A Perfect Response

Two weeks ago in this post, I told you about young Austin Wallis.  Austin is a high school vlogger who has "been on an affirming journey over the past year. He not only has discovered who he is, he has introduced the real him to his personal social circles and the public at large through a YouTube channel.  His videos are fun, silly, charming, and his relationships with teachers and friends are warm and mutually supportive. Life has been good, even granting him a handsome boyfriend."  Austin had been attending Houston's Lutheran North High School, a private religious school, when his headmaster Dallas Lusk called him into the office.  Mr Lusk then told Austin to go back in the closet and delete all his social media or be expelled.  Austin chose to leave Lutheran North and now attends classes elsewhere.  

Gay Dad and blogger Rob Watson wrote a thoughtful piece on the story from which the quote above comes.  Part of Rob's post included a letter to Headmaster Lusk and Austin Wallis which proves to be a Perfect Response to the controversy and delineating succinctly who really has the moral high ground in this situation.  I have posted the letter below so you may read Rob's inspiring words for yourself:

To Mr. Dallas Lusk, Head of School at Lutheran North, and former student Austin Willis:

Gentlemen.  As a father and a Christian, I wanted to weigh in on the current controversy in which you both are active participants. As a parent, I take a sincere interest in schools and their efforts to establish principles for their students, guide them into the world and create the new citizens who will lead us into the future. Whether or not my sons attend a particular school is irrelevant. Their peers, others who may be in their world, will have attended that school and will influence the world in which they live.

This has already happened at Lutheran North. Austin, you have already emerged as its product onto the world stage. You have made yourself known, from your joys to your recent challenges.

Yes. Mr. Lusk had a rule. That rule reads: “Lutheran High North reserves the right, within its sole discretion, to refuse admission of an applicant and/or to discontinue enrollment of a current student participating in, promoting, supporting or condoning: pornography, sexual immorality, homosexual activity or bisexual activity; or displaying an inability or resistance to support the qualities and characteristics required of a Biblically based and Christ-like lifestyle.”

I personally believe that “rules” are limited entities. They are based on bigger principles but address very specific situational elements. If the situation changes, the rule then does not have relevance. A city street might have a “rule” of 15 miles an hour due to high incidence of cross traffic. If all cross traffic is blocked, the “rule” needs to be adjusted and 40 miles and hour might be the appropriate limit to fulfill the bigger principle of public safety.

I am not necessarily saying that Mr. Lusk needs to throw out his rule, although its homophobia is evident, but I am suggesting that he needs to understand, support and advocate for the larger principle behind it. The fact is — there was a violation.

No worries, Austin.  Neither the rule, nor its underlying principle were violated by you.

The rule states that students must not participate “in promoting, supporting or condoning pornography, sexual immorality, homosexual activity (emphasis mine).” It does not say that you cannot be gay.

In his videos, Austin, you were clear on your values. You stated that you did not intend to have sexual relations until after you were married. There was no advocacy for sexual activity of any kind, nor recommendations to view porn. You were demonstratively affectionate in the videos, but not sexual.

If the school somehow wants to take issue with the affection you share on camera with your boyfriend and classify that as “gay sex”, then they need to read their Bibles. Your level of physicality is reflected there. Here is the description of the affection between Jesus and St. John at the last supper: “When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. (John) Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?”

I am not implying that the affectionate cuddling on Jesus’s chest by John was participating in, or advocating for gay sex. Likewise, your school cannot and should not be implying the same of you.

So, no Austin, you did not violate the rule. You also did not violate its principle to “to support the qualities and characteristics required of a Biblically based and Christ-like lifestyle.” You have been a model for the “golden rule.”

Mr Lusk, you, however, failed this principle in several ways. First, you bore “false witness” against Austin by using a regulation about sexual activity, when in his public pronouncements he specifically stated he has had none. Your punishment of him was not reprimanding him for something he has done, it is reprimanding him for who he is. That is bigotry, not a “Christ-like” lifestyle. Christ was not a bigot.

Second, his social media activity reaches out to encourage and send love to others and to save them from harm. Your own social media activity has been dishonest and self-serving. His is to make fun love-filled videos, yours has been to interact with the review site Yelp and fraudulently portray yourself as a consumer of your school’s services. You have bolstered your school’s online review standing by rating it the maximum of five stars, designed to influence its average total score. (See image below.)

Rubbing salt in the proverbial wound of your dishonesty was the statement you made in your self-review of the school. You stated, “The kids really feel welcomed and loved…” By your own behavior, they are made to feel loved and welcomed, unless they are gay. Then they are devastated.

