Ealier this month, several parents were furious and disgusted to discover a yearbook page dedicated to Atasocita High School’s LGBTQ students.
In order to be more inclusive, yearbook editors profiled four queer youngsters, who shared their experiences coming out over a rainbow-hued background.
Now, irate parents have been writing into Atascocita.com to threaten and insult the yearbook’s Editor-in-Chief, recent graduate Kyle Armour.
“People were saying he was dumb, not smart, that I should not be proud of who he is,” said Kyle’s mom, Kimblerly Hicks Armour.
Related: Youth group uses disturbing transphobic message to advertise on Facebook
“I’m very proud of who he is. He did take a stand and make something diverse for the community and to our school,” she told the Houston Chronicle.
One user named SteelerNation argued the section was insulting, and that LGBTQ students were “jamming their crap down our throats!”
“We can’t pray in school,” lynnsgirl said, “but now we have a section strictly dedicated to the gay community explaining how, when and why they came ‘out.’ I’m honestly disgusted and embarrassed.”
In light of recent events, I wanted to give people the chance to put a face with on the back end of hurtful comments made against LGBTQ+ pic.twitter.com/LY1pMUEQ9s
— Katherine Kay (@KatEliKay) May 23, 2017
Natalie Mendoza is one of the students featured on the yearbook page, and she’s upset by parents’ comments. Users were critical of both her coming out story and her chosen quote: “I can turn your girl.”
“My friends know my sexual orientation and love and respect me regardless,” she said. “There was many immature and ridiculous jokes, but mine… stood out due to my sexual orientation.”
Parents also took issue with a student whose quote was “Viva Mexico.”
“Hope they self-deport,” SteelerNation wrote. “That crap does not belong in a USA yearbook.”
someone go grab your parent. pic.twitter.com/KhwFrhpzqW
— Lauren (@laurmartinezz) May 22, 2017
Students posted their angry rants to Twitter, condemning parents for hiding under a cloak of anonymity to spout their rhetoric.
If you're going to go on the internet and say talk badly about people you need to provide your full name and not hide like a coward
— Kyle too real Armour (@kyle_r_armour) May 23, 2017
I am proud of my school and the fact that we are accepting of everyone. I am proud of our diversity and inclusion.
— alexia* (@alexiathomas_) May 23, 2017
Atascocita high school is trash ? end of story. Let people be who the fuck they TRULY are, if not then burn tf down ?
— potheadaj ???? (@trrvps0ul) May 23, 2017
A spokesperson for Humble Independent School District said the yearbook should have been more “thoroughly vetted prior to publication.”
h/t: NewNowNext
JaredMacBride
Bigots love to talk about having things crammed down their throats. The irony is rich.
Tanengrin
You nailed it!
Heywood Jablowme
Did the yearbook misspell Eagles as “Eagels”? Someone should be outraged at that!
rockland2u
YES, there is a straight section of the yearbook, like the rest of it, is, devoting a page to the LGBT group is no different than chess club, drama club, gay/straight alliance, whatever club/group they want, as long as they are held to a common standard for content. personally i have no problem with a christian students club either, i think that would be cool too.
Billysees
Very nice comment.
Josh447
Maybe in the future the straight section will be the minority, with gay bi and fluid etc over-taking the majority.
paul dorian lord fredine
there’s no ‘straight section’ in the yearbook just as there is no white history month. any more questions, dumbass?
Snicky
The mainstream establishment excludes any diversity. Yes indeed the entire yearbook is a “straight” section, just as American history excludes the African Americans who had an integral part of it.
dwes09
As much as the immaturity and intellectual dullness of the parents, I find the atrocious grammar and spelling of both the parents and the students to be troubling. This is the kind of future electorate the right desires; one that cannot think critically or articulate clearly, and is easily manipulated emotionally.
