Bigotry At Its Best

“Bigotry is the Disease of Ignorance . . .”

~Thomas Jefferson

Just when I was contemplating how idyllic it sounds to live in small town America, I was jolted back to reality by the prom controversy boiling over in Sullivan, Indiana. This town, located 190 miles south of Chicago and pretty much in the middle of Nowhere, USA has erupted over whether to allow LGBTQ students to participate in this year’s prom; the theme of which, apparently, is “Bigotry at its Best.”

In a community of 4,249 residents, 97% of whom are white, anyone different is clearly not welcome.  State statistics show that Sullivan is below average in every area including people of color, higher education, income, and sending kids to college.  So, of the 570 students currently attending Sullivan High School, most of them can expect to go nowhere in life.

Aside from the median age in Sullivan being above the state average, the only other statistic worth noting is that there are 16 registered sex offenders living in their midst.  That’s 1 in 277 residents (http://www.city-data.com/city/Sullivan-Indiana.html#ixzz2KnIIxR3I).  But, that is not what has captured this community’s attention.  They are more concerned that LGBTQ kids, who must be pretty terrified right now, stay away from their school sanctioned prom.

Fueled by a coalition of Christian crusaders, Special Ed Teacher Diana Medley is calling for a prom that bans gay students from attending.   She states that, “they have no ‘purpose in life’” and that “they are offensive” (http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/02/11/indiana-teacher-wants-to-ban-lgbt-from-the-prom-says-they-have-no-purpose-in-life-video/).

Local Pastor Phil Phegley (and I’m not making that phlegmy name up) supports the straight prom movement because “Christians have always been prepared to fight, but Jesus Christ give us armor for the front, not the back,” and “we aren’t running no more.”  Given his inability to verbalize his opinion in an articulate manner, Reverend Phegley must have had Ms. Medley as a teacher back in high school.  He obviously caught the disease of ignorance from someone.

But, there’s more to this than ignorant people making mean, stupid statements that have nothing to do with Christ’s position on homosexuality (he had none). It has everything to do with them having a forum for exercising their bigotry. While Ms. Medley and her gang of thugs have a right to express their own opinions, the Sullivan school district should be raising serious questions about the welfare of the students in her classroom.  In that sort of stifling environment, kids can really be traumatized, demonized, and otherwise made to feel like they “have no purpose in life.”   And, that is wrong.

If you’re gay, the lesson is not only to stay away from Sullivan, Indiana, but to understand that Indiana does not protect its citizens.  Indiana only recognizes marriage as between a man and a woman and denies recognition to other forms of same-sex unions.  Additionally, LGBTQ individuals are not protected against discrimination in housing or employment unless they are state employees.  Furthermore, Indiana has no hate crimes statute.

It is no wonder, then, that in Sullivan, Indiana prejudice and bigotry are allowed to prosper.  But, until laws are enacted and enforced both at the state and national levels that guarantee equal protection and equal rights under the law, we will continue to see this wanton disrespect toward LGBTQ individuals.  And the LGBTQ children of Sullivan, Indiana, and any community where discrimination is unimpeded, will hide, feel shame, and hate themselves.  That is no way to build a healthy, productive, flourishing future.

The population of Sullivan has decreased by 8% since the year 2000.  That alone should worry town leaders that young people are leaving their community at an alarming rate.  Maybe it is due to a lack of meaningful employment there.  But, then again it might be because it is suffocating to live in a small town where conforming to so-called Christian values is prized above human dignity. 

Young people today are exposed to the outside world, and they are not so easily fooled by the ignorance of their elders.  They have access to a wide variety of media that broadens their horizons and widens their perspectives.  Gay kids in Sullivan, Indiana might have to hide while they are in high school, but they can dance away from that place as soon as they graduate.  And there won’t be a prom, a teacher, a preacher, or a community full of ignorant bigots big enough or strong enough to hold them there . . . and, they will never look back.

. . . And I’m just a mom who loves her son . . .

• It should be noted that, while there has been no information forthcoming from Sullivan School Board regarding any disciplinary actions against the teacher, school officials stated that the prom is open to all students and nobody will be excluded, including gay and lesbianstudents (http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/victory-in-missouri-hrc-promo-praise-decision-to-allow-gay-student-to-take).