Boy punished for talking about gay mom

[Dymphna]

LAFAYETTE, Louisiana (AP) -- A 7-year-old boy was scolded and forced to write "I will never use the word 'gay' in school again" after he told a classmate about his lesbian mother, the American Civil Liberties Union alleged Monday.

Second-grader Marcus McLaurin was waiting for recess November 11 at Ernest Gaullet Elementary School when a classmate asked about Marcus' mother and father, the ACLU said in a complaint.

Marcus responded he had two mothers because his mother is gay. When the other child asked for explanation, Marcus told him: "Gay is when a girl likes another girl," according to the complaint.

A teacher who heard the remark scolded Marcus, telling him "gay" was a "bad word" and sending him to the principal's office. The following week, Marcus had to come to school early and repeatedly write: "I will never use the word 'gay' in school again."

A phone message left for Lafayette Parish schools superintendent James Easton was not immediately returned.

The ACLU is demanding the case be removed from Marcus' file and that the school apologize to the boy and his mother, Sharon Huff.

"I was concerned when the assistant principal called and told me my son had said a word so bad that he didn't want to repeat it over the phone," Huff said. "But that was nothing compared to the shock I felt when my little boy came home and told me that his teacher had told him his family is a dirty word."

 

[Dymphna]

The thing is most schools prohibit the use of the word "gay" because it is usually used in the place of the word "stupid" and that is considered insensative to those who are actually homosexual.
How more insensative could this principal be. And to say that the word was so bad that she wouldn't repeat it, how ignorant can the man be?

 

[justhangn]

Geez, kids can't even talk about their happy parents anymore.

 

[Tonio]

Originally posted by cmcdanal
The thing is most schools prohibit the use of the word "gay" because it is usually used in the place of the word "stupid" and that is considered insensative to those who are actually homosexual.

That must be a generational thing. Most people older than 25 still use "gay" to mean homosexual. Ever heard the song "Super Bowl Is Gay"? The first time I heard it, I imagined a halftime show featuring KD Lang, Elton John and Melissa Etheridge.

 

[Dymphna]

25 yrs ago, we used the term "gay" to mean homosexual, but as an insult.

I'll never forget being about 7 yrs old and using the term as an insult with only half an understanding of what it meant. My parents caught me and asked me if I knew what the word meant. I knew that it had to do with girls liking girls and boys liking boys and that such a thing was considered "unnatural", but I told my parents that I meant "happy" The person I was talking about was a very happy person.

I don't think they bought it, but they were uncertain enough that I didn't get into trouble.

 

[citysherry]

Obviously the school handled this situation incorrectly. But the boy's explanation as to what being gay is really bothers me. He told the other boy that being “Gay is when a girl likes another girl.” I think its time this little boy's two Mommies have a more in depth conversation with him as to what being gay is.

 

[Kain99]

Originally posted by citysherry
Obviously the school handled this situation incorrectly. But the boy's explanation as to what being gay is really bothers me. He told the other boy that being “Gay is when a girl likes another girl.” I think its time this little boy's two Mommies have a more in depth conversation with him as to what being gay is.

Why? He's 7 years old.

 

[Christy]

Originally posted by citysherry
Obviously the school handled this situation incorrectly. But the boy's explanation as to what being gay is really bothers me. He told the other boy that being “Gay is when a girl likes another girl.” I think its time this little boy's two Mommies have a more in depth conversation with him as to what being gay is.

He's only 7 for cryin out loud, how in depth should they go?

I find it incredibly disturbing the lack of common sense in "educators" these days, it doesn't surprise me, however it's still disturbing.

 

[justhangn]

Originally posted by citysherry
Obviously the school handled this situation incorrectly. But the boy's explanation as to what being gay is really bothers me. He told the other boy that being “Gay is when a girl likes another girl.” I think its time this little boy's two Mommies have a more in depth conversation with him as to what being gay is.

Like spitting pubs??

For a 7 year old, his definition is right on the money.

