Letter to the Editor: Parent objects to Gay Straight Alliance in High School

EDITORIAL NOTE:  Gay-Straight Alliance Clubs currently exist in Desert Hills, Dixie, Pine View and Snow Canyon high schools. Hurricane High School has had a GSA club in the past, but is currently inactive due to lack of participation. Enterprise High School has yet to host a recognized GSA club. Many of these clubs have existed since 2010.  As we go to publication with this Letter to the Editor, we have not been provided and cannot authenticate the Newsletter the writer mentions.  The opinions stated in the Letter are solely those of the writer and not those of St. George News.

 LETTER TO THE EDITOR – I just got home from a high school play and picked up the school’s newsletter where I discovered that this little school here in St. George has a new club.  It is called:  Gay, Straight, Alliance.”

Reading the article it says:

“The GSA is a support group, where any student can come in, get to know other people who may be sharing the same problems.  It’s a club where students can just hang out and not have to worry about being judged or feeling different.  It is a great place of understanding and acceptance.

“The goals of the club are to promote equality and awareness.”

So, I guess we are not sheltered here in our little, conservative community.  Not that I am opposed to freedom of choice … in other words, “free agency.” I just don’t like that the issues of homosexuality, or other perverse elements of our society are made to seem “normal.” Homosexuality, cross-dressing, transgender, asexual, bisexual are NOT normal. If there are those who have this problem … please do not expect people of faith and religious convictions to ever consider them normal.

I am all for tolerance and acceptance … but I object to teaching our children that the kind of behavior mentioned above is the same as race differences, religions differences, abilities, talents or appearances, which is what the poster they use to advertise infers.

Apparently these clubs are sneaking into our high schools without much publicity and without parents’ awareness of the sensitivity training taking place right under their noses. I wonder if my grandchildren are being taught these things. Parents, do you know if your schools are slipping this “club” into your schools? I looked on the GSA website and I found that the school in California which my beautiful granddaughter attends has it in her school.

It’s crazy…the government forbids us to make any references to religious beliefs but practices that go against religion are freely taught with or without parents knowledge. Makes you want to home school your children.

Submitted by: Carol Jarvis

 

Copyright 2012 St. George News.

 

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!

34 Comments

  • Jon Martin March 7, 2012 at 3:33 pm

    Sneaking in? You do realize (whoever wrote this letter) that it was such a huge deal when the GSA’s were first introduced that several of the young individuals who were involved in promoting it were expelled from school, and it got so bad that the ACLU had to get involved. Even the New York Times did an article on our “quaint” little town and it’s blindness.

  • Jalee Scott March 7, 2012 at 3:40 pm

    The author says she’s all for tolerance and acceptance, but portrays herself as very intolerant and unaccepting. I am just grateful that I teach my children what tolerance and acceptance actually is.

  • Cason Snow March 7, 2012 at 4:48 pm

    Wow, this article, and the person who wrote it, is a joke. Firstly, it’s a club. Nothing is being “taught”. The GSA is a support group for those who feel ostracized because of the orientation, or those just curious about it. If anything, it makes the most sense for their to be a group like this in St. George. I can’t imagine the LBGT students live’s in our ultra-socially conservative community.

    Also, who cares about normalcy? It isn’t important. Being a red-head isn’t normal. Being black (at least here) isn’t normal. Having blue eyes isn’t normal. It really doesn’t matter. And I think that’s the point, just because it isn’t normal does not mean it’s something to feel bad about. Unless their personal religious convictions make them believe so. Which segways quite nicely, considering you claim it’s a problem. Sure, being a homosexual is a problem. If you are a traditional Christian. If you don’t believe in that sort of thing. then it isn’t a problem. Not even in the slightest sense of the word.

    It also isn’t a ‘behavior’. Being attracted to someone of the same sex is not a controllable act. It’s a reaction. That’s why it’s the same as race, gender etc. Because it is uncontrollable. Any attempt to retrain the brain has failed miserably, and more and more studies come that show it is a natural part of society. That’s why the GSA exists. It isn’t “teaching” that “becoming” gay is acceptable, but rather showing gays and straights how that can live together without becoming destructive to one another.

    And again, *it’s a club*. Nothing is being taught, there isn’t a requirement to be in it, it is all voluntary.

