It began in November. That’s when Luke Herbert, then a freshman at Flagler Palm Coast High School, began receiving death threats over Facebook from a classmate, who said he’d carry Luke out in a body bag. The school assured Luke and his family they’d keep him safe, and remove the student from the school. That was a lie, Luke explains himself, as was the notion of safety: his own shop teacher Floyd Binkley began targeting Luke over his sexuality. The ACLU got involved and, depending on who you ask, worked out a satisfactory settlement with the school that included an apology from the teacher and merely a recommendation that the school adopt anti-bullying rules specifically including LGBT students. Meanwhile, his student tormenter is back at the school. “It’s time to fight back,” says Luke, who doesn’t want another teen at FPC to be treated the way he was. “The LGBT community doesn’t deserve things like this, and I’m appalled that I was treated like that. And it wasn’t right. And they need to have consequences.” Keep on speaking, Luke. You’ve got everyone’s attention.
wonderful kids
Luke Herbert: ‘It’s Time To Fight Back’ Against Schools That Don’t Protect LGBT Students
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The sane Francis
Even on the YOUTUBE comments section there are a few people from that school that are picking on Luke and being homophobic.
I feel SO sorry for any gay teens who are born in these backwater areas. Homophobia exists everywhere, but the difference between a NY or SF or Chicago or Miami is that homophobia actually is seen as a real problem. Or is seen as something that needs to be squashed. It doesn’t just continue to be allowed, there is actually something done about it.
With school districts like this one in Flagler county, which is totally awful, it’s going to take a lot more than asking for homophobia to stop or cutting deals with these schools. It’s going to take national and worldwide attention and pressure, it’s going to take countless emails and countless advocating equality in these schools without any conditions, and it’s going to take lawsuits. We’ve seen this time and time again. These bigots in these bigoted areas will not change their ways unless done by force.
I respect Luke so much for his strength in the face of such turmoil. Such a brave kid. He’s not going to be made into a victim anymore and I admire his courage.
Michael in Toronto
Luke: I wish you all the best. I have no doubt you will do great things in your life, you have the spirit and the drive and the courage. Hold your head up high.
JAW
WOW… Great Kid… he mentioned his Mom helped… If he needs a dad… let me know… (and no not sexual, get your minds out of the gutter)
I hope that he he keeps us all posted… Good luck… he will do well with whatever he does!
Geoff B
Luke, you’re a very brave kid and I wish you all the best. As for this school, this alleged settlement is bullshit. They should have to cough up some money. Like enough for a fully paid college tuition at a GREAT school. Money is the only thing that is going to make these alleged “learning institutions” sit up and take notice since they obviously have no compassion or a sence of decency.
Chimel
In these times of austerity I don’t think it is fair to provide public education founded by our tax dollars to the gays, especially since later on they’ll steal jobs from our children, we should send them back to the country where they come from. They can get all the gay education they want at private schools, like Church of Christ ones.
Kidding, I’m gay. Keep the fight on, Luke, you’re awesome!
Herbert Wassinger
THREE THOUGHTS FOR YOU LUKE:
1.
Press for money damages from the school district. They should
have to pay for your education at a private school where you are not bullied. (lawyer here).
2.
Your courage and message is beautiful. Keep it up. And do not get discouraged when you find that even large numbers of the “gay community” ridicule guys who are not “straight acting”.
3.
Do not let the whole message thing (as beautiful as it is) take over your life. Make plans for your education. Set goals as to what you want for a good career. And try to stick to those goals. Avoid distractions, even if that means putting your work against bullies on hold for a bit. Put your future first.
You are a beautiful person. And it does get better and better!!
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
His scumbag, vile teacher was harrassing him and he is let back onto the campus with an apology?? Are you fucking kidding me??? What kind of example does that set?
Luke, kudos to you for having the balls to go public. You need to gets yourself a sharp lawyer to sue the school, Fuckface Floyd, and the parents of the kid who harrased you. Good luck…….It does get better. And it will be a lot better for you knowing your college tuition is funded by the results of a successfull lawsuit……………
zeb
Herbert Wassinger: “lawyer here” is not really something to say if you want someone to trust you.
“Your courage and message is beautiful” should be on teeshirt and your business card so people know you are a poet, a man who flouts conventions of grammar but who still cares about guys who get bullied.
Your advice was actually good, so I’ll stop being mean to you.
jessy
u know what fuk this fag i know him personaly he talks shit about everybody he thinks hes better than everybody and at the begining of the year mr.binkley tells everybody that he likes to joke and anybody that has a problem to tell him mr.binkley used to come up to me randomly and imitate me plus gay people are an abomination to god Romans 1:26-27 – “Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.” Leviticus 20:13 – “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.