A school in Canada seems to be competing with Glee's fictional character Karofsky for most annoying homophobic behavior. In a nasty bait and switch, the Catholic school, St. Joseph Catholic Secondary School, recently allowed its students involved in an "unofficial gay-straight alliance" (because official ones are banned) to hold an anti-homophobia event ... but THEN prohibited all rainbow banners and posters. Hissa-WHAT?!
Oh yes, yes, as crazy as this is, it is true through and through! Ludicrous, right? Does that mean the school also has something against Rainbow Brite pictures hanging in lockers? Maybe color-coding notebooks or homework assignments are off-limits, too? And uh-oh, what happens if a science teacher dares explain the phenomenon in class? Heh.
Maybe. Because St. Joseph's says the rainbow is "associated with Pride."
Thankfully, the kids were able to circumvent the rainbow ban by baking multi-colors into cupcakes. But sadly, that's just the tip of the icing-berg.
Students were also told they could not distribute booklets discussing gender identity, harassment in sports, AIDS Awareness, or safe sex; they could not donate the money from their bake sale to an LGBT charity (funds had to go to a Catholic homeless charity instead); and they could not mention their school's name at a Pride Parade.
Wow. I'm surprised they're even allowed to attend a Pride Parade without being threatened with suspension or something. How completely sad.
The real irony here is that the school let the kids have an anti-homophobia event when all of their other actions seem to show that they're TERRIFIED of gay kids being and standing up for themselves. I mean, really -- if you're gonna be a hater, just go on and hate, will ya? Don't dangle a hopeful carrot of open-mindedness and then slam the door in these kids' faces, making them feel like wrongdoing outsiders! That's just sick.
The good news is that Leanne Iskander, founder of the unofficial group at the school, is keeping her head held high. She and fellow students will march in the parade and give out buttons to support GSAs. It seems like these kids are just letting their school's restrictions and hate further motivate them to spread their message. It makes me proud!
If you want to help these kids make a difference, you can donate to help them pay for the buttons.
What do you think about the Catholic school banning rainbows? How about everything else they won't allow the unofficial GSA to do?
Image via Charlie Nguyen/Flickr
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Comments 21
I am Roman Catholic.
We are taught to love the sinner, but not the sin. Please do not understand me. I do not hate anyone and never will. However, I will remain firm that I believe that marriage is only for a man and woman.
What is sad to me as an adult is that the Gay Pride movement has taken a symbol of the covenant that God made with man, that He would never destroy the earth by water again, and the rainbow is that sign.
I still very much believe in rainbows, their colors and what they used to represent. Hope...
By the way, my comments are here to share. I am not here to debate this issue. Thank you for being respectful and understanding.
This is why I respect the hell out of Billsfan. Even though we have completely different views on pretty much everything, she has never been hateful or disrespectful and has always been kind to me.
As for gay rights as I am, I don't think it is so shocking or a sign of hate that the school wouldn't allow them to pass out literature on safe sex or AIDS or gender identity. It goes what they teach. I don't agree with the school, but I can see their side of the situation.
They shouldn't have allowed the event in the first place.
I'm fine with people being against homosexuality if it's for deep religious reasons, but not with hate. When it comes to hate and intolerance thats where they cross the line for me. MANY stringent Christians are INTOLERANT not just against the act of homosexuality. If you don't agree with being a homosexual, thats fine, don't be one...but don't tell anyone else how they should live their lives, that includes getting married.