Though it’s intellectually difficult to imagine, there are in fact still people out there who actually take the time to pester, annoy, and otherwise harass the LGBT community under the guise of religion. Sadly, this dedication to inequality often includes young children, as is the case at a K-12 public charter school in North Carolina. School officials at Lake Lure Classical Academy ultimately cowered to objections from parents and grandparents earlier this month, including some who don’t even have children enrolled in the school, by shutting down all student clubs over "concerns" raised about the recent inclusion of a student LGBT group.
A so-called "grandmother" reportedly complained to the school board about the group on the grounds that she would now have to explain the meanings of the words "gay" and "lesbian" to her grandchild, according to reports from Raw Story. "Another citizen told the board since it is a public school, it has the ability to do away with the club," notes a report from the Daily Courier. "He said he did not have a child at Lake Lure, but if he did he would take them out immediately. He said the only diversity the school needs is the Bible."
"This is not a religious club," visual arts teacher Layne Long told school officials, according to Peacock Panache. "This is a human rights club. My father is a Christian and I’ve been brought up to understand that God is love." Long reportedly allowed the LGBT group to hold meetings in her classroom. Though the school did ultimately cave to the demands of woefully misguided parents and grandparents, School Director Jessica Boland publicly acknowledged the sheer ridiculousness of the whole thing. "From the school side, when you are in the school community, the issues aren’t as prevalent as the outside community is making it," Boland said. "I find it disappointing that we have to suspend all clubs." Disappointing indeed. Do better. This shit is embarrassing.
