Student Expelled For Coming Out

[zacxdreyer09]

He wouldn't mind at all... we've talked about this... and he is really excited about it!

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by zacxdreyer09

Literally, the only reason he was asked to leave was because he is gay. He was also told that someone, an anonymous person, reported him. We, however, don't know how much truth is in that statement... and it could have been a witch hunt.

If experience proves any help, a similar thing happened at my school many years ago when 4 guys senior to me were expelled. They were turned in by another gay student- a Mr. Anonymous- a true case of internalized homophobia. Whether this happened in Jason's case or not remains to be seen, but one wonders who's doing the snooping and why.

My thoughts and prayers are with you both- please hang on tight to each other- it may be a rough ride for a bit.

Your beau has found a true friend in you.

[Foeke]

Isn't there any anti-discrimination law that could provide him or any other Kentucky resident from these blatant acts of discrimination? This is ridiculous.

[trulyme212]

Wow....this whole thing is crazy!

Everyone has good ideas and it was an excellent letter.

I'm so glad to witness how supportive everyone really is....

and Zac welcome....you are doing a fabulous job....I have to ask however....How are YOU doing?

This must be stressful and difficult for you also.....

Keep up the good work everyone!

[themattperry]

I'll be thinking about you guys and your communities today. I'm sure that this goes for many of us here.

[themattperry]

Originally Posted by Foeke

Isn't there any anti-discrimination law that could provide him or any other Kentucky resident from these blatant acts of discrimination? This is ridiculous.

Unfortunately, Foeke, only a small number (maybe a 1/4) of US states protect glbt people from discrimination in housing, employment etc .... My rather liberal state of Washington just recently enacted a measure like this.

What's worse, even these protections do not usually apply to private religious institutions.

God bless America. ;-)

[zacxdreyer09]

To those concerned about me, I am a little stressed out but I am doing everything in my power to help Jason out. It is the least that I can do. Jason spoke with his attorney today... they are going to get the story into as many print medias that they can. If you live in or around KY check the newspapers!

Thanks again to everyone, I really cannot say how much your support is helping Jason through this tough time!

Much Love,
Zac

[Jamie McDaniel]

Originally Posted by zacxdreyer09

...they are going to get the story into as many print medias that they can.

The story alone should get media coverage, but another option is to hold a vigil outside the school. Since Williamsburg is 2 hours from Lexington, I'm not sure how many from Lexington would directly participate in such a vigil. Zac, do you have a sense of how many supportive people from the University of the Cumberlands and surrounding universities might want to do something like that? Jason left a message on my cell, so I can discuss it with him too. Also, are Jason and your parents supportive?

[NathanATX]

dhoneycu@ucumberlands.edu,
lbartram@ucumberlands.edu,
apilant@ucumberlands.edu,
dwhitake@ucumberlands.edu,
bherron@ucumberlands.edu,
dharp@ucumberlands.edu,
christyleefoster@yahoo.com
football@ucumberlands.edu,
kstrebec@ucumberlands.edu,
mac@ucumberlands.edu,
mcole@ucumberlands.edu,
lcarter@ucumberlands.edu,
jbourne@ucumberlands.edu,
studentgov@ucumberlands.edu,
alumni@cumberlandcollege.edu,
rvernon@ucumberlands.edu,
bsergent@ucumberlands.edu,
lwest@ucumberlands.edu,
dbutcher@ucumberlands.edu,
mvernon@ucumberlands.edu,
mirvin@ucumberlands.edu,
nbellman@ucumberlands.edu,
emahan@ucumberlands.edu,
chking@ucumberlands.edu,
pneto@ucumberlands.edu,
tbrooks@ucumberlands.edu,
abassoff@ucumberlands.edu,
grach@ucumberlands.edu,
adean@ucumberlands.edu,
mstump@ucumberlands.edu,
jwake@ucumberlands.edu,
jedwards@ucumberlands.edu,
jdclifton@hotmail.com
lilcheer@hotmail.com
lilcheer@hotmail.com
lilcheer@hotmail.com
fbanks@ucumberlands.edu,
Coach_Shultz@hotmail.com
gnelson@ucumberlands.edu,
britbecker@hotmail.com
angel17blue03@hotmail.com
illyssaleisure@hotmail.com
wkp22284@hotmail.com
girlwrassler@netscape.net
telsarr@aol.com
swilham@ucumberlands.edu,
kwyatt@ucumberlands.edu,

