Gay Teen Graeme Taylor Speaks Out For Suspended Mich. Teacher

In honor of Anti-Bullying Day, Howell High School teacher Jay McDowell donned a purple shirt to show his solidarity with struggling gay teens after a spade of recent suicides nationwide.

According to a WJBK report, an inquisitive student asked McDowell why he had asked a fellow student to remove their Confederate flag belt buckle. The question prompted a discussion -- over the difference between Confederate symbols and gay rights symbols -- which ended in McDowell suspending two students who said they refused to accept their homosexual peers.

McDowell was reprimanded by school officials and suspended for a day without pay, according to the AP.

Fourteen-year-old Graeme Taylor, an openly gay student, came to McDowell's defense at a recent school board meeting.

The video of Taylor's speech went viral this week, posted on popular blogs and spread through social media websites. The "It Gets Better Project," an effort to offer support to bullied gay teens, also posted the footage of Taylor's defense on their website.

The Howell High School controversy has struck a chord with a national audience since it brings to light issues schools in many regions are struggling with. To curb the growing trend of teen suicides, districts have looked to enact anti-bullying programs, but the efforts have set off a gay rights debate.

While all can agree that school bullying, and suicides that result, must be stopped, some feel that teaching tolerance of homosexuality violates family values. Others see furthering gay rights as an integral part of reducing bullying in American schools.

In the eyes of Taylor and other gay rights advocates, McDowell is a hero. To others, he has violated the First Amendment rights of the students he suspended.

WATCH:

Comments

[WoodyCPM]

02:27 AM on 11/29/2010

In a classroom setting, it can often be extremely difficult for a teacher to know what is the best course of action. Time is of the essence. The students will not sit still until you figure out what to do. You're always in danger of losing control of the classroom.

I suspect that under the pressure of the moment, the teacher decided that the best course of action was to expel the students. It is possible that had it to do over, he might have taken a different track. When these kinds of things arise, the teacher does not usually have a ready made lesson plan that he just pulls out of his pocket.

Thinking about it dispassionately, no doubt the better way would have been a challenge to the student that he was mistaken, that Catholicism officially rejects homosexuality, but it does not reject gay people and considers them part of the family of man. He might have gone on to suggest to the student that there are in fact a number of gay Catholics who are very devoted to the Church. They even have their own group called Dignity. In other words, make the discussion about his Church, not about gay people.

You never think of these things in the heat of argument however.

[Paganus]

07:53 PM on 11/22/2010

So let me see if I understand the "family values" folks' argument properly:

Purple shirt is support of gay rights is morally equivalent to a Confederate Battle Flag?

By that logic, a peace symbol is morally equivalent to a Nazi flag.

War is Peace!
Freedom is Slavery!
and the most important for this context....

Ignorance is Strength!

[anastasiabeaverhousen]

05:35 PM on 11/22/2010

Has the national discourse devolved to the point that we can't even agree that bullying someone FOR WHATEVER reason is wrong?

Are the evangelicals really arguing that it's ok to bully kids perceived as being gay? If so, the bloodof those bullied kids that off themselves is on their hands. Period.

[Saph]

07:41 AM on 11/20/2010

Oh come on... Does anyone really think that the students were sad they missed out on a lesson on economics? They probably loved it every time there was a break... And how many times on English class have you had a lesson in history... When it's national ______ month all classes basically ignore the settting and learn about whatever that specific month is about so it's not like classes don't veer off topic.

And how many times has kids gotten kicked out of the room for saying anything? I can't even imagine trying to tell a teacher I have my rights... Wearing the "opponents" symbol to a moment/date is not a signal of speech, it's of defiance. That flag is not a symbol fFor something, it's Against, and if so against what?

This is just a case of ignorant kids who wore something controversial with an "I dare someone to say something" attitude, then got called out on it and started crying about it.

[Good Wolf]

07:41 PM on 11/19/2010

Until more teachers like McDowell speak up and act boldly to counter the many bullies and ignorant anti-gay bigotry inflicted on our children at school, more vulnerable young gay kids will die.

[carester]

08:58 AM on 11/20/2010

Howell schools: Teacher ignited anti-gay, bullying controversy
District: Teacher's suspension stands


HOWELL, Mich. (AP) - A Michigan school district won't reverse a teacher's one-day unpaid suspension for kicking a boy out of class because the student said he didn't "accept gays."

Howell schools Superintendent Ronald Wilson said in a release Wednesday that Jay McDowell violated the student's right to free speech on Oct. 20.

Wilson says the high school teacher also "violated board policy" in dismissing the student "who disagreed with him."