This is what Betsy DeVos hopes to create with her “vision” for education in the US, an easily controlled underclass that can serve her peers with little understanding of the unraveling of our historic republic.
fur_hunter
Have you read some of the stuff being written by kids today? Even job resumes are being written in ‘test’ fashion. Their use of grammar and sentence structure is horrible. We won’t even go there with spelling. I read a paper and thought it was written by a 4th grader. I was shocked when I was told it was done by a student who wanted to become a writer and was in the 10th grade. Sad!!!!!
WEBOne
If that bothers you, you should see the “resumes” that I have to try to decipher at work….
Josh447
Wow that is sad. When I became a writer, I had several punctuation and spelling errors to overcome (the biggest surprise it it’s and its) and to this day if I have any question I look it up on Google. Stat! Before publishing as I hate my editor to find errors. Uhg!
radiooutmike
Yeah, I also like how nobody cares about the kids sexuality but they’re up in arms about a page dedicated to LGBT students,
Also, the whole ‘we don’t shove straight sexuality down their throats’ is rich, too. Is a fish aware of the water they swim in? No, they just are. It’s only when you’re different from the norm, that you notice this total immersion going on. We can not get away from heterosexuality at all, and to most of us it is not a big deal. But boy, have one page in a yearbook or out actor or singer and all hell breaks loose.
Of course the same can be said for white privilege, racism and what have you as well.
MacAdvisor
lynnsgirl is simply wrong. She is more than welcome to pray at school any time she likes. She can pray quietly to herself as Jesus suggested (see: Mathew 6:6). One isn’t supposed to make a spectacle of praying; prayer is between one’s self and G-d, not a show for others to be impressed with. I prayed often in school, before a test most of the time.
What may not happen is for the school to ask one to pray.
WEBOne
Trouble is they want a staff christian to deliver a long winded, offensive prayer over the school’s public address system at least once a day (as was done when I was in high school).
Billysees
” lynnsgirl…can pray quietly to herself as Jesus suggested (see: Mathew 6:6). ”
Correct. Don’t know why many Christians always complain about that issue unless stirred up by misguided leadership.
Varika
Honestly, that’s because way, way too many Christians don’t actually know what’s in their holy book. They only know what their pastor or priest has told them, which often isn’t what’s actually THERE, and is NEVER the whole story. And before people get all up in arms about how THEY know, well, if you know and protest stuff like this, then you’re lying, and if you know and support stuff like this, I wasn’t talking about you, anyway.
TimberWolf
Parents are the fault for the ignorance in their children. It is these hypocritical parents who believe their child is a saint setting the example of ignorance and hate. Diversity and individuality, acceptance not hate and anger. It is beyond ridiculous that one page with four students bare their experience at their age how they coped this will benefit other students who are struggling with identity. Not to be Insensitive by parents. It is sad that PARENTS who are adults show so much hate towards teenagers. How incredibly sad.
Billysees
” Diversity and individuality, acceptance not hate and anger. ”
Yes…exactly…
fur_hunter
Most of the kids today are very open-minded and are savvy regarding homosexuality. They don’t care. Parents need to wake up and smell the coffee. Gays are here to stay and we are not going away, regardless of how much you put us down. Parents…..SUCK IT UP!!!!
silveroracle
Agreed.
Billysees
” Parents need to wake up and smell the coffee. ”
They will, but it”s going to take some time. Fortunately, many parents, like you said of their kids, are very open-minded and savvy regarding gay issues.
WEBOne
Hey parents… Ever wonder why your kids are embarrassed to be seen with you??? Comments like the examples in this article are part of the reason…
silveroracle
That is so true b
Billysees
” Hey parents… ”
Interesting comment. Kids don’t want their parents bad mouthing anything or anybody. I learned early on from a parent of one of my childhood friends — if you can’t say something nice about somebody, then don’t say it at all.
Buzz the Bear
Just a response to a few of the comments.
Students can pray all they want in school. They can pray before school and at lunch and after school at home. Schools even have clubs devoted to certain religions. The Supreme Court has heard this case and came out in favor of religiously oriented clubs in schools. The Constitution’s First Amendment protects free speech and the free exercise of religion, but it also bars government establishment of religion.
