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Three brave girls took action after their teacher berated a classmate for having two dads

"It's awesome what happened as far as those girls coming forward."

via OD Action / Twitter

Just imagine being an 11-year-old boy who's been shuffled through the foster care system. No forever home. No forever family. No idea where you'll be living or who will take care of you in the near future.

Then, a loving couple takes you under their care and chooses to love you forever.

What could one be more thankful for?

That's why when a fifth grader at Deerfield Elementary School in Cedar Hills, Utah was asked by his substitute teacher what he's thankful for this Thanksgiving, he said finally being adopted by his two dads.

via OD Action / Twitter

To the child's shock, the teacher replied, "that's nothing to be thankful for," and then went on a rant in front of 30 students saying that "two men living together is a sin" and "homosexuality is wrong."

While the boy sat there embarrassed, three girls in the class stood up for him by walking out of the room to tell the principal. Shortly after, the substitute was then escorted out of the building.

While on her way out she scolded the boy, saying it was his fault she was removed.

One of the boy's parents-to-be is Louis van Amstel, is a former dancer on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars." "It's absolutely ridiculous and horrible what she did," he told The Salt Lake Tribune. "We were livid. It's 2019 and this is a public school."

The boy told his parents-to-be he didn't speak up in the classroom because their final adoption hearing is December 19 and he didn't want to do anything that would interfere.

He had already been through two failed adoptions and didn't want it to happen again.

via Loren Javier / Flickr

A spokesperson for the Alpine School District didn't go into detail about the situation but praised the students who spoke out.

"Fellow students saw a need, and they were able to offer support," David Stephenson said. "It's awesome what happened as far as those girls coming forward."

He also said that "appropriate action has been taken" with the substitute teacher.

"We are concerned about any reports of inappropriate behavior and take these matters very seriously," Kelly Services, the school the contracts out substitute teachers for the district, said in a statement. "We conduct business based on the highest standards of integrity, quality, and professional excellence. We're looking into this situation."

After the incident made the news, the soon-to-be adoptive parents' home was covered in paper hearts that said, "We love you" and "We support you."

Religion is supposed to make us better people.

But what have here is clearly a situation where a woman's judgement about what is good and right was clouded by bigoted dogma. She was more bothered by the idea of two men loving each other than the act of pure love they committed when choosing to adopt a child.


This article originally appeared on 12.02.19

utah teacher homophobic
Equality

Texas teacher suspended for being openly gay receives a huge payout

via Women in the World / Twitter

In the beginning of the 2017 school year, elementary teacher Stacy Bailey showed a get-to-know-your-teacher slideshow to her new students. Among the slides was a photo of her then-fiancé Julie Vazquez who she described as her "future wife."

A parent of one of her students complained to the Mansfield Independent School District (MISD) in Arlington, Texas, saying that Bailey promoted a "homosexual agenda."

Bailey, 33, is a two-time Teacher of the Year award-winner at Charlotte Anderson Elementary School.

Bailey was suspended after the incident because the district "received complaints from parents about Ms. Bailey discussing her sexual orientation with elementary-aged students."

"When a straight teacher happily announces that she and her husband are expecting a baby to her elementary class, is she saying something inappropriate to very young and impressionable students?" Bailey said in a recent statement.

"Is she announcing her sexual orientation? Is she presenting her life in a way that promotes her political beliefs?" Bailey continued. "Of course not. She's simply sharing facts about her life."

In 2018, Bailey filed a discrimination lawsuit against MISD claiming discrimination and a breach of her constitutional rights. Later that year, a federal judge decided the lawsuit could go ahead.

"If the community's perception is based on nothing more than unsupported assumptions, outdated stereotypes, and animosity, it is necessarily irrational and […] provides no legitimate support for Mansfield ISD's decisions," wrote Judge Sam Lindsay. "The private antipathy of some members of a community cannot validate state discrimination."

Eight months after her suspension, Bailey was reinstated by the district and reassigned to a local high school.

On Tuesday, Bailey's attorney announced they had reached a settlement with the school district.

MISDA agreed to pay Bailey and her attorney $100,000 of which Bailey will donate $10,000 to a charity helping LGBT youth. Her attorney, Jason Smith, has agreed to donate $10,000 from her settlement to the Human Rights Campaign.

