Remember the goal is to remove anything positive about gays / trans kids, to remove any anti-bullying programs, with the goal of wiping out LGBTQIA visibility in society. That will lead back to the horrible abuse of kids who are different as in the past. We have to find a way to stop this. Remember this is the same school that had the fundamentalist religious person on the board sneak a religious film crew in to take video and interview students. Please look at the actions the board / school districts have taken against LGBTQIA students. The effort was described below by one person interviewed, but to put it in my own words, they want to roll back all advances in acceptance, tolerance, and equality of anyone who is not straight and cis. To remove all protections for kids who are different, who might be LGBTQIA, or not straight or not cis. It is to enshrine church views / doctrines into rules and laws. Return society to what as allowed in the 1950s, which these people feel makes go happy because it makes them feel happy, good, and important. Hugs. Scottie
“What I see driving it now is an ugly push to deny LGBTQ rights and identity that, in some states, is being enshrined in law,” he said.
The Keller ISD school board recently passed policies decried as discriminatory to LGBTQ students.
Timber Creek High School parents received an email Friday night saying that students would no longer perform the show this spring.(NBC5)
A Keller high school production of The Laramie Project — a play about the aftermath of the 1998 murder of a gay student in Wyoming — was canceled.
Timber Creek High School parents received an email Friday night saying that students would no longer perform the show this spring. The email did not provide an explanation.
Community members are now rallying to reinstate the production, launching an online petition that has received more than 1,300 signatures so far.
“This play is a poignant depiction of queer history,” the petition reads. “By banning this play, we are not only suppressing an important piece of history but also denying our students a chance to understand and empathize with the struggles faced by the LGBTQ+ community. … It’s essential that our education system works towards creating awareness about these issues rather than shying away from them.”
In the brief email to families, school leaders said they are “working on developing an alternative production opportunity for our students.”
“We understand that it is unusual for a production change like this to take place. Students will still have an opportunity to read, discuss, and analyze the play during the school day,” they wrote.
District spokesman Bryce Nieman said in a statement that the decision was “made by many stakeholders.”
“The decision to move forward with another production at Timber Creek High School was based on the desire to provide a performance similar to the ones that have created much excitement from the community, like this year’s Keller ISD musical productions of Mary Poppins and White Christmas,” Nieman wrote in an email.
Mary Anne Weatherred, whose son was supposed to perform in The Laramie Project, said she’s concerned about a pattern of anti-LGBTQ decisions in Keller.
If people don’t agree with the message of the show, she said, then they shouldn’t come watch it.
“But they don’t need to take it away from the kids,” she said.
The Laramie Project, which is often performed in high schools across the country, explores the community’s reaction to the murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay 21-year-old University of Wyoming student who was attacked, tied to a fence in a field and left to die.
His brutal death became a symbol of anti-LGBTQ violence and helped fuel the fight for expanded hate crime legislation.
Judy Shepard, Matthew’s mother and president of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, said she’s seen a spike in attempts to cancel productions of the show in recent years.
“My heart is broken when people still refuse to see how important this work is,” she said.
Shepard said the play can hold particular resonance for high schoolers, who are only a few years younger than her son was when he died.
“It might scare some kids. And it might wake some kids up. And it might make kids want to make change — all of those things. And they have the power to do it,” she added.
Roughly 25 years since his murder, many lawmakers and local school boards are targeting the rights of LBGTQ students.
Keller school trustees voted last year to establish rules stating that district employees “shall not promote, encourage, or require the use of pronouns that are inconsistent with a student’s or other person’s biological sex.” This means someone could intentionally use the wrong pronouns when referring to a transgender or nonbinary child.
Before that, the school board approved a policy prohibiting library books across all grade levels that include the discussion of gender fluidity.
A Keller ISD trustee resigned earlier this month after parental outcry over a film crew that was brought into a school without families’ knowledge or consent. Parents were enraged when they saw the crew was part of an evangelical network from the Netherlands.
