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!

Hypocrisy, Homophobia & Stupidity

I am sad today and heartbroken over the inhumanity being perpetrated by 'Christians', purportedly out of 'love'.  You are all probably aware of the death of transgendered teen Leelah Alcorn in December.  Leelah's suicide by walking in front of a speeding 18 wheeler was the direct result of her parents refusal to accept and love Leelah without reservation because of their 'strongly held religious beliefs'.  The first person that Leelah came out to was her best friend Abby Jones.  Even in death, Leelah's parents continued to pile indignity upon indignity.  They refused to accept Leelah's death as a suicide, continually referring to her with male pronouns, and blame anyone but themselves for the death of their 'son'.  Leelah was meant to be buried at the Northeast Church of Christ in Cincinnati, but transgender activists who wanted to pay their respects found a note on the door saying it had been moved to a small, private service.  What is more sad than anything is Abby's mother, Danielle Pieper-Jones, who said her daughter did not until know about the ceremony on 2 January until after the event.   Leelah's mother even 'called and blamed her for everything that got posted online even though Leelah's page was public.'  This series of events is the perfect example of religious hypocrisy caused by fear and homophobia.  The parents are more fearful of their public image than capable of loving their own child unconditionally.  I have experienced this myself and I am very familiar with the pain Leelah felt which led to her death.  May she rest in peace.

Then there is the story of Vanessa Collier, a married Lesbian raising two children with her wife who died an accidental death.  A funeral service was planned at New Hope Ministries in Denver.  Like at my Mother's funeral, a beautiful slide show depicting the events in Vanessa's life was prepared to be shown during the visitation and service.   Moments prior to the funeral, the video slideshow was reviewed by church officials.  The church asked for the video to be edited and the image of Collier’s proposal to her wife be removed from the video before the service could go forward.  Collier’s family refused to remove the photos from the memorial video.  Pastor Ray Chavez said the memorial could not continue as long as pictures of Collier and her wife were going to be displayed. He said there could be no indication that Collier was gay.  The funeral was canceled Saturday by the church 15 minutes after its scheduled start time, despite an open casket in place and about 170 mourners in attendance.  The funeral was moved across the street and proceeded at Newcomer Funeral Home. 

About four dozen supporters gathered outside of the church on Tuesday afternoon in protest, chanting “Give us an apology!” and “Shame on Pastor Ray!” Security guards were stationed in front of the building to ensure none of the marchers made their way onto the property.  “You will not find Jesus at New Hope but you will find hypocrisy,” said a sign carried at the demonstration. “Indignity in death,” read another.  Indignity indeed.  It is a sad shame that religions based on the unconditional love of a higher power than ourselves for us continually fail to display that love and acceptance but preach hate and exclusion.  No one should be disrespected in death, especially by those who by design are supposed to love us unconditionally.  Parents and Preachers, some of them should never be allowed to have any contact much less influence in a child's life.  Too sad that that is not always the case, just goes to show you how much work is left to do. 

We have talked about Parents and Preachers, now let's talk about Politicians who are rife with Stupidity as well as Hypocrisy and Homophobia.  Legislators in Texas has only just convened, but there are already three different bills proposed that are designed specifically to help people discriminate against LGBT people. As previously reported, one would allow businesses to use their religious beliefs as justification for violating nondiscrimination protections, another would punish clerks for issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples should marriage equality become law, and now lawmakers are discussing a possible third bill that would actually prohibit Texas municipalities from even extending LGBT protections in the first place. 

The Texas Observer reports:

Texas Pastor Council Executive Director David Welch, whose group is leading efforts to repeal equal rights ordinances in Plano and Houston, told the Observer the legislation would prohibit political subdivisions of the state from adding classes to nondiscrimination ordinances that aren’t protected under Texas or federal law—neither of which covers LGBT people.

“It should be a uniform standard statewide, and cities can’t just arbitrarily create new classes that criminalize a whole segment of the majority of the population,” Welch said. “It’s just self-evident that they’re going to try to do it city by city. We’re dealing with a broad public policy that creates criminal punishments. That’s a pretty serious issue, and when it’s based on a special agenda by a small, tiny fragment of the population … that’s a legitimate need and reason for the state Legislature to act.”

“Hopefully this time in Texas the response will be more immediate, and I hope the legislators listen to the business community and do not do something that’s going to really hurt the Texas economy,” Minter said.

It’s been widely speculated that Plano passed its equal rights ordinance in response to Toyota’s decision to relocate a major facility to the city, after the company’s employees expressed concern about the lack of LGBT protections in Texas. Plano-based Frito-Lay also sent a letter to the City Council in support of the equal rights ordinance.

But Welch dismissed the argument that efforts to undo local nondiscrimination ordinances will hurt business, calling it “a red herring.” He said one of the engines of Texas’ strong economy is its “family-friendly” climate.

“We’re not going to let corporations, Toyota or anybody else, come in and dictate to the community what our standards are going to be on a moral level and religious level,” Welch said. “Companies like Frito-Lay had better take thought of who their customers are before they start trying to step up and ramrod these things though, because we will remember.”

