Gay Teen Suspended for Wearing Makeup

[William769]

A gay sophomore student in Lexington, Tenn. was suspended briefly this week for wearing makeup on school grounds 10 minutes after school ended. Kasey Landrum, 16, said, “The principal walked into the school and immediately started yelling at me and told me to get outside.”

Initially Landrum was issued a three day in-school suspension for violating the school’s dress code which states: “When a student is attired in a manner, which is likely to cause disruption or interference with normal operation of the school, the administration will take the appropriate action. In matters of opinion, the judgment of the teachers and administrators will prevail.”

The suspension angered his mother, Shelly Maness, who told WBBJ TV, “I’m very upset about it because he can’t be who he wants to be. I’m proud of my son, gay or straight or whatever. I want him to feel the same way.”

Landrum says he’s suffered from depression from not being able to express himself at school. “I’m proud of myself for being as comfortable as I am, but sometimes I wish I was straight,” he said.

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/11/04/Gay_Teen_Suspended_for_Wearing_Makeup/

[msongs]

1. if girls can smear their faces with high priced colored mud, boys should be able to do it too :-) nt

[RKP5637]

3. Yep, exactly! Equal = Equal! n/t

[La Lioness Priyanka]

4. agreed

[Initech]

12. Hey I'm all for anything that breaks down gender barriers...

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[kestrel91316]

2. TN. Behind the Tobacco Curtain. No big shock here.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[William769]

7. I guess you missed the policy has been changed.

"A day after the suspension caught the attention of The Tennessee Equality Project and local and LGBTQNation, Landrum’s suspension was reversed and a new school policy decrees that any student at Lexington High School is allowed to wear makeup was enacted."


Who's "norm" are you talking about?

And if he wants so come to school if full drag, so what. Please take your tripe elsewhere.

[The Philosopher]

8. Actually, it is normal for men.

You may roll your eyes at the differences, but the makeup worn is the same. Anyone who has a living in front of a camera wears makeup, businessmen wear makeup to look younger, more attractive and more powerful in the boardroom; and makeup is essentially paint on the body, so you can count any guy who gets a tattoo. Men have always worn makeup and they always will, because makeup is awesome.

All the principal was doing was forcing a gender stereotype on the kid. The principal and people like the principal have a certain set of images of what it man is and anyone outside that set is not being a man. And it's all based on ignorance of how people actually are.

Men wear makeup. It's normal. The only distraction is running around trying to convince people otherwise. The "likely to cause disruption" idea is one that always blames the victim, rather than the ones taking their time to cause a fuss. A male student wearing makeup wouldn't be the disruptor; the jerks would be.

[SlimJimmy]

14. Okay, I have a question then. If men wearing makeup is the "norm", then

why haven't we seen a businessman at a staff meeting wearing lip stick, eye shadow, or eyeliner? Why haven't we seen a newscaster, talk show host, or weatherman wearing that type of makeup? The answer is simple. It really isn't the norm for men, despite your assertions to the contrary.

[WillParkinson]

15. Or slacks for women...

At one time many things were not 'the norm'. Times change. I'm sure if you look at your life you'll find things you're doing now that were not 'the norm' years ago. Does that mean they're wrong? No. Today no one would bat an eye at most things people do that 30 years ago would have had you beaten up in school.

Sorry. There's no such thing as 'norm'. There's people who adhere to what's considered a standard and people who push the envelope. Just like life has always been.

[SlimJimmy]

16. You didn't answer my question. Is it the norm for men to wear the makeup I described?

[WillParkinson]

18. I did...

I said there is no 'norm' other than how you want to perceive it. Perhaps for the young man in question that's his 'norm'. Just because everyone does something doesn't make it 'normal'.

Not every person falls in love with members of their gender. By your definition do we not fit 'the norm'?

[SlimJimmy]

21. No you didn't. You are still avoiding answering a simple and direct question.

I suspect it's because you don't want to actually answer it. Because in doing so, you'd have to admit that the type of makeup I described is not the norm for men to wear.

[WillParkinson]

22. Would I wear it? No, not likely...

But it's not for me. I don't dictate what is normal for others, though, as long as they are not hurting anyone else by doing it. Unlike you. You seem to want to say what is and isn't normal. What about gays? Are we 'normal' in your opinion? By your definition normal appears to be something all the cool kids do.

[MedicalAdmin]

37. You question was answered several times.

The fact that you either didn't understand or didn't like the answer is moot.

Asked and answered councilor. Next question.