This leads me to my biggest issue with your point of view and actions. As a parent, I deal with the holistic range of my sons. They are not perfect, despite what I might tell you on a given day. There are very few issues that would put them into a zero-sum game emotionally and spiritually however. They may do things that are absolutely wrong, but I help them find ways to do those things better, to make an improved choice, even if they cannot make it to a perfect one. For straight kids in your school, you follow this model. You work with them to be the best of who they are, to help them be the best they can be.

You have demonstrated there is no such scale for a gay student. He is gone, seen as worthless automatically. He has no chance, in your eyes, to better himself as a person, to achieve self-improvement. To you, if he is himself, he is worthless period. The rest of his behavior could be saintly, or he could be a charlatan, it would make no difference.

To me, that is a travesty, whether it was from a parent, from an educator and most certainly from a follower of Christ.

I don’t mean to be completely negative about your school, however. I have to acknowledge that it has produced a man who does live up to the heart of Christ, who lives honestly and who I would be thrilled for my sons to emulate.

He is the young man you forced to leave, Mr. Lusk.

Mr. Willis, that man is you.

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You Monday with Mozart features nearly 3 hours of melodic perfection in a presentation of two of his String Quintets, Number 2 in C Minor, KV406(516b) and Number 6 in E Flat Major, KV614.  Today's performance is by Czech Violinist and Composer Josef Suk who is joined by the Smetana Quartet for this recording.  More melodious Mozart is posted over on my tumblr in Mozart's String Quartet Number 17 in B Flat Major with a performance by the Hagen Quartet. 

Be sure to cruise on down for your Monday's Undies in the post below and check out the Hottie of the Day! over on my tumblr for additional underwear fetish fascination.  Thanks for the visit, see you again tomorrow.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!

*** Merry Christmas ***

Merry Christmas Everyone!  I ran across a Christmas Story in my feeds that touched my heart, so I thought I would share it with you in the Spirit of the Season.  I have featured articles written by Rob Watson of the Huff Post in the past and have always enjoyed his perspective.  Rob's article My wish for the family with two Dads who brought Christmas to a group of Homeless LGBT youth tells the heartwarming yet bittersweet tale of two Dads who live in the midwest.  Their story is one of compassion and sacrifice with that aforementioned bittersweet twist at the end.  I am trying to peke your interest without giving away any spoilers, so I guess you best take a moment to read what Rob has to say for yourselves.  You will be glad you did.   

Today's Special Sounds of the Season play list features the works of no less than 16 composers and countless unnamed musical artists.  Some of these Classical pieces are not the first that comes to mind when you think 'Christmas Music', however it it a truly marvelous listening experience which could provide a pleasant backdrop to your celebrations.   You may check out the complete play list in the video description by clicking here.  You may continue the celebration with a marvelous collection of video clip all of which feature Christmas light shows and scenery set to music performed by Mannheim Steamroller and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra over on my tumblr.  

Last but not least is one final collection of smokin' hotties decorating the page below the play list, any one of whom could fulfill a prime spot on anyone's Erotic Christmas Wish List.  I know I would love to find my stocking stuffed with one of these guys!  Over on my tumblr there is more sweet inspiration for your viewing pleasure in the  Christmas Candy Hottie of the Day!.  Thanks for sharing part of your Christmas with me.  May the Blessings of the Season be upon you all, no matter which holiday tradition you observe.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!  

Corey, A True Story

Truth is often stranger than fiction and some things you just cannot make up.  Such is the case in a story written by Gay Dad Rob Watson I read yesterday on his blog, evoL=.  Rob's post was about an abused boy abandoned to adoption by his birth family simply because he is Gay.  In the beginning of his post, Rob reiterates this quote by writer and LGBT youth advocate Cathy Kristofferson:

“Youth who come out to their parents are rejected by those parents at a rate of 50%, with 26% immediately thrown out of the house to become instantly homeless and many following soon after as a result of the physical and verbal abuse … Empowered by the gains in equality and acceptance with the heightened visibility the adult gay community has welcomed of late, youth are emboldened to come out at ever-younger ages while still reliant on parents who are a flip of the coin away from rejecting them.”

Rob goes on to relate the story of 15 year old (at the time) Corey who two years ago was indeed abandoned to adoption by his birth parents.  Corey was very ill at the time, near death from pneumonia and suicidal.  Corey reached out and was in a chat session with his friend Aubrey who he had taken to the Homecoming Dance as part of his 'staying in the closet out of fear' actions.  It was 2 AM when Aubrey's Mom came into her room to shoo her off to bed.  Aubrey's Mom, Mindy, saw this message on the screen: “I am desperate.  Things here are so bad, I want to slit my wrists.  I am not kidding.”.  Mindy inquired as to who it was and Aubrey told her it was Corey whom Mindy had met when he took Aubrey to homecoming.  