“Jay Kaplan, staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan’s LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) Legal Project, credits McDowell for trying to create a “welcoming environment for all students.” But Kaplan said the “teachable moment” would have come if the students stayed in the classroom.

“We believe, based on those statements — as offensive and upsetting as they were — THEY WERE PROTECTED SPEECH,” Kaplan said. “The only way we’re going to create a better environment

[Good Wolf]

07:01 PM on 11/20/2010

Really, go **** yourself.

[Good Wolf]

04:51 PM on 11/19/2010

carester wrote: "the kid WAS NOT IN ANY WAY DISRESPECTFUL."
___________________

How exactly is declaring publicly in a public school classroom where there are gay students that you cannot tolerate or accept gay students "NOT IN ANY WAY DISRESPECTFUL"?! Sorry, that's just wrong. Obviously, you have some other agenda here.

[carester]

05:29 PM on 11/19/2010

Get your facts right: First, CAN YOU TELL ME WHO WAS THE GAY STUDENT IN THE CLASSROOM? Second, THE TEACHER HIMSELF STARTED THE WHOLE THING (The class is Economics, not Human Sexuality). Third, the teacher asked the student if he accepted gays. The student answered "I do not accept gays. It is against my religion." Why asking a question he WAS NOT WILLING TO ACCEPT THE ANSWER. Even if he thought that the answer is inappropiate, do you believe that any educator in his/her right mind will act in the way he did?

Read here:

Howell school officials said Wednesday students who witnessed the controversial Oct. 20 exchange between Howell High School teacher Jay McDowell and two students he kicked out of class say McDowell called them “racist,” was irate, slammed doors, yelled and discussed their discipline in front of the other students.

They say he continued to give his opinion while telling students to keep their opinions to themselves.

The students, in their statements, allege McDowell told Glowacki, who said he didn’t accept the gay lifestyle because of his Catholic beliefs, that he should be in a Catholic school.

The statements go on to allege McDowell told the students in his class to keep their opinions to themselves. When students asked McDowell, “what about free speech?” McDowell allegedly replied, “not in my classroom,” according to the statements.

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20101118/NEWS01/311180007/Howell-schools-Teacher-ignited-anti-gay-bullying-controversy

[Good Wolf]

06:35 PM on 11/19/2010

There are gay students in EVERY classroom. That's life, honey.

[Good Wolf]

06:37 PM on 11/19/2010

We need more teachers like McDowell.

[carester]

09:52 AM on 11/19/2010

SOME UPDATE, GUYS:

Howell schools: Teacher ignited controversial exchange

Howell school officials said Wednesday students who witnessed the controversial Oct. 20 exchange between Howell High School teacher Jay McDowell and two students he kicked out of class say McDowell called them “racist,” was irate, slammed doors, yelled and discussed their discipline in front of the other students.
They say he continued to give his opinion while telling students to keep their opinions to themselves.

The students, in their statements, allege McDowell told Glowacki, who said he didn’t accept the gay lifestyle because of his Catholic beliefs, that he should be in a Catholic school. Students also stated that McDowell called Assistant Principal Jennifer Goodwin, in front of the class, and told her he didn’t want the two students back in his class.

The statements go on to allege McDowell told the students in his class to keep their opinions to themselves. When students asked McDowell, “what about free speech?” McDowell allegedly replied, “not in my classroom,” according to the statements.


Students go on to allege McDowell continued to give his opinion, wouldn’t accept those of his students, and got “defensive” and “irate” when opposing opinions were offered by students. Students went on to tell the district they thought the day was wasted, adding they should have been learning economics instead of discussing personal beliefs.

http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20101118/NEWS01/101118001/Howell-schools-Teacher-ignited-controversial-exchange-with-document-

[Garspies]

05:48 PM on 11/22/2010

Truly only one side of the story--the one you chose to believe.
Please quit with the spam or you will be banned.

[carester]

07:39 PM on 11/22/2010

Howell schools: Teacher ignited anti-gay, bullying controversy
District: Teacher's suspension stands


HOWELL, Mich. (AP) - A Michigan school district won't reverse a teacher's one-day unpaid suspension for kicking a boy out of class because the student said he didn't "accept gays."

Howell schools Superintendent Ronald Wilson said in a release Wednesday that Jay McDowell violated the student's right to free speech on Oct. 20.

Wilson says the high school teacher also "violated board policy" in dismissing the student "who disagreed with him."


“Jay Kaplan, staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan’s LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) Legal Project, credits McDowell for trying to create a “welcoming environment for all students.” But Kaplan said the “teachable moment” would have come if the students stayed in the classroom.