[SlimJimmy]

39. Actually, my question was not only *not* answered, but devolved into personal attacks rather

quickly. Present company very much included. I can only surmise that I hit a nerve with those that prefer to ignore the fact that nearly all men don't wear eyeshadow, eyeliner, or lipstick. In the reality based world, that would mean that men wearing makeup as I've described is *not* the norm. If anyone here has information that refutes that, then by all means let them come forward.

[William769]

40. The ego has landed.

http://www.wikihow.com/Apply-Makeup-as-a-Man

http://www.4voo.com/makeup.htm

http://www.google.com/search?q=makeup+for+men&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=684&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=p765Tvr-BqGHsgKq0s2sCA&sqi=2&ved=0CMIBELAE#q=makeup+for+men&hl=en&sa=X&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=8b0420897ec60ed3&biw=1024&bih=684

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&biw=1024&bih=684&q=eye+makeup+men&revid=1401919314&sa=X&ei=p765Tvr-BqGHsgKq0s2sCA&sqi=2&ved=0CIgBENUCKAE

Still want to try to convince us why you know whats normal?


Remember

[SlimJimmy]

48. All you've done is show "celebrities" aka Adam Lambert and others

wearing what amounts to theatrical makeup. Show me my mechanic, school teacher, police officer, construction worker, or firefighter wearing eye shadow, eyeliner, or lipstick. Here's a hint - you can't. Keep trotting out the advertisements for moisturizer, concealer, and lip balm all you want. That's not the type of makeup I was talking about, and you damn well know it. I've been *very* clear about what type of makeup I'm referring to. You're the one who is desperately attempting to avoid the simple fact that makeup designed for women (eyeshadow, eyeliner, and lipstick) is not the norm for men. Not now, and not into the foreseeable future.

Remember: "Facts are stubborn things."

[pnwmom]

98. So what? Why are kids expected to meet that particular norm even AFTER SCHOOL HOURS?

None of your arguments address the actual situation in the OP. Read it again. No one was disrupting anything. School was over.

But if that boy can't wear makeup at school, I think it should be banned for all students. That would be the fair solution, though very painful for students with acne.

[Vanje]

81. Hhahahah

(psssst...Dont go.)

[pnwmom]

46. Where I live, the average straight woman wears little or no makeup.

That doesn't make make-up wearers abnormal.

You're mistaking "the norm" or "average" for "normal" -- and they don't mean the same thing.

[SlimJimmy]

49. I never said "normal" I used norm - meaning what most do or don't do.

It's you and others that are trying to put words in my mouth that aren't there.

[Sub Atomic]

52. Uh huh. 'Norm' is short for 'Normal'.

Or were you referring to Norm from Cheers?

[SlimJimmy]

56. I was referring to the statistical norm, which means average or typical.

[Sub Atomic]

57. Uh huh.

[SlimJimmy]

60. I answered yourt question. I can't control how you react to it.

[CreekDog]

67. you were using the sociological term "norm" which fits the context

and now you're attempting to walk it back. the context and wording of your multiple posts on it indicate that's what you were talking about though.

so the walking back part is not going to work, well, it won't work on most of us.

enjoy the 1950's, wherever you end up!

[SlimJimmy]

77. I was asked to clarify, I did. If you don't like the answer there's nothng I can do. But honestly,

that's not my problem.

[pnwmom]

62. But you were responding to the poster in #8, who used the word "normal"

not the statistical term "the norm."

[pnwmom]

61. You equated "normal" and "the norm" when you responded to post #8 in this thread.

The Philosopher used the word normal, and you responded by saying men wearing the make-up wasn't the "norm." As if "normal" and "the norm" are equivalent.

Why don't you just apologize for your mistake, instead of digging in deeper?

[SlimJimmy]

63. I said norm in the vein of the statistical norm. That he said "normal" had no bearing

on my meaning. Please refer to my *first* reply in this thread where I used the term. It's meaning there was clear. I meant average or typical and I haven't varied my meaning since.

[pnwmom]

65. What does average have to do with anything? Why do you assume

that if a kid isn't average, or fitting "the norm," then that might cause disruption to the normal operation of the school -- which is what the OP is about?

Shouldn't every public school be equipped to deal with a wide diversity of students? How can some makeup -- whether on a boy or a girl -- cause disruption in a school? By causing some other kids to use hate words? Shouldn't we be focusing on the haters, instead? They're the disrupters, not the kids who look a little different.

[MNBrewer]

87. It's not "the norm" for boys to be on the High School football team, either

yet somehow, I imagine, that's different?

[iverglas]

92. so why did you pretend that your question was consequent on his statement?

You said:

Okay, I have a question then. If men wearing makeup is the "norm", then ...

Answer me this one:

If pigs can fly, then why don't they collect air miles?

