05/02/2008
Memphis City Schools Backs Principal Who Outed Gay Students
On Wednesday I posted about principal Daphne Beasley of Hollis F. Price Middle College High School in South Memphis, who outed two gay students who were in a relationship to their parents and to other students at the school via a publicly posted list of students who were involved romantically.
As a result of Beasley's actions, the gay students have been the target of verbal harassment and even discrimination from teachers. The ACLU sent a letter to Memphis City Schools, demanding they reprimand Beasley, and compensate and apologize to the two students whom Beasley outed. The ACLU says Beasley violated the students' constitutional rights to equal protection, freedom of expression and association, due process and privacy.
Well, Memphis City Schools responded today via a statement, and they claim that Beasley did nothing wrong and that what she did helped to facilitate "a safe, nurturing and disciplined learning climate." The schools claim that Beasley "did not list any information other than students’ names on her personal call list, and she certainly did not specify the sexual orientation of any student. Additionally, the list was never posted publicly anywhere at the school."
Well, according to the ACLU, "Beasley hung the list up on the wall of her office, in plain view of teachers and other students."
Read the statement from Memphis City Schools, AFTER THE JUMP...
***MEMPHIS CITY SCHOOLS STATEMENT in response to outing of gay students***
“Memphis City Schools is committed to providing its students with the best possible learning environment. Hollis F. Price Middle College is an accelerated high school, which is located on the historically black LeMoyne-Owen College campus. Eligible students may enroll in college classes in pursuit of completing the first two years of college while attending this high school.
Because we have high school students on a college campus, we have to carefully monitor the activities of our students. We are at all times proactive in assuring that our students are provided a safe, nurturing and disciplined learning climate. Unfortunately, in fall 2007, we received numerous complaints from LeMoyne-Owen College faculty and staff that some of our student couples were involved in explicit sexual behavior in public view on the college campus.
In light of this information from LeMoyne-Owen faculty and staff, the principal of Hollis F. Price made several general announcements to the student body that this behavior would not be tolerated. Regrettably, the improper behavior continued. Therefore, the principal felt it appropriate to notify the parents of those children she knew to be involved romantically. This was done in an effort to gain the support of the parents in reinforcing the message that such behavior is in violation of Memphis City Schools’ Student Code of Conduct. The principal did not list any information other than students’ names on her personal call list, and she certainly did not specify the sexual orientation of any student. Additionally, the list was never posted publicly anywhere at the school.
It is the position of Memphis City Schools that the principal did act in an appropriate manner in order to correct a serious issue at the school and that Memphis City Schools has not subjected either of these students to discriminatory treatment.
In the coming days, we will submit a formal response to the ACLU. We look forward to working with them to amicably resolve this matter.”
***END OF STATEMENT***
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 5:26 PM EST by Andy in ACLU, Education, Gay Youth, News, Tennessee | Permalink
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Officials living in our country's 'bible belt' continue to have difficulty understanding that the constitutional rights to privacy and equal treatment must be enforced in any institution accepting federal funding.. and take precedence over, and regardless of, the traditional Christian bias and dogma of it's administrators. I hope the ACLU 'hounds' this bitch to hell and back, and ruins her career just as indiscriminately as she ruined the emotional environment of those two gay students.
Posted by: JK | May 2, 2008 5:51:35 PM
"The principal did not list any information other than students’ names on her personal call list, and she certainly did not specify the sexual orientation of any student."
No. She just listed two male students as a couple. She only called one of their mothers to tell her that her son was gay.
Nope. That wouldn't be "specifying their sexual orientation".
If this is the best that the Memphis school attorneys can do, then these boys should expect a HUGE settlement.
