Wife asked to sponsor H.S. Gay-Lesbian-Straight club at school

[JRamosSFO]

The absolutely mind-boggling aspect of this all is why (precisely) a school of any sort should need a sexually oriented club to begin with?

I was reading through this post wondering the same thing. I’m glad someone beat me to bringing it up. A high school club, that is centered around sexualy identity is legal? How far does the Moral structure of American Society have to decay, before people understand that the “I’m ok…you’re ok” tolerance is not what Christ taught. We, as Catholics, should spend much more time reading scripture, than we do speaking out. Try reading Ephesians 5:3-6

3 Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be
mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones,
4 no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of
place, but instead, thanksgiving.
5 Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy
person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the
kingdom of Christ and of God.

We, as Christians, are warned against associating ourselves with non-believers.

Peace in Christ

 

[mangy_dog]

As a high school guidance counselor in a public school I was asked to do the same thing. I was happy to support these youth in this way. They simply need a place to gather and receive support from peers and adults. If your wife sponsors this club she may be able to provide some positive guidance to some of these teens. Most times, these teens are shunned by peers and adults. Research shows that without support they often turn to suicide!! They need positive adult influences in their lives. Supporting them doesn’t mean you condone their lifestyle. Many Catholic churches have support groups for Gay/Lesbian members. As long as this club is handled maturly and in a respectful manner there is not anything “anti-Catholic” about it.

Jesus welcomed the social outcasts to his table to guide them and teach them…something to consider regardless of your wife’s religion.

No right thinking catholic would step into that situation which inevitably (caveat) inevitably turn to a conflict of faith and interest.

“Many Catholic churches have supported groups for Gay/Lesbian members” is a purely spiritual matter not condoning the “lifestyle”.

This teacher would be hung out to dry if she implied in any way shape or form her values of faith to these students.

Its a trap either way for the catholic teacher.

 

[Integrity_USA]

A report produced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 1989 found that gay and lesbian youth are two to three times more likely to attempt suicide then their heterosexual peers, and that up to 30% of all completed suicides are committed by gay and lesbian youth. Since suicide is a grave sin, aren’t Catholics morally obligated to actively prevent suicide among LGBT youth? One way to do that is to to establish LGBT student support groups.

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has published an excellent resource related to this topic titled “Education policy: Issues affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth.” A PDF can of it can be downloaded by clicking here.

Here’s a synopsis of the report…

High school students hear 25 anti-gay remarks every day. Of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) high schoolers, 42 percent have been physically harassed on the basis of their perceived sexual orientation/gender identity.

LGBT youth are more likely to:

• Drop out of school;
• Engage in substance abuse and unsafe sex;
• Contemplate suicide

.
Adolescents would benefit from more:

• Gay-straight alliances;
• Supportive adults at school and home;
• Legislation to protect students from harassment;
• Comprehensive sex education and LGBT-inclusive curricula.

 

[estesbob]

A report produced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 1989 found that gay and lesbian youth are two to three times more likely to attempt suicide then their heterosexual peers, and that up to 30% of all completed suicides are committed by gay and lesbian youth. Since suicide is a grave sin, aren’t Catholics morally obligated to actively prevent suicide among LGBT youth? One way to do that is to to establish LGBT student support groups.

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has published an excellent resource related to this topic titled “Education policy: Issues affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth.” A PDF can of it can be downloaded by clicking here.

Here’s a synopsis of the report…

High school students hear 25 anti-gay remarks every day. Of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) high schoolers, 42 percent have been physically harassed on the basis of their perceived sexual orientation/gender identity.

LGBT youth are more likely to:

• Drop out of school;
• Engage in substance abuse and unsafe sex;
• Contemplate suicide
  .
  Adolescents would benefit from more:
• Gay-straight alliances;
• Supportive adults at school and home;
• Legislation to protect students from harassment;
• Comprehensive sex education and LGBT-inclusive curricula.

A 20-year-old report of which nobody has been able to duplicate the results ofeither before or after it was issued. As the excert I posted below indicated there is no credible way of determining the sexual preference of a suicide victim. The same goes for the other problems you mentioned as they’re based solely on anecdotal evidence from self identified homosexuals.