esansale@ucumberlands.edu,
ctan@ucumberlands.edu,

fstroud@ucumberlands.edu,
aghioroaie@ucumberlands.edu,
wtemple@ucumberlands.edu,
phaus@ucumberlands.edu,
bstrebec@ucumberlands.edu,
jwake@ucumberlands.edu,
ahoward@ucumberlands.edu,
awalton@ucumberlands.edu,
amedders@ucumberlands.edu,
kflanik@ucumberlands.edu,
agibbs@ucumberlands.edu,
gallen@ucumberlands.edu,

rweedman@ucumberlands.edu,
mconn@ucumberlands.edu,
mdickman@ucumberlands.edu,

jwheeler@ucumberlands.edu,
jbourne@ucumberlands.edu,
mwhite@ucumberlands.edu,
ksemmel@ucumberlands.edu,
jwilliam@ucumberlands.edu,
mworthin@ucumberlands.edu,
Canderso@ucumberlands.edu,
nfoster@ucumberlands.edu,
sdavis@ucumberlands.edu,
tfish@ucumberlands.edu,
tfrazier@ucumberlands.edu,
jsharp@ucumberlands.edu,
gherring@ucumberlands.edu,
kfish@ucumberlands.edu,
tdickman@ucumberlands.edu,
nbowden@ucumberlands.edu,
jmarsh@ucumberlands.edu,
ldennis@ucumberlands.edu,
jsmoak@ucumberlands.edu,
rbyrd@ucumberlands.edu,
lchipe@ucumberlands.edu,
jcorcoran@ucumberlands.edu,
detter@ucumberlands.edu,
gmajors@ucumberlands.edu,
dthrelk@ucumberlands.edu,
thill@ucumberlands.edu,

[NathanATX]

Dear Brother & Sister in Christ,

I just became aware of the story of a young man at your university who was confronted with a printout from his myspace.com profile that identified him as a gay man. He was summarily expelled from your school.

How does his expulsion fit in with the message of Christ? Does that kind of action rise to the standard of "loving your neighbor?" I don't believe it does.

I believe such an action is tremendously damaging. This young man is now experiencing incredible trauma at the hands of your school's administration, people who SAY they are committed to be like Christ, simply because he is gay.

Don't you believe God loves gay people?

What do you think this young man's response to such a violent action is going to be? Do you think this is going to compel him to become straight? Do you think this action communicates God's love to him?

As someone who has been through a similar violent experience, I am very aware of the possible effects of such trauma.

• Fear that God doesn't love him
• A stark sense of alone-ness in the world
• Grief and depression at the loss of relationships and a sense of one's place in the world
• Becoming angry at God, church & anyone who is religious
• Greatly diminished self-worth and the subsequent risky behavior... drinking too much, using drugs, promiscuity...
• Suicide

The only result of such an action is to cause harm. My prayer for him is that he will surround himself with people that will speak the truth about who he is and who God created him to be. My prayer is that the impact of the violence your university has inflicted on him will be lessened because of people taking a strong stand of love & support for him.

My prayer for you, as a part of this University, is that you would realize what a great sin has been committed against this child of God in the name of Jesus. My prayer is that you will not be silent in the face of spiritual violence. My prayer is that you will be led by the love of God in spite of your uncertainties and questions about sexuality.

My prayer is for reconciliation. Please join me in this prayer.

Sincerely,

Nate Black
www.nateblack.us

[Emproph]

I just learned about Blind Carbon Copy, Bcc, when sending emails to multiple recipients in order to increase the likelihood of them being read, and to ensure the email privacy of those recipients.

In order to send a copy of an email message without the other email addresses showing you can use an option called Blind Carbon Copy, Bcc, as opposed to just Carbon Copy or Cc: underneath the To:, In Outlook Express, click on view and then check 'headers' and then Bcc will show right under Cc. I believe you put your address in the To: and the rest in Bcc, make sure there are comma's in between the addys. Does anyone know how to explain it better?

BCC link: http://www.rrudder.com/safe/bcc.html#Outlook_Express
Here’s the Google search I did for it: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...mail+addresses

A few media links:
http://www.rumormillnews.com/MEDIA_EMAIL_ADDRESSES.htm
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1228326/posts

-That last link is from 2004, not sure about the other one, I'll see if I can find a more current one later.
Don’t forget to separate with comma’s if they don't have them.
And be prepared to get responses, albeit probably mostly automatic ones.
I gotta go, I’ll see what I can find out later.

[Zerbie]

Nathan, what an excellent letter! Thank you!

I don't know what to say - I feel so angry imagining a person being forced out of housing without notice, and threatened with arrest for trespassing. I am so angry I'm spitting!