Posted by: Timothy Kincaid | May 2, 2008 6:08:26 PM
DERRICK, i get your point, sorta. she's an ignorant bitch. does it make no-never-mind that she's also black?
i think you missed my somewhat earlier point about the use of the word "bitch". to clarify: hillary has been the subject of astonishing invective at the hands of people who should be more responsible. the ridicule of her attire, her marriage, her integrity, and on and on, has been fodder for all lazy, white, heterosexuals who dominate prime-time and late-night tv. tell me the times when obama has been the butt of a cheap joke. i bet you can't count them on one hand. and THAT is misogyny at its most rank. gay people on this blog throw the terms "bitch" and "whore" at her as if it were perfectly acceptable. we may not all have sisters, but we all have mothers.
one cannot expect fairness when one won't allow it to someone else.
Posted by: nic | May 2, 2008 6:22:30 PM
JK and TK: Why are you so certain the response from Memphis City Schools is not correct? You are ready to throw this woman to the wolves when your only evidence of wrongdoing is a letter from the ACLU. You need to consider that the ACLU could be mistaken about the situation.
The world would not be a better place if any person's life could be ruin just by accusing them of being insensitive to gays.
Posted by: James Justin Harrell | May 2, 2008 6:25:40 PM
sorry, i meant to preface this comment as: a continuation of the previous thread regarding the ohio college administrator.
Posted by: nic | May 2, 2008 6:30:52 PM
So it's against the code of conduct for two students to be romantically involved? wtf?
Posted by: David R. | May 2, 2008 6:33:55 PM
I don't understand why everybody has only got a problem with the fact that she outed two gay guys. Isn't compiling a list of students who are romantically involved sick by itself already?
Posted by: borut | May 2, 2008 6:36:51 PM
Well said BORUT, but the fact that these kids were outed only puts that much more disdain on the whole thing. If you want to let her know how you feel, as I just did, here is her email address, god bless google.
beasleyd@mcsk12.net
Keep it clean, shows we are above her conduct.
Posted by: Patrick nyc | May 2, 2008 7:39:44 PM
If we were in Iran, now that the two boys have been outed, they would be arrested and hung in the middle of the football field.
Perhaps Ms. Beasley would be more comfortable teaching in Iran, where privately spying on your neighbors and exposing their 'crimes' is much more acceptable.
Of course, if we were in Iran, Ms. Beasley would be taken out and stoned for daring to reveal her bare upper chest in a photograph.
Posted by: MikeInSanJose | May 2, 2008 7:50:40 PM
Gay or straight, whomever a student chooses to be romantically involved with is not part of a school's curriculum and should be considered private. I completely agree with BORAT – this principal is clearly crossing a line that has nothing to do with sexual orientation issues and suggests to me that she needs to get a life.
Posted by: bd1421 | May 2, 2008 8:02:30 PM
It seems to me that around us, from children to the old, we are surrounded by gays. These our friends, our loved ones, our children. We know many truly good people who just want to be loved, and free to love. How can we hate our friends, loved ones, our children? It is the truth of human existence that we fear what we don't understand. They are gay. It is O.K. Why would they CHOOSE something they fear will make those THEY love, hate or abandon them? Just because some religious rambling says so? We must follow our hearts, our souls. Love our people. ALL our people. It is so very important we do so. Or we will never be one as a people. Stop your child fearing you. Let them be the only thing they feel they can. Show them how to love themselves and to love in life honorably, with caring, and instill in them the future. This world is so many, with many voices screaming to be heard, when all these people want is love. Let them love, give them that right.
Posted by: Berevi | May 2, 2008 8:09:14 PM
1 Black Fag's opinion: Asinine, Ignorant, Classless, and Gutless. She should be strung up by her nipples. She would have never gotten away with this against another adult. The fact that the school board agrees with her is proof positive "Village of Idiots" does in fact exist. There is a special place in Hell being readied for her.
Posted by: DC ARNOLD | May 3, 2008 8:58:55 AM
Now that the anger has subsided this is what I wrote to the e-mail address provided:
I am sure your reasons were informed by your experience and education and perhaps ultimately valid. The one problem I find amidst all this is the fact that 2 young men had their privacy violated and now are being targeted for harassment. You may not realize it but your method(s) has far reaching consequences. In 1979 in a Tallahassee High School I was publically outed and the experience left me scarred emotionally until my partner came along and with therapy assisted me in becoming whole again. You are I am sure a bright, capable individual but your actions have people questioning your character and they do not even know you. When this firestorm has died down I hope you will reconsider your motivations and their unintended consequences. May God be with you.