    There are a lot of “practices” and “beliefs” that go against religion in schools. Like teaching evolution, or the big bang theory. That’s not how it works. You may believe what you will. But that doesn’t negate the concept that facts, and even just ideas, are important for active, independent, contributing citizens to know. It’s shocking, I know.

    Go ahead, shelter your children against ideas. Make them dependent on someone telling them what is right and what is wrong. I feel bad for them.

    It’s sad that there is absolutely nothing about this “opinion” that I agree with, or that even can stand up to basic rational or empathetic thought. I would call you a disgusting being, Carol, but I’ve grown to expect it from our beautiful St. George. I was raised in that kind of thought. I consider myself lucky not to have become a part of it.

    • Kelsey Mitchell March 7, 2012 at 5:59 pm

      Cason
      I was about to respond to this post as well but you covered every point I was going to make and more.
      Thank you!

  • Talon James Bowler March 7, 2012 at 9:14 pm

    Dear writer, your letter made me ill. Despite saying that you are “all for tolerance and acceptance”, you blatantly state that you do not support the goals of the club “To promote equality and awareness”.

    Do not make the mistake of thinking you are tolerant. Your letter only illustrates the bounds of your bigotry, and the bigotry that is so prevalent in Southern Utah. It disgusts me that you probably do not comprehend how intolerable your words are.

    It is true tragedy that your words are only the slightest example of the ultimate fallacy which is so readily embraced in here and other places, that people are meant to hide their differences.

    If I were to claim that I objected to the fact that my children and grandchildren had to share classrooms with African-Americans, and felt strongly enough to send a letter to the editor about it, stating that I was “all about tolerance and acceptance” but that I just didn’t like the “issues of race, or other perverse elements of our society are made to seem “normal.”, there would be outrage! And yet, you have made the equivalent argument.

    You should be ashamed. I’m not talking about the “Oh, you caught be stealing a cookie from the cookie jar” shame, but the deep and bone-wrenching self-loathing of a penitent murderer.

  • urbanboy March 7, 2012 at 11:05 pm

    Carol, I had to stop reading after the second paragraph because I was offended by your extremely narrow-minded, self-centered approach. I will continue reading after i cool down a little. Let me just say, YOUR view of this community may be small and sheltered. REALITY, a little small, but much more diverse and exposed to the real-world mainstream than the average local, religious head would like to know or admit….Ok, now I will (try to) finish reading.

  • urbanboy March 7, 2012 at 11:08 pm

    Carol, what is normal? “Normal” can be compared to “perfect”…there is really no such thing!

  • Tyler March 7, 2012 at 11:29 pm

    Ohhh I am so offended by this article!! How dare you, Carol, even try to represent my community in such an ugly, hateful, biased, discriminative way? In no way, shape or form would I want St. George, as the city it has grown up to be with its many colors and diversity in cultures and religions, be represented by you. You should be absolutely ashamed and embarassed of yourself and your example to everybody, especially our struggling youth trying to fit in and survive the severe social distortion and stereotyping in our local schools and social scene. I went to school and grew up here, straight but non-mormon, I would NEVER choose to do it again, it’s pretty much that bad-even as recent as 2001. I’m scared to death about my beautiful, half black, non mormon nephew to attend school here. Eventhough in reality, he’ll probably raise to the top and people will cherish him in school and out. But, seriously, it’s people like you that put such an ugly blotch over this otherwise beautiful community. To end off, I have a gay brother and friends, it is NOT a choice to be gay, you can’t pick and choose your attractions. Do you think for one second they’d choose to be tormented at school or singled out by sickening editors like you? Make the world, …St. George, a better place, it’s bad and negative enough!

    • Avatar photo Joyce Kuzmanic March 8, 2012 at 5:14 am

      Point of clarification, Tyler.
      This is a Letter to the Editor from a St. George News reader.
      The opinions are those of the letter writer not those of St. George News.
      May the community conversation continue.