Did somebody say pigs can fly?

Nope. So should I ask you that question anyway? What the hell. I'm asking it. And I'll stamp my feet if you don't answer.

[SlimJimmy]

93. It was a legitimate question based on known and accepted facts. I was asking for an

opinion. I'm still waiting. If for some reason he doesn't want to respond, it's no sweat off my brow and certainly won't ruin my day.

[iverglas]

91. I'm really confused

You replied to a post that said

Actually, it is normal for men

by saying

Okay, I have a question then. If men wearing makeup is the "norm", then

and then you have repeatedly demanded that people answer that question.

I'm not sure whether anybody has quite pointed out the little trick you have tried to play.

You didn't have a question "then". Your question wasn't consequent on the statement that was made. Your question wasn't related in any way to the statement that was made.

Nobody said that wearing makeup was the norm for men.

So your saying to that poster: "If men wearing makeup is the 'norm', then ..."
is no different from my saying to you: "If the earth is 'flat', then ..."
-- when you had said the earth was a flattened ellipsoid.

I might fool somebody into thinking you had said the earth was flat, but I would be doing it through the most utter and complete deceit.


Nobody has to answer your question, because nobody made the statement that you take as your premise.


Too bad I didn't show up sooner ... ;)

[SlimJimmy]

94. Actually, many here have responded that wearing makeup is not abnormal for men. An answer that

strongly implies that it *is* the norm. And I have been given a number of links as proof of such claims. (I guess you missed all of those or the fact that I've commented on them.) I am simply pointing out that men wearing makeup like eyeshadow, eyeliner, and lipstick is not the norm. I have been repeatedly told that men on TV and in the movies and other areas of entertainment do in fact wear makeup. I've conceded that point at least twice in this thread. My contention is that the number of men in TV and movies is miniscule compared to the population of men at large. So it follows that for the population of men at large, wearing makeup is in fact *not* the norm.

I further asked for anyone to provide pictures of firefighters, police officers, construction workers, or mechanics wearing makeup like eyeshadow, eyeliner, and lipstick. So far, no replies. I chose those particular professions because they are male dominated, but also include a reasonable percentage of women. In other words, a good test of my contention that the percentage of men in those professions wearing makeup as I described is extremely small, yet the percentage of women in those professions wearing makeup as I described is quite large. You know ... the norm (average or typical).

Again, I'm still waiting for anyone to provide pictures or other data that would contradict what I've been saying.

And yes, it's too bad you didn't show up sooner so we could have this conversation. Welcome to the thread.

Your turn. :)

[CreekDog]

82. the examples you cited are well known for wearing makeup --it would be unheard of not to

Kennedy-Nixon anyone?

such ignorance combined with such confidence. :banghead:

[The Philosopher]

17. I like how

you read what I wrote and then continue to be narrow about your view of makeup. People who are bigoted will claim makeup is only for women and then anything they see on a woman is only for a woman. If I were to put on lipstick tomorrow, I would not grow a vagina. Makeup is genderless and it's a wide variety.

There are businessmen who wear lipstick, eye shadow, eyeliner; you have seen male newscasters wearing makeup of "that type." You just don't recognize it, for whatever reason is yours.

It is http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/02/fashion/02skin.html?pagewanted=all">normal for men to wear makeup. Men who do are not abnormal, as you are insinuating. It's pretty insulting to say that men who decide to wear eyeliner, foundation, nail polish, or any other type of makeup are abnormal men. A man who dresses in drag IS a normal man. You may not like it, but there it is. Nor is a person with a skin disease. Nor is a person just trying to get ahead in business. Nor a man who enjoys looking his best nor a man who is comfortable with doing what makes him happy.

[SlimJimmy]

20. Simply answer the question. Is it the norm for men to wear eyeshadow, eyeliner, or

lipstick? The article you linked to talks about "stealth" makeup for men, not what I described.

[William769]

23. Answer this simple question why was the suspension reversed & the policy changed?

As much as some people try to hide their bigotry & narrow mindedness It will eventually come out. I think thats been proven twice here.

[Occulus]

36. Looks like someone just wants to argue regardless of facts

Is there a name for that behavior?

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[WillParkinson]

24. Wait. I figured it out.

You're jealous because you can't wear the kind of stuff he's wearing. Got it. Thanks, but you're welcome to wear it, too. We won't think any less of you.

[The Philosopher]

25. There's three options

You're illiterate, ignorant or you're malicious.