Posted by: DC ARNOLD | May 3, 2008 9:27:39 AM
Patrick, thanks for the email adress and some civilty, the name calling and sour nature of some of these posters is what gives homophobes like this chick a reason to feel they are morally right. Intolerance stinks, no matter what side of the fence you are on.
Posted by: Sebastian | May 3, 2008 10:34:23 AM
I was going to write up a big comment about this... twice... but I keep deleting my replies only to say... this is very sad indeed.
Posted by: Anonymous Coward | May 3, 2008 10:49:15 AM
I'm guilty of making statements without enough information. I've come to realize this is not JUST a gay outing issue. The boys were outed, yes the school should be taken to task for doing so. What if heterosexual couples were also outed? As in, mom and dad said that Sarah can't see Tommy, but Sarah is seeing Tommy anyway. Sarah and Tommy were outed as well. [Outing means 'to make public', even if we gays use it exclusively].
When I lived at home, I had to abide by the rules. School had rules too, even if we didn't like them. But didn't we all also rebel in some manner? So the boys did what supposedly their parents didn't like. I did the same. I wasn't outed back then. Back then, we sneaked around. But maybe Sarah and Tommy did it too. Using that example, I would be equally outspoken if the school ratted on me to my parents.
So I need information. Therefore, to get information, one asks questions.
>> Principal Daphne Beasley is accused of ordering teachers at the school to inform her of all heterosexual and homosexual student couples.
Is 'ordering' the right word? What is the origin of that statement? Students? Parents? Teachers? The ACLU? Was it an order, as in you MUST comply, or was it a request for assistance. My morals as a teacher would determine how I complied. Personally, I could rarely be 'ordered' to do anything, unless I was obligated to in the service of the military.
>> According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Beasley hung the list up on the wall of her office, in plain view of teachers and other students.
Did a rep from ACLU SEE the list posted? Who stated that claim? Did a teacher say this? Did a student say this? Yes? Then the ACLU should press the issue for ALL involved, because to post publicly such a list is inexcusable, even in the confines of an office. If it's on a wall, people read it. Otherwise, it's on your desk or in a drawer / binder / folder / whatever. So, is the claim true and witnessed? If not, then it's hearsay and is inadmissible in any judgment.
No, I'm not taking sides, yet. I want information. Incorrect opinions and indignation run loose on this and many other blogs and other public postings, including in the media.
We're easy to enrage. It'd rather see us, as a community, put that rage where it will do good, not just let us shoot our mouths off. Nobody takes you seriously when you make noise for the sake of making noise.
Posted by: aaronj | May 3, 2008 12:38:08 PM
Why the hell is this stupid bitch publishing a list like this, regardless of sexual orientation?
And aaronj, not everything in life has to meet legal evidentiary standards. That's not what life is all about. There's nothing wrong with anger. It is useful, especially when directed at the injustices of life.
And people do take you seriously when you're angry. I don't see anyone here making "noise for the sake of making noise." Could it be possible that people are just angry, and that the anger is justified? I certainly think so.
Posted by: David T | May 3, 2008 1:49:34 PM
As an professor on a private college campus, I am interested in the sentence within the Memphis City School Statement, "Unfortunately, in fall 2007, we received numerous complaints from LeMoyne-Owen College faculty and staff that some of our student couples were involved in explicit sexual behavior in public view on the college campus."
Allowing minors access to college campuses is always a very tricky and delicate affair. Strict rules of student, faculty and staff behavior are routinely required.
Just what were the "explicit sexual behavior[s]" in which these student couples--presumably hetero and homo self-identified--engaged? Behavior, according to the statement, so "explicit" it involved "numerous complaints" from LeMoyne-Owen College faculty and staff. How many complaints make up "numerous"? Are we discussing public hand-holding? Kissing? Fellatio? Sodomy?
