Longmont valedictorian silenced over speech disclosing he was gay

[fizzgig]

Twin Peaks charter principal also accused of outing 18-year-old to his parents

By Charlie Brennan
Staff Writer

snip

Evan Young, an 18-year-old graduating senior at Longmont's Twin Peaks Charter Academy High School, with a 4.5 GPA and a scholarship awaiting him at Rutgers University, also was not recognized as valedictorian at his school's May 16 graduation.

Young said he had agreed to several advance edits to his speech by school Principal BJ Buchmann. But he resisted when Buchmann told him to also take out his disclosure of being gay.

snip

Initially, Evan's parents were somewhat sympathetic to Buchmann's decision concerning the speech.

"His mother and I were not sure that his coming out in a valedictorian speech was the appropriate place to say it, with grandchildren and 3-year-olds in the audience, and that's kind of what we said to BJ," Don Young said.

i think it's the dad's comments that piss me off most. why the bloody fuck would it be inappropriate to say you're gay in front of children? liberal my ass.

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-schools/ci_28209959/longmont-valedictorian-silenced-over-speech-disclosing-he-was

[mike_c]

1. to be fair, it's hard to imagine any context in which it would be suitable...

...to use the occasion of a valedictorian speech to publicly discuss my sexuality. That doesn't justify censoring him, of course-- he has earned the right to speak-- but I partly agree with his parents and the school principle that a valedictorian speech is not the best forum for discussing one's sexuality UNLESS there is a connection to academic success that this story is omitting. Not because he's gay-- I'm heterosexual and would still think it wildly inappropriate to discuss my choice of sexual partners in a valedictorian address.

[fizzgig]

2. coming out isn't discussing your choice of sexual partners

my hs graduation was more than a bit ago, but the speeches given were not about academic success.

[catrose]

3. The last graduation I went to

The valedictorian thanked his family, his teachers, and his awesome girlfriend Carly. So, yeah, it could be done.

[mike_c]

4. ok, that makes sense....

It's be a LONG time since I was in high school, LOL.

[catrose]

5. Me too

And I thought thanking your girlfriend was a bit weird. I spoke at my graduation, and no way was I naming names. But the times, they are a changing.