I question your literacy because I've already addressed your question, spoken about your narrowing of the category of makeup and that it doesn't fit reality, and then presented makeup for men and even an article about it; ignorant because maybe you just don't know what makeup actually is, what its intention is or its history; malicious because you want to attack a group for whatever reason is yours, the proof being that you've had your question obviously answered several times over and yet you repeat yourself, still calling a group of people "abnormal" with the use of your "norm."

The more this drags on the more I think you're the third option and should be alerted on.

[SlimJimmy]

26. Feel free to alert, but make sure they read the quoted from your artilcle when they

read the thread. It seems, I was exactly right all along. It's *you* that doesn't get reality in this particular case. The wearing of makeup by men is not the norm. That was my point, and it's been proven by me using *your* article.

True, neither the “manscara” look of Adam Lambert, the “American Idol” star, nor the “guyliner” stylings of Russell Brand, the comedian, will likely be adopted anytime soon by the guy who fixes your car. But men’s use of stealth makeup like concealers is on the upswing.

Exactly the point I've been making.

[The Philosopher]

28. No, you haven't

As I've already addressed the concept that "stealth" makeup is different from the "obvious" makeup of, let's say Adam Lambert or Russell Brand as that quote mentioned. You continuously ignore that in order to propagate the abnormality of men who wear makeup at all. As you said, "the norm is for men not to wear makeup" and when confronted with the opposite idea, you narrow yourself to continue the bigotry.

I linked to that article in my second response to you after explaining, twice, that your view of makeup isn't connected to reality. You yourself even refer to "that type" in order to ignore another "type" that would show that men do wear makeup.

And if you read the other parts of the article, looked at the makeup products linked, and then really read that quote you showed and not set toward bigotry, you'd notice that they assume a type of person can only fix cars and that the two products quoted are the entire line of eyewear available. Do you want to quote any other part of that article? Like the part where men were sneaking their wives' makeup? Asking them for advice? Sharing makeup with them? And that because of bigotry (like yours) men are afraid to order makeup in person and use the internet?

Oh, that's right: you've been missing the points of what we've been saying. Men wearing makeup is normal. The bigotry is what drives people to think men don't wear makeup. It's like when a bigot screams, "Being gay makes you depressed, suicidal and a criminal!" Never will they acknowledge that the depression comes from being bombarded with the hate and bigotry of those who want us not to exist, that it can drive a person down until they just can't stand it anymore; and that they're the ones who make the laws that we're forced to break simply by existing.

If you think "stealth" makeup is only for men, because they want to hide since it's not "normal," you haven't been paying attention to what makeup predominately is. But I'm sure if you caught on, you'd just ignore it so you can keep saying men who wear makeup aren't the "norm"(al type of men).

[SlimJimmy]

30. And apparently, you didn't read your own linked article which clearly said

we won't be seeing our local mechanic wearing eyeliner in the near future. My point was, and still is, that makeup of the type I described (eyeliner, eye shadow, and lipstick) is not a norm for men, and won't be the norm anytime in the near future. That you continue to deny what I said is quite telling. I was *very* clear in my description of what makeup I was referring to. But feel free to live in this world of denial you've created. The population at large, and the author of the article, know better.

[MNBrewer]

31. Thanks for coming to the GLBT forum and defending homophobia

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MNBrewer]

33. Everyone should "act normal" then everything would be ok.

:eyes:

I don't wear makeup and I don't get how (or why) women do it other than as a societal expectation. Having said that, I fully support the absolute right of anyone to wear makeup if they so choose.

The defense of a rule designed to enforce "normality" is disgusting.

[SlimJimmy]

34. I'm saying the same thing that was said in the article that was linked. If I'm

defending homophobia, they they are as well.

[NMMNG]

35. You're still here defending this crap?

:wtf:

[Hassin Bin Sober]

41. My local mechanic won't even wear a shirt with a collar. Since when is he the norm?

[Sub Atomic]

43. Apparently since he doesn't wear makeup, silly!

Didn't you get the memo?

:crazy:

[Name removed]

104. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[pnwmom]

45. Most men on TV wear makeup. How do you know exactly

what they're wearing? I'm sure I've seen mascara and eyebrow pencil. Ron Paul even wore fake eyebrows to a debate. (He got outed when one fell halfway off.)

You're mistake is that you're failing to distinguish "average" and "normal." The average man might not wear make-up, but it's not abnormal to do so.

[SlimJimmy]

50. For the last time, I never said that it was "abnormal" for men to wear

makeup. I said it is not the norm (or customary practice). What we have here are a bunch of folks overreacting to a word I did not use. Would all of you feel better if I had said it is not customary for men to wear makeup like eyeshadow, eyeliner, or lipstick? Some folks here are really getting bent around the axle over a very minor observation and reading a TON of things into what I've written.

