LETTER: Observing ‘GSD’ is going too far

Mr Snyder doesn't attend FHS and doesn't know what he's talking about. The gay-lesbian alliance just doesn't speak during this day. Those in the club take a vow of silence on this particular day. FYI: most of those in the club are straight and just believe in justice for all and acceptance in all. There is no weird demonstrations or anything of that nature.
I work at the school and witness on a daily basis many "little darlings" who have devil mouths towards anyone who isn't like them. Unless you are in the "in" crowd, you are made fun of.

Is it just me or does this letter come off a little bigoted? Straight people get all the rest of the days in the year to flaunt their sexuality. While there is no flaunting of the gay and lesbian lifestyle on this day, why not give them one day? I hope that not all of Fremont is as closed-minded and unaccepting of others. People are people, regardless.

Our real estate tax dollars, once again, at work in the public schools.

I think the fact the the "Gay Straight Alliance" is only identified as GSA in all school communications should be proof enough that the administrators don't want to deal with parents who realize what it really stands for. And, they do NOT flaunt their views only one day a year. They have regular meetings (in school), t-shirts for their "club" as well as attendance at dances as same sex gay-straight alliance "couples" for lack of a better term. Not that they are couples, but they commit to attending together to make the point. As a parent of a high school student, I hear these things and they are fact not fiction. These kids are young and impressionable. Why have any sexually oriented groups at school? Shouldn't we be teaching our kids respect in relationships and sexual responsibility/abstinence? We can't even let kids pray at school but we can let them talk about and make a public display of the gay/lesbian lifestyle. Do we really have to wonder what's wrong with this country? My son can't even read the Bible in the lunch room without someone saying something. Should he be allowed to start a group since he is being discriminated against?

Perhaps YOU should go silent! How does this effect you? If a student wants to go silent to support or protest something why should you care. Do you really think that this sort of thing will encourage anyone to turn gay? Don't like it? Go to Iran...they don't have homosexuals there!

It was exactly this kind of perverse social tinkering that caused me to remove my children from Public schools. If all parents knew all the things their kids were being taught, there woud be tar and feathering. I would advise parents to review ALL textbooks for EVERY class, don't just assume your values and worldviews are being represented. Last straw for me was when I found that there were "some" textbooks that they wern't allowed to bring home, I actually had to go to the school, and they were not happy to see me. NEA gone AMUCK...

I do not think that it is right to be gay or lesbian, but I do think people need to tolerate it. Many people are ridiculed each day because they are gay. It needs to stop.

I applaud Mr. Snyder for taking the time to write a letter concerning this “GSD” day in the school system. The average person would not know that this had even taken place if it were not for concerned citizens such as Mr. Snyder.

I’m thinking he is right, maybe we should be looking into those that are running our schools to see just who these people are and what they stand for. It seems strange to me that our schools can not even turn out our children with a good basic education any longer but the “Gay/Lesbian Alliance” is allowed to have a voice in our schools. It seems as though by the time the teachers of today get to the classroom all common sense has been removed from their thinking by liberal teachings of college professors.

Our schools should be about good basic meaningful education, that is useful in life rather than learning about deviant life styles. When you get to the point that it is in our schools in any form, it is called indoctrination and recruiting to alternative lifestyles because the teenagers are at an impressionable age. It makes me a little more than concerned when the people that are hired to teach our children are not good role models for the children they teach. By allowing the teens to be exposed to these lifestyles that are not truly accepted by society for the most part they are being set up for a life of misery, as they are not taught the whole truths about these lifestyles and the stigmas that go with it.

To “whatever” I say, straight people do not have to flaunt their sexuality everyday of the year, they just go about their lives doing what needs to be done. They don’t have to call attention to their sexuality because it is right way to do it and they are not guilt ridden because they are straight.

It's funny how school organizations based on "traditional" sexual orientation would NEVER be allowed to meet let alone sponsor a day in their name.

I have only lived in Fremont for the past few years but it is amazing how much bigotry and intolerance I have seen in this community. One of the goals of education is to teach tolerance for which I believe the high school is doing a great job. I commend the administration for doing so. For those not reading anything above gossip mags, let me enlighten you. There is extensive research to show that exposure to gay lifestyles does not make one become "gay". It has been known for some time that homosexuality is not something one chooses but rather an innate characteristic. For many, this is hard to swallow because it does not jive with what the bible teaches. Please open your minds and respect the rights of all people. Again, I applaud the Fremont High School for educating students on tolerance as it will benefit them greatly in their future.

Here's my comment to Mr. Snyder:

I don't know you, but you must be a fat person. This society doesn't accept fat people, especially when there is something you quite obviously can be doing about it. It's YOUR CHOICE, isn't it? You should not have any friends or be able to talk to anyone because of how fat you are. No one should support you, because it's just not accepted today. It can't even be hidden that you are obese because you are displaying it for the whole world. What kind of message are you sending to youth? That it is OK to overeat and lead an unhealthy lifestyle? I hope that no one supports you or understands your background or history surrounding your weight, because that's EXACTLY what you are saying about the gay-straight alliance. I just completely passed judgement on a complete stranger, without knowing facts. HURTS, doesn't it?

Unfortunatly, the Tribune printed your editorial, that is one giant pile of garbage. Get your facts straight, TRIBUNE, before you print something like that.

And to all you others, I hope that you WANT your school to teach children to be understanding of others and not live life in a little bubble that there is a "right" kind of person.

The school doens't PROMOTE gays-lesbians, etc. I challenge you to actually ASK the students if this is the case. The school just gives this small group of people a place to feel a sense of belonging...and a sense of understanding among others who might not fit in the same as everyone else. SO EVERYONE ELSE doesn't need a special group because they are one GIANT GROUP ALREADY!!! Maybe the title of the GSA doesn't suit you, but the message the group is sending is to be TOLERANT of others. You don't want people to be tolerant of others? It doesn't seem like it; what a sad group of people you are. Wow.

