When my sister Erika was very little, she could not prounounce the name of our church properly. When asked, she would tell people that we went to "The First BASTARD Church". I would like to thank the BAPTIST ministers of Cordele Georgia for that reminder.
They have called on the Crisp County Georgia school system to ban scholarship applications targeted for gay students. The Baptist clergy in Crisp County accuses my beloved P-FLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) of promoting the "homosexual agenda" by the placement of scholarship applications at Crisp County High School. The so-called "Christians" love to use those two words "homosexual agenda" don't they?
There are many college scholarship programs offered by PFLAG and many PFLAG chapters including PFLAG Atlanta. However it is not known exactly what P-FLAG scholarship applications were available at Crisp County High School. We "PFLAG'ers" are deeply concerned about this. I fall in the catagory of "angry" at the religious nutcases that are making a fuss over this. (Yes I said it!)
How can you seriously consider putting another obstacle in the way of a young person wanting to get an education? It's no wonder why smaller towns like the area where this news came from are suffering from this bad economy more than anyone. Whatever jobs you can find in areas like Cordele/Crisp County are for the people they tend to produce, less educated with no ambition to do more with their life, people who are followers and not capable of becoming leaders and "Good Ole Boy" leaders who couldn't lead themselves down a one way straight line street.
As you read the article that I am sharing I also have these questions. I wonder if the same "christians" who want to ban college scholorship access for gay and lesbian students would consider it fair to also restrict access to scholorships from organizations that cater to BLACK people? United NEGRO College Fund are you next? Or how about the Tom Joyner Foundation who proudly supports sending students to only Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Would the Baptist preachers want to ban that access too?
Hey Baptist Pastors of Crisp County, how about being FAIR and BALANCED? Haha, i'm sure you've heard that theme from your favorite TV news channel.
Lets go ahead and ban ALL targeted scholorships! No more "affirmative actions" for ATHLETES and no more scholorships for students who want to go to a seminary.
Public school is one place that has become infested in political correctness and a warped idea of "fairness". So if the Baptist preachers of Crisp County are really concerned about doing things they feel are "right" then lets be fair about it. Only allow one for all and all for one type of scholorship or none at all. That sounds fair doesn't it?
But for these "christians" it is OK to be "fair" as long as you balance the scales to allow the heavy weight of discrimination to fall on a promising student that happens to be gay or lesbian.
Well God Bless America.
Hmmmm.
I'm so angry about this I am ready to quote an infamous loud mouthed preacher named Jeremiah Wright. But I won't say it right now. I still feel that it's better to be nice. Maybe I should pray for them.
Read the news article below, from the Cordele Dispatch
Gay scholarship material draws protest
By BECKY CRISSMAN
becky.crissman@gaflnews.com
CORDELE — Crisp County Board of Education has been asked to ban the presence of scholarship applications designated for gay students at the high school.
Superintendent Dr. Judy Bean received a complaint this week from a local minister regarding scholarships offered by an organization openly supportive of homosexuality. The applications are reportedly available in the guidance office of Crisp County High School.
Rev. Tony Register of Wenona Baptist Church went directly to Dr. Bean as soon as he received a copy of the flyer which he said was displayed on a table among other scholarship materials.
“It is nothing more than a solicitation for homosexuality,” said Register. “To me it openly offers the opportunity to be ‘paid’ by voluntarily coming forth and admitting homosexuality or your support of the homosexual agenda.
“I think it is an outrage and should not be allowed in our schools.”
The scholarship is offered by Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). According to the flyer, applications for scholarships for $5,000, $2,500, or $1,000 are available.
Before completing the form to apply for one of the scholarships, applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:
• Be a graduating senior entering higher education for the first time in 2009 (2008 graduates who take a year off are still eligible).
• Self identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) or as a straight ally.
• Demonstrate an interest in service to the LGBT community.
• Apply to an accredited higher education institution.
According to Dr. Bean, she and members of the board were unaware of the flyer’s presence in the school. In a phone interview, Dr. Bean revealed she had learned that this was not the first year the PFLAG scholarship flyer had been on display in the school.
“Apparently this is the second, possibly third year it has been made available,” said Dr. Bean. “This is the first time this has ever been brought to our attention.
“There is a table in the guidance office that features scholarship materials and that is in fact where the flyer was located. The board does not sanction these materials. They are placed there by guidance counselors.”
Dr. Bean said the flyer was removed after the deadline passed. She says she has never been aware of a Crisp County student receiving or even applying for one of the scholarships.
“If they can promote things like that in our schools without us being made aware of it, then we have a problem,” said Register.
“Dr. Bean informed me that neither she nor the board was aware of the material. I think that is a problem. Our local administration and government needs to be able to keep us informed.
“Every parent should have known it was there. Every community has their own moral standards and should not have to worry about things like this sneaking past us.”
Rev. Ray Burnette, director of missions for the Houston Baptist Association, said the association is taking a stand in the situation.
“We are going to speak up and let it be known how the Christian community feels about this,” said Burnette.
“As Christians we have a right to stand up for what the Bible says about this issue (homosexuality).
“It is our hope that this will be taken out of the school and in the future things like this are evaluated before they are placed in front of our children.
“I believe we should have a choice as to what our children are being exposed to.”
Bean asked the school for copies of the PFLAG scholarship information material. She was scheduled to bring that material before the board as information.
“It is unsure what, if anything the board can do about the situation,” said Bean.
Crisp County High School Principal Toriano Gilbert said the scholarship information in question is placed on a table among other scholarships available for interested students. A list of available scholarships can also be viewed on the school website.
“We do not promote any particular scholarship through our guidance office,” Gilbert said. “However, we do not discriminate against any particular group either.”
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