And as the the TV comment. I've already addressed that several times. I'm not talking about theatrical or caked on television makeup. I've made that abundantly clear in several replies. I'm talking about what a mechanic, police officer or firefighter might wear on a daily basis.

[Sub Atomic]

51. So why single out those three professions?

Mechanic, police officer, firefighter.

Why those three? And what makes you think those men don't wear makeup?

[SlimJimmy]

53. I use them because they are typical blue collar jobs that include women who

*do* typically wear makeup to work. Find a picture of a majority of male firefighters, police officers or mechanics wearing eyeshadow, eyeliner, or lipstick at work, and I'll gladly concede the point.

[Sub Atomic]

55. But at the end of the day, does it really matter?

If you don't want to wear makeup, that's your choice. If you want to wear your sister's pushup bra, that's your choice as well.

But you have no right to pass judgment on others for their choices.

[SlimJimmy]

58. Who's passing judgements? Did you happen to read my first reply in this thread?

or were you too busy hitting the reply button?

[Name removed]

59. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[swimboy]

101. Is this a good time for me to say

I think a firefighter wearing makeup would be really hot?

[Name removed]

70. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LanternWaste]

107. Nor is it the statistical norm to be left handed...

Nor is it the statistical norm to be left handed. :shrug:

Yet as we certainly find many, many ways to accommodate left handed people, we too don't skeptically question it, nor do we make implications that mechanics, police officers or firefighters who use left-handed scissors are outside of a standard or are atypical.

And if we did, I imagine it would beg a question so far also unanswered: "what is the precise and relevant reason to fixate on a self-perceived, wholly irrelevant difference...?

[yardwork]

47. Newscasters, talk show hosts, etc. wear a ton of makeup. Do you watch TV?

Every single person who makes their living on TV is caked with makeup every single time they're in front of the cameras. Lots of business men wear lip stick, eye shadow, and especially eyeliner. I think that you have a preconceived notion of what "makeup" looks like - you seem to have the idea that everybody who wears makeup looks like a member of the rock band Kiss.

[SlimJimmy]

54. Answered already. Please read the thread.

[yardwork]

69. I did. You, however, don't seem to get it.

[Angry Dragon]

71. newscasters wear a lot of makeup

[Jamastiene]

72. Actually,

newscasters, talk show hosts, and weathermen do often wear that type of makeup. Anyone on TV usually goes through makeup before appearing on air, male or female.

Your posts in this thread tell me all I need to know. /

[SlimJimmy]

78. A question for you. What is the percentage of the male population at large

that works in the TV or movie industry? I don't think anyone will argue that it is miniscule compared to the male population at large that doesn't. With that said, let's call those that wear makeup as a part of their job the norm for that occupation. By all rights, we must now call the 99 percent that don't wear makeup on a daily basis as the norm for their occupation. To do anything else would be disingenuous.

Thoughts?

[Chan790]

105. Actually...

it is exceedingly common to use eye-makeup on both genders on TV, particularly in news. Look more closely, most of the women are not wearing eyeshadow either. The common practice is to use light shades to lighten the area around the eyes as it makes people look younger, healthier, more awake/perkier and more trustworthy. I'd be unsurprised to find out the same is also occurring in corporate boardrooms and not being spoken about.

[stevenleser]

110. Some men on TV do have lip coloring, eye liner and similar items put on. You dont know that because

you dont have pictures of them without makeup to compare it to.

I have seen it applied to people about to go on air, and I have had it applied to me before going on air.

[saras]

112. You have. You either don't recognize it or don't admit it.

[progressoid]

9. Yeah, they used to say that about guys and earrings too.

Welcome to the 21st century.

[Amimnoch]

10. And if he did go to school in full drag?

First, it's disgusting that here we are in the 21st century, and yet there are STILL different rules, and dress codes for men/women and boys/girls. Take teh "gay" out of it for a second, and is it any wonder there is still so much misogyny still out there, when from the earliest stages of development that children are still taught that boys and girls are "different", and deserve different rules?

If he shows up in full drag, then damn skippy he should be able to be entitled to the same dignity and respect as everyone else. The only line should be the line that ALL students should have to follow.. equally.. example, he should be able to do "full drag" as long as it met the same code that everyone else had to follow, so if the rules are no tank-tops, then if he shows up in a tank top then he should be subject to the same discipline as if any other boy or girl showed up in a tank top.

[NMMNG]

11. Good grief

Are you for real?

[MNBrewer]

42. Seems to me the problem is with the DISRUPTION

I.e., People who go bat-shit because something's "not normal".

Try banning that, instead.