Mindy and Aubrey mounted a middle of the night rescue mission, gathering Corey from where he was and taking him home.  After a period of time in which he recovered from pneumonia with nary a peep from his birth parents, Corey returned home.  In the next few weeks the awareness of Corey being gay became the elephant in room that no one talked about.  Finally, unable to hide from himself any longer, Corey came out to his birth Mother, hoping she would help him keep the secret from his homophobic birth Father.  It was not to be.  

Corey's birth Mother called his birth Father who stormed home to confront his son.  “He was yelling and screaming about how a fag was living in his home and he can’t believe the devil was in his presence. I locked myself in my room when my brother came home. The first thing my father did was tell him about how his brother was nothing but a worthless fag,” Corey recalled.  His birth parents and his brother tried in vain to break into Corey's room where he had locked himself in while fearing for his safety.  In the early hours of the next morning after his birth family had passed out, Corey escaped and ran once again to Aubrey's home.  

Aubrey's entire family had come to know and love Corey, even after discovering he was Gay.  So they had a meeting where a unanimous vote was taken to welcome Corey into their home on a permanent basis.  Aubrey's Dad said “Initially we set Corey’s bedroom up in our basement. We gathered what we could since he didn’t bring anything with him. His first bedroom in our home was made of walls with moving blankets tacked to the ceiling. There was a bed, a nightstand, an old dresser and a box fan. That kid was so freaking happy. I think that moment really made Aubrey, Andrew and Mason appreciate what they have. Made me cry to see Corey with next to nothing and be happy about it.”

Over the next year, there were many challenges for Corey  and his new family.  Andrew and Aubrey were harassed at  school for taking in a Gay kid.  Dale and Mindy, Aubrey's Mom and Dad had some family and friends outright reject them because of Corey being Gay.  There were some initial rumblings from Corey's birth parents.  However when push came to shove at the adoption hearing, Corey's birth parents did not even bother to show up, preferring to wash their hands of their 'faggot son'.  As a result, the adoption was granted and Corey now had a loving family surrounding him.  

The entire family became LGBT advocates, the youngest son 11 year old Mason, even created a rainbow freedom art project dedicated to his new older brother.   Today Mindy describes the events of the last 3 years saying:

"I want the world to know that Corey is a beautiful human being.  I want them to know that any pain we went through or will go through is worth it.  Why is it worth it, because love is the most powerful force.  I want the world to see Corey’s pain and know it is not necessary.  Sexuality is such a small part of who we are.  First and foremost Corey is a loving, genuine, caring, intelligent human being.  Who he is attracted to and who he marries is of little significance.  I’m certain his partner will be as kind and loving as himself.  Isn’t that what this world needs?  I want the world to know that standing up for people who can’t stand up for themselves is vital to our survival.  Standing up for what is right is not always easy, but it is always right.  Our family fell in love with Corey for Corey…his sexuality did not change who he was.  I also want the world to know that we are a family.   I want people to understand that genetics are just science.  Families are built from unconditional love."

Now isn't that how it should be everywhere for everyone?  Stories like this inspire me to redouble my efforts to make this world a better place, especially for Gay youth who all to often pay the price for other people's ignorance and bigotry.  I hope you will join me in supporting the Gay youth who cross your path, every one of them deserves to live and be loved.  Corey's story had a happy ending whereas so many others do not, let's all do what we can to change that.  

(all quotes in this post borrowed from Rob Watson's post at evoL=)

Your Midweek Musical Moment features the Opus 7 Concerti a cinque for Oboe by Tomaso Albinoni performed by the Berlin Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Vittorio Negri featuring Hans Werner Watzig on Oboe I and Jurgen Abel on Oboe II.  Included in the play list are No. 2 in C for 2 oboes, strings and contiuo; No. 3 in B flat for oboe, strings and coninuo; No. 4 in G for strings and continuo; No. 5 in C for oboe, strings and continuo; No. 6 in D for oboe, strings and continuo; No. 7 in A for strings and continuo; No. 8 in D for 2 oboes, strings and continuo; No. 9 in F for oboe, strings and continuo; No. 10 in B flat for strings and continuo; No. 11 in C for 2 oboes, strings and continuo and No. 12 in C for oboe, strings and continuo.  You may hear additional Oboe and Violin Concerti by Albinoni over on my tumblr.

Then it is once again time for all those hunks and hotties splashing about the world's pools, beaches and baths to display themselves below the video in this week's edition of Wet Wednesday.  There is also the 'Caution:  Sexy When Wet' Hottie of the Day! for your further inspiration over on my tumblr.  Thanks for stopping by, see you again soon.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!