Will Phillips, 10-Year-Old, Won't Pledge Allegiance To A Country That Discriminates Against Gays (VIDEO)

UPDATE: Will Phillips appeared on CNN Monday morning with his father, Jay, to discuss his refusal to say the pledge of allegiance.

"I've grown up with a lot of people and I'm good friends with a lot of people who are gay and I think they should have the rights all people should, and I'm not going to swear that they do," the ten-year-old Phillips said.

Jay Phillips, asked if his son was prepared for the media attention, said his son saw it as an opportunity to raise awareness. "He felt that just because he's ten years old doesn't mean he doesn't have opinions, doesn't mean he doesn't have rights, and doesn't mean he can't make a difference."

Watch:

* * * * *

Via Queerty comes a story from the Arkansas Times about Will Phillips, an elementary school student who refuses to say the pledge of allegiance in school because of discrimination against gay people:

"I've always tried to analyze things because I want to be lawyer," Will said. "I really don't feel that there's currently liberty and justice for all."

After asking his parents whether it was against the law not to stand for the pledge, Will decided to do something. On Monday, Oct. 5, when the other kids in his class stood up to recite the pledge of allegiance, he remained sitting down. The class had a substitute teacher that week, a retired educator from the district, who knew Will's mother and grandmother. Though the substitute tried to make him stand up, he respectfully refused. He did it again the next day, and the next day.

A columnist for the Arkansas News has stood up for Phillips against his angry substitute teacher. Predictably, fellow students have taunted the kid and called him a "gaywad," but he says he doesn't see his quiet act of protest ending any time soon.

Get HuffPost Politics On Facebook and Twitter!

Comments

[SILVANUS]

07:23 PM on 03/09/2010

Kid --- right on. To thine own self be true.

[saami]

01:49 PM on 02/24/2010

Will, I am impressed by your intelligence and your real understanding of what this country stands for. You are correct in your stand and will make a great attorney some day. By the way since 1943 you cannot be compelled to pledge to the flag or sing the national anthem. From one who has refused both for many years out of conscience.

[AllanF]

02:54 AM on 12/23/2009

I just heard him interviewed on Michelangelo Signorile's radio show on OutQ..Amazing...So smart and SO WISE...

[tobe17200]

02:11 PM on 12/10/2009

Anyone interested in contributing to Will's COLLEGE FUND can donate here!!

http://tiny.cc/EFUk4

thanks,

jay phillips

[e-mail]

[Ty LaRue]

08:56 PM on 12/08/2009

I guess he will never say the pledge then

[Ben Gaskins]

03:15 PM on 12/05/2009

Will instead of being called, "married" we could call them "butt buddies"

[saami]

01:52 PM on 02/24/2010

Your stupidity is showing.

[SILVANUS]

07:21 PM on 03/09/2010

Flagrantly so...

[Ben Gaskins]

02:45 PM on 12/05/2009

Ben Gaskins a 14 year old boy wishes that if people think it's so bad here that they would leave.

[kaspiahn]

08:32 AM on 11/26/2009

I bet this kid would have no problem pledging allegiance to Obama.

[saami]

01:52 PM on 02/24/2010

It is his right as an American citizen to refuse to either pledge to the flag or stand or sing the national anthem. One of the best parts of being an American to have the right of conscience.

[SILVANUS]

07:22 PM on 03/09/2010

The kid has a mind of his own, which bothers you, obviously.

[frankystein12]

01:16 PM on 11/22/2009

Instead of mocking Will Phillips for standing up to social injustice and unequal civil rights, the ones who mocked him should be mocked instead for pledging to a screwed country blindly.

[Tony Whitson]

12:23 PM on 11/22/2009

Wouldn't you just LOVE to see a televised debate between Will Phillips and former Miss California Carrie Prejean?

[lrlrlr]

08:19 PM on 11/25/2009

OMG YES YES YES!!!!

[AllanF]

02:53 AM on 12/23/2009

or Sarah Palin!

[SILVANUS]

07:23 PM on 03/09/2010

They would try to mislabel him a 'Commie' or 'subversive' or something; they are so stupid and ruthless.

[JMaximo]

01:31 AM on 11/21/2009

Religion is the pretext for every infringement of human freedom: it is the argument of tyrants; it is the origin for injustice, bigotry and prejudice based on sexual orientation. When I do good, I feel good. When I do something bad, I feel bad. That's my religion. What does being an American mean? It means to enjoy liberty and justice (the essence of freedom). Will Phillips said “I really don't feel that there's currently liberty and justice for all” and refused to stand for the pledge of allegiance. For that he was called a gaywad. Americans who believe in freedom, tolerance and human rights have a responsibility to oppose injustice even if it means not pledging alliance to their own government, for as long as that government refuses to recognize the rights of its citizens. Remember, it is necessary only for the good man to do nothing for evil to triumph.

[whoknew42]

04:35 PM on 11/22/2009

I am totally loving what you just said

DITTO!

[IGNSTHMD]

03:04 AM on 11/29/2009

do you know how many people died in afganistan today?

[WaitingForLefty]

10:42 PM on 11/20/2009

Will Phillips: From the mouths of babes. You've made my heart swell to a Grinch-ian degree. I'm a 52-year old gay man who buried his Mom today. You inspire me unendingly. Your words of compassion and reason and defiance of absurd negative judgments simply stupefied me. Please never stop being a defender of the oppressed. My boyfriend (god forbid I should say husband) of 33 years and I truly thank you.

[secrethitmen]

05:48 PM on 11/20/2009

Thank you, Will. You're a good guy. (Also, your shirt is awesome.)

[microwave68]

01:33 PM on 11/20/2009

hey im all for it , after all why should a country deny somebody who is mentally ill the right to marry ?

[DirtyMoon]

02:02 PM on 11/20/2009

I can see you're tr0lling and you hate gays. Get a life, dude.

[SILVANUS]

07:32 PM on 03/09/2010

Cave person.

[Arrech]

09:28 AM on 11/20/2009

WHAT A BRIGHT KID.

MAY GOD BLESS HIM AND HIS PARENTS.

AND FOR THE BIGOTS: PSALM 109:8

[microwave68]

01:33 PM on 11/20/2009

wonder when hes gonna come out of the closet ?

[DirtyMoon]

02:02 PM on 11/20/2009

excuse me? Just because someone supports gay rights, it doesn't mean they're gay.

[SILVANUS]

07:34 PM on 03/09/2010

Those who betray themselves demand the same of others, micro-microwhatever

[IGNSTHMD]

03:13 AM on 11/29/2009

i don't get it psalm 109 is a psalm that asks the persecuted to turn gods vengence on the wicked, so what has it to do with bigots?