[pnwmom]

66. Good idea. n/t

[pnwmom]

64. Why would makeup on a kid be likely to cause disruption with the normal operation

of a school?

Have you ever seen a large group of teenagers? Would you ban goth kids, too? Or just gay kids? And how do you feel about transgender kids? Are you worried that they might disturb the school based on their very existence?

[SlimJimmy]

79. I don't believe that goth or punk kids should wear makeup either.

It certainly is a distraction to other students. This belief is strengthened by the fact that more and more schools are going to a school uniform policy.

[pnwmom]

83. No, you don't believe any BOYS should wear makeup, but all girls can.

Unless you think that girls can wear makeup, except for girls who are goths or punks?

Face it, you don't believe in individualism, and you think you should be able to enforce your standards of "average" on everybody else.

I think what schools should be teaching isn't narrow-minded conformity, but how to get along with the wide diversity of people in our society.

Actually, there is very little trend toward schools going to a uniform policy. But even if there were, that would't prove anything, anymore than a "trend" to the Rethugs in the 2010 election proved that those voters were right.

You seem to be consistently confusing "average" or "the norm" with "normal" or "good."

[SlimJimmy]

85. I don't believe that girls or boys into goth or punk should wear makeup to school.

And unlike you, I don't think children should be overly focusing on social issues in school. They should be concentrating on Math, English, and Science instead. YMMV.

[queerart]

88. I don't think children should be overly focusing on social issues in school

Really?


A social issue you say?


Now, I assume you mean this is a "social issue" because he is a Fag who wears makeup, right?


Because we all know if this was a straight guy boffing some chick.... there would be no stealth finger pointing, "Oh, look at the weirdo".....


Social issue my ass....


Folks, you are wasting your time, as this fellow is trolling, and you are doing nothing but feeding him... while wasting your breath on someone who doesn't deserve one Queer minute of your time .....


Why the fuck is he so interested in what Queers are doing anyway..... it only says one thing about him......


Hello Kitten, and welcome to the Wide World Of Queerdom!


Swing open that closet door girlfriend.... and dance like no one is watching......


Or grab a massage to calm yourself down... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCIij_XtX2o

[SlimJimmy]

95. Funny video, thanks for sharing. (nt)

[Vanje]

103. Correct!

GLBT is being trolled.

[pnwmom]

89. So it's okay for Mean Girl or Clueless types to wear lots of make-up

and not okay for girls into goth or punk music? What gives you -- or anyone else -- the right to judge which styles are okay and which aren't?

Learning to accept and get along with others is a HUGE part of any school -- and of life. It seems to me that you must have missed this lesson somewhere along the way.

[Turn CO Blue]

97. Have you ever actually met or conversed with any teenagers?

I'd bet not. I'd be willing to be a lot of money actually. I work with tons of them at a non-profit and have two recent high-school graduates in my own home. Your comments have the distinct ring of "these danged kids today". Ugh.

You have some really outdated ideas about how teens (or children as you call them, which would really endear you to them) should be "allowed" to express themselves in school. I'm sure you have some "great" ideas on how they should comport themselves. Did you wear "preppie" clothes in high school, LOL!?

[CreekDog]

68. maybe that explains this:

SlimJimmy (1000+ posts) Sun Oct-03-10 07:05 AM
Response to Reply #14
16. It takes you MORE than 15 hours to clean your house every week?

Edited on Sun Oct-03-10 07:15 AM by SlimJimmy
You can't be serious. My wife cleans for about 3 to 4 hours on the weekend, then maybe 30 minutes each day and keeps the house sparkling. What are you doing, repainting every week?

-------------------

this explains a lot.

[pnwmom]

96. Ugh. n/t

[Ter]

6. My job bans earrings for men but allows then for women

I guess it's the same situation. But is it legal?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

19. Your (assuming) private sector job is held to a much lower standard...

... than any public school.

[Ter]

27. That's true

However, is it legal in my private sector job?

[xchrom]

29. oh good grief -- non-conformists are treated like terrorists.

he wore make-up -- big fucking deal.

glad they changed the policy.

and there was another student wearing make up -- punk rock style -- he was not suspended.

[RetiredTrotskyite]

44. I defended his rights vigorously at HuffPost...

The saddest thing is that a trans-woman came on there and read the poor kid the riot act because he dared to wear make-up. Glad to see that he is back in school now.

This is the thread from HuffPost:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/04/kasey-landrum-gay-teen-makeup-suspension-_n_1076747.html?ref=gay-rights

[TygrBright]

73. Dear friends in the GLBT Forum:

Kindly allow me, as a more-or-less straight (at the moment, anyway) person, to completely dissociate myself from the attitudes, ignorance, malice, ego, and need to cause trouble exhibited by some few individuals who more-or-less share my more-or-less sexual orientation.

