I hope the Bessemer Board of Education realizes I'm serious.
I went by there yesterday, wearing my purple "Port St. Joe" t-shirt, to follow up on the letter I sent last week, and to get a copy of the Bessemer bullying policy.
I was unable to meet with the person I had sent the letter to, and was told he would give me a call, but I haven't heard anything. I'll go back today, and every day, until I get to speak to someone, and until we see a change in the policy.
Update: I went back this morning and was still unable to anyone. I was, however, told that I needed to speak with Mr. Foster, the superintendent. He is who I mailed the letter to, so he knows why I am trying to contact him. In fact, in the letter, I told him I would.
Why am I pursuing this? Because the Bessemer policy has not been updated since 2008. The Student Harassment Prevention Act was passed in 2009, and required the policy to be updated by July 2010.
The Board knows this. I mean, even if they didn't get word from the State Department of Education, surely they had seen my column in the Western Tribune (you know, that weekly newspaper that used to be), where I mentioned it in a story about gay kids getting a break.
The model policy developed by the state lists the following personal characteristics regarding harassment: race, sex, religion, national origin and disability.
Bessemer does not even do this. There is no list.
The law states "Based upon experience, a local board of education may add, but not remove, characteristics from the list. The additional characteristics or perceived characteristics that cause harassment shall be identified by the local board on a case-by-case basis and added to the local board policy. The list shall be included in the code of conduct policy of each local board."
And from Fort Worth
You've seen the video of Fort Worth council person Joel Burns delivering his emotional message at the city council meeting.
Joel and his husband, political consultant J. D. Angle, were on the Lawrence O'Donnell show yesterday.
If you haven't heard the part of Burns' speech that describes him popping the question it's included in this video. Nice.
If you haven't seen the entire 12 minutes of Joel's speech, watch this. Watching the full 12 minutes is much different than watching the 30 seconds or so that we've seen on the news. You can use a few minutes of your time to watch this. Heck, you're surfing the internet anyway. Slow down and watch.
I'm just wondering if we live in a community where elected officials would feel comfortable speaking out like this. Will the leaders in Bessemer, the new council and the new school board, step up to the plate and move this city forward, helping to make it into a city, and a school system, that values all of its citizens and students and provides a safe environment for learning?
Time will tell.
The Year of Moving Forward
At our 4 person wedding reception in DC
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Take her with you!!!
Update: Breaking news (around 4:30) - a Bessemer judge has dismissed the challenge to Ken Gulley's election.
***********
Another challenge to the election of Ken Gulley as mayor has been filed by the same person, Jessie Burrell, that filed the earlier suit that was thrown out. The election had to be certified before it could be challenged.
She lays out 20 points in a statement which according to her prove that Gulley does not live in Bessemer.
This suit was filed Friday.
The entire statement from Burrell is printed in the Western Star today.
I don't understand statement number 1.
"1. On October 5, 2010 the City of Bessemer held an election for the office of Mayor. Ten persons, including Ms. Burrell and Mr. Gulley, declared themselves candidates for the office."
First of all, ten people did not declare themselves candidates for mayor. There were two people on the ballot on October 5, Ken Gulley and Ed May. It was a runoff. Ms. Burrell was not on the ballot on October 5, having lost her city council bid. And she was never on the ballot in the mayor's race. And there were never 10 people in the race.
If the wording of this statement is any indication of the inteligence behind this case, they have no chance.
I have the court documents that she filed. Here is the first page out of 5.
When you read the Western Star, what you read is actually what she wrote.
The Western Star, in their "Why?" column, says this suit is a joke. Among other things:
"Over 70 percent of the people of Bessemer have said, "May go back to Mobile or go back to Birmingham."
Can I add, take Jessie Burrell with you?
Ms. Burrell is not asking the court to find Mr. Gulley unqualified based on legal grounds, it seems. She concludes with "wherefore, premises considered, Plaintiff prays that this court will take jurisdiction...The Plaintiff further prays that upon this declaration, that Mayor May be declared the winner of the election..."
I pray that this case will be thrown out before it makes Bessemer look even more foolish. I mean, here's a guy that over 70% of the people want out. 4,145 people voted for Gulley, 1,543 voted for May. Yet he still has his minions fighting for him?