“We believe, based on those statements — as offensive and upsetting as they were — THEY WERE PROTECTED SPEECH,” Kaplan said. “The only way we’re going to create a better environment in schools is to start talking about this.””

[Bamajules]

06:28 PM on 12/20/2010

REALLY? You are a moderator for one of the most LIBERAL websites on the net and YOU are telling someone else that they choose to believe only one side of the story? Sounds to me like you choose to believe ONLY the other. It isn't very shocking that you chose the side that you did, is it? lol You threaten them with being banned for posting articles that are factual accounts of the event? Seriously? I know that Huffington Post isn't exactly journalism at its finest, but you are doing nothing more than what the teacher did by NOT allowing someone else to disagree with your point of view. Ever heard of freedom of speech? Doesn't much sound like it!

[carnitine]

02:26 PM on 11/18/2010

He was wrong for suspending the two for not accepting gays. You cant force people to like each other. Who cares if they have confederate buckles. Go down south and that is commonplace and minorities do not care.

[Good Wolf]

06:30 PM on 11/18/2010

If a student in a PUBLIC SCHOOL creates a hostile atmosphere for gay students, black students, disabled students, any students, by word or action, they should be sent home. They're entirely welcome to THINK that gay students are an abomination/evil/perverted, but if they're going to be antisocial AND vocal about it... they should be disciplined.

[carester]

06:59 PM on 11/18/2010

Layperson's opinion vs. legal opinion, what's a school to do?

Read the extensive article in the link. No, the kid WAS NOT IN ANY WAY DISRESPECTFUL. The teacher is NOT claiming that, the other students who witness the incident are NOT claiming that, the school is NOT claiming that. There is ZERO dispute regarding the actual event. The dispute is about whether what the teacher did is a violation of the kid's First Amendment rights. The kid's family, the school, the District (with their very well-versed legal counsel), and ACLU say YES. The school sanction the teacher.

ACLU's OPINION:

The SUPREME Court has given its opinion on matters of school environment and First Amendment, see Tinker v. Des Moines, 393 U.S. 503, 1968.

“Jay Kaplan, staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan’s LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) Legal Project, credits McDowell for trying to create a “welcoming environment for all students.” But Kaplan said the “teachable moment” would have come if the students stayed in the classroom.

“We believe, based on those statements — as offensive and upsetting as they were — THEY WERE PROTECTED SPEECH,” Kaplan said. “The only way we’re going to create a better environment in schools is to start talking about this.””

[carester]

07:11 PM on 11/18/2010

This is why the kid was supported by the school, the district (with its very well-versed legal counsel), and the ACLU ! ! At no point he used inappropiate language. According to the teacher the kid said the following: "I don't accept gays. It's against my religion." According to the lawyers for the District and ACLU the kid's comments ARE PROTECTED SPEECH. He expressed his opinion on a subject that THE TEACHER HIMSELF BROUGHT UP (for which he also was reprimanded), while stepping outside the scope of his field (Economics).

Once a teacher brings up a subject, he or she better be abled to handle dissenting opinions, as long as they are express with civility. An excerpt from Tinker vs. Des Moines:

"In our system, state-operated schools may not be enclaves of totalitarianism. School officials do not possess absolute authority over their students. Students in school as well as out of school are "persons" under our Constitution. They are possessed of fundamental rights which the State must respect, just as they themselves must respect their obligations to the State. In our system, students may not be regarded as closed-circuit recipients of only that which the State chooses to communicate. They may not be confined to the expression of those sentiments that are officially approved. In the absence of a specific showing of constitutionally valid reasons to regulate their speech, students are entitled to freedom of expression of their views."

[jdal]

11:53 AM on 11/20/2010

Having lived in the south, as well as having family and friends who live there - you are correct that it is commonplace...but sadly mistaken that minorities "do not care"

[Bamajules]

07:08 PM on 12/20/2010

Having been born and raised in the South, the true Southern minorities don't care, because they have been taught U.S. history and understand that the flag is a symbol of the confederacy and has NOTHING to do with slavery or racism. It is those that are NOT Southern that have created the controversy over the symbol of the old South. It is a historical fact...Period. Also, that flag is a symbol of MY heritage and that of ALL Southern people, so that flag is no more offensive than ANY of our State flags.
People spend FAR too much time trying to make something out of nothing.

[carester]

07:12 AM on 11/18/2010

Good morning, everyone ! !

A Michigan school district won't reverse a teacher's one-day unpaid suspension for kicking a boy out of class because the student said he didn't "accept gays."