 I want to assure Mr Welch and the rest of his ilk who are so ate up with homophobia that their hypocrisy is the only action available to them.  Republican legislators in Texas are stupid enough to try and enshrine hypocrisy, homophobia and stupidity in state law.  Is it wrong of me to wish death and dismemberment to them all?  Yes, but all our lives would be so much bettor if Parents, Preachers and Politicians were not stuck in the Stone Age.  We are winning the battle but we still have a long way to go.

You Musical Moment for today features The Spanish Guitar in Renaissance and Baroque Music with a beautiful interpretive recording by Jose Miguel Moreno.  Over on my tumblr you will find exquisite French Baroque music played by the great lutenist Michael Schaeffer.

Below the play list is this week's edition of Wet Wednesday with lithesome lads prancing on the playa or soaping it up in the shower, all of whom are just sexy as hell.  Speaking of sexy as hell, check out Tommy, Your Hottie of the Day! over on my tumblr.  Thanks for the visit and listening to me rant.  See you again soon.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!

Towleroad.com, ThinkProgress.org and LGBTQNation.com all contributed to this post.

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One Last Look

This year is rapidly coming to a close.  This being New Years Eve and all, we have one last chance to do or say something in 2014.  As if you did not already know, I am a tremendous sports fan and am passionate about the NFL and especially my Dallas Cowboys.  My last look back at 2014 involves two sides of the same coin in the biggest sports story of the year.  I just so happens that the story comes out of the NFL and my Cowboys play a part in it.  Yesterday, Outsports announced its final two 2014 year end awards, both of which reflect the two sides of the NFL coin.  Let's start with the good side of the coin before we get to the bad and ugly on the other side.  

Outsports announced Michael Sam as their Person of the Year.  No other person or story rocked the news pages as well as the sports pages like the story of Michael Sam.  Michael,  who after successfully completing his Senior season at Missouri as SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year came out publicly simultaneously in the New York Times, the ESPN Sports Network and Outsports.  This set in motion the drama that is continuing to this day.  Michael was drafted by the St Louis Rams, but not until almost the end of the last round, far further down than someone of his talents and pedigree should have.  Ultimately the Rams cut Michael as if anything the Rams are knee deep in high cotton when it comes to defensive lineman.  So the cut was understandable on that factor.  

This is where the Cowboys come in.  The Cowboys, a few days after Michael was cut by the Rams, signed him to their Practice Squad.  Michael worked hard to improve his skills and did not prove to be any distraction in the locker room, on or off the field.  Unfortunately, Michael was never called up from the Practice Squad, has since been released by the Cowboys and is currently out of football.  Michael still retains the dream of playing in the NFL and is actively working towards that goal.  He also does not believe it is solely his skill set that has him as the only NFL rookie with a similar pedigree without a spot on a team.  Neither do I.  While I do not believe my Cowboys to be homophobic and that Michael could have contributed on the defense this year, the powers that be were working behind the scenes to limit the amount of history that Michael was going to make this year and that was not to include an appearance in a regular season game.  As much progress as has been made in pro sports in general and the NFL in particular, we still have a long way to go.  No matter how far that journey takes us, Michael Sam's place in NFL and LGBT history is already set in stone.  Let's hope he can add to the story in the very near future.  

The other side of the NFL coin was personified by Outsports Asshole of the Year.  I could not agree with their selection  former NFL head coach and current NBC NFL Analyst Tony Dungy more.  Dungy's vociferous homophobic rants in the wake of Michael Sam's coming out were based on the Evangelical Christian Handbook of Homophobia.  Dungy was also the public face of the Old School NFL cadre whose morality was always based more on money than morals.  It is a shame that those such as Dungy and his backward thinking should continue to have so great a public forum to spout dreck and drivel about persons or things of which he has no genuine knowledge.  Dungy is unapologetic and recalcitrant in his homophobia and so richly deserves the moniker Asshole of the Year.   

For your final Musical Moment of 2014, I have chosen the Quartet for Violin, Viola and 2 Cellos in A Major by Russian Pianist, Composer and Music Professor Anton Arensky.  Today performance is by the Music Department of Stony Brook University represented by Soovin Kim, Violin; Nicholas Cords, Viola; Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir, Cello and Colin Carr, Cello.  You may also hear Arensky's Piano Trio Number 1 in D Minor performed by the Beaux Arts Trio over on my tumblr.  

I have some super hot selections for this years final Wet Wednesday collection full of svelte studs scurrying about the beaches and pools or steaming up the showers of the world around us.  These guys will make you want to take your clothes off and get wet all over right along with them.  You will find them awaiting your perusal below the video.  Then if your thirst for wonderful wetness still abounds, try slaking it a bit with the Macho Mojito Hottie of the Day! over on my tumblr.  Thanks for a great year, join me again tomorrow  as we begin another year's journey that is Nichevo.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!