Point Foundation gives award to Texas senior expelled for being gay

[davidinalameda]

http://www.advocate.com/new_news.asp?ID=14791&sd=01/12/05

The Point Foundation, a national nonprofit that supports lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender college and graduate students, has awarded an academic honorarium to James Barnett, the 18-year-old honor student who was expelled in December from Trinity Christian Academy in Addison, Texas, in the greater Dallas metropolitan area. (Read The Advocate's interview with Barnett by clicking here.)

After Trinity Christian administrators discovered Barnett was gay and hosting My-Boi.com, a supportive Web site for GLBT youths, school officials reportedly outed him to his parents, who agreed to withdraw him from the academy at the school's request, Barnett said. His parents then threatened to withhold financial support for college in the fall, Barnett added, if he did not agree to go to a college in Texas. Barnett hopes to attend school out of state.

[Maat]

1. Oh, thank God.

I've heard good things about the Point Foundation, and I can't remember who founded it. But I remember that it was a good story. Thanks for the Foundation!

I was wondering though, since they make James leave, if he will graduate with a high school diploma, or is he going to earn an equivalency through a college?

Anyway, I hope he goes to a nice progressive area of the country, graduates and lives happily ever after.

[xchrom]

2. well that's really wonderful

sad about his folks though.
just one those reminders -- gay folks -- generally speaking are the only minority group who don't take their parents with them.
in a homophobic society -- -- for youth -- that's very frightening.

[Meldread]

3. Yes, I read about this.

I've kept an eye on the Point Foundation, and it seems that they are doing wonderful things that I highly approve of. It's just a shame that there isn't enough money to help everyone.

Check out the Point Foundation website at http://www.thepointfoundation.org. They have information there, and you can also donate which I highly suggest everyone who can afford it to do.