Zac - welcome. I wish you and Jason lots of strength getting through this challenge.

[NathanATX]

I'm ticked off too.

I wasn't sure if sending the email using BCC would be better or not... I've used both methods in the past.

Next, I'm going to write a compassionate/scathing letter to the editor... and send it all over their region.

We need to look up local churches, especially baptist ones, and be sending them these emails too.

[zacxdreyer09]

Originally Posted by Jamie McDaniel

The story alone should get media coverage, but another option is to hold a vigil outside the school. Since Williamsburg is 2 hours from Lexington, I'm not sure how many from Lexington would directly participate in such a vigil. Zac, do you have a sense of how many supportive people from the University of the Cumberlands and surrounding universities might want to do something like that? Jason left a message on my cell, so I can discuss it with him too. Also, are Jason and your parents supportive?

I am pretty positive that a lot of people would want to do something like that. I am getting a lot of backing here at EKU and the support at UC is more than one could have suspected. Jason's parent's as far as I know are being very supportive on this whole issue. As for mine, well they haven't sent me their response to the email that I sent to them about it, but that doesn't mean they have had the time to get back to me about it.

Oh, tomorrow in the Lexington Hearald Leader there will be a follow up story with my interview along with interviews done by Jason's friends! Read it, if you are in or around Lexington.. if you are not then go to their website at www.kentucky.com and search for the story starting tomorrow!

Thanks again everyone!

Much love,
Zac

[NathanATX]

Call the university president, Mr. Taylor at 606-539-4201.

[zacxdreyer09]

Thanks to a very supportive person I have acquired President Taylor's personal cell number...


Here goes: 606-521-8054


Do what you will!

Much Love!

[NathanATX]

What is his full name & title? Mr./Dr./Rev....

[zacxdreyer09]

President James H Taylor.

[NathanATX]

I called his office at 606-539-4201 and asked for him. His secretary asked what this was regarding and I said:

"My name is Nathan Black and I just learned today that one of your students was expelled because it was discovered he was gay. I am upset about this and wanted to communicate my thoughts to Mr. Taylor. May I speak with him?"

-No, he's out of town.

"Ok, please let him know I called and that many people are upset and concerned about what happened. I hope that he will reconsider the decision."

-Thank you for calling.

"Have a good day."

[NathanATX]

I just sent this to several anchors at www.wlextv.com

****************************
Dear Ms. Cox, et. al:

This is the text of an email I have sent to the students, faculty & administration of the University of the Cumberlands.

Also, a gay christian organization that works to end this kind of violence has an active conversation about this situation at http://www.soulforce.org/forums/showthread.php?t=460.

This is also VERY interesting in light of the Soulforce Equality Ride that has been getting a lot of news coverage across the nation. www.equalityride.com The Equality Ride bus is visiting religious universities that have policies that discriminate against gay & lesbian students.

I hope this helps you all!
Nate Black
512-947-5289
www.nateblack.us



Please stop spiritual violence.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Brother & Sister in Christ,

I just became aware of the story of a young man at your university who was confronted with a printout from his myspace.com profile that identified him as a gay man. He was summarily expelled from your school.

How does his expulsion fit in with the message of Christ? Does that kind of action rise to the standard of "loving your neighbor?" I don't believe it does.

I believe such an action is tremendously damaging. This young man is now experiencing incredible trauma at the hands of your school's administration, people who SAY they are committed to be like Christ, simply because he is gay.

Don't you believe God loves gay people?

What do you think this young man's response to such a violent action is going to be? Do you think this is going to compel him to become straight? Do you think this action communicates God's love to him?

As someone who has been through a similar violent experience, I am very aware of the possible effects of such trauma.
Fear that God doesn't love him
A stark sense of alone-ness in the world
Grief and depression at the loss of relationships and a sense of one's place in the world
Becoming angry at God, church & anyone who is religious
Greatly diminished self-worth and the subsequent risky behavior... drinking too much, using drugs, promiscuity...
Suicide

The only result of such an action is to cause harm. My prayer for him is that he will surround himself with people that will speak the truth about who he is and who God created him to be. My prayer is that the impact of the violence your university has inflicted on him will be lessened because of people taking a strong stand of love & support for him.

My prayer for you, as a part of this University, is that you would realize what a great sin has been committed against this child of God in the name of Jesus. My prayer is that you will not be silent in the face of spiritual violence. My prayer is that you will be led by the love of God in spite of your uncertainties and questions about sexuality.

My prayer is for reconciliation. Please join me in this prayer.

Sincerely,

Nate Black
www.nateblack.us

mailto:ncox@wlextv.com