Missed point of Ally Week

The recent incidents at St. Charles North High School regarding “Straight Pride” were a slap in the face to all those students and faculty who put in countless hours to organize the events of Ally Week.

As a former high school educator and administrator for 34 years, I am well versed in the fine line between freedom of speech and when it crosses over into harassment and disruption of the educational process. District 303 has made a commitment through their “Summit 303” to reach out to their students and community to stress the importance of mental health, especially in light of the recent suicides over the past few years.

Adolescence is a very difficult stage for anyone, but lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people have the added difficulty of coping with intolerance, ignorance, discrimination and hate. As a result, LGBT people are four times as likely to attempt suicide as their peers.

In an effort to promote anti-bullying against LGBT people, students and faculty organized weeklong events to coincide with the nationally celebrated week. Some North students, however, felt it necessary to wear “Straight Pride” shirts with a biblical verse on the back condemning homosexuality as an act that should be punishable by death.

Were these students practicing their First Amendment rights or just trying to make the situation all about themselves? Only they know for sure. One of the students who wore the shirt was quoted as saying the school “... has double standards.”

Again, this was not about who is gay and who is straight; it was an educational opportunity to discuss intolerance and discrimination of those who may be different from yourself, specifically LGBT.

As one student organizer stated in regard to the kids who wore the “Straight Pride” shirts,” it was like rubbing salt into the wound.” All I can say is some people just don't get it.

Doug Clark

Geneva