PHOTO: Hoosier state teacher Nate Walden (above) was not having special-ed instructor Diana Medley’s bullshit about gay kids choosing to be that way and serving no purpose in life. So he posted this awesome photo on Facebook.
Medley, as you’ll recall, is working to make sure the Sullivan High School prom in Sullivan County, Indiana, is not open to LGBT students. When interviewed on camera, she claimed gay people “chose to be that way” because of “life circumstances.”
When a reporter asked her if she thought LGBT people have a purpose in life, Medley responded, “No I honestly don’t. Sorry, but I don’t. I don’t understand it.”
Walden’s not alone in condemning Medley: A Change.org petition has been started asking for the school district to appropriate discipline her, including the possibility of termination. And a Facebook group created for those in favor of an unbiased prom experience, with more than 1,100 members.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
2eo
Diana L Medley
5260 E County Road 700 S
Carlisle, IN 47838-8149
Get in touch with her directly here, good thing she wasn’t ex-directory.
Gigi Gee
Hi Nate. I’m off at eight!
Chad Hunt
Here is a letter I received after writing to the Sullivan Schools Superintendent:
Mr. Hunt
At Southwest School Corporation we value the importance of extra-curricular activities and encourage all students to get involved and actively participate in activities, dances, or school related events at all of our schools.
Our Grand March, Junior-Senior Prom, and Post Prom is scheduled for April 27th, and we encourage all of our students to participate.
I would also like to clearly state that the SWSC has never denied any student the right to attend any event, extra-curricular activity, dance, or prom based on their race, gender, sex, or sexual orientation. As superintendent it is my view that we treat each student with respect and dignity at all times.
The only time we have denied a student from attending a school sponsored activity is because of disciplinary reasons or if they were not one of our students and did not follow the procedures for being admitted as a guest.
We do prohibit anyone who is the age of 21 or older from attending the prom or school dances.
It is important to note that the Southwest School Corporation and Sullivan High School is not affiliated nor in anyway responsible for the Alternative Prom.
Information reported by WTWO Channel 2 out of Terre Haute, IN concerning Diana Medley. They identified her as a special education teacher, it did not state where she was employed, I want to make it clear she is NOT EMPLOYED by the SOUTHWEST SCHOOL CORPORATION which was not included in the story. In no way does the Southwest School Corporation support her beliefs.
Sincerely,
Chris Stitzle
Superintendent
Here is my response to the superintendent:
Mr. Stitzle,
I want to thank you for taking the time to explain to me your policy when it comes to student extracurricular activities. I also commend you on your inclusiveness. I understood from the story I had read on several sites that the alternative prom was being offered elsewhere. This was not my concern. My concern was that a teacher of your school district had took it upon herself to exclude students of the LGBT community and remark that such students, ”had no purpose in life.” I am thrilled to find that she does not work for your school system and am hoping that you may know what school system she is employed at so I can direct my complaint to the proper administration.
Thank you for your time,
Chad Hunt
The Real Mike in Asheville
@Chad Hunt: Nice, I like this very much. One small to-do, though, as you have written to an educator: its not “… had took [sic] it upon herself…” rather “…had taken it upon herself…”
Have you determined where this bitch is actually employed? Love to give then a piece of my mind too! Cheers.
Chad Hunt
@The Real Mike in Asheville: LOL … I saw that after I had written the note and sent it. I’m an educator by profession these days myself but as you may have guessed, English is definitely not my subject.
mlbumiller
http://www.indianapolismonthly.com/circlecitizen/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10502837
“”Diana Medley, a special education teacher in the Northeast School Corporation in Sullivan County, made remarks to a WTWO-TV (Terre Haute) reporter that set the Internet and regional and even national media atwitter.””