I notice on page 5 there was instruction to the sheriff to serve the defendant at ... his Hueytown address. No, his Bessemer address. Wait, it's f**ked up.
Kenneth D. Gulley
306 Westlake Circle SW (that's his Bessemer address that he swore to in his affidavit)
Hueytown, AL 35023 (that's his former city of residence, and zip code)
Will the sheriff even be able to deliver it?
Of course, legal issues are unpredictable. Bessemer Opinions will be following this.
***********
Another challenge to the election of Ken Gulley as mayor has been filed by the same person, Jessie Burrell, that filed the earlier suit that was thrown out. The election had to be certified before it could be challenged.
She lays out 20 points in a statement which according to her prove that Gulley does not live in Bessemer.
This suit was filed Friday.
The entire statement from Burrell is printed in the Western Star today.
I don't understand statement number 1.
"1. On October 5, 2010 the City of Bessemer held an election for the office of Mayor. Ten persons, including Ms. Burrell and Mr. Gulley, declared themselves candidates for the office."
First of all, ten people did not declare themselves candidates for mayor. There were two people on the ballot on October 5, Ken Gulley and Ed May. It was a runoff. Ms. Burrell was not on the ballot on October 5, having lost her city council bid. And she was never on the ballot in the mayor's race. And there were never 10 people in the race.
If the wording of this statement is any indication of the inteligence behind this case, they have no chance.
I have the court documents that she filed. Here is the first page out of 5.
When you read the Western Star, what you read is actually what she wrote.
The Western Star, in their "Why?" column, says this suit is a joke. Among other things:
"Over 70 percent of the people of Bessemer have said, "May go back to Mobile or go back to Birmingham."
Can I add, take Jessie Burrell with you?
Ms. Burrell is not asking the court to find Mr. Gulley unqualified based on legal grounds, it seems. She concludes with "wherefore, premises considered, Plaintiff prays that this court will take jurisdiction...The Plaintiff further prays that upon this declaration, that Mayor May be declared the winner of the election..."
I pray that this case will be thrown out before it makes Bessemer look even more foolish. I mean, here's a guy that over 70% of the people want out. 4,145 people voted for Gulley, 1,543 voted for May. Yet he still has his minions fighting for him?
I notice on page 5 there was instruction to the sheriff to serve the defendant at ... his Hueytown address. No, his Bessemer address. Wait, it's f**ked up.
Kenneth D. Gulley
306 Westlake Circle SW (that's his Bessemer address that he swore to in his affidavit)
Hueytown, AL 35023 (that's his former city of residence, and zip code)
Will the sheriff even be able to deliver it?
Of course, legal issues are unpredictable. Bessemer Opinions will be following this.
It Gets Purple (and purple is better)
This is a colorful blog. We've turned pink for the month of October (and turning pink has messed up our format a bit, the videos overload some if the sidebar items, but that's OK, for a while. If you're new, Bessemer Opinions is normally not this sloppy looking).
And for today, we are purple, to bring awareness to the problem of bullying in schools.
We are getting ready for fall around here. More pictures below.
And for today, we are purple, to bring awareness to the problem of bullying in schools.
We are getting ready for fall around here. More pictures below.
If you've kept up with this blog for the past couple of weeks, you already know how concerned we are about the bullying problem. Well over 200 people have sent letters to their state Senators and lots of people are wearing purple today. If you haven't sent a letter, please go here, add a personal note to the suggested text, and send it away. We do the work. We print out your letter and deliver it to the senator.
The employees of Google say that it gets better.
I've not reported much on the Don't Ask, Don't Tell developments, one reason being is that by the time I write something and you see it, other new developments have occurred. But this is neat. Dan Choi has re-enlisted in the army as an openly gay man.
Now, we all love Hillary. She's joined in with those making "It Gets Better" videos. From the heart, and compassionately, she makes the case. and sounds very presidential in doing so. Ahem.
