If a gay graduate gave a speech attributing his success to his boyfriend, should his microphone be turned off?

Question

There was a recent post about a young woman who graduated in Nevada and had the microphone turned off during her graduation speech because she was thanking God for her success. Many Christians stood in condemnation of the school for turning off her microphone and said she had every right to express her "belief." Someone even said, if people don't want to listen, they didn't have to.

Therefore, I pose an alternative question for those who answered that question: What if it was a gay guy speaking about how his boyfriend had helped him in graduating?

Many people give thanks to their significant others during graduation. Would you same Christians that said this young girl should be allowed to speak her beliefs, be content listening to a young guy thank his boyfriend for his support? And continue on attributing his success to overcoming obstacles of being gay and having been opressed by Christianity? I'm interested to hear your thoughts on this point of view.

Would you support him if he were to sue the school corporation?

Original Post:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AgpEFifNsJWuJQGcJsVI4Mjzy6IX?qid=20060719100148AAomGiu

I support both individuals being able to express their thanks. However, I suspect the young girl was proselytizing in her speech - which I do *not* support in a public school area. Without knowing the full details, I can't say how I would go in her situation.

Abriel! Great response!

Julia - Why take a jab at the ACLU? Why not just answer the question and try to experience different view points. I didn't jab anyone, I was trying to open up a discussion for an alternative point of view. The girl should have every right to thank God, and yes, if that's all she did, the ACLU shouldn't be involved - unless it's on her side. So, why jab when you know all it does is breed hate and intolerance?

She was proselytizing, by trying to convert people to Christianity. Just read about it in the paper. I don't support her rights to proselytize; she wasn't just giving thanks.

Answer 1

LOL!
I doubt the gay guy's mic would be cut. If anything, we'd be seeing his speech as yet another reason to support gay rights.

Hey, as long as he doesn't go into any descriptiions of their sexual behavior, why shouldn't he thank his partner? He knows where he got his help and inspiration from, and, yes, although as a Christian, I don't agree with homosexuality, I would support his right to free speech.

Answer 2

Even though I am not Christian, I think the girl shouldnt have had her mike turned off. If her beliefs are what got her where she is today, and she isnt telling people to convert, then what is the big deal? We should be able to express ourselves, and religion is a big part of people. The school shouldn't have done anything unless they got a complaint, and then a blanket statement of "this girls veiws do not reflect our own" should be just fine. Other people's religious insecurity should not dictate how the truly religious people can express that part of them.

I dont know if a gay person would be turned off. Its a differnt situation thanking an actuall person rather than a may-or-may-not-exist religious deity. Religion has a history of domanice and 'im right, not you', and that hasnt come up with alternate sexuality. You dont see gay people forcing straight people to go thier way; I sure as heck dont!

Answer 3

Interesting question. There is one thing that has to be kept in mind when looking at the above senerio. Did the school have a policy or guideline for their graduation talks and if they did was the graduate proper informed of that policy. Most such policies have specific do's and don'ts identified in them.

To the very basic question here a conditional answer -- without the policy/guideline the turning off the microphone of both graduates would be a violation of their freedom of speech. Additionally, turning off the microphone of the young lady would be a violation of expression of her freedom of religion. Turning off the microphone of the young man could be (in the extreme case) considered a hate crime in some states.

When you have people, you will have opposing views about any subject. There must be guidelines in order to live in any soceity.

Thousands of years ago God gave mankind laws and regulations as well as additional regulations about how to live and what he expected of man. Today most of most know these as the Bible.

Answer 4

As a christian, it wouldn't bother me a bit. Why would it? I don't have any problem with them getting married either. I can't make someone else's sin go away by not permitting them to marry, that's kinda stupid. We're all sinners, none of us perfect. I agree with churches though if they don't want to perform the ceremony, then don't do it. There's plenty of people who can perform weddings. I don't understand why everyone is making a big deal out of it. Face it, they have their reasons for wanting to do it, such as life insurance. If they're not married, the government takes a large percentage of the life insurance proceeds, and thats not right. Leaving a will doesn't help either, because again, if they're not married, they have to pay heavy taxes on any inheritance. So its not a religious situation anyway, its a political one. Saying they can't marry isn't gonna make anyone straight.

So no, I would have no problem with that speech.

Answer 5

I am against the microphone being turned off in both cases. The woman had every right to thank God, and the guy has every right to thank his boyfriend. Turning the microphone off in both cases would be censorship and I am against censorship in any form so I would be against either of them being cut off. If you have a problem with that, it's called the First Amendment. Look it up.

Answer 6

The school was wrong (they probably don't understand the legalities of the situation and took it upon themselves to censor - which violated the girl's freedom of speech)--- it's a public forum and each person has the right to thank whomever they want to ---- not all speeches are pleasing to the ear --- I have heard many such ramblings that I just tuned out....

Answer 7

I think it is perfectly fine for a student to make a "shout out" to God if he/she feels god helped them through their education. I think to make too much of it under those circumstances would be wrong. To make that thanks to God the focus of the entire speech would be impolite. Why didn't God help the other students? Why should she be allowed to stand up there and tell an entire auditorium that God prefers her over everybody else?

I don't know if this is lawsuit material or if it is simply a matter of somebody not knowing how to behave in mixed company.

Julia: I always enjoy your answers. Thank you.

Answer 8

I think political correctness has gone to far. I agree if people don't want to listen they don't have to. Graduating from college is very hard, some people take longer than others, and the support of people you care about is very important. Thank whoever you want it is your day.

I don't think I would sue the school, but I was taught what goes around comes around.

Answer 9

Lets face it - nearly everyone on earth has a significant other (or at least would like one). NOT everyone on earth believes in your God. Thherefore, I wouldnt have a problem hearing about a gay person's significant other - but I dont want to hear about a gay person's OR ANY OTHER PERSONS god - no matter what thier sexual affiliation is....

And yes, I would suport a guy who sues if they were prevented from mentioning their sig other - but not their God. I wouldnt support that.

Answer 10

Something tells me that if a valedictorian was speaking about his/her gay partner instead of God, the ACLU would not raise a stink about it. On the contrary, they'd probably be coming out in favor of the person.

Only when it's religion does the ACLU get its knickers in a twist.