Let’s Stick It To Dolores (For Real)!!!
Professor Umbridge strikes again, this time in the muggle world. Our friends at Advocates for Youth (check em out) have put out this action alert about a high school principal who is abusing her position of power to spread homophobia and harass the students at her school. Sound familiar? Just as Professor Umbridge created an atmosphere of fear and intolerance at Hogwarts, so too is Principal Daphne Beasley at her Memphis High School. This time it is for real, and we need to join together as a Dumbledore’s Army for the real world to stop it. Check out this alert and follow the link to an action center where you can easily send emails and stick it to Dolores!
-Will Delphia – HP Alliance
In a Memphis high school, Principal Daphne Beasley made an announcement over the PA system demanding that teachers provide her with the names of all “hetero and homo” student couples. Principal Beasley then publicly posted the list in her office.
Two boys – Nicholas and Andrew – suddenly found that the whole school new about their relationship. Worse still, Principal Beasley called Nicholas’ mother to inform her that her son was part of a gay couple. Ms. Beasley also told the mother that she did not like homosexuals and that homosexuality would not be tolerated in her school.
It’s time to take a stand against anti-GLBT harassment in our schools.
Write to the Memphis City school board to demand that Principal Beasley be reprimanded for her actions and that policies be implemented to protect students from future harassment by school staff.
Click here to take action now!
Principal Beasley was apparently worried about “public displays of affection.” But for students like Nicholas and Andrew, her all-too-public display of intolerance carried real consequences. Not only have the boys experienced increased harassment at school by faculty and fellow students, but Nicholas was not selected for a recent community service trip because he might “embarrass” the school by engaging in gay affection.
The American Civil Liberties Union plans on to file suit on behalf of Nicholas and Andrew charging that the school violated the boys’ Constitutional right to freedom of association.
It’s time for the Memphis City School Board to protect its students – not Principal Beasley’s homophobia. Write to them today!
This incident is an outrage – but please keep in mind that respectful emails are more likely to be effective. If you have a personal story about the struggles of GLBT youth (and you feel comfortable sharing this story), School Board members need to hear from you.
The Memphis City school board’s upcoming decision is about so much more than one principal’s closed-minded views of GLBT students. It’s about implementing policies that protect the rights and safety of all students – regardless of sexual orientation.
Let’s show them the world is watching. Together, we can make a difference.
Posted in Harry Potter Alliance
May 15th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
[...] Davidya wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptThis time it is for real, and we need to join together as a Dumbledore’s Army for the real world to stop it. Check out this alert and follow the link to an action center where you can easily send emails and stick it to Dolores! … [...]
May 15th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
The links you posted wont work
And i cannot believe this is actually happening. Its disguisting me that someone whos supposed to give protection and encouragement to growing minds is allowed near them!
May 16th, 2008 at 12:50 am
the links are now fixed, sorry about that!
May 16th, 2008 at 4:17 am
The links still won’t work for me, maybe it’s just my computer though.
May 16th, 2008 at 9:18 am
This is outrageous!
“demand that Principal Beasley be reprimanded”… No Way! That woman should be fired, and never, ever allowed to work in the education system. Her pension – or whatever that is she would get at retirement – should be taken away.
I wish there was a way for her to be harassed the way those boys were (are).
The ignorance and close-mindedness of some people makes me so angry sometimes!
(btw, Amelia, the link worked for me)
May 16th, 2008 at 9:18 am
I don’t see how this principal thinks she has the ability to post even heterosexual couples’ names publicly. I know most schools (having student taught in several) don’t want excessive PDAs in the hallways, but that’s for everyone in general. And, I have never heard of a school keeping a running list of all the couples. I don’t think (not a lawyer) that she has a legal leg to stand on.
I’ll write a letter and pass this along to others.
May 16th, 2008 at 10:07 am
[...] articles and info: ACLU Report The Harry Potter Alliance – Let’s Stick It To Dolores (For Real)!!! Want to do something about [...]
May 19th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Wow. Something definitely needs to be done about this. What are the addresses or e-mails I can write to to get someone to do something about this terrible woman?
May 19th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
you can click on that links in the body of the blog to use an automated form that places customizable emails directly to the board members and from your account – it looks just like you sent it!
http://capwiz.com/advofy/issues/alert/?alertid=11327636
May 20th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Oh, ok, thanks!!
May 28th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
I’m glad this is being brought to attention here, but I take issue with the use of the acronym “GLBT” here. This is more about displays of same-gender affection and sexual orientation than it is gender identity and trans issues. Too often I see the “T” tacked-on to “GLB” without consideration of whether it is applicable and without trans-specific/relevant content.
May 29th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
LW: your concern is very valid and I that acronym is included because a) it came from advocates for youth and I didn’t edit it. and b) because I think that this issue can be somewhat about transgender issues as well. Homophobia and transphobia come hand in hand. And in this example it is easy to see how a transgender student at this high school would face prejudice and institutional discrimination from the same policies that are effecting gay and lesbian students. Its true that the experience of each of the letters within G-L-B-T are different and unique as well as the dynamics of their struggle and societal oppression but in this instance – and many others – they are targeted along with the other GLBs because they are not conforming to the expected standard of heterosexuality – or in this case the expected standard on NON-sexuality, but lets face it, this is really about harassing gay kids so I see your point and thanks for starting a dialogue.
-Will
May 30th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
No one should be persecuted for their sexual beliefs, but the issue here is not that she is harassing gay kids. The issue is that the state, by way of the school administration is meddling in areas where it should have no domain whatsoever.
Keeping tabs on lewd behavior is important in a school, and if that was here intent, then fine.
Bottom line is this: the state should have no ability to empower or curtail the GLBT agenda. Educators are supposed to educate and let the parents of these teens deal with the issues of sexuality.
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Ah, my friends will certainly love to hear of this — we have a Gay-Straight Alliance program within our school, and most of my friends practice tolerance.
While I haven’t experienced any harassment of my own, I did add a few words to ensure my point that I truly wish for them to do something about the Principal’s behavior as it is less than professional.
October 12th, 2008 at 3:36 am
I left two letters: one I kept almost all the same text, just adding “as a heterosexual GLBT alli” before the “I hope..” paragraph.
The other I told the story of my best friend (who is bi, and has suffered for it) and our late friend who was gay.
It sickens me that this actually is happening, and believe that the woman really should be fired for purposely putting some of her students in danger, and teaching the rest violence and hostility.
I’m only thirteen, and am the main GLBT supporter in the house. My little sister still thinks “gay” is a bad word.
My mom’s Catholic. Not to huge on same-sex or transgendered people, though she knows I am.
My dad… I’m not sure about. I think he’s neuteral. Doesn’t think anything bad about it, but doesn’t necisarliy support it. If that makes sense.