11-Year-Old vs. Anti-Gay Politician

Eleven-year-old Marcel has had enough of the anti-gay politicians in his state. The queer youngster from Tennessee wrote an op-ed for Huffington Post railing against John Ragan, a  state house representative. He is the co-sponsor of a bill requiring teachers to out gay students to parents.

“John Ragan’s Classroom Protection Act will do harm to LGBT students across the state,” Marcel writes. “It promotes a system that does not educate students about gays, because no one but counselors, nurses and principals can talk about being gay. This also means that if a student were to talk to a teacher about being bullied because he or she is gay or possibly gay, the teacher would be required to say something like, "That subject is inappropriate for your age group."’ He wonders how such a politician can be considered an advocate for school children. About a year ago a nonprofit called StudentsFirst named Ragan a ‘reformer of the year.’

“I am against a man receiving an award for trying to destroy all safe places for LGBT students,” Marcel maintains. “John Ragan is receiving his honor from StudentsFirst, whose actions are contrary to their name.”  Marcel is sponsoring a petition asking StudentsFirst to withdraw the award.

This academic year Marcel was taught at home due to the severe bullying he sustained the year before. “During my first year in middle school, I experienced severe bullying,” the middle-schooler writes. “I was called terrible names that were quite hurtful. At that time, I had just realized that I’m gay, and the bullies used the word "gay" as an insult. This made me feel like being gay was horrible, but my parents told me otherwise. Their support was tremendous. But as powerful as their love was, it couldn’t fight off all the bullying.”

Bloggers Comments: This was orginally published in the Huffington Post  website. I have left the links in tact if you want to go to the petition or the original posting. Please consider signing the petition. It just amazes me that it takes an 11 year old gay boy to bring this to the forefront. And a child shall lead us....