  • Barb March 7, 2012 at 11:49 pm

    “I am all for tolerance and acceptance” uh, this article screams otherwise, ma’am. “Sneaking into our schools without parent’s awareness” it was hot topic for a while, were you living under a rock? besides, most mature high school aged students make a lot of their own decisions, and believe it or not, not every club or organization needs to be known by a parent in my opinion. Just what if the student is struggling to hide their sexual preference in part because they’re afraid or ashamed of their parents’ disapproval. This gay alliance is one of the best things to happen to St George. Hopefully it expands into middle and/or intermediate schools sooner than later. Just think of how many kids could’ve taken their own lives by now if our schools hadn’t had these clubs? Sexual preference is not a choice and these poor kids trying to belong desperatly need these clubs, sadly to say, especially in this overall discriminative, image-is-everything-community we have here.

  • The Skewed Review March 8, 2012 at 2:42 am

    It’s unfortunate because this parent is the reason children in high school commit suicide. She’s the direct cause. Something tells me she raises her children to be of a like mind. Those children go on to bully others who they believe are “not normal.” Fragile teenagers who don’t feel they are normal sometimes do what they think society wants them to do: kill themselves.

    The sad part is, I don’t think Carol Jarvis would care.

    Here’s an article I wrote on bullying and suicide. Not just as a reporter, but as a life experience, Miss Jarvis. Take some time and read it. This is straight from the perspective of a very normal human being who also happens to have a very loving husband. I am a boy, by the way. I’m not a writer for St. George news. The article is just posted on my humble personal website and is not affiliated with St. George news.

    http://theskewedreviewhome.blogspot.com/2012/02/suicide-by-matty-jacobson.html

    Thank you St. George news for allowing me to post a response. I hope you’ll allow the link, as well.

    • Tyler March 9, 2012 at 4:58 pm

      Thankyou so much for sharing The Skewed Review, amazing article, it’s like a huge dose of medicine to St. George’s largely closed culture. I have relatives and friends who are gay, and no, it is not a choice, it is that person. God bless and live your life, you have great potential and could better the world!

  • Oldtimer March 8, 2012 at 7:49 am

    “Tolerance and Acceptance” is also a choice. As far as I know, there is no law saying that I have to be tolerant or accepting of anything. So please be tolerant and accepting of my choice NOT to tolerate or accept the content of this topic.

  • Tyler March 8, 2012 at 7:52 am

    Joyce, I’m sorry I was not referring to you, the editor. Thanks for correction

  • Peace2all March 8, 2012 at 7:56 am

    This right here, folks, Carol, is what’s wrong with this community!

  • Mindie March 8, 2012 at 8:32 am

    I would first ask the question if would you all be this rude and hateful if you were not sitting behind a computer screen? Second most of the non tolerannce here is from those of you bashing this women because she shares a different opinion then you. Im not agreeing or disagreeing with any one of you and While some of you make great points… Your delivery makes you no different in your tolerance level. We are all allowed our own beliefs and moral compas in life and we should all allow one another to have different opinions and views without being so harsh with our words. Just something to think about 🙂

    • Talon James Bowler March 8, 2012 at 12:13 pm

      I would absolutely be this rude and hateful in person. As far as me being intolerant goes, absolutely. I am completely intolerant of racism, rape, murder, stupidity, and a whole slew of other things, among which is numbered the innate desire to persecute people of opposing sexualities. We should all be intolerant of this type of behavior and attitude. She can have her own beliefs and moral compass, just like members of the KKK, but that does not mean that such beliefs and such a compass can be condoned. I would no sooner respect the writer of this letter than I would respect a member of the KKK who claims to be tolerant of other races. While, I admit, the atrocity of the acts committed by the KKK in the past are exponentially greater in magnitude, their core attitude involving racial issues was not so different from this woman’s.

      So yes, I would be as rude and passionate in person, and so would anybody who has friends or family members that have suffered because of people voicing opinions not dissimilar from Carol’s.

  • Matty Jacobson March 8, 2012 at 12:37 pm

    Don’t worry, Carol. As long as you keep it up, then you might just drive enough teens to suicide so there won’t be any more GSAs. That’s what God would do. Right?

    I support that Carol can have her own views. I just don’t support arming children, who are already in the minority, with the final stitch in the proverbial patchwork quilt of disapproval that would drive them to kill themselves. Sadly, there are so many who do think that’s what God wants.

    But then again, who am I to speak for God? I should never be so presumptuous to think anyone would be so brazen as to claim he knows exactly what God approves of and does not approve of.

