Nikki Peet
A pro-equality demonstration is planned Friday outside Flour Bluff High School in Corpus Christi, where officials say they’ll eliminate all non-curricular clubs to avoid allowing a chapter of the Gay Straight Alliance.
Paul Rodriguez, president of the GSA at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, said he’s expecting more than 300 people to attend the protest.
Rodriguez has been working with 17-year-old Flour Bluff student Nikki Peet since November to launch the GSA. After the Flour Bluff principal refused to allow the GSA, district officials announced they’ll bar all non-curricular clubs from meeting on campus — including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes — to avoid running afowl of the federal Equal Access Act.
“I couldn’t believe my ears,” Rodriguez told Instant Tea. “I couldn’t believe that an administration of a public school would actually go to that length to show hatred, to show intolerance. It’s just appalling.”
Rodriguez said supporters of the GSA have contacted both Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union, which are investigating. But the goal of the protest is to convince district officials to change their minds.
“As far as Nikki and her supporters go, they were very nervous about going to school today, because they don’t know what kind of hostility or bullying they’re going to face,” Rodriguez said. “They’re afraid they’re going to get blamed for all the non-curricular clubs not being allow to meet. We’re hoping to redirect that anger to where it really belongs. If we can get all those people on board and join us in this fight for equality, that would just be awesome.
“We want equality to rein at Flour Bluff,” he added. “We want them to open their eyes and realize that everyone is human, everyone can co-exist. You don’t have to like us, you don’t have to agree with us, but you do have to co-exist with us.”
For more information on the protest, go here.
Corpus Christi has a long way to go. I know. I grew up there.
If the superintendent believes that the only non-curricular club in the school is the Christian club, then I suspect that the school is classifying non-curricular clubs as curricular to avoid the requirements of the Equal Access Act. We’ve seen other schools attempt to classify any club in which students learn anything as curricular.
Leave it to the idiot right-wing christians to ruin everything.
This country would be better off with out any religion and this is just more proof of it.
Make the meetings just need to include a study hall to make it a curricular group. Learning about politics, civil rights, civil discourse and the constitution. It would do them well to include studies in any meeting. It would only have to cover 30 minutes of this learning. I would wager they would spend more time learning the laws of the state and the united states.
I am a student there. I can tell you, there was never a problem among us about being homosexual, bisexual or straight UNTIL this GSA thing. All it is doing is causing issues. This club isn’t helping us and I have not heard any good reason why they SHOULD be allowed to have their club. People really need to cool down about this thing. I have nothing against anybody but honestly it has NOTHING to do with school so there is really no reason why they should be making such a big deal out of this.
@Lauren: I go to Flour Bluff Jr.High and there are so, so many homophobes in this school! I was shocked at my own friends, some of which we have parted because of this issue. Some people just don’t think homosexuality, bisexuality etc. is moral nor do they believe that they have the right to be gay or lesbian or bi. It is simply appalling and I support this club. Good luck to you all!
I am concerned about various clubs being shut down, the school is clearly overreacting and with important events coming up, some clubs can no longer meet. (I’ve heard it’s all High School though…) The reason they are making such a big deal now is because it has become a question of rights.
Lennon,
Dude, homosexuality is NOT moral. It is against nature!!!!! If that is what you chose, fine. Do it in the privacy of your bedroom.
@Michelle: Judging others is not moral either. As for homosexuality, you clearly have a keen and identifiable interest in it, otherwise you wouldn’t be visiting this website and commenting on news articles. Remember, for every finger you point at someone else, you’re also pointing three back at yourself.
@Lennon: Yes I realize there are homophobes but I highly doubt that this club will help anything, I believe it will only make things worse. I am seeing people I know who never really cared about homosexuality start to choose sides ONLY because of this whole deal. I just don’t think this club should be allowed AT SCHOOL, it may be a good thing, but it doesn’t belong at school.
Anyways, I don’t think that the protest was really a success anyways, there weren’t a lot of protesters.
*KEEP SEX OUT OF SCHOOL*
@Lauren: so are you okay with the school getting rid of everything else like the “christian” clubs and the chess club and such…are you fine with the school getting rid of all of those clubs, since they have and never had anything to do with SCHOOL???? because gay, bi whatever is not what all of this is about. its the simple fact that other organizations have been accepted by the school and now people are using the “not at school” issue yet it was fine for all the rest to meet at school? Really?
First Christianity is not a religion. It is a relationship with Christ. To base him on our everyday decisions. I think FBISD is doing a good job sticking by there morals & beliefs. Just like the GSA protesters are sticking by their beliefs. I don’t think they should have a GSA in any school. Gays can align with straights with any club at the school. Nobody hates gays, just their sin. It is a sin to be a homosexual. Straight from the bible. Before you get mad at me, I was bi-sexual in high school & a few years out. Since I became a Christian I ended all that because it didn’t feel right anymore. GSA what will the school gain from it? What will the club learn? Will it just be a place to hang out & gossip? No matter what they choose the GSA can always be together in or out of school. By the way a rainbow is not a sign that your gay. That is the promise God gave us. Don’t pervert that people. Oh & it doesnt make people homophobic for not wanting that club. Its called standards. Something we can all learn from Christ. Oh yeah & if God was not here, who would bring peace? Obama? nope sorry.
@JenCC10: lying is also a sin. Perhaps you need to take a look at yourself before you start pointing the finger at others. Oh, and have you opened your bible lately? Just curious…doesn’t sound like it from your rants.