 

[jlabsher]

The whole idea of gay parents grates on me. I see it as a trophy child. Why don't they just get a golden retriever?

 

[jlabsher]

I'm sure Rosie and Ellen adopted/birthed those kiddies for nothing but love. Trophy had nothing to do with it. Choose your lifestyle and accept the consequences and limitations that come with it. You don't see single men adopting too often, even though they may love kids, wonder why?

 

[jlabsher]

Well, I've never been called narrow minded on this forum before, so thanks. I don't know...I shudder to think about my kid's kindergarden teacher having to explain that:

1. some kids have a mommy & daddy
2. some kids have just a mommy
3. some kids have 2 mommies
4. some kids have 2 daddies, a great dane, a monkey & a blow up doll.

Must be my midwestern upbringing, all about making sacrifices for the kids & all that.

 

[pixiegirl]

I hate to admit it butttttttt....... I agree with jlab......

I think it's fine for a gay couple to adopt a child but I thinks it's plain out wrong for them to have biological children. Like he said they must accept the limitations that come with their choice of lifestyle. They can not reproduce together therefor should not birth a child together. But I do think that they have every right to adopt an unwanted child. Having parents period is better then being shuffled around by the system. Gay or not.

 

[jlabsher]

When the teacher has them draw pix of their family things get sticky.

Of course, there will be no hazing at any school any time by kids saying "Billy's parents are rugmunchers! Naaah-naaah."

Why are the parents so selfish that they must put children through that is what I'm asking? If they love kids, volunteer at school, church, day care, hospitals, etc. I love wide screen HDTVs too, but I'm not running out and getting one, I have to set priorities in my life, why is it that gay couples can place their happiness above the mental well being of a child? I had to quit smokin crack and shooting up PCP when my kids were born, heck we all make sacrifices...

 

[Christy]

Originally posted by pixiegirl
I hate to admit it butttttttt....... I agree with jlab......

I think it's fine for a gay couple to adopt a child but I thinks it's plain out wrong for them to have biological children. Like he said they must accept the limitations that come with their choice of lifestyle. They can not reproduce together therefor should not birth a child together. But I do think that they have every right to adopt an unwanted child. Having parents period is better then being shuffled around by the system. Gay or not.

I disagree. Why shouldn't they be able to have biological children? What about women who get knocked up and have no intentions of marrying the man? Should she accept the limitations of that relationship and have the kid sucked out of her, or just go ahead and marry the guy? How about couples who deal with the whole infertility issue? Should they just accept the limitations of the choice they made in marrying someone who's barren as death valley?

I could care less who has kids with who, or how they go about it, just so long as the kid is wanted and taken care of. I'd much rather yank the reproductive organs out of at least half the human beings in this country, who's offspring are merely a side effect to gettin their groove on. But that's just me.

 

[crabcake]

Originally posted by *archimedes*
Many women have pulled up the carpet and have wood floors installed now.

it's nice to have a runner on your wood floor though ... you know, to prevent slips.

 

[justhangn]

Originally posted by *archimedes*
I can't believe you used that word. Many women have pulled up the carpet and have wood floors installed now. Perhaps use should use 'clam digger'.

Can you canoe?

 

[citysherry]

Originally posted by Kain99
Why? He's 7 years old.

Exactly, he's only 7 years old and he's already having to deal with difficult situations that arise due to his parent's lifestyle. He deserves to be informed, in simply terms of course, as to why some people find his family unacceptable. Personally, I would have told him that being gay is just one of the many ways a person loves in their heart and that having two mommies or two daddies is not customary and some people will make bad comments.

 

[Tonio]

Originally posted by pixiegirl
they must accept the limitations that come with their choice of lifestyle.

I don't understand why people call being gay a "lifestyle." I don't know what causes homosexuality, but I have a hard time believing that people choose to be gay. I can't imagine myself having romantic and sexual feelings for another man. In my view, a person is gay or straight even if that person remains celibate. You may have a point about people acting on their romantic and sexual impulses.

 

[citysherry]

Originally posted by cariblue
Well said, Christy.