Northeast School Corporation
Dr. Mark A. Baker- Superintendent
406 North Vine Street
P.O. Box 493
Hymera, Indiana 47855
Phone: (812) 383-5761
Fax: (812) 383-4591
mlbumiller
LISTED ON NORTHEAST SCHOOL SORPATION
http://www.nesc.k12.in.us/news/letter.pdf
I would like to clearly state the Northeast School Corporation has never denied any student the right to attend prom or any other Northeast School Corporation sponsored event due to their race, gender, or sexual orientation. Furthermore, the Northeast School Corporation has never denied any student access to any events sponsored by Northeast School Corporation. This includes sports, plays, musicals and any other extra-curricular activities.
In regards to the story that WTWO aired on February 10, 2013, the Northeast School Corporation employee that was interviewed was expressing her First Amendment rights. The views expressed are not the views of the Northeast School Corporation and/or the Board of Education.
These comments were expressed during a Sunday community meeting at a local church and at no time was she representing the Northeast School Corporation. The teacher was participating in a meeting with her local church congregation.
The Northeast School Corporation is a public school where all students have equal rights and access to all programs.
Chad Hunt
@mlbumiller: Basically stating we intend to do nothing. That is complete and utter bullshit. As an educator myself, I know first hand that teachers are accountable for everything they say and do even outside of school.
Chad Hunt
That statement by the school is so pissing me off right now. We all know for sure that if she had used the “N” word outside of school or said something like, “all african americans (insert any other group) are lazy and serve no purpose in life” etc she would have been fired, but because she was just talking about some faggots nothing is going to happen. We all need to complain to the Indiana State School Board about both her and the superintendents lack of disciplinary action.
Chad Hunt
Here is the email for that asshole superintendent … [email protected]
Chad Hunt
Here is my email to that asshole superintendent:
Mr Baker,
How dare you sir. How dare you reduce the statements made by Diana Medley as her First Amendment right. How dare you say that she is not a representative of Northeast Schools when she is outside of her classroom. I am also an educator and as such I know first hand that we are always accountable to the Office of Professional Conduct even outside of school grounds or functions for the things we do and say that are made public. She has made a vile, heinous statement about the LGBT community and thereby extension to any LGBT student who may reside within the Northeast school system. By stating that, “Homosexuals (thereby LGBT students) have no purpose in life”, etc she has rendered herself ineffective to part of your student body. When I think of all of the teen suicides of late of LGBT children and then think how it is exactly statements made like this by teachers etc that will lead children to these suicides it sickens me. It sickens me that your obvious intent is to do nothing. You sir are obviously as ineffective as an administrator as she is a teacher. I for one have already lodged a complaint to the state licensing board about Mrs. Medley and apparently now I need to draft one to the school board in regards to your ineffectiveness in handling this situation as well as an administrator of the Northeast School System.
RomanHans
@Chad Hunt: Earlier this year California teacher Stacie Halas was fired after school administrators learned she had been in porn films. She lost her appeal, with the appeals panel saying her actions had made her “unfit to teach.” District superintendent Jeff Chancer applauded the ruling, saying her decision to “engage in pornography was incompatible with her responsibilities as a role model for students.”
CLEARLY Ms. Medley’s hate speech violates the exact same rules.
RSun
@Chad Hunt: Nicely done.
Chad Hunt
@RomanHans: I disagree with that. The teacher in question had participated in pornography in her past. Pornography is not illegal. This teacher was not being discriminatory nor making inflammatory remarks about a particular group. I’m sure she will appeal to a higher court and if there is any justice in the world she will win that appeal. What happened in her past prior to becoming a licensed teacher, especially when the activity in question is not illegal, should not bar her from teaching. Ms. Medley is a current teacher and as a licensed teacher is subject to the teachers code of professional conduct.