The Matthew Shepard Foundation’s goal is to “create an environment where people are afforded an opportunity to discuss the play and its messages, the hate they encounter in their own lives, and how they can work collectively to build a more understanding and compassionate community.”
“We know educators are worried about the current wave of legislation mandating what they can and can’t teach,” the association’s director, Jennifer Katona, said in a statement. “What’s concerning about these results is the potential impact of self-censorship. School theatre should be a way for students to explore diverse perspectives, which helps them develop empathy and critical thinking.”
A different North Texas district recently triggered national outrage when a transgender teenager was removed from his part in the school musical. The community rallied to get him reinstated in his leading male role.
Howard Sherman, managing director of the performing arts center at Baruch College in Manhattan, is an arts advocate who tracks and fights against instances of theater censorship in schools.
“What I see driving it now is an ugly push to deny LGBTQ rights and identity that, in some states, is being enshrined in law,” he said.
Hearing that Keller ISD wanted to instead put on a show more like Mary Poppins or White Christmas, Sherman said those are great shows that have a place on the high school stage.
“But they shouldn’t be the only kinds of shows because that is not preparing students for college, for the real world,” Sherman said. “Students shouldn’t be relegated to escapism or assumed to not be capable of handling mature themes.”
The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas.
The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative, with support from Bobby and Lottye Lyle, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Garrett and Cecilia Boone, The Meadows Foundation, The Murrell Foundation, Solutions Journalism Network, Southern Methodist University, Sydney Smith Hicks and the University of Texas at Dallas. The Dallas Morning News retains full editorial control of the Education Lab’s journalism.
Earlier this month this same school district was infiltrated by an evangelical group who filmed students without their permission. A school board member who reportedly helped sneak in the film crew later resigned.
Texas high school production of The Laramie Project – a play about the aftermath of the 1998 murder of a gay student in Wyoming – was canceled, without explanation. School board has recently passed other policies that discriminate against LGBTQ students https://t.co/OFfyLKsQ3H
More than 25 years after the murder of Matthew Shepard, young people still face hate and death due to their LGBTQ+ identities. @KellerISD should be ashamed for cancelling "The Laramie Project," which shows how hate poisons communities. https://t.co/MVP9JCwlCq
Well, you can’t let good ChristStain children learn that the hate their parents are spewing lead to the brutal death of an innocent young man whose only crime was being born the way he was born.
One of the reasons for Theatre to be a part of our lives is that it causes people to think. Mary Poppins is not about thinking. White Christmas is not about thinking.
The Laramie project is intended to get people to think. For that reason alone, it would be anathema in Texas .
Meanwhile, the 2nd grade rendition of “Showgirls” (featuring pageant winners Marabelle and Lindsey!) will continue to be performed at the Timber Creek Saloon.
I still remember all those years ago when we had a memorial for Matthew Shepard. We were handed out stickers(which I still have) that read “We’re all Matthew Shepard” It’s the truth these days.
In the seventies, of the six plays we did each year, one was required to be a classic. After casting, but before rehearsal, Lysistrata had to be replaced with The Trojan Women due to one Harper Valley hypocrite.
What are the odds that they will “chose” Godspell or some other Christian-infused pablum? Not Jesus Christ Superstar, that is too “rock,” and not the Jesus-Is-My-Rock type, either.
Thank you, Ten Bears. What completely unhinged batshittery totally disconnect from history and trying to remake reality so that all they believe is not total cow shit. That is so clear, but what is so unbelievable to me is the public still supports these people and their crazy political candidates. What the hell is wrong with the US and our education system that failed so many people. Hugs. Scottie
Meet Barbara Jones, the court-appointed monitor over the Trump Org’s financial activity in NY. AKA: “the babysitter.” If they try anything shady with the business, she’ll know. The fact that Trump has to answer to a woman is just too fucking perfect. pic.twitter.com/Ob7DRhsMsg
OT. That’s why they called themselves Christians so they can commit the most heinous crimes against their country behind the mighty fortress of “God”. That’s why MTG and Boobert are so zealous about not giving another dime to support Ukraine. They are all making their first millions by being traitors. They all talked about God and Guns, so fucking filthy inside.