I've added a new blog to My Blog List on the sidebar. Shadetree Theology is the reflections of a man who is still recovering, if I may, from being a minister in a "charismatic/Pentecostal" denomination, and having to break through that cloud when he came out as a gay man. He is going through a lot of what I did with his family, and he reveals a lot of the unfairness of the process of divorce and trying to do so amicably. Been there. There are hundreds if not thousands of such stories, but Trey is local. Trey, I can offer you this: It does get better.
Today I am visiting the Bessemer School Board. This could be interesting. If you are a Bessemer student, read this.
I think there are going to be some stories about Bessemer in the next two weeks, but for now, things are calm and cool. Martha would be proud of my fall decor.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Deep Purple
Tomorrow I'm going to be purple.
You should too.
Wear purple on Wednesday as a way of demanding safe schools. Let people know why you are wearing purple. Teens gotta feel safe.
Now, you don't have to go this far. This Brit boy turned his whole self purple.
Now I am about to make a major upgrade to my laptop. So I may come back here tomorrow very happy, or I may not come back at all. But regardless, I'll be (wearing) purple.
And, I'm reminded of my favorite Deep Purple song from the days in my parent's basement when there was a smoky haze in the air. You might be more familiar with the Tina Turner version, or even Celine Dion, but this is the original, and the instrumentals at about the 3:00 mark are unbelievable.
River Deep Mountain High
You should too.
Wear purple on Wednesday as a way of demanding safe schools. Let people know why you are wearing purple. Teens gotta feel safe.
Specifically, in Alabama, the Student Harassment Prevention Act which was signed into law last year neglected to include sexual orientation and gender identity or expression while offering protection for such things as race and religion as characteristics about which students should not be harassed or bullied. In other words, kids can get away with calling fellow students fag or queer or pansy until that kid begins to skip school or harms them self. But use a racial slur, or challenge someone's disability, and it stops right there.
"Oh, the gays are screaming again about a perceived problem that really doesn't exist," you might say.
A survey by the Alabama Safe Schools Coalition of Alabama high school students revealed some startling facts.
59% have been verbally harassed at school (called a derogatory word)
22% have been physically harassed
58% have had mean rumors or lies spread by other students
Remember, these are Alabama students. These actions have consequences.
34% felt unsafe at school
18% have skipped school because of harassment
60% report they have been unable to concentrate in classes
36% report they have had lower grades because of harassment
43% report they have had thoughts of suicide
These are students in our schools. 43% are thinking of suicide.
Harassment and bullying is affecting their grades.
And the problem is not just with other students.
29% felt that they had been treated unfairly by their teachers or administrators.
Over 50% reported problems with anger, self esteem issues, and increased problems interacting with peers. Significant numbers also report feelings of spiritual isolation, eating disorders and headaches.
It could be your kids, or your grand kids, or your niece or nephew being harassed. and it affects all the kids, not just the gay ones.
So do this.
First, go here to send a message to your state Senator. Over 180 messages have already been generated, including a good number from Bessemer. Priscilla Dunn will be getting the message, but I am 100% sure that she is already on the right side of this issue. But we want the Alabama Senators to know that they can fix this problem by passing an "upgrade" to the bill to include sexual orientation and gender identity or expression..
2. Wear purple on Wednesday, and tell people why.
Now, you don't have to go this far. This Brit boy turned his whole self purple.
Now I am about to make a major upgrade to my laptop. So I may come back here tomorrow very happy, or I may not come back at all. But regardless, I'll be (wearing) purple.
And, I'm reminded of my favorite Deep Purple song from the days in my parent's basement when there was a smoky haze in the air. You might be more familiar with the Tina Turner version, or even Celine Dion, but this is the original, and the instrumentals at about the 3:00 mark are unbelievable.
River Deep Mountain High
Monday, October 18, 2010
Discourse: Us v Them
The public discourse over the last 100 years or so has really not changed. We think the current contentious campaigns for public office are something new. Conservatives act as though this is the first time liberals have threatened to implement a progressive agenda, and progressives are raising the alarm that Christian extremists will return us to the dark ages.
I was watching the PBS series God in America between football games yesterday and learned that during the 20th century the dominant debate revolved around the inerrant nature of scripture, highlighted by the "Scopes monkey trial" in Dayton, TN in 1925.