The answers to these questions would help us all decide the extent to which Ms. Beasley may have committed poor judgement at least, blatant discrimination at worst.
Posted by: Laurence Ballard | May 3, 2008 3:33:20 PM
ok i see how what she did wasnt the best thing but when i read this the one thing i think is how did she know they were gay? i doubt that it was a huge secret if the principal of the school knows. she only reported people who she knew were couples. so they must have been some what open about it in school. what did she do some huge undercover operation? is that how she found out? if your gay and in dont want your parents to know the last place you should be open about it is at school. im not saying what she did was right but i dont think she was trying to hurt them. kids were having sex on campus. i totally see her point in telling parents of the MINORS, that their kid was in a relationship since it was also a college campus. and its true its a private matter, until the kids are fucking at school. and since the kids are underage the parents do have a right to know what they are doing. i bet if you had a kid you'd want to know if they were seeing someone. its a little more of a sensitive issue with gay kids which she should have taken into consideration, it sounds like she wasnt really thinking about the big picture when she did this and now shes in trouble for it.
Posted by: dejc | May 4, 2008 2:43:40 AM
I just can't help but be furious.
Posted by: Rob (lrdarystar) | May 4, 2008 12:24:18 PM
The anger is justified. You all know how emotionally vulnerable teenagers can be--especially gay teens. "Coming Out" is a process that each individual gay person has to decide when to do and figure out how best to do it. What she did was risk the lives of two young gay men. Yes, risked their lives--I am exaggerating.
Hey, NIC, I understood your reasons for appealing to us to think about misogynistic and sexist language. Believe me, I am sick of some of my close friends who are Obama supporters referring to Senator Clinton as "that bitch, that cunt, that fish" (tells you how old these bitches...I mean, how old my friends are when the still use stupid "queen slang" like "fish"). Thanks for the explanation, NIC. Although, you know I've called many more males "bitches" than females...even said it to the mirror on many occasions.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | May 5, 2008 9:51:04 AM
Here's yet another example of an idiot running amok; The ACLU's statements and claims are likely based on first-person written statements made by their clients - these students, then drafted by legal counsel, which if accurate, represent a shocking and illegal invasion of these student's rights to privacy.
Posted by: Grego | May 5, 2008 11:34:05 AM
"I am NOT exaggerating."
Maybe Andy should ban people who are too lazy to proof read. You're so proud of your "thoughtful" comment, you post it, and then you see that you made a careless mistake that makes all that "thoughtfullness" go right down the drain.
I'm looking in the mirror, NIC, saying, "lazy, lazy, lazy bitch...too lazy to proofread".
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | May 5, 2008 11:56:46 AM
An african-american christian Southern woman who hates gays - never thought I'd see one of those in my lifetime (especially since I grew up in the South). ;-)
Posted by: Shane | May 6, 2008 7:32:28 AM
And for God's sake someone please (!!) wax that bitch's upper lip!! I mean, com'on - beautiful hair and complexion, nice clothes, and a MUSTACHE to go along with her hateful, bigoted personality?!
Posted by: Shane | May 6, 2008 7:37:31 AM
Ms. Beasley
I guess when we get a little freedom we forget what our ancestors went through to get you in the position where you are today. Who and what give you the right to judge another human being. Ms. Beasley if you or any of us have never sin in our whole life then we can cast out the first stone. You discriminated against those student. Have you never and your life been discriminated against Just because of who you are? Don't these young people have the right to go to college and be who they are with out being ridicule and shame before the whole school? You are a teacher someone that student are suppose to be able to put their trust into, someone they can look up to, someone that these student can go to when and if they had a problem. What would happen if GOD would call all of us out to the whole world for lying, stealing, adultery, gossiping, backstabbing, cussing,
smoking, getting drunk. The whole world would be shame up on. GOD find it in his heart to forgive us. Do you think you can do the same for those student that you brought
harm upon.
May GOD Bless You
Ebony
Posted by: Ebony | May 19, 2008 12:20:25 AM