Residents of Marshall, Minnesota (population 13,680) gathered this week to voice their extreme outrage over a rainbow flag that recently appeared in the cafeteria of a public school.
During the tense community gathering, which was actually the second meeting held about this issue, many quoted from scripture, claiming that being LGBTQ was “against God’s preordained purposes and order” and fearing the rainbow flag would “confuse” or demoralize students who feel the same way.
Never mind those who might actually be LGBTQ.
“What’s next?” parent Mohammed Ahmed asked. “Curriculum? Teaching this lifestyle in our classrooms?! … As parents, we have the right to educate our own children about sexuality!”
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.
For the record: Nobody is proposing “teaching” homosexuality in the school. It’s literally just a flag hanging in the cafeteria.
Another man got up and falsely stated the “lifespan of a homosexual” was approximately 42 years. And another inaccurately claimed homosexuality was a “belief” system and nothing more.
Bill Mohrman, an attorney representing some of the homophobic naysayers, threatened that a lawsuit against the school may be imminent unless the school establishes a “neutral policy” on “viewpoints.”
Because suing a financially strapped school in a town where the median household income is less than $50,000 over a rainbow flag in the lunchroom is a great thing to do for their own children’s educations.
Marshall High School GSA advisor and teacher Karrie Alberts was one of those who actually spoke in favor of the flag, telling the assembly to quit treating LGBTQ kids as though they are “controversial.”
“I want them to know they are OK, they are supported,” Alberts said. “Quit equating their identity to something controversial.”
In 2016, Donald Trump won the county where Marshall is located with roughly 60 percent of the vote.
h/t: Marshall Independent
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Mohammed Ahmed: Go back to the cesspool of a nation you slithered away from you noxious puddle of puke….
succubus
you are a stupid fool.
Vince
@succubus
Does attacking others make you feel good? You are one sick troll.
succubus
yo Vince…. your the sick troll. Why do you imagine follow PWWO? Think about it!!! He does.
Zombiez8mybrain
“As parents, we have the right to educate our own children about sexuality!”
They also have the right to educate their own children about mathematics, science, and history… but don’t.
Smith David
Minnesota , such a truly beautiful state. Great food and really beautiful picturesque scenery. Had some wonderful times there. That said, it’s a state with small sleepy towns and small town values. Can’t really expect progressive thinking. If you live in this state you have decided that family and a quit life is all that you need in the world. These folks don’t like change and they don’t normally like traveling or exploring. Period!!!!!
wikidBSTN
Minnesota – home to thousands and thousands of LGBTQ kids and even more of their friends and family members who deserve to live their lives free of institutional discrimination.
Parkside
The Twin Cities are very progressive. Drive out 15 minutes, and it’s a different story. It’s sad. There are so many good willed people there who have been misinformed by FOX. I hope we keep MN blue this election.
J W G
I’ll bet sexually explicit graffiti is all over the local park men’s rooms and highway rest stops in this area. Repression brings the kink out in good Christian men.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
1000% co-sign And am willing to bet half the noxious pernocious smcubags who are clutching theit pearls will be at the local cruise areas…..
Hussain-TheCanadian
I would like to tell Mr. Mohammed Ahmed that hes being delirious, ignorant, out of touch, unthinking, and uncritical. He doesnt know Jack about homosexuality, its biological and sociological underprints, our prevalence and normality within every single human society that ever existed.
Anyone freaking out over “teaching their kids homosexuality” isnt freaking out about a sexual existence, to them, teaching is code word for “indoctrination”, they seriously believe that being gay can be taught and adopted, especially by men, which is bizzare enough, but understandable when considering that such beliefs are not build on rational thought, philosophy or critical thinking.
It is built on emotional fear of the unknown, emotional hiccups of a ridiculous sociological hierarchy that men must “fck” and women be “fcked”, and gay men and women spitting in the face of this outdated hierarchy. That’s what they dont like, the fear that one of their kids might be gay and our flag, ever standing tall, giving them encouragement to persevere. These parents think enough repression will get rid of those “unusual” sexual urges.
