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| "Leah," a transgendered senior in the Panola School District. |
Angry parents, reported to be concerned their religious liberty was being violated by the presence of a transgendered student in their high school, set up a Facebook page called Prayers for South Panola School District bearing this message:
"This page is set up to form a Christian based group to pray for our school's administration, board members, principles, teachers and students. It's time to STEP UP and put CHRIST back in our schools where he belongs!"
As word spread, the Mississippians Support Leah page was set up in response bearing this message: "Mississippians Support Leah respects the rights of ALL people to live the lives they are meant to live, free from abuse and discrimination. We insist on DIGNITY and RESPECT for ALL Mississippians including our LGBTQ family and friends."
The page put up by the parents currently has 540 likes.
Leah's page currently has 1,723.
Both pages were set up yesterday (Tuesday, February 26, 2013).
Facebook has been ablaze with posts about the matter and suddenly, by one student daring to be honest about what she feels to be her true gender, Mississippi finds itself having a statewide conversation on the rights of a sexual minority.
According to a post on Leah's page:
"It's been reported that some South Panola High School students are wearing shorts and sweatpants - dress code violations - today to protest Leah's "breaking" of the dress code. The concern is, of course, for the feelings of Leah (who is at school), but also that the school's actions may be influenced by the students' protest. It's probably pretty important right now to let South Panola High School know that support for Leah is pouring in from across the state, from all over the country, and around the world. All communications of support for Leah should be VERY VERY polite and courteous, focusing on support of Leah not frustration or anger with the "other" side. You might try sending a Letter to the Editor to The Panolian - send to publisher@panolian.com."
A student who posted a comment on this blog post adds:
"People who supported Leah wore pink and green. The students wearing sweatpants were protesting *against* Leah, claiming that she receives special treatment by being allowed to break the dress code (which she hasn't, as a female). These students stood in front of the school this morning and were allowed to enter after they went home and changed into regular clothes."
The page administrator for Mississippians Support Leah page wrote a post on that page, saying: "The support Leah has received from her classmates and friends at South Panola should give all Mississippians hope that the times they are a changin! Mississippi has a long way to go but considering our history, our state has probably undergone more change than any other. It takes is people like Leah (and her supporters) staying here, taking a stand, and saying, "This is who I am!" to start changing perspectives. It can and will get better!"
The page also posted a picture of Leah sent in by her mother. (See picture above.)
On the parents' page, this message was posted:
"The intent of this page is to get Chriatians (sic) together to pray for our school district. To all the trolls and the ones 'against; this page, we will gladly PRAY for you also! This page was never intended against or toward any student directly. We are PRAYING for the school as a whole. Please keep our chidlren in your prayers today. Pray for our teachers. STAND UP FOR JESUS!!"
The page also posted a picture of Leah sent in by her mother. (See picture above.)
On the parents' page, this message was posted:
"The intent of this page is to get Chriatians (sic) together to pray for our school district. To all the trolls and the ones 'against; this page, we will gladly PRAY for you also! This page was never intended against or toward any student directly. We are PRAYING for the school as a whole. Please keep our chidlren in your prayers today. Pray for our teachers. STAND UP FOR JESUS!!"
- This post was updated February 27, 2013, at 6:42pm.
I'm a student at South Panola, and you got the story wrong. People who supported Leah wore pink and green. The students wearing sweatpants were protesting *against* Leah, claiming that she receives special treatment by being allowed to break the dress code (which she hasn't, as a female). These students stood in front of the school this morning and were allowed to enter after they went home and changed into regular clothes.
ReplyDeleteNick, I feel I have been dooped by this. Public schools are for the education of children in math, Sciences, and humanities, not a stage for personal, political. or religious debate. To date this young woman has not been bared from attending school nor wearing what she desires to wear to school. In fact it appears that most students are supportive of her, and the administration is neutral and obeying the law, even to the point of recognizing her decision to be identified as a female and permission to wear female cloths.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand people from both sides seem more intent on driving this to a level that it need not go. Of course that brings Rachael and Sean into the fray and a spot on either is a resume builder. I feel responsible because I encouraged people that would not normally give two hoots in Hell what is going on in Mississippi that this was an important issue. I misled many people, not because I was misled but because I did not research the story before deciding to jump in.
This is only an issue outside of the community when or if this young women is/were denied admission to the school, forced to wear clothing she felt inappropriate to her decided upon gender, or was the target of bully's and mistreatment. To date none of these things have occurred and it does not seem likely that they will occur unless professional agitator's on both sides are given free reign.
The people of this community have every right to ask questions, and hold tight to their beliefs even when those beliefs are different from their neighbor. They do not have the right to force their beliefs upon their neighbor. But most of all they have a right to settle this among themselves, according to the law of the land, and without undue influence, especially when that influence is suspicious as to reason. The law is on the side of the young woman, and the great majority of citizens will obey and respect the law even thought they do not agree with the law. On the other hand agitator's with no interest other than personal agenda's could fracture this community and cause long term difficulties. Does anyone really want that ?
Support this young woman and her courage to be true to herself. Be vigilant that her rights are respected. But to make an issue where no issue exist will do more harm than good, and it is a bad example for our children.
I'm afraid I don't quite understand your post. How did you mislead people?
Delete