Rebecca Arellano, Haileigh Adams, Get Hate Mail For Being Crowned Homecoming King And Queen

Last week, Rebecca Arellano was crowned Patrick Henry High School's first lesbian homecoming king. The next day, her girlfriend Haileigh Adams was crowned queen.

Despite waves of support from the school and the couple's friends and family, the couple has recently been met with hateful phone calls and emails, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Superintendent Bill Kowba told the publication that the harassment is "demonstrating such a lack of tolerance and are presenting such a negative role model for children with their hateful comments."

In a report by NBC San Diego, Kowba goes one step further, calling the adults behind the harassment "bullies."

He added, according to the station, that any students behind threats or harassment will be met with disciplinary action.

Comments

[Silly amelie]

05:20 PM on 12/12/2011

Why do people automatically assume that just because someone is Republican that they are automatically gay-haters? I personally know multiple men and women of the homosexual community that ARE Republican. Why? Because they believe in capitalism, less programs, more military, fewer taxes, etc. The negative part IS the religious aspect: abortion and homosexuality "issues." Additionally, many people of modern Christian faith, especially Canadians, feel that homosexuality is not a sin -- based on early Christianity studies. Heck, my boyfriend is PhD for early Christianity and speaks Hebrew and Greek fluently. He has translated most of the New Testament already. He and his lesbian roommates are all in the same program studying & teaching early Christianity; as well as practicing the faith, etc.

The Christian faith is changing. People are becoming more aware of the faults in religion – however, the love of Jesus lives on. It’s about a relationship with Him, not the rituals and dogmatisms of the church.

So many people hate on Christians and republicans because THEY stereotype people into categories; not taking individual situations into consideration. However, putting ALL "repubs" and Christians into this category of ignorant "dinosaurs" can be argued as equal behavior, essentially, hypocrisy.

[Elizabeth Schwartz]

06:42 PM on 11/03/2011

Exceedingly proud of this superintendant.

[rockysparks]

05:13 AM on 11/03/2011

Undoubtedly, the king and queen had braced themselves ahead of time for hate mail and other negativity. They may have been surprised at how much support there was. But you know what? They got to wear the crowns and a precedent has been set. The haters can say what they like, write what they like, but you can still stick a fork in them because they're done. They're finished. They lost this battle and the good guys won. Get over yourselves, homophobes --- the next generation is going to be majority gay-supportive!

[chaya]

06:51 PM on 11/03/2011

Yep. They need to remind themselves--again and again--that the hate was coming from adults. It was coming from people who are on their way out.

[rockysparks]

11:05 PM on 11/03/2011

And the people who sent the hate messages are pretty much impotent --- the kids at the center of this story got to reign over homecoming. The haters lost.

"Curses! Foiled again!"

[w12owens49]

04:10 PM on 11/02/2011

It is what it is, but how could people, who are supposedly smart enough to be educators,not see this comming?

[John E Priegnitz]

05:26 PM on 11/02/2011

So, therefore it is justified?

[w12owens49]

11:30 PM on 11/02/2011

There was nothing in my comment about it being justified. To me saying it is what is in no way indicates that I think it is justified.

[AngryHarpy]

01:36 AM on 11/03/2011

I'm sure they didn't expect the national attention that this story has received, that's all.

[shempbat]

08:58 AM on 11/03/2011

Yeah right!

[LadyeCatte]

02:58 PM on 11/02/2011

I think its FANTASTIC that this happened! I am no more upset by two females occupying the roles than if it were two males or the generic boy/girl combo. The most popular won! The narrow-minded bullies threatening these youngsters should take a chill-pill and move to Jupiter.

My daughter is still struggling with her sexuality, and I'd like to think the world will be a kinder, better place by the time she figures herself out.

[AngryHarpy]

01:37 AM on 11/03/2011

Best of luck to your daughter. It can be a really troubling time and I am so glad to hear that she has such a supportive parent!

[pavementends42]

01:41 PM on 11/02/2011

Homecoming is voted on by students. Ignorant dinosaurs of older generations should butt out. Things they are a-changin' so keep up or check out.

[HudsonSpeaks]

12:57 PM on 11/03/2011

Good point. For all we know, this couple voted for some other male/female couple, lol. So the dinosaurs should be directing their spite at the voters. It goes to show the flawed logic of hate.

Thankfully, (hopefully) those dinosaurs will soon be extinct as they all die off.

[george6090]

01:40 PM on 11/02/2011

Now here is a group of teens voting and making a choice which parents do not like. It is a great example of how this issue will play out in the future. As time goes on and the demographics change, this will be less and less of an issue. The younger generation does not have a lot of problems with gays. Not sure what the Repubs are going to do in 10-20 years. This is a big vote getter and has been for sometime. This and abortion will sooner or later not be the big draw that the Repubs/Tea Party utilize every election cycle. They keep voting for candidates who pledge to put an end to this, yet it does not get done and it looks like this cycle is heavy into these issues, more than jobs, education, spending cuts, these will once again bring out the ultra-conservatives to vote not for what is good for them or the country, but what the preacher says is good for them.
In 10-20 years they will not have this to hold over any candidate and then the Repubs will have to figure out what other demon to use to bring out this group.

