A new controversy to discuss:

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First public gay high school to open in NYC

Monday, July 28, 2003 Posted: 3:18 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) -- New York City is creating the nation's first public high school for gays, bisexuals and transgender students.

The Harvey Milk High School will enroll about 100 students and open in a newly renovated building in the fall. It is named after San Francisco's first openly gay city supervisor, who was assassinated in 1978.

"I think everybody feels that it's a good idea because some of the kids who are gays and lesbians have been constantly harassed and beaten in other schools," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Monday. "It lets them get an education without having to worry."

(For complete story: http://www.cnn.com/2003/EDUCATION/07/28/gay.school.ap/index.html)

-- Anonymous, July 28, 2003

Answers

Why are we as Christians allowing the world to take over. I am sorry I don't think there should be such a school. It sends the message we are fine with that type of life style, when the Bible says it's wrong. Are we ever going to take back what the devil has stolen from us? I know God loves us one and all it's send he hates.

-- Anonymous, July 29, 2003

Linda, that's right let's not acknowledge that there are young people who are gay and while we are not acknowledging this devilish thought let's also not acknowledge that young people are sexually active, or use drugs. Let's take back what the devil has stolen from us by burying our heads into the sands. Let us take back what the devil has stolen from us by sitting on the porch and talking about the good old days. Let's not be a light but let us be the ones to let darkness reign. [I DON'T THINK SO!]

Rather than be the constant voice of opposition let the Christian voice be one that brings healing and wholeness. I am certain that not only are gay children in the Milk High School, they are in your local high school as well. And if your church is big enough they may be there as well. As a matter of fact some of the responders might be lesbian, gay, sadists and masochists etc etc

-- Anonymous, July 30, 2003

Shaunna, my daughter and I were discussing this article yesterday. We are former New York City folks, (Manhattan, lower east side). New York City is probably the second most tolerant city towards gays and lesbians in this country. San Francisco being the first. In the early 70's gays were attacked by police in the west village and many were injured out of that came a concerted effort for the city to address the treatment of gays and lesbian, out of that came the gay pride parade which attracts thousands every year. Before becoming a minister I was a professional singer/actress in broadway and off broadway shows, there are a large percentage of gays in showbiz. I was shocked for I grew up in all black neighborhoods in Cleveland, Ohio. And had never been around gays and lesbian, for if someone was in my neighborhood, they got beat up and were forced to move. So I came to NYC that all gays are bad and they chose that life style. What I found were wonderful people, who helped me with my career. I also learned what they had to endure. I personally believe people are born gay, I do not think it is something they can change. As one gay man said to be why in the world would someone consciously chose to be attacked. I am also a social worker and worked in foster care and criminal court in NYC and encountered many gay and lesbian children. Most share that by the time they were five they knew they were different. My kids in foster care were there because families, would abuse them because they were gay, or they looked effiminate. It broke my heart so many times, for they children never got out of the system, then they would go to public schools, public schools in NYC can be rough, they would then get beat up viciously, and would be harrassed. The suicide rate for gay and lesbian children was very high for death was their only alternative. A 16 year old should not have to kill themselves because they do not fit in. The Gay men health crisis a support organization in NYC was one of the first groups to raise awareness of this issue, they were also the first to set up Aid testing and crisis counseling, a model that is still used in Aids clinics in the U.S. I had the opportunity to work with them when I was an Aids Chaplain at an Aids Hospice. They were also the first group in NYC to reach out to help IV drug users in NYC who were black and hispanic. I am troubled that there needs to be a Gay H.S. anywhere, for what it says is that the children have not been safe! One of the areas that we as straight people need to work on, is helping children in schools acknowedge the value of every human being. NYC is facing massive budget deficits, teachers are being laid off, so the fact that they are opening this school, says to me there have been numerous injuries or death and lawsuits. These children need our prayers.

One last thing we in the church (all denominations) need to talk honestly about sexually. Not everyone in this world is straight and as was said earlier gays/lesbians are in our churches,They are posting on the board and some are in the closet married with children. We as clergy will have to counsel these members, we will do their funerals. The A.M.E. Church is VERY clear that it will not ordain gays and lesbian and all Methodist denominations have this policy but as Methodist we are called to love one another and share the good news of Christ. This is a discussion that is much overdo.

When I was at my first A.M.E. annual conference, I was schocked by the number of gay men there. Many were musicians, but they were treated with love. Shaunna once you are an ordained minister you will be told things that you never heard of. You will have to turn to God for guidance.

-- Anonymous, July 30, 2003

Ministering to people of different sexual persuasions is a reality for those that are ordained, and those that are waiting on deck like myself.

The main way that Satan lulls the body of Christ to sleep is DENIAL. We deny that things are happening. The key is CONFRONTATION, no retreat.

-- Anonymous, July 30, 2003

I love this forum, we all have different views, but we all serve the same God and we know He is in charge. I understand what each of you are saying, but as Christians we have a responsibility not to let the world take over ourchurches, homes schools and communities. These young people need guidance and directions in the path of our Lord. A school for gays is not biblical. Our clergy can minister to the young people and if we belive that God can change things and people thats all we need.We should not put a bandage on the sores of our communities and think God is not going to hold us accountable. Prayer will changes every situation, even make a gaay minister straight.

-- Anonymous, July 31, 2003

What's wrong with you Shaunna? Are you so obsessed with the Bible that you feel the need to be a bigot? Isn't that a tad hypocritical? Supposedly Jesus loves everyone, and gay people aren't gay by choice, it's biological. I find it shameful that you can treat human beings in such contempt. While I don't believe that segregation is good, I don't have a problem with gay people. They are people just like you and me, and to treat them otherwise is morally wrong. If you cling to the Bible like this you may end up doing the opposite of God's will.

-- Anonymous, August 08, 2003

To address the person that referred to me as a bigot:

A bigot is a person that is solely devotedy to her own prejudices. I am not overly obsessed with the Bible and frankly, that is the reason why I am in seminary: to get to know the living Word of God, and work as a mad scientist testing the Word on myself before I attempt to help others apply it to their own lives.

Jesus does love everyone, but he hates certain actions. Do you have concrete proof that gay people are biologically predisposed to being homosexual? If you do, I'd love to see it.

To be frank, you have never seen me treat anyone in ANYWAY, positive or negative, so you have leaped to a hugely inaccurate conclusion about my character. I have lesbian students who I love dearly and treat as my own blood relatives, yet they know that I do not condone their actions and neither does God.

I do not believe segregation is a good thing either, so I will agree with you there. If we are going to continue to use taxpayers dollars to segregate people into safe havens, then that would have been useful when I was caught defending myself from other blacks fistfights in high school every day simply because I was the only black in magnet schools (mind you, this was in the NINETIES.)

I am above name calling, but TRUE bigots jump to assumptions concerning their perceptions without garnering the FACTS first.

-- Anonymous, August 11, 2003

Shaunna although the post referred to you by name, he was probably referring to Linda whose caustic comments could easily be interpreted according to your definition as bigoted.

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2003