ANTI-GAY CLASS SPEECH-BACKLASH
School district says teacher's suspension stands

HOWELL, Mich. (AP) - A Michigan school district won't reverse a teacher's one-day unpaid suspension for kicking a boy out of class because the student said he didn't "accept gays." Howell schools Superintendent Ronald Wilson said in a release Wednesday that Jay McDowell violated the student's right to free speech on Oct. 20. Wilson says the high school teacher also "violated board policy" in dismissing the student "who disagreed with him." The district is 45 miles northwest of Detroit. McDowell says he was explaining the difference between the Confederate flag and the gay pride symbol the rainbow flag when the student made his statement. McDowell has filed a complaint against the district.

[Saboruto]

09:35 PM on 11/17/2010

"While all can agree that school bullying, and suicides that result, must be stopped, some feel that teaching tolerance of homosexuality violates family values."

Sure... if your family values bigotry. Why are we even standing up for THOSE kinds of family values? That's disgusting. How could anyone actually believe that teaching children to value differences in others is a bad thing?

[Bamajules]

06:38 PM on 12/20/2010

Remember the separation of church and state? If a family has religious beliefs that cause them to disagree with homosexuality, then they are 100% allowed to express that! Freedom of religion is what founded our country to begin with! It appears that people aren't interested in preserving those rights, but will gladly force their opposing beliefs on others. Can you say hypocrisy?
Teaching morality is to be done at home, with a family. It is NOT the role of a public school teacher to force a student to change the values that he is taught at home! I guess you prefer to generalize bigotry versus seeing that a person's right to free speech was trampled!

I am a huge supporter of teaching equality, but again, that isn't the issue at hand here. The kids that were kicked out of class didn't bully anyone. There wasn't even a gay child in the conversation. It was a discussion over why the gay flag was acceptable, but the confederate one was not. All that AND the teacher provoked the entire scenario!

[WSS61]

07:16 PM on 11/17/2010

Howell High School, is in Livingston Country, in Michigan. It's always been a backwards, rural, red-necky, hickey kind of town. It's small and it has small minded people in charge of just about everything! Many families who reside in Howell, have their roots in the South; people came North for factory jobs. Many have maintained their racist dogma by displaying the Confederate Flag. I do not doubt the words of the Teacher for a second! I'll just bet the kids he suspended were verbally hostile and taunting; hope the Teacher wins!

[carester]

07:27 PM on 11/17/2010

Read the extensive article in the link. No, the kid WAS NOT IN ANY WAY DISRESPECTFUL. The teacher is NOT claiming that, the other students who witness the incident are NOT claiming that, the school is NOT claiming that. There is ZERO dispute regarding the actual event. The dispute is about whether what the teacher did is a violation of the kid's First Amendment rights. The kid's family, the school, the District (with their very well-versed legal counsel), and ACLU say YES. The school sanction the teacher.

The SUPREME Court has given its opinion on matters of school environment and First Amendment, see Tinker v. Des Moines, 393 U.S. 503, 1968.

“Jay Kaplan, staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan’s LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) Legal Project, credits McDowell for trying to create a “welcoming environment for all students.” But Kaplan said the “teachable moment” would have come if the students stayed in the classroom.

“We believe, based on those statements — as offensive and upsetting as they were — THEY WERE PROTECTED SPEECH,” Kaplan said. “The only way we’re going to create a better environment in schools is to start talking about this.””

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/firstamendment/tinker.html

[Good Wolf]

04:47 PM on 11/19/2010

SPAM

[Bamajules]

06:43 PM on 12/20/2010

Really? You'll bet that "the kids he suspended were verbally hostile and taunting"? Even though EVERY Single report says the opposite, including the teacher's account of the scenario? Think you are embellishing much? That is how stories get so distorted to begin with. Read the articles and accounts from all involved and it is cut and dry. The only argument is whether you think the teacher was right to remove the students or not. I suppose that too has already been dealt with, since the board did not reverse their decision by stating that the kids had their right to free speech taken away by the teacher!

Also, please take a U.S. history class before discussing the Confederate flag and its meaning. You are evidently uneducated on the subject. It is not and has never been a racist symbol. Now whether people like you distort it and turn it into one is another story entirely! Sad really!

[KJLSanDiego]

05:39 PM on 11/17/2010

I tell kids that this is everybody's school, and that while confederate stuff and gay rights stuff are both expressions, one is exclusionary and one is not.

[carester]

06:57 PM on 11/17/2010

The teacher should have EXPRESSED HIS OPINION, add HIS VOICE to the dialogue, not silence other voices. He should have engaged the kid in a more thoughtful analysis and encourage the class to share their opinions as well. Censoring? Nah ! !