What you can’t have is teacher-led prayer in the classroom or the discrimination of one religion to exclude all others. You can’t pray out loud in the classroom. From what I’ve seen, most of these students don’t pray outside of school when they have the opportunity.
And the comment about having a “straight page” in the year book. Every other page is the “straight page”. Every 9 out 10 people or more in that year book is heterosexual. What these people really mean is to “stay in the closet, hide who you are and shut the hell up about it, LALALALAALALALAL” all the while with their fingers shoved firmly in ears, eyes closed and minds slammed shut..
Many heterosexuals do not understand the word PRIDE as it pertains to the LGBTQ community. They think it means being proud of being queer. What it really means is being proud of who you are as a whole person and not being ashamed of the way you were born or who you love.
These are the attitudes that promote only HATRED of someone who is not exactly the same as you, whether it is race, religion, gender, color, nationality or sexual orientation. We can only take small steps to get to where we want to go. But eventually we will win this battle for EQUALITY and the small-minded bigots will fail. BRAVO for the year book crew who made this courageous decision and kudos the students who were brave enough to come out. Maybe they’ll provide inspiration to others.
Billysees
” We can only take small steps to get to where we want to go. But eventually we will win this battle for EQUALITY and the small-minded bigots will fail. ”
All great works, like the ‘battle for EQUALITY’ you said, is subject to the ‘three steps forward, one or two steps backward rule’.
Varika
…actually, there’s nothing illegal about praying out loud in the classroom as a student. You just can’t require others to pray WITH you, and teachers can toss you out for being disruptive with it. Even teachers are allowed to pray if they want as long as it is clearly indicated to the students that this is the teacher’s personal choice, not an obligation the students are required to follow and not an endorsement by the school of their personal religion. So these people don’t even have that justification, honestly.
Your point about pride, though, is exceptionally eloquent and well-stated. Bravo, sir. Bravo.
Celtic
A spokesperson for Humble Independent School District said the yearbook should have been more “thoroughly vetted prior to publication.” Translation: If the District had known about this ahead of time, it never would have happened. Memo to Heteros: You are overwhelming Mother Earth with your spawn. THAT is unnatural.
KaiserVonScheiss
Oh, bless their hearts…
Danny595
“Parents Outraged by LGBTQ Page In High School Year Book”
Leaving aside the dumb parents and their reaction, there is no “LGBTQ page” in that year book. There is no reference to “LGBTQ” anywhere on that page. The page is called Prideful Eagles. And the 4 students who are featured identify as gay and lesbian. 3 of the 4 specifically use the word “gay” and not one of them uses “LGBTQ.” I am 22 years old and the idea that young people go around referring to ourselves as “LGBT” or “queer” is a total lie. We’re gay. We aren’t “queer” and we aren’t related to transgenders. Stop trying to define us according to your agenda, Derek de Koff.
Varika
1. There are, in fact, people who identify as “queer,” sweetie. Don’t YOU go around telling people what they are and aren’t allowed to identify themselves as. You’re gay. Good for you. Others identify themselves as “queer,” and yes, that includes people your age, too. Still others identify as “Questioning,” so the Q doesn’t even automatically mean “queer” at all. Forcing your labels on other people is exactly what the LBGT+ community is AGAINST. Don’t be a bigot.
2. The reason “T” is part of the community is because people who are trans are treated to precisely the same bigotry and precisely the same slurs and negative reactions as people who are L, B, and G. When you turn exclusionary the way you just did, you’re being a bigot in a community that is SUPPOSED to be about acceptance. Don’t do it.
3. There is in fact a difference between “I am gay” and “I am LBGT.” You are clearly gay, but your commitment to a greater community is obviously minimal at best. Get over yourself.
Danny595
Varika – You’re an ignoramus. As we see from this story, when young people are allowed to speak for ourselves, without some adult “activist” putting words in our mouths, we have no need for “LGBTQ.” Queer is an ideology which harms LGB people. LGB and T are 2 different groups. Your claim that we “are treated to precisely the same bigotry and precisely the same slurs and negative reactions” is blatantly false. It is also irrelevant, since we don’t form our identity based on what slurs are or are not thrown at us. That puts all the power in the people hurling the slurs.
