Little Rock Diocese enacts a sick policy impacting 6,700 students
LGBT students in Arkansas face the very real threat of expulsion if they express themselves according to sick and twisted new set of rules added to the Catholic Dioceses of Little Rock's “Manual of Policies and Regulations”.
Bishop Anthony Taylor (picture above) leads the Little Rock diocese and is believed to be the responsible party for enacting the “update”.
This is the same bishop who once compared homosexuality to “incest” in a court brief opposing same-sex marriage.
He later called Obergefell v. Hodges one of the two worst Supreme Court decisions in modern history, in addition to Roe v. Wade, suggesting same-sex marriage would do nothing to improve the lives of gay couples.
The new rules bar any Catholic school student under the purview of the diocese from celebrating, advocating or expressing same sex attraction “in such a way as to cause confusion or distraction in the context of Catholic school classes, activities, or events.”
The policy goes on to state that students “are expected to conduct themselves at school in a manner consistent with their biological sex,” which includes how they dress, what restrooms and pronouns must be used, and how they are referred to in any official health documentation.
“If the student's expression of gender, sexual identity, or sexuality should mislead others, or cause scandal, or have the potential to cause scandal, then the matter will first be discussed with the student and his/her parents,” the addendum proclaims.
It goes on to state:
“If the issue is not resolved to the satisfaction of the school, whose primary goal must always be to uphold Catholic truths and principles, then the student may be dismissed.”
Apparently, some Christian groups are heralding the new rules. ChurchMilitant.com, a conservative Christian information site, brags about the new rules under a headliner that reads, “Arkansas Catholic Schools Quash LGBT Agenda.”
As you might imagine, the LGBT community in Arkansas is outraged, as reported by Little Rock's KHTV.
“If you don't want to bring scandal against your school, then don't do things that discriminate against children,” stated Tippi McCullough, a member of Arkansas Stonewall Democrats who is also a former Catholic school teacher.
Tyler Gibbons, Louisville's Catholic High graduate who last year was part of the first same sex couple to attend the school's prom, stated that for many LGBT learners, school is one of the few places they feel safe.
“And now, there are so many kids that just don't feel like they can be there,” said Gibbons.
One parent of a non-LGBT learner in the school system said the new rules “does not convey the message I want my son to learn,” while a current LGBT learner, who is not named for obvious reasons, calls it “non-Christ-like.”
KHTV reports that while Taylor is believed to be responsible for the addendum, the diocese is refusing to answer specific questions about it.
Gay Pop Buzz would like to point out that the new rules on LGBT expression have been released around the same time that Bishop Taylor issued a letter acknowledging sexual abuse by a former priest.
Taylor was appointed Bishop of Little Rock by Pope Benedict XVI on April 10, 2008.