  • Mr. B March 8, 2012 at 2:00 pm

    I do not disagree with the content of this article…but I may have expressed myself a bit differently. That being said (which I can say and you will respect it without sounding like a hypocrite), I believe that a “club” like this is completely negative to those who attended and who it’s supposed to benefit (If you don’t like what I just said, then you shouldn’t have read it).
    Homosexuality is not an acceptable way of life in Gods view (just going by what the Bible said there folks). While I don’t have to accept it, I will not discriminate nor teach my children that people living this way are “bad people”. In fact, a good person is a good person and they can have a very positive effect on one’s life. Friendships should be treasured and real friends know what where the beliefs and values of their friends lie. Unfortunately, a club like this isn’t going accomplish this thought. Calling attention to oneself as being gay is not doing anyone any favors. Being a good friend, being a good person, and being respectful would solve most of our problems, and that goes for gay and straight alike.
    I am aware of these clubs and apart from the reason I just mentioned, I don’t like the idea of a school endorsed club that promotes an controversial subject. A “club”, “group”, “organized meeting” can exist, just not in the public school system – get a conference room at the library or something. School property is not a place to “hang out”, it is to learn/improve a skill (please don’t get “technical” ).
    Oh, don’t get so up-tight – you’ll all get what you want soon enough. Homosexuality has made progress and at at one point was not considered “normal”, But, let me say this considering those of who defended that “normal” is “whatever anyone chooses” and “who are we to say what’s normal”: I’m talking about the cross-dressing, trans-gender, people. If anyone considered it normal, they’d do it on a regular basis, all the time. Cross-dressing, trans…isn’t normal! Normal gets you a respectable job…I have never seen a man dolled up in make up and wearing whatever in an office or in a uniform. Can you imagine a job interview with a boss and some huge dude in a wig and dress? Would you feel comfortable with “Chaz” Bono being your kids’ teacher? Don’t be so “open minded” that you’re afraid to draw the line somewhere. Based on your track record, there are men in mental institutions who are claiming that having an attraction to minors and children and that’s “how they are…God made me that way” . Where will they be in 10 years? According to you probably my next door neighbor.
    If you want peace and acceptance, just work on you – don’t form clubs to separate yourself from others. There will be backlash and hurtful, sometimes physical harm…if you don’t believe me, ask a Mormon from back east, they go through the same thing.

  • Big Bob March 8, 2012 at 6:03 pm

    If homosexuality isn’t right via the bible or “God”( who/whatever that may be to everyone), just where in nature did homosexulity become a manifest? So, the bible is saying that same-sex attraction wasn’t created? It doesn’t seem too satanic to be attracted to the same sex. Like others mention above, I totally agree attraction is not something we as human beings can pick and choose. I know damn well you can’t possibly tell me that I chose my certain body part fetish, which sexually turns me on. I certainly know I didn’t choose it, yet I noticed it turned me on at about age 12-13 as it still does today. I’ve concluded that I;m A-sexual or no sexual preference. So, do you think I chose that on my own?! Hell no, I’d rather be mainstream at times with a girl and a kid or two, cause that’s more “normal” or acceptable right? But that’s not who I am or what I’m attracted to, therefore, I rely on my fetish for sexual satisfaction.

  • Damitrius Washington March 8, 2012 at 6:13 pm

    Mr. B, you’d might as well write a letter that would appear all to similar to Carol’s. Thanks for your opinion, that’s what you believe, but like being sexually attracted to the same sex, being attracted to minors or even non-human objects is once again, not a choice. People above are stating legit enough proofs in their comments that it’s not a choice. I bet if you were to ask a survey of gays and pedofiles if their uncontrolled desires and attractions were mere choices that they could make, it would be not just no, but absolutely no across the board, so accept that or live in ignorance. In fact, I encourage you and others who believe all this is a choice to do further research. You wouldn’t know unless you were the person attracted to that significant other.

  • Rupaul McCarthur March 8, 2012 at 6:27 pm

    Hey Mister B, let me ask you to try something, tomorrow morning when you wake up and see your wife lying next to you in bed, persuade yourself to choose not to be attracted to her. Let me know the outcome, I’m very curious to know how that was done! …….Also, if this Gay Alliance club cannot have the right to be in a public school, neither can Mormon seminary classes. So becareful what you say, it goes both ways.