It’s a vile thing to propose to gay youth. Everything you advocate is homophobic poison.
LGBT+ is an illogical jumble of letters and symbols which denies LGB people the right to a true identity. As we see from the yearbook page above, gay and lesbian kids need to identify as what they are, not as a component in a mass of different groups defined by what slurs are thrown. “LGBT+” is a lie and is harmful to LGB people. Stop hurting LGB people, “sweetie.”
Brian
I’m tired of the whining from Christian liars. The claim that they “can’t pray” in school is false, and they make up that lie just so that they seem like victims. Christians won’t win more fans by lying.
And shame on the school for not standing by the queer minority. The rainbow page didn’t need enhanced “vetting” – not this year or next.
GaybyGod
Not to be alarmed. If you were ever to see the people behind these hateful comments, you will hopefully be compassionate to their plight. Not so long ago, many of them had one foot in the grave, a beer in one hand and a mouse in the other. They could barely reach over their stomach, to use the keyboards. They were given a voice by America’s Supreme leader. They offered themselves to Mr. Trump. He accepted, ate them, then deffocated them out. The TT’s or TRUMP-TURDS. The airwaves are filled with their “hateful” rhetoric. So alas, give it a few years…months…and they’ll be gone. What one sows, so shall they reap.
Vera Delmar
As far as I can see haters who are heterosexual cram their lifestyle down our throats every single day. I see them showing their affection towards each other on the television, in the cinema, and out in public. I have nothing against the heterosexual way of living but just because gay people have an opportunity to safely come out and declare their love for another person of the same sex, we are suddenly cramming our gayness down the haters’ throats! Oh puhleez, give me a break!
Billysees
Brian says it well —
Christians won’t win more fans by lying.
And shame on the school for not standing by the queer minority. The rainbow page didn’t need enhanced “vetting” – not this year or next.
Vera Delmar says it well too —
I have nothing against the heterosexual way of living but just because gay people have an opportunity to safely come out and declare their love for another person of the same sex, we are suddenly cramming our gayness down the haters’ throats! Oh puhleez, give me a break!
Tête Carrée
LGBTQ students were “jamming their crap down our throats!”
Oh thank Goddess! I always thought they were talking about penises when they said “they’re jamming it down our throats!” I would never give them my penis (I hate them). Now that I know they’re expecting crap, I’m making a list.
He BGB
What makes this different from say, racism is that it is ABOUT SEX. Americans esp pilgrims have thought sex was dirty and bad ever since Miss Goody stepped upon Plymouth Rock. So it will be harder to accept gays for these people especially while they think it is a choice. Education is about the only thing we can do. To educate the fear and ignorance. Once they realize that gay people are born that way just like straight people are. No one would choose this life if you’re going to be hated by everyone. But the one girl saying I can turn your girl? Not a good choice of words, if i am understanding what she is trying to say. I can help your girl realize who she is, maybe
velmapeters45
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just before I saw the paycheck which was of $9068 , I did not believe …that…my father in law was like they say actually taking home money in there spare time on their computer. . there brothers friend haze done this for less than seven months and at present paid the loans on there apartment .. .??????? ?????____BIG…..EARN….MONEY..___???????-</b
James
Obviously the negative hate comments were from the american family association.
Kangol
I love the brave young editor and these students for their courage and forthrightness. The hate-filled parents are the problem, and thankfully the past!
Billysees
” I love the brave young editor and these students for their courage and forthrightness. ”
You picked the right words — bravery, courage and forthrightness. Or in another way, they are all good role-model-examples for all to see.
Caitz
It takes a “special” type of person to think that having one small section of one publication released once a year acknowledge the worth of a few students means having those students’ sexuality “shoved down your throat”, but that forcing an entire group of people to say prayers that adhere to your personal religion every day is your God-given right.