But let's go back to 1895. In that year, the Woman's Bible was published by Elizabeth Cady Stanton. This challenged the traditional role of subservience for women that was the common Christian interpretation of the Bible. The nation was shocked. Some conservatives still resist the ways that women serve in the work place and in politics. Just ask Lilly Ledbetter.
In 1915, conservative Protestants published a series of pamphlets titled "The Fundamentals". The series stresses the inerrancy of the Bible, the virgin birth and the resurrection of the body. The Fundamentalist movement began and the name still identifies those with such strict beliefs.
In the 1920's, commercial radio programming began, and Christian evangelists dominated the airways, as they still do. Billy Sunday, Sister Aimee McPherson and Father Charlie Coughlin were popular radio personalities of the 1920's and 1930's.
In 1925 the Scopes trial pitted fundamentalist orator William Jennings Bryan against trial attorney Clarence Darrow. While the trial focused on the accusation that high school biology teacher John Scopes was violating the law by teaching evolution, the underlying theme was whether the Bible should be interpreted literally or not. Darrow got the court to agree to let Bryan take the stand to defend the Bible. Darrow tore him up. The proceedings were broadcast nationwide over the radio. The trial judge throws out Bryan's testimony, Scopes is found guilty of teaching evolution, the decision is overturned on a technicality, and Bryan dies a few days later.
The press claims the trial is a big defeat for the fundamentalists, and thus begins (or reinforces) the animosity between conservatives and the mainstream media that continues today.
With Bryan's death the fundamentalists retreated from the public sphere. Modernist thought expands.
Of course history tells us that the fundamentalists make a resurgence in the latter half of the 20th Century.
History also tells us that we can go back even further to document the divide in this country. President Obama is criticized for his statement that we are not a Christian nation.
Maybe, rather than being an indication that Obama is not a Christian (he is) it is an indication that he is educated (many are not).
In 1797 president John Adams signed the Treaty of Tripoli, assuring the Muslim nation that we will not start a religious war. Article 11 states:
Now Adams was present when the documents that created our country were written. In fact, he was one of the Founding Fathers and therefore should have a pretty good idea what the consensus was.
Religious conservatives want to deny history and deny science. The battle continues.
Update: A reader has strongly suggested seeing the movie, "Inherit the Wind" staring Spencer Tracy, about the Scopes Monkey Trial. Here it is on Netflix. I second his recommendation.
I was watching the PBS series God in America between football games yesterday and learned that during the 20th century the dominant debate revolved around the inerrant nature of scripture, highlighted by the "Scopes monkey trial" in Dayton, TN in 1925.
But let's go back to 1895. In that year, the Woman's Bible was published by Elizabeth Cady Stanton. This challenged the traditional role of subservience for women that was the common Christian interpretation of the Bible. The nation was shocked. Some conservatives still resist the ways that women serve in the work place and in politics. Just ask Lilly Ledbetter.
In 1915, conservative Protestants published a series of pamphlets titled "The Fundamentals". The series stresses the inerrancy of the Bible, the virgin birth and the resurrection of the body. The Fundamentalist movement began and the name still identifies those with such strict beliefs.
In the 1920's, commercial radio programming began, and Christian evangelists dominated the airways, as they still do. Billy Sunday, Sister Aimee McPherson and Father Charlie Coughlin were popular radio personalities of the 1920's and 1930's.
In 1925 the Scopes trial pitted fundamentalist orator William Jennings Bryan against trial attorney Clarence Darrow. While the trial focused on the accusation that high school biology teacher John Scopes was violating the law by teaching evolution, the underlying theme was whether the Bible should be interpreted literally or not. Darrow got the court to agree to let Bryan take the stand to defend the Bible. Darrow tore him up. The proceedings were broadcast nationwide over the radio. The trial judge throws out Bryan's testimony, Scopes is found guilty of teaching evolution, the decision is overturned on a technicality, and Bryan dies a few days later.
The press claims the trial is a big defeat for the fundamentalists, and thus begins (or reinforces) the animosity between conservatives and the mainstream media that continues today.
With Bryan's death the fundamentalists retreated from the public sphere. Modernist thought expands.
Of course history tells us that the fundamentalists make a resurgence in the latter half of the 20th Century.