I assure you, many of us are doing everything we possibly can to ensure that such behavior is neither considered normal, nor allowed to represent, unchallenged, a "norm" of the large, diverse, beautiful society many of us strive for and value.

regretfully,
Bright

[CreekDog]

74. I'll sign on to this

thanks.

when people justify rules that apply to only one gender and on the basis of what's "normal" for that gender and then claim to be progressive, it just boggles my mind.

[Jamastiene]

75. Thank you. n/t

[Rowdyboy]

138. Ditto

[Sub Atomic]

76. >

Thanks doll.

:hi:

[Starry Messenger]

80. Cosign.

:thumbsup:

[pnwmom]

84. Ditto. n/t

[JohnnyLib2]

100. I'm with you on that.

[Iggo]

102. Aaaahhhh...sense.

:applause:

[stevenleser]

109. Same here. nt

[RKP5637]

86. I'm with the student. Should be no big deal. n/t

[MuseRider]

90. This kind of disruption

in any forum should not be allowed.

This is cruel and disgusting to see.

What a sick and nasty thing to post anywhere but to come in here and do this? That is just trolling and vile.

*meant as a general comment not addressing the topic

[beyurslf]

99. Its only a disruption because that asshole principal made it one.

[tnlefty]

106. Kudos to the TN Equality Project and I'll be making another

small donation to them, as I don't have a lot of money, but a small one indeed for their efforts.

While this was bad and had a good outcome, I don't think a lot of people fully understand the repression of teens in these parts. My sons attend(ed) - 2 have graduated and I have one still in school, a dress code heavy, blah, blah, blah school and this crap happens:

An African American male was suspended from school for having a short cut mohawk..

Females with hoop earrings deemed to be too large by the admins. are given a choice of removing the hoops or being sent home...

Kids who dressed up for Halloween or for a party and used temporary hair color in their hair that didn't totally wash out before they returned to school (purple, orange, green and blue) seem to piss the admins. off...

My youngest, now 16, was asking to have his ear pierced when he was 8. We attended a luncheon when he was 11 and he asked again, and I went through the same routine with him: the earring has to stay in for 2 weeks, turn it, take care of it, blah, blah, blah...He told me that he understood and we had his ear pierced that day. A teacher told him to take it out, he refused as it was 2 days post piercing, not even close to the two weeks), was sent to the principal's office, who called me and I went off...according to the teacher his newly pierced ear with a simple stud earring was a distraction.*I need an are you fucking kidding me* emoticon.

All that I'm really trying to state is that I'm glad the TN Equality Project stepped up, but there is soooo much shit our kids have to put up with here...it's beyond ridiculous. Yeah, I understand that this young man was targeted for wearing makeup, but the admins. in schools around here do crazy shit, and it's wrong.

[HillWilliam]

108. If I could rec or "like" your comment on this forum

I would +1000.

I was raised in NC and went to mostly rural or tiny hamlet type schools. Even "seeming" gay was an open invitation to abuse. I had enough abuse heaped on me for being the new kid all too often. I'm sure it was pure luck that I turned out to be "one of those gays nobody suspects is gay" (but I'm a BIG ONE LOL).

I learned early on that teachers will probably not protect you; quite often in my experience, no matter what happened they'd take up for the abusers especially if they were football/baseball/basketball jocks. Screw that.

Thank Spirit your son has you for a mom. :yourock:

[tnlefty]

111. Well, I have three sons, and in my kitchen 2 years ago, they

dared me to figure out which one of them is gay. I didn't take the bait then, and I won't now.

We had all of the sex talks when they were little, more explicit as they were older. An older brother decided he wanted his ear pierced when the younger was brave enough to do it.

I do remember after a meeting at school that one of my sons told me that the admins. found me intimidating, which blew my mind. We had civil conversations, and when the conversations were getting kinda deadlocked, I would call them off with the promise that I would get outside help, meaning contacting an attorney, or the ACLU, who I am a monthly contributor to, but in those meetings I was Ms. calm and cool.

A Mom has to do what a Mom has to do. :hug:

[mopinko]

113. fyi- slimjimy has been banned from this forum.

[Amimnoch]

114. Good.

[racaulk]

115. Well, everything is just sunshine and roses then.

:eyes:

Let's review a timeline of what happened here:

November 4 - SlimJimmy made his first post in this thread
November 9 - SlimJimmy made his last post in this thread
November 14 - You made this post announcing that he has been banned from the GLBT forum

That leads my mind to several questions, none of which place a flattering light on the administration of this site.