[WSS61]

07:25 PM on 11/17/2010

Sorry, I had to 'unfan' you. I had first thought you had provided the link to the article to enlighten people with more fact. I read that article, and I came away with an entirely different conclusion than yours; that's why we have juries! I know this area, and well, it's rather backwards. I'll bet this teacher who has been at that school, for over 9 years, has had many talks with his students; including the two he suspended. I'm sure they left the teacher no other recourse; they were beyond being reasoned with, and mostly likely were problematic from the beginning of the school year.

[KJLSanDiego]

10:08 PM on 11/17/2010

You've obviously never worked with minors!
You would never make it a day at a school telling kids they have the freedom of speech to say whatever they want!
I'm sorry, but you don't understand the reality of working with other people's kids!

[Bamajules]

06:43 PM on 12/20/2010

And which is exclusionary?

[Progressneeded]

01:42 PM on 11/17/2010

I cannot make a judgement about what actually happened int he classroom. I have a hard time believing that an open minded teacher suspended the students for speaking their minds. It might have been for more than civil discourse. He might have suspended them for using hateful speech. But we will never know, will we? But i do have to say that I believe that some highschoolers have more sense than many a school board member!

[carester]

03:00 PM on 11/17/2010

Here is a good recount of the event, with official documents included (even from the teacher):

http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20101102/NEWS01/11020307/Officials-Teacher-showed-intolerance-with-document-downloads-

[WSS61]

07:17 PM on 11/17/2010

F&F

[Alexxjm]

12:45 PM on 11/17/2010

Gotta say one more thing, then will exercise my first amendment right to Shut the **** up. Our system of education should provide a place where people learn to think for themselves, and there is too much bigotry in this society that flies under the banner, "It's God's word." Thinking for yourself means not just parroting what parents or clergy tell us -- it means being able to dissect why you believe what you do, and being willing to change it if it's not right. Shame on us for devolving into an intellectually lazy nation with low expectations for ourselves. A teacher should also be able to say that "It's against my religion" doesn't meet academic standards, if you are unable to say why your religion takes the point of view it does, why you choose one thing and not another to interpret literally from your bible, and why YOU think it is right -- especially if it runs counter to what science teaches us. Absent that -- welcome back to a third world version of the Dark Ages.

[carester]

12:49 PM on 11/17/2010

This is exactly what the teacher should have done: CIVILLY challenge the kid about his beliefs. Encourage other students to do the same. Share experiences and ideas, NOT CENSORING. The teacher went completely wrong about this. You don't teach tolerance based on intolerance and repression.

[carester]

12:58 PM on 11/17/2010

Ah...right to remain silent is NOT First Amendment. It is the Fifth Amendment :-)

P.S: Guys, we need to educate ourselves about the law. I can't believe I'm an inmigrant who came here 11 years ago without speaking a word in English and I have to correct you on your own laws and legal system. What does that say about Americans? :-)

[Alexxjm]

01:07 PM on 11/17/2010

Fifth amendment allows me to not incriminate myself. What your statements say about Americans is not clear, but what they say about you is that you are self congratulatory and self righteous. :-) Even if punctuated by smarmy emoticons, your not agreeing with what people are saying about first amendment rights does not make you correct. Others have asserted correctly that the first amendment has limitations, and they have made cogent points about what those are. Try reading what they say instead of cutting and pasting your opinion all over -- you might learn something. :-)

[WSS61]

07:31 PM on 11/17/2010

You conflating two issues. Freedom of Speech, is not the issue at hand; it's the student's behaviors that warranted adult intervention; and ultimately, paying the consequences. Also, be careful not to apply your generalizations to everyone; it's simply untrue and discounts your message.

[Cowboylove]

09:44 AM on 11/17/2010

The teacher was wrong for suspending the students, because he was violating their free speech. While it is understandable, it is still wrong.

Still hate is hate, and those who choose to sport the Confederate Flag, especially in a northern State such as Michigan, are doing so purely for hate reasons. He should have compassionately explained the difference to them and let it go at that.

Happy to see an openly gay teen come out in his defense, however. Openly gay teens, acting hopefully is a great sign for our future as a nation. The more people who come out with pride, the sooner the gay debate will end positively for gays everywhere!

[Bamajules]

06:50 PM on 12/20/2010

Why would "sporting" the confederate flag be purely for hate reasons? In what way is a Confederate Flag racist? It has nothing to do with race. It is a symbol of the Confederacy, which is a part of U.S. History and a HUGE part of some of our heritage. The whole argument against it is insane. That flag is no more racist than the state flags of any of the Southern states.