Some schools in New Zealand are allowing students to bring same-sex dates to balls, but with a bit of a caveat: they have to sign a gay pledge.
Pupils are being prevented from taking same-sex partners to school balls unless they sign contracts confirming they are homosexual, a gay support group says.
…
Rainbow [Youth] education officer Serafin Dillon knows of four Auckland colleges that do not allow same-gender ball partners unless pupils sign contracts stating their sexual orientation.She would not name the schools but said their policies were discriminatory and breached the Bill of Rights.
“If this was in the workplace it would be discrimination and it would be unheard of. But because it’s a school they think they can somehow get away with it.”
Bad education, indeed.
reversion
What if a student goes both ways but wants to bring a same-sex date?
CGerard
I think it’s just as disrespectful for straight students or students who are just “trying it out” to bring same sex dates to the prom as well. The school, in any fashion, shouldn’t advocate experimentation as teenagers are so prone to do. So I can see a valid, non-discriminatory reason for these pledges.
However, this does beg the question: shouldn’t straight kids also be made to sign a similar pledge claiming their sexuality? See, the policy is not per se discriminatory, but is only so because it is not required of all the students.
Michael
There is NO reason for this contract. It’s creepy, and draconian, and manipulative… It’s also bigoted since those effected are gays and solely gays. This is the sh*t people should be angry about and not whether NBC covered that Australian diver (like there’s some law that compelling them).
If people – gay, str8, bi, whatever – want to bring whomever they wish, I don’t see the harm. It’s a freakin’ dance, people, not the salvation of all mankind.
Snoodle
Having them sign a contract is not only discriminatory, but creepy as hell. What are they afraid will happen…? As already said also, why don’t the straight students have to sign something to confirm their heterosexuality O.o?
Kevin
Hell, people can lie on a pledge. Make ’em prove it … with public blowjobs.
Seriously, this sounds like an attempt to intimidate and stigmatize the students. Only the bravest would be willing to have that in writing, at that age at least. On the other hand, only the bravest would go to a ball with a same-sex date.
Darth Paul
I totally fail to understand the point of this other than to try to humiliate out students.
Puddy Katz
Can a student sign as a bisexual or bi-curious?
What’s wrong, CGerard, with “just trying it out”? Hardly disrespectful.
Brad
I feel like the fact that they are allowed to bring them is a victory in itself.
I think part of that has to do with the fact that I went to a Catholic school where these sort of things were far more…sticky.
At the very least I would be proud to sign such a pledge, despite the problems commiting to things on paper usually brings.
Vince
So they don’t want students to go to a dance with someone they are not sexually attracted to? Are they trying to maximize the number of students who get laid after every ball? We just want to confirm that you are not going to this dance just to have a good time but that you are also hoping to get lucky.
Thor
At least they have an option to go to prom with someone of the same sex. Anyway I can see the reasons why they would institute such a measure (friends going together to get discount). Though it is discriminatory. The straight couples need to sign a similar pledge declaring their heterosexuality if they want to keep this. Which they shouldn’t
Distingué Traces
Who says you have to be romantically involved to be someone’s date at a dance? Why is it a problem if two girls want to go as just friends? I always went to high school dances with girls I was friends with, and it was fun that way.
HYHYBT
#10 Nothing has ever stopped opposite-sex friends from going together for the discount; what’s the difference?
Alan down in Florida
Sounds like they want something they can put in their “permanent records.”
Soup
Have any of the schools actually explained why they’ve done it? I mean, it could be because some schools have experienced problems regarding same sex couples in formals because some teenagers decided it would be cool to pretend to be gay or something. You know, ’cause it’s supposedly cool to be gay now.
It’s not much of an issue over here in Australia though. Most schools allow students to bring at least one guest.