Why is it that SlimJimmy was allowed to post his bigoted crap in this thread, completely unabated by the moderators of this forum, for five whole days? Why is it that it took ten days for the moderators of this forum to conclude that maybe, just maybe, SlimJimmy is a disrupting and homophobic influence to this forum? While it is great that SlimJimmy can no longer post in the GLBT forum, he's still a member in good standing of this site. What's to stop him from posting his bigoted views in other forums here and what does the administration of this site plan to do to stop that from happening?

You have done nothing but put a proverbial Band Aid on this issue. You have, once again, treated the symptom while completely ignoring the problem!


Edited for clarity and further elaboration.

[Pab Sungenis]

116. Foolish Mortal.

We are not allowed to ask such questions.

[Sub Atomic]

117. IBTL

:popcorn:

[Pab Sungenis]

118. This should have been locked ten days ago.

Everyone was IBTL.

[racaulk]

119. I don't think the thread itself should be locked. It's a good topic for discussion.

Swifter action against the poster who started that awful subthread would have been appreciated, however.

[William769]

120. If anything this thread was a wake up call and reignited a debate that was sorely lacking.

The funny thing is it was not intended to. Funny how things work out sometimes.

[Zorra]

121. I don't know.

I kind of like to play with bigots and freepers as a means of exposing them.

They more ignorant bigotry they spout, the more rope they get to hang themselves and end up in the DU boneyard.

[The Philosopher]

122. Someone asked that in ATA

And the answer was that no one alerted for five days. Once the alert was received, action was taken. I think that was consistent with my own action, as I didn't alert the person until the 9th. Now, I don't know if anyone alerted before that time. But that's what they tell us.

[Sub Atomic]

124. No one alerted for five days?

That's a lie.

[The Philosopher]

125. I only know when I alerted.

I have difficulty believing no one would alert unless they were doing what I was doing. But if we had a liaison, we'd know for sure...maybe.

[Pab Sungenis]

126. Some of us have a saying.

"Faggots aren't allowed to use the alert button."

Since you're relatively new you may have slipped under the radar and caught the attention of one of the good moderators. The rest of us seem to have our alerts sent to /dev/null instead of the mod forum.

[stevenleser]

123. I have another take.

I don't mind that bannings for any reason, either of forums or of the whole site, are a little slow. I think that is better than bannings being a little too hasty.

That being said, I think SlimJimmy should be banned from all of DU not just here, or at least given a very long suspension from the site to contemplate his 'contributions'. It is completely clear to me that his posts were intended to denigrate members of the LGBT community based on their orientation.

Edit to add: Slimjimmy's posts should have been deleted pretty early on once alerted though, again IMHO, if that was five days ago, that means they probably should have been deleted 4 days, 23 hours and 59 minutes ago.

[yardwork]

127. Just my two cents, but I disagree with banning him from this forum unless he's banned from DU

If a person's behavior is bad enough, or their views expressed are undemocratic enough, to be banned from any forum, then they ought to be banned from DU as a whole.

If a person's behavior and views aren't bad enough to warrant banning from DU, then I don't like the idea of locking them out of certain forums. No special rights. Equal rights for all.

Either the poster's views were bigoted or not. Make a judgement call.

[William769]

128. Your asking for common sense.

Guess what? Your not going to get it.

[yardwork]

131. What? I'm not going to get it?! What a surprise! lol!

[Jamastiene]

129. That reminds me of another bigoted poster that

was originally banned from GLBT, but then went on to post that most gay people have AIDS and other nonsense. Eventually, that poster was TSed, but for something completely unrelated to how much he hated gay people. Hating gay people doesn't get you TSed here. Being GLBT or GLBT ally who speaks up when you see the rampant homophobia here does though.

And don't forget, we still need to explain why being called a "den of vipers" or "abnormal" are offensive to us, among zillions of other things, before the admins will do anything at all to stop the constant barrage of hatred toward us here. Imagine if any other minority group on DU had to explain why bigoted slurs against them were offensive. That's wouldn't fly, but this is A-ok, because it is the GLBT community, or what's left of it.

[yardwork]

130. +10000

[racaulk]

134. Every word of this post is the truth.

Very well said, Jamastiene. It is truly a shame what has become of this discussion board.

[Vanje]

136. /\ That

[Sub Atomic]

137. HEAR HEAR!!

[stevenleser]

132. I agree. nt

[racaulk]

133. I completely agree, yardwork.

As I said upthread, what's to stop this poster from discussing the "abnormality" of gays and lesbians in all of the other forums and groups at DU?

Nothing, that's what.

[yardwork]

135. Exactly.