News of money previously given to House Speaker Mike Johnson’s congressional campaign by Russian nationals has re-emerged after the Republican rejected a $95 billion foreign aid bill passed in the Senate.
In 2018, a group of Russians were able to donate to Johnson’s bid for the Louisiana seat he eventually won as the money was funneled through the Texas-based American Ethane company.
While American Ethane was co-founded by American John Houghtaling, at the time it was 88 percent owned by three Russian nationals—Konstantin Nikolaev, Mikhail Yuriev, and Andrey Kunatbaev. Nikolaev is known to be a top ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
A spokesperson for Johnson previously assured in 2018 that the campaign returned the money that was given to them by American Ethane once it was “made aware of the situation.” There was no indication that Johnson’s campaign team willfully broke federal law, which makes it illegal for a campaign to knowingly accept donations from a foreign-owned corporation, a foreign national, or any company owned or controlled by foreign nationals.
A number of social media users have now brought up the campaign money amid Johnson’s opposition to the long-debated foreign aid bill, which would send $60 billion to Ukraine as the country continues to fight off Russia’s invasion. In a press conference on February 14, Johnson said he would not bring the bill recently passed by the Senate back from a House vote and that the “Republican-led House will not be jammed or forced into passing” the foreign aid bill.
The same day, Ukraine-based blog Fake Off posted on X, formerly Twitter: “US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson received campaign contributions from American Ethane, a company 88% owned by three Russians. Now, do you understand why he was categorically against the aid to Ukraine?”
Another social media user added, while sharing a clip of Johnson’s press conference: “Astonishing that the Speaker of the House for the United States Government accepts money from Russia. Konstantin Nikolaev, Mikhail Yuriev, and Andrey Kunatbaev own 88 percent of American Ethane.”
If we take away their phones, how are they going to text goodbye to their parents before they're shot in a mass shooting? pic.twitter.com/oVtWhbSeWx
Seriously I have long said this was the goal of the anti-same sex marriage people. They admitted it years ago. Make the idea of it harder and harder to get, and more and more meaningless in that it creates two types of marriage. The one the Christian right prefers as a full benefit marriage, the other highly restricted as a type of civil union, but not a full marriage. What I have never understood is why this is so important to them, the Christian haters. Is it because it gives recognition to those they call an abomination? Is it just so they can look down on and feel better than some other people? What drives this desperate urge of them to keep what is basically a civil right only to themselves? If someone can explain it to me, I would be grateful. I never understood such hate and effort to have special privileges that the Christian republican right wants for themselves. Hugs. Scottie
This trash thinks he is both a Christian and worth to be a legislator. There is no Christian state! The US by the constitution can not have a state / national religion, and children who are not following their strict church doctrines are not filth. A 16 year old was beaten in a bathroom for being different! In the US. And this clown is proud of it. Is that what we want the US to be, to look like? I saw this and I was stunned at the absolute inhumanity of what he is saying. Hugs. Scottie
“We are a religious state and we are going to fight it to keep that filth out of the state of Oklahoma because we are a Christian state — we are a moral state. We want to lower taxes and let people be able to live and work and go to the faith they choose.
“We are a Republican state and I’m going to vote my district, and I’m going to vote my values, and we don’t want that in the state of Oklahoma.” GOP Oklahoma state Sen. Tom Woods, when asked about the death of nonbinary teen student Nex Benedict.
Listen to the applause below.
After a non-binary teen’s death, GOP lawmakers were asked why they obsessed over the lives of LGBTQ people.
State Sen. Tom Woods gave the worst possible answer: he wanted to “keep that filth out of the state of Oklahoma because we are a Christian state.”https://t.co/HrIOkhRVXA
There’s a lot to be disgusted by here, but do not overlook the fact that Christian nationalist language is being used to justify the death of a non-binary student — with absolute authority & confidence. ———
That “filth” was A CHILD !! To use one of their own parlances, “That was one of God’s children” of whose demise this cruel, evil, self-righteous & souless creature glories in.
