panel to present a view more in keeping with her traditional Catholic beliefs.

...

During Monday's court hearing, Lloyd said officials wanted to present a positive message to offset the views of the school's Pioneers for Christ club, of which Hansen was a member.

[longtermmemmory]

School officials said Hansen failed to attend the required planning sessions or provide the name of a clergy member to represent her point of view.

*** *** *** *** *** ***

Typical leftist, they have onerous requirements to participate. Each meeting is a marathon of how wrong everyone is compared to the homophiles.

Business demanded my attendance at a couple in my lifetime. You would be surprised what they say when they don't know you are a conservative. They assume all agree with their leftist insanity.

Basically "requirements" and such "planning" meetings are just tools to script out, control, and contain any anti-leftist points of view. If the left had its doublespeak way the only thing the priece would be allowed to say is "crime think".

[narses]

Stay away from government schools. Sadly don't automatically trust even Catholic Schools. They are YOUR children, God will ask YOU about them one lonely day when no one else can help you. How will you answer Him?

[longtermmemmory]

Public schools' doublspeak is an infection on society. As long as my property taxes pay for these evils by deviants in their sexual recruiting, I am involved no matter where my children go to school.

We don't have a choice. Evil must be fought.

[narses]

I agree. Get involved. Always vote against bonds, always vote against incumbents. Get conservatives to run for school boards and legislatures. BUT remember, NEVER let liberals "teach" your children. NEVER.

[NYer]

Great post!! Please follow up and let us know the judge's final ruling!

Hansen, then a senior, sued last year saying teachers and school officials violated her rights by refusing her request to allow a clergyman to sit on the panel to present a view more in keeping with her traditional Catholic beliefs. She said school officials rejected the request because they wanted to present only one view: that religion and homosexual behavior are compatible.

Here is the OFFICIAL Catholic view on this issue.

CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING PROPOSALS TO GIVE LEGAL RECOGNITION TO UNIONS BETWEEN HOMOSEXUAL PERSONS

Catholic Ping - let me know if you want on/off this list

[Coleus]

Also see post 15.

[scripter]

Bump. Thanks for the pings. It's getting difficult to keep up with all the pings, read everything and post responses.

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[A. Pole]

Part of the problem is the word "gay".

The proper term is "sad".

[Lurker]

During Monday's court hearing, Lloyd said officials wanted to present a positive message to offset the views of the school's Pioneers for Christ club, of which Hansen was a member.

I caught that as well. A not so subtle implication that the Pioneers For Christ have a negative message.

George Orwell, call your office.

L

[narses]

That odious Golden Rule irks people. And what's with that "Love Thy Neighbor" stuff? Hatefilled bigots, those Christians.