  • Rupaul McCarthur March 8, 2012 at 6:54 pm

    My God is pretty universal, He created Everything, homosexuality is part of that everything. He made each and every one of us the way we are right now. If He didn’t, there would be no tests and challenges through each of our unique journeys in life. Although it’s inevitable that we all will never agree to disagree, there’s reason we have the word Acceptance?

  • Tyler March 8, 2012 at 7:04 pm

    Wow, I couldn’t have said it better, Cason Snow.

  • Mr. B March 8, 2012 at 8:30 pm

    @Damitrius: WAIT WAIT WAIT, are you seriously defending that being attracted to non-human objects is acceptable!? A guy goes to court to fight for the right to marry his car…people having sex with animals…PEDOPHILES who claim that this is the way God made them…your OK with that? You realize that’s what your saying right?
    @ Rupaul…Uh, yes seminary is part of high school, but its not financially tied with the school nor are students receiving any kind of academic credit from the school – in fact, when they go to seminary it’s called “release time” by the school’s records, which means they aren’t actually attending public school. But I will level with you…I’m sure it does create a feeling of separation for students who don’t go. If one were to argue that the seminary building be farther away from the school and be something that students did either before or after is a worthy point.
    Sorry y’all – we’re gonna have to agree to disagree on many of your points there. We were all raised differently and probably had different experiences growing up. I believe we’ve all come to some sort of conclusion about life and God up to this point. Do I believe that homosexuality is a choice? To some yes, to others…more of a result of something that happened in that person’s youth. That’s just my opinion – sorry to go there. I never said God hates His children who are gay nor do I believe He does, but the scriptures are not in homosexuality’s favor. But Hey! Who cares right? I strongly believe that homosexuality will grow stronger and stronger…that the entire world be more and more accepting of this stuff…I don’t know if any of you have kids, but trust me…I am going to have a much tougher time raising mine in this world than you will (accept for Big Bob…I wonder if his “fetish” can reproduce?) And I know you all feel sorry for them…so I will enjoy So. Utah while it lasts.

  • Mike H March 9, 2012 at 11:50 am

    I know I’ll wind up regretting getting into this, but Mr. B. may we have your “biblical” evidence? Just to get this rolling let’s use a biggie, KJV Leviticus 20:13 “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.”
    Death is sometimes required by the Hebrew Scriptures as the punishment for ritual transgressions. These included the worshiping of other Gods, gathering sticks on the Sabbath (Numbers 15:32-36), improper eating of ritual offerings (Numbers 18:32), ineligible persons acting as priests (Num 3:10).
    For non-mormons that last bit about priests would mean that all the boys put into the LDS priesthood should be put to death as well… Seems this might just come down to perspective yes?
    But please, let’s not stop at :20. Let’s read both before and after it if you will…
    9 For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.
    10 And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
    11 And the man that lieth with his father’s wife hath uncovered his father’s nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
    12 And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them.
    13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
    14 And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.
    15 And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast.
    16 And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
    17 And if a man shall take his sister, his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister’s nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.
    18 And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people.
    19 And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother’s sister, nor of thy father’s sister: for he uncovereth his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity.
    20 And if a man shall lie with his uncle’s wife, he hath uncovered his uncle’s nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless.
    21 And if a man shall take his brother’s wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother’s nakedness; they shall be childless.
    22 Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out.
    As you might be in love with Leviticus, what about 19:19 Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.
    What about not cutting men’s hair? 19:27 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard

    All these transgressions typically should result in death. I find it so interesting how people (typically Christians and specifically Mormons- “in-so-far as the Word is correctly translated”) elect to pick and choose which passages of the Bible to believe.
    Beyond all that, what I find most enlightening, is even when confronted with these inconsistencies, people will still not change their minds or allow that maybe, just maybe these beliefs have rightfully passed away.

