Never would have been Catholic schools if it were not for lesbian and gay teachers.

Did not seem to hurt anyone, either. Maybe it was the uniforms.

Of course they should pull their kid from the classroom, because they've created an impossilbe situation for their own child. Poor kid. Poor kid w/homophobic, bigoted parents. Oh sorry! I forgot you said you're NOT homophobic or bigoted even though everything you have done and said are the very definition of these two words. And I hope you're both reading these comments and are ashamed.

I'm amazed it took this long to learn the family's name. Not because I want to hurl shit at them, but because they started this one, way back with the "inappropriate attire" complaint. This was their thing from day one, and yet all the focus was on the victim.

Yeah, I said it.

Stay classy, heterosexuals.

ALWAYS stay classy!

Please stop referring to gay people as "LGBT" and gay issues as "LGBT issues". That term is offensive to many gay people - and in particular gay people of color who had this term imposed on them - and more importantly, it is inappropriate in the context of this story, which has nothing to do with "transgendereds".

@ Brianna

First ... to keep it in context : I can't stand bigots, homophobes or bad parents. These parents are WRONG. Period. And they are damaging their child.

However .... I think if I hear the phrase " is offensive to" once more I am going to explode.

Who cares if whatever is offensive to whomever? Especially if it is not done purposely. If it's intentional, that's a bit different.
The phrase is used so much anymore that it has become virtually invalid. I'm sure that those parents think that homosexuality "is offensive to" them. Does that make their ideas any more pleasant?

I myself ... and plenty of other people, surely encounter something that " is offensive to" us at least once every single day. So what ?? Most people are mature enough to handle offensive behavior and sentiment. Although it would be a much nicer world if we could all refrain from offending each other, in reality that will never ... ever .... happen. Especially if we are all honest. If you find a way to get through life without being offended along the way, then you are surrounded by phony liars. We have come to a point where the idea of being non offensive is beginning to cripple us. People are becoming more and more phony and deceptive in their efforts to be non offensive.

Please think about this the next time you feel that something is offensive to somebody. Especially when it's unintentional.
I'd rather live in an honest world than in a non offensive world. And if you do get offended, you should feel free to keep it real and offend right back.

Does Mr. Krikava think that the mere fact that Seth is gay makes it wrong for him to tell the truth about his marital status? Apparently so. If the teacher in question were straight, would it be wrong for him to talk about his marital status?
For some ultra-conservative christians, just talking about gay people in any way other than disapprovingly (read: biblically) is controversial. They must take this point of view, because they don't want to be branded as homophobic. And yet they want the entire subject kept away from their children. They will tell you that any time you ask them.
How to explain this aversion? No, it's not an irrational religiously inspired fear, hatred, antipathy or whatever term one wishes to use. Of course not. It's because it's "controversial". Typical fundy self-referencing, truth dodging bullshit. Just because they hate all things gay doesn't mean there's any controversy. They kick up a giant fuss and then claim the subject is too controversial for kids. Brilliant.
Well, the exact opposite is true. Kids don't give a damn what orientation you are. They pick up on the social position of all those around them and reflect it, in a deep desire to belong and to be accepted. If we, adults, treat gay citizens as equals, and without fear or prejudice, then kids will too.
And that is what scares the fundies. If their kids learn in public school that gay people are normal, then the church teachings will be revealed as false, and worse. And that would get in the way of their indoctrination process. The kids might figure out that if the church is lying about this, then it's probably lying about a lot of other things. Lies are like mice: if you see one, there's probably eighteen more hiding somewhere.
Harvey Milk was right. Come out, come out, wherever you are! Every time a fundie kid has a teacher who is openly gay, and yet is still a decent, normal human being, he learns that the conservative religigous myth of gays as sick, predatory, or miserable is exploded.
Fundie churches have drawn this line in the sand. They have decided, stupidly, to pit themselves against all rational, free-thinking persons on this issue. They have placed themselves in opposition to all scientific, medical, psychiatric, psychological and anthropological knowledge on this subject. Every bit of evidence from the real world puts the lie to their philosophy. We are winning this battle, at the pace that the children grow up to be adults, having used their own eyes and ears.

Y'know Blabby: the reason I made fun of myself for calling Seth Stambaugh a "victim" is because I hate victim culture too. But that doesn't change the fact that he is indeed a victim of these shitty people who decided to fuck with his livelihood rather casually, for really stupid reasons. Exactly why you would choose to side with them is a mystery to me.

It's also a mystery why they would get to be anonymous. They saw to it that someone else's private life became a public issue, so fuck that and fuck them.

This one's for Brianna: what you're experiencing here is the understandable reaction of a lot of nice people who -for years- have been told that their language isn't inclusive enough. And now here you come, telling them that it's absurd to be so incredibly inclusive that you involve bunches of people who aren't the least involved in the topic at hand.

You're right, of course, but it also underscores how scared we are of offending each other that we engage in mush mouthed obfuscation rather than speak clearly.

"Teachers and parents should model discretion to children - we don't need to tell them our business. Maybe it will show the kids that it is okay to have a personal life that stays personal."

Fine. Then straight teachers can't talk about their spouses, put pictures on their desks, or wear wedding rings. Personal life is personal, after all.