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Now this is brave Gay Texas teen comes out in graduation speech

I think he was well out already, from the comments he made to his denigrators. His was a brave stance against the bullies in life, where last week's god-botherer was kicking an open door, with no chance of personal repercussions.

I don't agree with either side, to be honest. It's not about bravery, it's about doing appropriate things at appropriate times and in both cases, what happened was not appropriate.
 
There is a time and a place for everything, and valedictories--farewells--are a particular type of ceremonial rhetoric and follow certain conventions. There's even a Wiki-How entry: How to Write a Valedictorian Speech: 8 Steps - wikiHow

See #3, which discusses aiming at inclusiveness/representation of the class itself.
 
Well, maybe in little Belton it is.
 
Why not? Because that's exactly what it sounds like. It's 2013, being a homosexual isn't some new outrageous thing anymore.

In parts of the South it is.
 
I would disagree. He's being put behind that mic for a specific reason, not to have his 15 minutes of fame. He is expected to give a particular type of speech and he did not. There are other, better ways to come out as gay, announcing it to the entire school during graduation isn't one of them.

He's being put behind the mic precisely for that reason - to have his 15 minutes of fame as a reward for leading his class in academic achievement. There may be better ways to announce such a thing, but this was how he chose to spend the time at the mic he earned. His call.
 
There is a time and a place for everything, and valedictories--farewells--are a particular type of ceremonial rhetoric and follow certain conventions. There's even a Wiki-How entry: How to Write a Valedictorian Speech: 8 Steps - wikiHow

See #3, which discusses aiming at inclusiveness/representation of the class itself.
If we accepted and rejected things based on conventions, society would stagnate. Speeches like this often talk about going out into the world, being who you are, etc. What better way to give it than to share a personal story of doing just that. Hell, throw in an "Our Father" or something--to each his own. If you don't like it, don't clap when its over.
 
I don't agree with either side, to be honest. It's not about bravery, it's about doing appropriate things at appropriate times and in both cases, what happened was not appropriate.

You can reasonably make the case he should not have done it, and that it was also brave. It doesn't have to be one extreme or the other.
 
Why not? Because that's exactly what it sounds like. It's 2013, being a homosexual isn't some new outrageous thing anymore.

In that town, it could very easily be. It sounds like you don't have any familiarity with small white trash towns.
 
just out of curiosity...how could this guy have experienced prejudice and rejection if he didn't "come out" until graduation? And if everyone already knew he was gay so that they rejected and discriminated against him...what was the ****ing point of officially coming out at graduation?

This happened to me...basically not showing any interest in girls is more than enough for people you spend a lot of time with to come to that conclusion and act accordingly. What it sounds like this kid did is take a shot at the bullies and let everyone else know. Maybe he couldn't think of anything better to talk about. Who knows.
 
from what we know so far

he is a brave kid in deed, parents should be proud!

wonder if this school had approval over his speech and they knew before hand?
 
This happened to me...basically not showing any interest in girls is more than enough for people you spend a lot of time with to come to that conclusion and act accordingly. What it sounds like this kid did is take a shot at the bullies and let everyone else know. Maybe he couldn't think of anything better to talk about. Who knows.

Yeah, but that type of bullying can go on even if you are not homosexual. What matters is the popular perception that you are gay.

High school can be an amazingly cruel place if you're different
 
In parts of the South it is.

Because intolerance doesn't exist in the north.

In that town, it could very easily be. It sounds like you don't have any familiarity with small white trash towns.
Temple is actually a nice little city, but just dismiss them as redneck bigots like you're so great.
 
Yeah, but that type of bullying can go on even if you are not homosexual. What matters is the popular perception that you are gay.

High school can be an amazingly cruel place if you're different

Yeah, I know. I'd say it's brave if an over weight kid got up there and did the same. In fact, just speaking in front of thousands is difficult enough for many.
 
Yeah, I know. I'd say it's brave if an over weight kid got up there and did the same. In fact, just speaking in front of thousands is difficult enough for many.

I was more pointing out it's silly to think someone couldn't be teased while being in the closet, when popular perception is what matters
 
I was more pointing out it's silly to think someone couldn't be teased while being in the closet, when popular perception is what matters

Oh, my bad. But yeah, from surveys I've seen even a lot of hetero kids are assumed gay and bullied for that reason.
 
from what we know so far

he is a brave kid in deed, parents should be proud!

wonder if this school had approval over his speech and they knew before hand?

And if the school had said he couldn't go there but he did anyway?
 
And if the school had said he couldn't go there but he did anyway?

then he would have broke the rules :shrug:
the school has every right to censor, limit and ban some speech
 
Props to a kid coming out like that. Even more so props to a kid in Texas for coming out like that.
 
did it break the establishment clause about religion?

I see (I'll pretend I don't know that the difference to you is that you liked what one kid said, but not the other). He didn't have the first amendment right to free speech and he also wasn't protected by freedom of religion but he did violate the establishment clause. Pretty much the Constitution only worked against that kid, I guess. Explain to me how he "broke" the establishment clause, and if you believe he did then what do you think should have happened to him for violating all those people's civil rights? How many months in jail? Certainly, his future should be trashed, I'm sure you would agree.
 
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At my HS, the valedictorian was the kid with the highest overall cumulative GPA (9-12). I was that kid and I remember being pissed off that I was "forced" to give a speech. I started my speech with the "space, the final frontier" opening

Did you follow with this?

Hi, my name is Timmy and I like turtles...... ;)
 
What makes people think anyone wants to hear about their sexual preferance, especially if they weren't asked about it in the first place?

What makes people think anyone wants to hear about their religion?
 
I see (I'll pretend I don't know that the difference to you is that you liked what one kid said, but not the other). He didn't have the first amendment right to free speech and he also wasn't protected by freedom of religion but he did violate the establishment clause. Pretty much the Constitution only worked against that kid, I guess. Explain to me how he "broke" the establishment clause, and if you believe he did then what do you think should have happened to him for violating all those people's civil rights? How many months in jail? Certainly, his future should be trashed, I'm sure you would agree.

20 lashes with a wet spaghetti noodle would be good. As far as his his future I've never seen pandering to the audience as a good thing. I'd rather be challenged.
 
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