  • Mr. B March 9, 2012 at 2:34 pm

    Mike, that was a lot of typing – kudos to you. The last thing I’m going to do is quote a ton of scripture, not the way to solve anything…Now that I’ve said it, we’re actually not here to solve anything are we? Like that’s going to happen through a chat room, let alone through a series of intense scriptural references that have would basically amount to humungous waste of time. No, what you wrote was just fine. It’s all about “perspective” – what we take from references like the scriptures. After all, if everyone got the same thing out of them, then we’d have nothing to talk about right? And based on your writing, you don’t come across like the person who claims to have all the answers (I sure don’t!).
    We can argue death vs spiritual death vs whatever death…it’s just how you perceive it right? It’s not the “death” portion of all those that bothers me…it’s the “abomination” part. Now I didn’t see that word in any other of your references, but it surely came to my mind…especially when referring to woman and beasts. Now, yes – take “abomination” as you perceive it, but I for one have a hard time dealing that one around as opposed to “death”.
    What’s the real reason people have a problem with homosexuality? All I can do is say what I think – A basic relationship between two people are composed of two parts: emotional and physical. It’s not so much the emotional need that bothers me. We all need someone to feel close to – acceptance is what we all strive for – that’s the main reason Facebook is so popular. For me, it’s the physical relationship is what make me think “abomination”. Now, that’s a pretty strong word. Let me once again say I don’t discriminate nor think that gays are evil and horrible people by any means. It’s basically this practice that makes me say “it’s not right”. I really don’t want to go any farther than that when it comes to what gay people do behind closed doors. Let me put it this way: This season on the Celebrity Apprentice, Lisa Lampenelli is playing for the charity GMHC – Gay Men’s Health Crisis. Gay Men’s Heal Crisis…what is the difference between a straight man’s health and a gay man’s health? Well, when you get right down to it, it’s basically where the gay men are putting their private parts, is it not? She could be playing for any number of things to help kids, students, dying people in other countries, but no – she’s worried gay mens’ private parts.
    I think we come to this Earth with a sense of right and wrong – the physical relationship between gay people isn’t right to me. I believe that ones sense of right and wrong can be curved, even totally turned around during one’s youth -( I’m referring to those who say God made them attracted to minors and children) I know it doesn’t matter what I think, I know my way of thinking is out the window, and in time…heck probably in most places now, my comments are in the minority.
    And why should you care right? You win! I know it – you know it. Everything I’m saying is totally crazy and stupid. I can’t agree with the world, I can’t agree with the country, I don’t think I can believe with the state, and it’s soon approaching that I won’t be able to agree with my own community. At least I got my family…which I will do my best to protect. For your part, I will try and produce children who are kind, honest in their dealings. That’s what I strive for.
    Wow, now look whose written a lot? For my part Mike, I’m not near smart enough to interpret how getting your hair cut that way or putting on linen and wool was so horrible.

  • Preston March 9, 2012 at 5:04 pm

    Mr. B, all your ranting, raving and bashing leads to one obvious point, defending your religion and its beliefs. Open your mind, man up and make your own decisions, above all, be yourself and live for you, not your religion. By the way, you and Carol are not Christ-like, I atleast know that much.

  • Damitrius Washington March 9, 2012 at 5:23 pm

    …And the hot St. George Utah battle goes on….Mr. B, Mr. B, dear Mr. B, nowhere in my post did I say I accepted humans being pedophiles or attracted to non-human objects. I simply stated that they weren’t choices and that it’s obvious who they are and/or how they were created, that does not mean i am saying it’s acceptable. In fact, acceptance isn’t even the subject in which I posted about.
    It’s next to impossible to change one’s views, especially circumstances involving bias such as religious views versus non-religious views, so on that note, I’m not trying to persuade you to believe what I or anybody else on this forum believe, I’m simply stating the open-minded facts because I was raised very open-minded and not fed religious beliefs or mind blockage if you will, at an early age, or at all. My jive is you are who you are. If in extreme cases where others are being harmed like pedophilia, rapists or murderers, I’d hope somewhere in their minds, some judgement whether it be from within themselves or someone else, would reach out to seek help and not harm anyone. By the looks of this interesting debate here ( in St George of all places), the majority has you and Carol by the balls, pun intended.

  • Shenelle March 9, 2012 at 5:38 pm

    To me, I’ma lay it out bluntly, be who the hell you is and religion is just a business to control the masses and gain $$$ mmmkay. amen!! Carol, I feel bad for your kids, thanks to you, they are future bullies and closed-minded individuals whom jus may lead to a classmates self-inflicted death.
    Thankyou for putting St. Geore on blast, further showing the true ugliness that lurks amidst the beauty and why people just may wanna think twice before moving their kids here. But I must genuinely thank most of the posters on here by showing the world there really are real, ,understanding, genuine people in these parts aferall. I’m black since that matters here, and my oh my, a girl still tryna fit in mmmkay. Peace to all tryna be true to yourselves, regardless of environment and culture…

  • urbanboy March 9, 2012 at 5:51 pm

    DAMN, I’ve been having more fun and spending my time on here more than facebook lately, props to STGNews for a good debate revealing that infact this town does have other beliefs and diversity by the conversation! Lmao!!!