The solutions you mention are nothing more than trying to place a Trojan horse in our schools to indoctrinate our children into believing that there is nothing wrong with homosexual behavior. I don’t think that homosexual behavior should be taught as a depravity in our schools nor do I think it should be taught as normal.

 

[Seatuck]

Is homosexualtiy affirmed as ok in these meetings?

Are there clubs for short kids? Nerds? Kids who stutter? Kids inept at sports?

When I was in School it seems like there were all sorts of us who were “harrassed” for all sorts of reasons.

Yes, homosexuality is affirmed and activism is promoted. Anyone who doesn’t agree is homophobic. This is the typical organization that is found in high schools and colleges.

gsanetwork.org/about/index.html

 

[Matt33]

To the OP.
Why did your wife get asked. Because she is popular? There is something wierd here. You stated that your priest didn’t even know she wasn’t Catholic… Is she misrepresenting herself? I.E. Recieving the eucharist because “well it’s close to my faith” Is this a Catholic school? What positions is your wife taking that would make students believe she is sympethetic to a gay and lesbian cause?
In my circles, people know what to ask me to volunteer for and not.

 

[emeraldcoast]

A 20-year-old report of which nobody has been able to duplicate the results ofeither before or after it was issued. As the excert I posted below indicated there is no credible way of determining the sexual preference of a suicide victim. The same goes for the other problems you mentioned as they’re based solely on anecdotal evidence from self identified homosexuals.

The solutions you mention are nothing more than trying to place a Trojan horse in our schools to indoctrinate our children into believing that there is nothing wrong with homosexual behavior. I don’t think that homosexual behavior should be taught as a depravity in our schools nor do I think it should be taught as normal.

Do you realize that 20-30% of the teenagers that are homeless are gay. Where is the best place to reach these kids before this happens? Home–yes but we all know how that goes. Do you all remember being a teen? Did you all talk or feel comfortable talking to your parents about your sexuality? In the schools, with the guidance from loving and caring adults might be the only place these children feel safe talking about what they are experiencing. These teens that have asked your wife to be a sponsor must trust her–fantastic! As a Christian she will be an awesome sounding board for them to help them process what they are experiencing and point them in the correct direction for further information. God sometimes calls us to do things that we do not feel comfortable doing. If you recall this past weekends Gospel reading Matthew 16:21-28 don’t you think that the Apostles would of loved to change the subject to miracles, Sermon on the Mount…"Hey, Jesus lets go do some more miracles, saving people or lets talk about loving our neighbor. I am not feeling that comfortable with all this talk of “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Sometimes God calls us to do things that are not the “norm” for us but we are to minister to His people especially the children.

God Bless!

 

[Annn]

This is NOT the role of a sponsor teacher, this would be the role of a Social Worker, someone who is a trained professional to deal with these types of questions.

The OP’s wife should decline - a teacher, while perhaps required for a club, has no business counseling children on their sexual orientation. Even if they happen to have the appropriate professional qualifications, in addition to their teaching credentials, it is not the place for a teacher to play both roles in the school environment.

~Liza

My high school was lucky enough to have counselors who had studied social work.

I disagree with many people on this thread.If not with trusted adults, then with whom should students discuss tough issues? Talking about orientation and talking about sex are NOT the same, and as a future teacher I hope that students would feel comfortable talking to me about a whole host of issues that may not be deemed “morally appropriate:” for example, a sexual assault, sexual harassment, drug/alcohol problems, etc. Some kids just don’t feel comfortable talking to their parents about some things in their lives.

 

[rpp]

Homosexuality is a mental disorder and should be treated. Mental health professionals have abandoned and betrayed people who are unfortunate enough to suffer from same-sex attraction and other sexual deviances. In addition, those who choose to engage in homosexual behavior are actually encouraged to do so. Those who do not choose but rather suffer from an affliction of unknown origin, they need mental health treatment.

Affirming a person in their sin, as I said before, is tantamount to condemning a person to Hell. And in this case, Hell for them starts on Earth.

