Comments on: Boy harassed at 4-H summer camp for being gay

By: Evan Cook

Evan Cook — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:45:01 +0000

As an openly-gay teacher, I have to say, when you supervise kids, you must be extra-vigilant. If 4-H is unable or unwilling to exercise due diligence, then you simply don’t host the event. Some say, “boys will be boys” or “you can’t be everywhere.” These are statements by teachers and counselors who’ve abdicated their responsibility. I don’t permit bullying of any kind in my classroom! You do it and I will TAKE YOU DOWN!

By: San Francisco

San Francisco — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:27:52 +0000

I hope to goodness the parents of the 15 year old sue the heck out of all of them. The parents need to sue the kids parents and the summer camp. Get it where it hurts! Its an open and shut case and dont settle! Take them to court and drag those stupid people through the mud!

ps … oh Morgan below ( did not know we had the grammar police on this website … get a life or get laid ) this is not english class … and your sentence has flaws!

By: RavensWolf

RavensWolf — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:34:59 +0000

Safety is the issue Here! As a Camp, they have a Duty to Make sure “All Campers under there Control/Tutalage are kept Safe from Harm.” There may be a Law Suit here if the Counslers were neglegant/derelect in their duties to protect this young Man; if they were aware of this action takeing place or were near enough to hear and did Nothing then,The Counslers are Neglent and so is the Camp; SUE. “Safety is the Issue here and this camp was Neglegant in Keeping and providing this young man with a Safe environment. On the Flip side this is all part of growing up and Mob mentality. May I suggest Lifting weights to beef up and some form of Martial Arts to learn how to protect himself. I had the same issues growing up and Finally i had to confront The Biggest of my tormentor’s Straight in the mouth in High School in the Mid 70′s.I bloodied his lip and nose right in front of a few of his friends and Girl friends. That Stopped it I Stood Up for ME. We became best friends afterwards.

By: Chaz

Chaz — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:20:18 +0000

THIS IS SO NOT ACCEPTABLE FROM MY HOME STATE. I lived in fear when I was growing up at scout camp and other venues because I was gay. Kids today should not have to suffer from the same ignorance that I did. I apologize on behalf of all West Virginians who are more enligtened.

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:33:22 +0000

It does not matter if there is a hate crime bill in this state the law is clear this is an assault on this boys right to prusue happiness and the law can do something or the family needs to sue the other boys families and state in a civil suit.

By: kademonster

kademonster — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:04:54 +0000

I grew up in a small town in Mississippi. I don’t know how I made it to 18 because being a teenager here was horrible. I never went out because people just treated me horribly, but I did survive and I made it to college and there I realized not everyone is so horrible. It’s not necessarily about where you live, it’s about the people. I’m sure WV is the same as MS, it just depends on what part of the state you happen to be in. I’d like to think I’m now a pretty well adjusted 21 yr old.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 10:45:41 +0000

This is horrible! I can’t believe that there STILL HASNT been a federal hate crimes bill including GLBT people put into effect. Hopefully soon

By: Budbud

Budbud — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 05:32:15 +0000

Um…a hate crimes bill would do NOTHING to protect this boy, as…it only deals with PHYSICAL violence!

Being relentlessly taunted and tortured verbally don’t count. Though…I imagine this boys life and head is SO…fucked up by this treatment that a boat load of therapists would attest to actual “physical” damage being done to this young man from the endless harrasment! Just a theory.

Of course, when he kills himself, or ends up an alcaholic drug abuser, the anti-gays will say it’s because he was disgusted with his hollow, empty, filthy “life-style” and he hated himself.

The hostile, abusive environment that THEIR good Christian biggotry created will have had NOTHING to do with it! Got it?

Sad!… So very, very sad!

By: Andy

Andy — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 04:17:52 +0000

West Virginia is not the issue. Our brothers and sisters are still bashed in New York City, for heaven’s sakes… even in Vancouver. The issue is confronting ignorance.

By: Roger

Roger — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 02:53:53 +0000

One person posting on this site defended 4-H by saying the counselors can’t be screened for bigotry. Why not? All it requires is one simple questin: ” what is your opinion of gays?” Any attempt to evade a direct answer or, of course, a statement derogatory to gays, should disqualify the person. In this case, why weren’t those counselors aware of what was happening? Why weren’t the offending brats immediately sent home? Why were these ineffective, dozing counselors not also sent packing? Of course, this IS the West Virginia 4-H!!!