A Republican Florida state lawmaker was right on target when he brought up the need for psychological treatment regarding homosexuality in high school students. Somebody does need to see a shrink.
But it’s not the kids.
The idiot in question, Rep. Alan Hays (Umatilla), a retired dentist, reportedly implied to students lobbying for an anti-bullying law, the “Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up For All Act,” that being homosexual is fair game for taunts.
The bill named for a Cape Coral teenager who killed himself in 2005 after being bullied at school would define “bullying” and direct schools to set up clear rules for how to handle threatening behavior…
The bill defines “sexual, religious or racial harassment” as bullying, but makes no mention of sexual orientation.
Its sponsor, Rep. Nick Thompson of Fort Myers, said that is because the bill is broad enough to cover all forms of harassment.
But critics said it intentionally left out homosexuals so conservative Republican lawmakers would vote for the bill.
Didn’t work, according to one of the students.
“After telling him my story he proceeded to say he was repulsed by homosexuals and we needed extensive psychological treatment,” said Jessica Osborn, 22, a University of Central Florida student and one of the three coalition members who met with Hays. Hays confirmed Tuesday he met with the students but said he couldn’t recall saying he was “repulsed” by homosexuals.
“I did tell them that they needed some psychological treatment,” said Hays, who said he first asked them if they wanted to hear his views on homosexuality.
The bill’s sponsors say the three biggest topics of derision among high schoolers are gender, race, and sexual orientation. Personal experience by the author bears that out, although I would replace gender with body weight/puberty development issues. Either way, a bill that deals with bullying but doesn’t include homosexuality is a stupid bill.
Speaking as a gay man who has experienced bullying and violence first-hand in high school, I say that we must do our best to protect ALL of our children. This vile and reprehensible man, Alan Hays, has some other issues that he’s not admitting to, I think.
Here’s a lovely thought. Since we’re on the subject of psychiatric treatment of gays, why don’t we build dorms at the psych hospital so they can be subject to 24/7 treatment? We can build a fence with barb wire to curtail escape attempts as well, and armed guards at the entrance will help too. Overcrowding? Why, that’s what the giant ovens are for!
And yes, this is sarcasm. No, I don’t see the Dishonorable Hays seeing this as such.
wow aint it funny those that rely on there little black book to hate ppl cant even get that right it seems they are so easly led by the words or teachings of ignorant ppl like liviticas and a few other passages but tend to throw away the teachings of there beloved jesus christ I think they call that blasphemy for shame hatemonger for shame
Homosexuality is a psychophysiological abberration which should be treated aggressively. The fashionable homosexuality promulgated by Hollywood and big city perverts is a myth. For the average kid, homosexuality is a phase, prodromal to real psychiatric illness which will haunt them for life. Their friends who tease and taunt them are doing them a favor by reminding them to keep it in the closet.
Chris – Only deeply closeted gay people think like this — people who are secure in their own sexuality don’t obsess about what other people do in bed — so here’s a reminder to keep your seething self-loathing and internalized homophobia in the closet.