It is not reasonable or credible to claim that a “club” for sexual deviants will do not affirm people in their deviant behavior. What is needed, instead, is real authentic and objective medical research that will allow these unfortunate people to receive medical treatment.

A “club” is the worst possible thing that can be done.

 

[estesbob]

Do you realize that 20-30% of the teenagers that are homeless are gay. Where is the best place to reach these kids before this happens? Home–yes but we all know how that goes. Do you all remember being a teen? Did you all talk or feel comfortable talking to your parents about your sexuality? In the schools, with the guidance from loving and caring adults might be the only place these children feel safe talking about what they are experiencing. These teens that have asked your wife to be a sponsor must trust her–fantastic! As a Christian she will be an awesome sounding board for them to help them process what they are experiencing and point them in the correct direction for further information. God sometimes calls us to do things that we do not feel comfortable doing. If you recall this past weekends Gospel reading Matthew 16:21-28 don’t you think that the Apostles would of loved to change the subject to miracles, Sermon on the Mount…"Hey, Jesus lets go do some more miracles, saving people or lets talk about loving our neighbor. I am not feeling that comfortable with all this talk of “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Sometimes God calls us to do things that are not the “norm” for us but we are to minister to His people especially the children.

God Bless!

Where is the study that says 20 to 30% of homeless children are homosexual? And how many children are homeless? I suspect these figures are nothing more than the usual unsubstantiated ancedotal evidence that is then used to try and play on guilt to allow homosexuality to be taught as acceptable in our schools?

Please show me any place in Scripture were Jesus said we should accept sin. Please show me any place in Scripture Jesus said we should affirm sin. Our schools are not a place to teach children that deviant sex is acceptable. I’m not demanding that the schools teach us homosexual behavior is deviant but likewise do not believe our children should be taught is not.

 

[emeraldcoast]

Where is the study that says 20 to 30% of homeless children are homosexual? And how many children are homeless? I suspect these figures are nothing more than the usual unsubstantiated ancedotal evidence that is then used to try and play on guilt to allow homosexuality to be taught as acceptable in our schools?

Please show me any place in Scripture were Jesus said we should accept sin. Please show me any place in Scripture Jesus said we should affirm sin. Our schools are not a place to teach children that deviant sex is acceptable. I’m not demanding that the schools teach us homosexual behavior is deviant but likewise do not believe our children should be taught is not.

Show me where in scripture we are to turn our back on those in need!

Google–National Coalition of Homeless and gay teens.

Peace!

 

[Matt33]

Show me where in scripture we are to turn our back on those in need!

Google–National Coalition of Homeless and gay teens.

Peace!

Turning our back on those in need would be affirming that a homosexual lifestyle is what Jesus wants for His Children? Why is this a school issue?
Nice google site. Very balancenced and believeable.
Why dont you google Helping gay kids have sex in your next search for stats you want to back up your worldview?

 

[pnewton]

A report produced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 1989 found that gay and lesbian youth are two to three times more likely to attempt suicide then their heterosexual peers, and that up to 30% of all completed suicides are committed by gay and lesbian youth.

Do you realize that 20-30% of the teenagers that are homeless are gay.

These are two excellent arguments that homosexuality is disorder and should be treated as such, much the way we treat alcoholism and drug addiction. Other psycholigical deviations that would lead to suicide and homelessness, would receive such treatment if a parent loved their teen, or a school looked to the best of their students.

 

[estesbob]

Show me where in scripture we are to turn our back on those in need!

Strawman. No one is suggesting we turn our back on those in need. We’re suggesting is not appropriate to have a club in our schools that tells kids that homosexual behavior is okay.

Google–National Coalition of Homeless and gay teens.

Peace!

You made the you made the claim, not I. Barring evidence to the contrary my assumption that the 20 to 30% figure was ancedotal evidence not backed up by a peer-reviewed study is correct

 

[royal_archer]

It’s not a sexually-oriented club, it’s a club for people with sexual orientations that are not “straight.” Being queer does not imply sexual activity for teens anymore than being straight does.

How would you feel about a club for straight people where they discuss their sexual desires?

I agree with previous posters that this is a topic that should be off the table, regardles of “orientaion”, Period.