Noye
Wow, so I read that response from the superintendent and had to register an account here as well to follow Chad’s example, so here is my e-mail to that douche of a douchebag!:
Mr Baker,
I am very disappointed in you as the superintendent. You have side stepped the whole issue of your educator demeaning a group of students stating that they “Have no purpose”. Youths who have adults like that to turn to will see suicide as an option because deep down Ms. Medley does not care for anyone who is LGBT, as an educator she should know that saying on television that they have no purpose will get back to those kids. What would have your response been if one had killed themselves because a teacher who is supposed to help them has practically stated that they are hopeless, would you have meekly sat by and allowed her to continue her assault on them?
You have set a grossly sick standard that she is allowed to attack students in this manner and yet allow her to not be addressed properly in some kind of disciplinary way! Not only that you allow her to use other students to segregate any LGBT students by not stopping her from setting up an alternate prom for those who aren’t straight! Let me ask you this, if a majority of your peers went out of their way to set up a separate event for you, would you feel welcome at all going to the one all the normal people went to?
Honestly I believe legal action should be drawn against your school district, or at the very least you and that horrible woman should face the consequences of promoting this segregation by your refusal to act out against it.
oliver
I doubt she was born an intolerant ignorant bigot – THAT is a trait that is chosen. Sexual orientation is not chosen and it is only benighted so-called Christians – fundamentalist especially, who continue to maintain that is is a choice – what are they afraid of anyway?
mlbumiller
@Chad Hunt: “In hearings, former assistant principal Wayne Saddler testified that, at the start of a sex video, Halas talked about being a teacher…” She might not have been working as a teacher but she was stating in avideo she was one.
Chad Hunt
UPDATE … UPDATE … UPDATE … UPDATE … UPDATE … UPDATE … UPDATE
Ok, people, here is the story. This idiot superintendent keeps saying how it was Ms. Medley’s right to make her statements which is by all accounts correct. However, she is accountable to the Division of Professional Conduct for her statements and her actions. No one is saying Ms. Medley is not entitled to her opinion but by expressing publicly these discriminatory and inflammatory opinions and actions toward the LGBT community she is accountable not only to the Division of Professional Conduct but to her school system, staff, and student body. They obviously think this will just go away with time but we need to let them know that is not the case. Please keep sending letters to these Individuals and signing this petition. The Most important actions are to write Mr. Baker and Ms. Bowman as well as sign the petition.
Diana L Medley … Wicked Witch of the MidWest … [email protected]
Mark Baker … Superintendent where Diana Medley works … [email protected]
Becky Bowman … Administrator, Indiana State Board Of Education Division of Professional Conduct … [email protected]
Chris Stitzle … Superintendent of School Prom Diana Medley is trying to segregate from LGBT …
[email protected]
Sign the petition for disciplinary action against Ms. Medley here … Go to Change dot org and do a search for Diana Medley. (I would have posted the link but Queerty flags posts with links in them.
Here is the most recent school statement. As you can see by the language they know they must do something but aren’t sure as what yet to do. We can not let this woman get away with this.
STATEMENT
The Northeast School Corporation is a public school where all students have equal rights and access to all programs.
I cannot emphasize enough the extent to which we are dismayed and disappointed with the statements made by a school employee who was expressing her own opinions as she attended a meeting outside of school or a school activity.
Her comments most definitely do not reflect our schools’ views or opinions and this employee was most certainly not representing our schools.
Please understand that while we do not support the employee’s opinions, we do recognize that each employee has some protection to express his or her opinion. The school also acknowledges speech protections to express opinions opposite of this employee’s. While personal opinions may be protected to some degree, it does not take away from the fact that the opinions this employee expressed are insensitive, unnecessary and hurtful.
We are saddened and share the concerns of those who disagree with the employee’s opinions.
As we endeavor to educate our wonderful students, we appreciate the encouragement we are receiving from members of our community who support our efforts to work through these very unfortunate circumstances.
Please understand we also are working diligently to treat everyone with dignity and respect and are working conscientiously to communicate with all involved. Our first priority is to ensure that our students feel welcome and safe in our schools.
Dr. Mark A. Baker- Superintendent
NORTHEAST SCHOOL CORPORATION of Sullivan County