  • Ms. Jackson March 9, 2012 at 7:38 pm

    Oh my goodness what an uproar this has caused. Everybody is entitled to their opinion, so really, I respect every comment in here, even the article, but that doesn’t mean I have to agree, just as you don’t. It is fascinating to see the views however…

  • Mike H March 9, 2012 at 8:47 pm

    Here’s the thing, regardless of what I wrote and the things I put forth regarding the Bible and so many people’s fallacious and self-serving interpretations of it, what is right for one individual may not be right for another. I respect that. But please Mr. B. do not be so arrogant as to assume that homosexuality can only be reduced to the sexual aspect. When I struggled to come to terms with my sexuality I dated and indeed had sexual relations with women. That is a biological component. Any man and any woman when in the correct circumstance is pre-wired to be able to “do the deed”. Some people are able to divorce themselves from the emotional component. I am not one of those people.
    The whole time I was involved with these girls, especially in a physical exercise I didn’t feel anything beyond the biological imperative that a bit of friction imparts on the male genitalia. This is exactly why you have missionaries who get married and attempt to live the way they have been raised, only to stray in the marriage years or sometimes only months later. Especially with the advent of craigslist and its ilk. Relationships are being torn asunder by something that isn’t simply biological.
    In my teens I dealt with my sexual attraction to males and just figured, oh what the hell they are just body parts no biggie. I was in for a world of hurt when I suddenly realized it was not just sex I was thinking about. I was suddenly fantasizing about building a life with someone, growing old with them and eventually dying with them. None of this had anything to do with sex.
    I’m all well and good with most of your comments, it’s hard for a person to really see and experience things that they are unwilling or unable to. I could try to explain to a blind person what the color blue was and I would get nowhere. Sexuality shouldn’t be that hard, we have a common frame of reference. What you probably feel for your wife (emotionally) is most likely very close to what I have felt in my relationships. People need to draw on their similarities and worry less about their differences.
    I do have to differ with the fellow about children as through my studies in psychology and interviews with inmates I have learned that most pedophiles are not sexually stimulated by children but by the power they wield and control over them.
    Well this is getting long winded again, lol I apologize. One last thing though. The one thing you said that bothers me most is your disparaging remarks about transgendered people. I have had the privilege of meeting a local kid in town who is struggling with that exact issue. As a gay person I cannot fathom what this kid is going through. Imagine feeling like a stranger in your own body. I have read multiple studies about this phenomenon since we met and I am astonished about how ignorant I was about it. Unlike you, I did not harbor ill will towards them, I just could not make sense of it. But thanks to this kid I feel I am really starting to learn so much about our amazing bodies and how they actually seem to betray us. But again, here I am at a loss, I refer back to my comment about explaining blue to a blind person. Try as this kid did, I still could not understand or even begin to empathize with their plight.
    That experience brought one thing home to me, there are some things we will never understand. I thought my struggles as a kid coming to terms with my sexuality were difficult, but in comparison I had it so much easier.
    If you manage to take away anything from this back and forth, please just let it be tolerance and an urge to learn more. You don’t have to respect us or support us, but I would hope you’d try to understand us just a little bit. Especially when you realize, that you never made a choice. Just as you know it is wrong for you to be with a fellow, understand I know it’s wrong to be with a woman. We just have to define what right and wrong really means. To me, it is not a morality issue. This is a different wrong than murder or rape or any of those. This is just a wrong like knowing I don’t like most green vegetables.

  • Tyler March 10, 2012 at 2:30 am

    I honestly don’t have a sexual craving toward either sex. I don’t even have sexual desire. I have a major fetish which turns me on and fulfills the sexual satsisfactionl, but that’s about it. I’ve self-diagnosed myself to pretty much be A-Sexual-No sexual attraction to either sex. That right there is no choice, it’s plainly biological chemistry.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.