White Nationalists absolutely believe that. I remember having a step dad who was a licensed Pastor who was one of them. Blacks and Jews were also singled out as Satan’s spawn and therefore hating and even killing them was seen as righteous.
Dehumanizing people makes it easy to be cruel to them.
So my take away here is in your/Oklahoma’s definition of”filth “ is non binary children . The sooner they commit suicide or die off the better Oklahoma will be. It’s so damming Christian of you . You heartless cold bigoted snot . How the fuck can you even look at yourself in a mirror. No I guess you type cast no image
Well, they already passed a law here in Oklahoma to take away the option for non binary people to change their birth certificate and they proposed a bill this legislative session to do the same for the rest of us.
With Steve Bannon cheering, CPAC opens with these chilling words: “Welcome to the end of democracy.” The Trump cult rallies round the fight for theocracy. https://t.co/EvWsviZvKA
“Welcome to the end of democracy. We're here to overthrow it completely. We didn't get all the way there on January 6th, but we will endeavor to get rid of it and replace it with this right here…Because all glory is to God.” pic.twitter.com/55FWokeeVI
That this complete buffoon is even considered for the office of president is such a shitshow it blows my mind. That he is the leader of a cult following that seems as clownish and backward as he is. I watched Jimmy Kimmel the other day, even posted it, where they asked trump republicans something they claimed that Joe Biden said. The people being asked the question then went on rants about how that showed Biden clearly unfit for office and so on. When told it was really tRump that said it those same people complete changed their view finding somehow to praise tRump for it. It was great if they thought tRump said it, great stuff, but if Biden said it they wanted him put in a home. It shows they are a cult, and it also shows their ability to think and reason. Hugs. Scottie
“I sat with the pilots. the best-looking human beings I’ve ever seen. Not my thing. but they are handsome. Central casting. Better looking than Tom Cruise and taller.
“I see my staff and I said, ‘Let me ask you a question. Is the president of the United States allowed to give himself the Congressional Medal of Honor because I did a very brave thing?’
“I was so brave. Am I allowed to do it? And they said, ‘Sir, it would not be a good thing to do.’ Now here’s the problem with that story. The fake news media will lead tomorrow, ‘Donald Trump wanted to give himself the congressional.’” – Hair Furor, today at CPAC.
Wikipedia: The Medal of Honor is the United States Armed Forces’ highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians, and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. The medal is normally awarded by the President of the United States (the commander in chief of the armed forces) and is presented “in the name of the United States Congress.”
Trump brings up the "J6 hostages" and claims, "there has never been in the history of our country a group of people treated the way they've been treated." pic.twitter.com/jT9eQTzN3Z
We've reached the ranting about water pressure part of Trump's speech: "In Beverly Hills, you pay a fortune in taxes, they say you can only brush your teeth once a day" pic.twitter.com/fQJDfP3Qb7
The insanity and narcissism is beyond belief!! WTF is he talking about?? Bravery in what way?? He is completely off the rails with everything. I want to spit on anyone who says they still support this guy. Or slap them into reality.
20 years ago, any one of those statements would have immediately made him a laughingstock and his political career would have been finished. I miss those days.
“Is the president of the United States allowed to give himself the Congressional Medal of Honor because I did a very brave thing?’”
How ANY veteran or active duty service member supports this fucking shitbag, I’ll never know. He’s never faced death and terror in battle, he’s never shit in the woods or slept in the dirt. He’s never been away from family and friends for months on end (unless he wanted to be). He has ZERO understanding of service or sacrifice or honor or commitment.
And let’s not forget that he dodged the draft, I think, 3 times due to ‘bone spurs’ in his foot during the Vietnam War. Sgt Bone Spurs deserves NOTHING from this country, PERIOD!
One of the most irritating things Trump says is, “never before in the history of our country…” blah blah blah. As if Trump has a clear grasp of what happened last week, let alone the 250-year history of our country.
Exactly. And Trump himself is responsible for all the best things that ever happened, and Biden, the Democrats and RINOs are responsible for all the worst.
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