 

[royal_archer]

So that students who are often harassed in schools (many times because they do not fit neatly within the gender binary, or because kids think that having a queer orientation makes someone not a “real man” or a "real woman) can offer each other mutual support. My high school didn’t have a SGA or anything like that, but from what I understand many times it’s just a social group, a lot more informal perhaps than other orginizations, where other kids can talk about their experiences both negative and positive/both related and unrelated to being queer.

Forming a club is just going to focus these people into an indentifiable group which will increase harassment. It is also a way to indoctrinate those who have confusion about their orientation: They go to the group to seek information and then they get labled.

 

[lizaanne]

I disagree with many people on this thread.If not with trusted adults, then with whom should students discuss tough issues? Talking about orientation and talking about sex are NOT the same, and as a future teacher I hope that students would feel comfortable talking to me about a whole host of issues that may not be deemed “morally appropriate:” for example, a sexual assault, sexual harassment, drug/alcohol problems, etc. Some kids just don’t feel comfortable talking to their parents about some things in their lives.

Then as a teacher, I suggest you take the extra time it will take to earn your social worker credentials.

Personally, I would not want someone who was not a trained professional (well, on second thought, maybe not even then) advising my child in the items you site above. How in the world do I know that your personal morals align with mine? Or that you aren’t some crazed lunatic (not saying YOU are) who is telling my child that it’s ok to drink under age, or sex at 17 is ok as long as you are in love. I had teachers who were just crazy enough to tell me such things - AND - as a matter of fact, I even had a counselor take me to an abortion clinic when I was 16 when I thought I might be pregnant!!!

I’m sorry - teachers are teachers. Period. They need to stick to TEACHING the subject they are assigned to teach, and stop being arm chair psychologists without training to do so.

If I were a teacher and a student approached me with a sexual assault concern or something similar I would go with them to either the counselor on staff or some other trusted PROFESSIONAL.

~Liza

 

[pnewton]

I’m sorry - teachers are teachers. Period. They need to stick to TEACHING the subject they are assigned to teach, and stop being arm chair psychologists without training to do so.

AMEN!!! The propensity for schools to wander outside their area of expertise and just teach is why I cry for a voucher system to help make it easier to get kids away from these centers of indoctrination and into an educational system.

 

[royal_archer]

Not sure what to think. My wife is a high school teacher at the local public high school, she is popular with the students, but still strict with her students.

A student wants to start up a Gay-Lesbian-Straight club at the school. All clubs need a teacher sponsor who oversees the activities of the club to make sure they stay within the guidelines of school conduct.

I think the club is being set up to focus on “tolerance” which I believe is something that our social justice teachings would agree with. I do not think it is being set up to promote the G-L agenda, but I’m sure it could steer that way.

Thoughts? She has not committed.

Just another thought: If your wife were to do this what are the chances that a disgruntled student would use it against her? It is very easy for students to make false accusations and a female teacher who discusses sexually related issue with students in small groups may find that an unfounded accusation may get the attention of her superiors or the school board.

 

[estesbob]

Then as a teacher, I suggest you take the extra time it will take to earn your social worker credentials.

Personally, I would not want someone who was not a trained professional (well, on second thought, maybe not even then) advising my child in the items you site above. How in the world do I know that your personal morals align with mine? Or that you aren’t some crazed lunatic (not saying YOU are) who is telling my child that it’s ok to drink under age, or sex at 17 is ok as long as you are in love. I had teachers who were just crazy enough to tell me such things - AND - as a matter of fact, I even had a counselor take me to an abortion clinic when I was 16 when I thought I might be pregnant!!!

I’m sorry - teachers are teachers. Period. They need to stick to TEACHING the subject they are assigned to teach, and stop being arm chair psychologists without training to do so.

If I were a teacher and a student approached me with a sexual assault concern or something similar I would go with them to either the counselor on staff or some other trusted PROFESSIONAL.

~Liza

I am faced with hiring the product of today’s school systems. Tthey don’t need teachers to hold their hands and console them about their problems- they need teachers who will teach them the basics so we don’t have to retrain them when they get to us. I get more applicants who feel they are entitled than those who can actually do the job.