History also tells us that we can go back even further to document the divide in this country. President Obama is criticized for his statement that we are not a Christian nation.
"One of the great strengths of the United States," the President said at a press conference in Turkey in 2009 , "is ... we have a very large Christian population -- we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values."
Maybe, rather than being an indication that Obama is not a Christian (he is) it is an indication that he is educated (many are not).
In 1797 president John Adams signed the Treaty of Tripoli, assuring the Muslim nation that we will not start a religious war. Article 11 states:
"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."
Now Adams was present when the documents that created our country were written. In fact, he was one of the Founding Fathers and therefore should have a pretty good idea what the consensus was.
Religious conservatives want to deny history and deny science. The battle continues.
Update: A reader has strongly suggested seeing the movie, "Inherit the Wind" staring Spencer Tracy, about the Scopes Monkey Trial. Here it is on Netflix. I second his recommendation.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
For When I Feel Hated
It's the evening before Sunday, the day that many chose for worship. Or, as some believe, that God chose for worship.
Regardless of what you believe, you may sometimes call out to God, or the power above. You may feel hated. Here is a prayer for those who feel hated. I got this from my friend Michael at The Wild Reed.
Lots of young people feel hated for one reason or another. This prayer can be a reminder. Read some of the other recent posts on this blog if you need further encouragement.
Oh, and for the next two weeks the survey to the left will be available for readers to complete. Let me know a bit about you (anonymously) and what you want out of this blog. Now I don't know that the blog will change as a result, but you never know!
Regardless of what you believe, you may sometimes call out to God, or the power above. You may feel hated. Here is a prayer for those who feel hated. I got this from my friend Michael at The Wild Reed.
A Prayer When I Feel Hated
By James Martin, S.J.
Loving God, you made me who I am. I praise you and I love you, for I am wonderfully made, in your own image.But when people make fun of me, I feel hurt and embarrassed and even ashamed. So please God, help me remember my own goodness, which lies in you.
Help me remember my dignity, which you gave me when I was conceived. Help me remember that I can live a life of love. Because you created my heart.
Be with me when people make fun of me, and help me to respond how you would want me to, in a love that respects other, but also respects me. Help me find friends who love me for who I am. Help me, most of all, to be a loving person.
And God, help me remember that Jesus loves me. For he was seen as an outcast, too. He was misunderstood, too. He was beaten and spat upon. Jesus understands me, and loves me with a special love, because of the way you made me. And when I am feeling lonely, help me to remember that Jesus welcomed everyone as a friend. Jesus reminded everyone that God loved them. And Jesus encouraged everyone to embrace their dignity, even when others were blind to that dignity. Jesus loved everyone with the love that you gave him. And he loves me, too.
One more thing, God: Help me remember that nothing is impossible with you, that you have a way of making things better, that you can find a way of love for me, even if I can’t see it right now. Help me remember all these things in the heart you created, loving God.
Amen.
Lots of young people feel hated for one reason or another. This prayer can be a reminder. Read some of the other recent posts on this blog if you need further encouragement.
Oh, and for the next two weeks the survey to the left will be available for readers to complete. Let me know a bit about you (anonymously) and what you want out of this blog. Now I don't know that the blog will change as a result, but you never know!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Well alright, it's OK
Well alright, it's OK,
We all get the slip sometimes, everyday.
This is for you. Yes, you.
You may not feel like dancing down the hallways of your school, or your workplace, or maybe you do.
If you are young, and gay, or questioning your identity, or a parent of a child you suspect might be gay, or if you don't know any LGBT people and don't know why someone would be this way or what it's all about, watch this video. Thanks David, for sending this to me.
Now you may not appreciate the Christian lean of this video, but its not about that. It's about being honest with yourself and others and opening lines of communication.
Let me hear your story. Tell me what school you attend, or attended, and how things are, or were, there. And if you are a Bessemer student, read this. I need your help. Email me. metrocat10@aol.com .
Have a good weekend. Here are a couple of music videos to start the weekend off.
"Thieves" by She and Him
And just in case you think Zooey is zombie-like as she stares straight ahead while singing, here she is a little more active. This is the video that picture of the kids in the hallway (and the title of this blog post) came from.
"In the Sun" by She and Him
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