"If you are a school district that thinks you can bully a gay teacher out of their job, I hope you remember my name and I hope you think twice," said Bailey during a press conference on Tuesday.

After all of the drama with the school district over her sexuality, Bailey was a little scared to start her new job at the high school, but her fears were quickly assuaged when 15 LGBT students greeted her in her new classroom with baskets and candy.

"I don't think they'd ever seen a teacher out loud say they were gay. To see a grown-up who was successful and educated and not afraid? I don't think they had ever seen that before," Bailey told BuzzFeed News.

"I've seen my classroom turn into a safe space for all kinds of kids who feel marginalized," she continued.

On the first day with her new class, she showed the same exact slideshow presentation, but this time the woman in the picture with her was her wife.

via Amber Jamieson / Twitter

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Bill de Blasio doesn't want you to go to Chick-fil-A. Good thing there are alternatives.

For the most part, Americans love Chick-fil-A.

Back in 2015, it was the most popular fast food restaurant based on customer satisfaction. Not to mention it rakes in billions of dollars every year — all from slinging out chicken sandwiches that have been described as no less than the "pinnacle of human achievement."

New York City's first Chick-fil-A location in Manhattan. Photo by Andrew Renneisen/Getty Images.

Chick-fil-A's success has recently brought the chain to the streets of New York City, where it will soon open a second stand-alone location in Queens.

If New York's mayor has anything to say about it, though, there won't exactly be a line out the door. And you bet he has something to say about it.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has urged New Yorkers not to eat at Chick-fil-A.

Bill de Blasio. New York City mayor, Giant Man. Photo by Andrew Renneisen/Getty Images.

"What the ownership of Chick-fil-A has said is wrong," De Blasio told reporters, according to DNAinfo. "I’m certainly not going to patronize them and I wouldn’t urge any other New Yorker to patronize them."

What-the-what is he talking about?

In case you don't remember, Chick-fil-A has been at the center of a lot of controversy in regards to the LGBT community.

Here's the condensed version: Chick-fil-A has given millions to anti-LGBT groups since 2003. Chick-fil-A has fired employees who don't adhere to strict Christian standards, including a Muslim man in 2002 who didn't want to participate in a Christian group prayer. Chick-fil-A also has a 0 rating from the Human Rights Campaign.

Oh, and the chain's president, Dan Cathy, has said too many harmful things about the gay community to count. Not to mention, when he was accused of being against gay marriage, his response in 2012 was simply: "Guilty as charged."

Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images.

"This group imparts a strong anti-LGBT message," said De Blasio. "It is outrageous that Chick-fil-A is quietly spreading its message of hate by funding [anti-gay] organizations."

For its part, Chick-fil-A has been working to walk back its anti-gay reputation. Back in February it agreed to stop funding anti-gay organizations after "months of discussion."

When reached for comment on the New York City controversy, a Chick-fil-A spokesperson had this to say:

"New Yorkers have turned out in record numbers since we entered the market last year, and we are thrilled by the strong response. Everyone is welcome, and Chick-fil-A has no political agenda. Our sole focus is on serving great food with fast and remarkable service."

As you'd expect, de Blasio's words have been received with some criticism.

He's been called "anti-Christian" and accused of playing politics, and frankly, it's hard to say if the boycott will work.

On one hand, New Yorkers have a proud history of supporting the LGBT community, and on the other, they also don't like being told what to do.

Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images.

I can tell you one thing, though — New York City has practically more food options than people. It has everything!

If it's chicken sandwiches you want, go to Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken, or Parm. Or Fuku! Or any deli on any corner of any street. Why not grab a Chick'n Shack sandwich at Shake Shack. It's really good! You'll only have to wait in line for like ... I don't know ... an hour or two?

Actually, you know what? I live in Queens, why don't you just come over to my place? I'll make you a chicken sandwich that'll blow the pickles right out of your shoes. We can watch "Twin Peaks" or something.

Look, OK, obviously it's up to you if you want to go to Chick-fil-A or not. But just remember: Chick-fil-A might be on the right side of chicken. But they'll always be remembered as the fast food joint on the wrong side of LGBT history.

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