[chaya]

06:53 PM on 11/03/2011

"Not sure what the Repubs are going to do in 10-20 years. This is a big vote getter and has been for sometime. "

They will find someone, believe me. They always find someone. There is a never-ending supply of "others" to hate and fear in this world.

[Kym Lewis]

01:26 PM on 11/02/2011

They are prom partners not prom king and queen.the school school should call it what it is.

[mggwa]

01:23 PM on 11/02/2011

So the boys get no representation. None. It will be interesting to see how readers respond to this sexism. On with the show!

[Tmboy]

01:54 PM on 11/02/2011

Don't people usually vote for these these things...? she ran and she won.

[mggwa]

02:05 PM on 11/02/2011

"Don't people usually vote for these these things...?"

In a limited way. On Huffpo today is a story about not very many women in the Senate.

In a democracy, sexism happens. In this school, sexism happened. Some "isms" are "flavor of the month" and permitted, others are not.

[mggwa]

10:19 AM on 11/03/2011

"a "male" looses one election and you are screaming sexism."

Am not! R2! Am not!

So there!

Anyway, when you say "looses" it immediately conveys a sense of futility. You cannot write, you do not know what words mean (to others, anyway; obviously they have meaning to you).

A school that has an opportunity for a man (King) and a woman (Queen) is operating fairly and without sexism. One of each.

For a woman to take the man's appointed spot, so that no man is permitted to occupy "King", is sexist. Now the school has two women, but no men; and to accomplish this must re-define the meaning of "King".

What must a school DO to establish that it wants one male and one female chosen to honor? Must it show photographs of unclothed students to establish what is wanted? One of EACH. Not two of ONE.

[EmmaDarian]

01:56 PM on 11/02/2011

Since you are so concerned about fairness, what solution do you propose that allows same-sex couples the same opportunity to be elected to homecoming court as a couple that opposite-sex couples have always had?

[mggwa]

02:04 PM on 11/02/2011

"Since you are so concerned about fairness, what solution do you propose that allows same-sex couples the same opportunit­y to be elected to homecoming court as a couple that opposite-s­ex couples have always had? "

SIMPLE. TWO boys and two girls. That way, if the boy or the girl cannot stand to be separated from their S.O., no problem. If the two boys aren't engaged to each other, no problem; they will be "co-Kings" and the two girls can be "co-Queens" whether or not they have a relationship.

In my school, "couples" weren't elected. The most popular boy and the most popular girl was elected. Of course, sometimes it happened that they didn't even LIKE each other but all they had to do was smile for the camera and then on with the beer and games.

[kathyctv]

12:44 PM on 11/02/2011

some of these ppl need to step back and take a look at the big picture and no be so narrow minded. the disrespect these two young ladies are getting is childish and immature. GROW UP or Sit

[mggwa]

01:24 PM on 11/02/2011

"GROW UP or Sit "

Why cannot it be grow up AND sit? What if someone does not wish to grow up; or sit?

Anyway, "ppl" will do what they want, same as you.

[chaya]

06:56 PM on 11/03/2011

Uh. Pretty juvenile. Remarkable that you took the time to put that together.

[Sociologyst]

12:38 PM on 11/02/2011

It's usually the parents that are the biggest bullies. I've seen it in many different areas of society, the kids can handle whatever comes their way, but the parents whine and complain like no other. It boggles my mind.

[mggwa]

01:25 PM on 11/02/2011

"It's usually the parents that are the biggest bullies."

Of course. That is the nature of being an adult. Bigger.

[Atwill]

07:59 AM on 11/04/2011

it is true. my kid has been harrassed more by adults, including the sick "B" of a principle of the high school he went to them any of the kids his age. not saying he didnt get it from the kids, but the adults were far worse and more vicious. Most of all the bible thumpers, who not only harraased him but myslf as well, calling me the devil.

[michelleobamaok]

12:20 PM on 11/02/2011

Truthfully, there was a queen but no king.

[BEATRIX KIDDO]

07:29 PM on 11/02/2011

If a gay man can be called a "queen" why can't a lesbian woman be called a "king" ? Why does it matter one way or the other? I totally support those kids and that school!

[DevonTexas]

11:24 AM on 11/02/2011

The only thing I can't tolerate is intolerance.

[Bill J4321]

11:05 AM on 11/02/2011

Gosh, the heterosexual lifestyle is so immoral.

Are you people raised in barns?

[mushimom]

11:26 AM on 11/02/2011

Darn it Bill, went to fave you and accidently flagged u!!...sorry luv...;)

[Kate Lynn]

10:53 AM on 11/02/2011

If they wanna harass someone, harass Kim Kardashian. Unlike this couple, Kim exhibits the reason why marriage is in trouble. I am sure these two will have a longer lasting relationship, in fact, they already have.

[vonric]

11:27 AM on 11/02/2011

I am always impressed by the folks who claim such sanctity in the institution of conventional unions.. slightly off-track, but the Red states have the highest out of wedlock birthing rates and the highest divorce rates....

[Tmboy]

01:56 PM on 11/02/2011

They are also the states most likely to allow incest