All of the above can be applied to all the homophobic parents who are freaking out over nothing. If the school decides to ban the flag, then I hope the kids who want it start wearing rainbow flag pins.
MrMichaelJ
Sorry but any guy who spouts out stats like that is a certified f’n closet case.
I’d bet my left nut on it.
Vince
No doubt organized by the local hate church. They’re nothing but a bunch of 2 bit thugs terrorizing anyone different. What’s most sad is that they’re using the kids as a weapon.
JessPH
I’ve seen the video and this article failed to mention that the majority of the attendees and speakers actually support the flag
Jerry
Trump is our president, how is this story shocking?
Dale
Once again it’s the adults complaining. What do the students have to say?
Bob LaBlah
I live right at 700 miles south of Marshal, Mn and I support the arguments arguing for the removal of that flag. To place that flag in the schools is a political statement that only a fool can’t see thru. It promotes a lifestyle (gay) that we all know exists but why must it be taught to children? A political statement regarding sexuality is inappropriate for children and have no business being taught along side the three R’s. If you dont have time to view the entire video skip thru to the following marks in it and hear valid pro and con arguments from teachers, parents, students, clergy and unfortunately, an attorney. Listen closely to the argument present by the 8th grader who had his sign taken down by a teacher. Listen to the high schooler’s argument pro argument.
Sue Martin at the 3:00 mark
Don LeClaire at the 8:45 mark
Mohammad I suggest we all skip and I’ll say no more on him.
Mr. French at the 34:50 mark who even tells us about the life expectancy of gays
Ashland Blumberg at the 35:45 mark who had his signs taken down
Attorney Bill Moore at the 36:53 mark (whom I suspect is going to take the case)
Pastor All Velitiz at the 38:46 mark
Devin Palmer at the 45:25 mark (high schooler and very good speaker)
Delores Williams’ pro stance at the 48:38 mark (and the four different genders in the Lakota tribe I never knew about)
There are a few more speakers after them such as Marvita McFarquam, who mentions growing up in all white Marshal but never feeling excluded and has a gay member of her family but argues that the American flag includes everyone and the fact that gay flag is not needed. Her’s is the best out of all of them. For those of you who haven’t viewed the video its a must see.
Den
“It promotes a lifestyle (gay) that we all know exists but why must it be taught to children?”
GOOD GOD!
Are you really that stupid?
I kind of thought you were, but had credited you with some intellectual capacity. Clearly I was too charitable.
Christianity is a lifestyle, you fool.
Scrapbooking is a lifestyle you id1ot!
Raising show dogs is a lifestyle you dolt!!
Being gay is an intrinsic aspect of a person, and despite your backwards and baseless assumptions cannot be taught. However, children who are very often aware of their own developing sexual orientation can be made to feel they are whole and valued, and other children who would intimidate and bully can be made to see that is not to be tolerated.
Sad that trash like you is too primitive-minded to understand that.
Vince
If they had a picture of MLK would that be wrong because it promotes a “black lifestyle” Bob?
Bob LaBlah
Den, thank you. I had no idea you partially held me in such high regards. You sound just like that drag queen (or whatever the hell it is) Peppermint who talked about RuPaul a few months back claiming that it was “calling RuPaul out” on something he said about trans people that she happen to not like. What you and her (Peppermint) have in common is simple, who gives a damn about the opinion of an unknown. Thanks again. I had no idea I was that popular.
greybat
Oh, you mean the 8th Grader who had his Lawyer write his comment for him? Noted.
JessPH
The Pride flag does not promote any “lifestyle”, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Pride flag is a symbol of tolerance, acceptance, inclusion and diversity. If it promotes anything then those are the things it promotes.
James
OBVIOUSLY SOME STINKING LOCAL FUNDAMENTALIST CHURCH TRASH.
ShowMeGuy
I recently saw a comment on another subject and it works very well here.
These people look like the type who get upset if you say “happy holidays” but they insist on calling Halloween by the name “Fall Festival”.