There are HUNDREDS of schools across the nation that participate in GSA and the Day of Silence. DUH. Why do people act like experts on something they quite obviously haven't researched?

People don't choose to be gay for Pete's sake. Who would ASK to be ridiculed and put down like this? NO ONE!!! But people want to be true to themselves, and they can't be blamed for that.

This letter and some of the opinions on here are outrageous. How is it hurting anyone that this group is allowed to do this? Are some parents afraid that a member of this group is going to "turn their child gay?" It's not like the GSA's goal is to turn people into "deviants" as Mr. Snyder so eloquently put it. It may be against your religious beliefs but i reiterate, HOW DOES SOMEONE BEING GAY HURT YOU?? I am not gay, in fact I am happily married, but I think that GSD was and is a great idea. No one has ever been hurt by taking a minute to look at life from a different point of view.

Gay Silence Day? Does he mean National Day of Silence, a day meant to teach students the concept of respect for everyone, even for those with whom they may disagree? And Fremont is only one of seven schools nationwide to acknowledge this, Mr. Snyder? Hmm. I suppose the several thousand other schools around the nation, who also took the opportunity to teach a little rational thought, were doing something different? You are right, sir; my rights stop where yours begin. But as no one was forcing anyone to participate, and as no one is forcing you to march in the next Gay Pride parade, one might consider that your right to hate has not been violated in the least. May God have mercy on your soul.

First of all, I dont care if one is gay or straight.
Secondly, There are far bigger problems problems this nation has to worry about then gay rights.
Thirdly, both sides of this issue are wrong. To the "bible people" who say gayness is a sin remember ANY sex outside marriage is a sin. So when a spouse cheats or a couple of straight teenagers have sex on prom night its also a sin. No more or no less a sin then gay sex. To the gay rights people, you already have rights & the same rights anyone else has. As for gay marriage, you can live together as roomates & have wills done to take care of each other as a married couple so its the same thing. If someone beats up a gay person its assault wich is a crime and they are prosecuted. When a person conducts business with a lawyer, a grocery store, a banker, for example they are not asked if they are gay or straight. I never have been. So both sides need to lighten up. And to the high school who says they need a place to meet, that is bogus. Teenagers get together all the time off school hours. The whole gay rights vs the bible crowd is a waste of time, energy on BOTH sides. We have more important things to worry about in this nation. When evrything else is fixed ie war on terror in ALL fronts,(not just iraq, but when ALL muslims want to live in peace), the economy, medical care issues, immigration, ect. then we can sit down & nicely debate the gay vs straight issues. Have a good day ALL.

Mr. S
You gave a short description of what the initials GSD stands for but did you investigate what Gay Silence Day truly was. It is a day to bring attention to the intolerance and discrimination that gays suffer if they do not stay “silent.” Homosexuality is not a learned behavior and I am sure it is not on Fremont schools curriculum and I would almost bet that this event was proposed to be observed by some of our more intelligent and free thinking students. They are observing this day to prove you are right “In America, everyone has the right to pursue his or her lifestyle” and our children are learning that they would like to do it with out discrimination and persecution. Wow , our children are learning to treat other people with kindness and respect. You are right, we need to “recall all the members of the Fremont School Board and fire the management of the senior high school” and stop this education nonsense now before it spreads to future generations.

Randy Wheelock

yes lets protect the children while they are in school and than when they get into the real world and get fired for being unsesitived towards others than you will come back and blame the school for not teaching tolarance. get with it people times change and your behind pick up the pace and open your eyes. it may disterb you as it does me but this is the way of the times. eather get used to it or get ready for someone to sue you. welcome to modern day mentalitey.

Why does this group have to be called the Gay/Straight Alliance if it's intention is to promote tolerance across the board as so many here would like to point out? It isn't called the Tolerance Alliance. Kids are bullied every day for various reasons, and I would venture to say more kids are bullied for reasons other than their sexual orientation. We don't have groups for all of those issues. I think there are better ways to promote tolerance than to name one particular issue. Our kids should be taught tolerance in their everyday lives at home, by their parents, where it should be happening. Parents need to instill good values in their children way before high school. But then again, the bullies themselves had to learn their behavior somewhere. How many of those that are discriminating against gay/lesbian students do you think are attending GSA meetings and events and wearing their t-shirts?

Are you guys really in such an uproar over the fact, that SOME students chose to support this cause. Are you really that terrified of what " they" are teaching your children? If this group is so wrong lets get rid of all clubs in school, lets see..no chess club because that excludes those who don't play chess, FFA is next because its glorifing farming which can give kids the wrong idea about going to college, Drama club because they embrace imagination, and impersonating ( isn't that what acting really is?)which could lead to some students taking up criminal lifestyle of identity theft....sounds ridiculous doesn't? The problem with choices being expressed is the issue here. Wasn't it the 60's when people burned bras, and draft numbers? Why because they were expressing a choice to stand for something. Thats all this is about the kids in this club have CHOSEN to stand up for a belief. The only problem is that people are scared of what that MIGHT lead to. They are not out recruiting children to be in the club, they are not forcing anything on anyone. Since when is standing up for something you believe in wrong? Since when does being in a public school make it unlawful to express an opinion, and or take away the right to make choices??

I am so tired of gays hiding the fact they are by saying they were born that way. You know it is a sexual lifestyle CHOICE you make. If that is your choice, don't get all bent because others don"t agree with you. Just accept any consequences from the choice you made. We all do that with ANY choices we make.

So, at what age did you decide to be a heterosexual? It was a choice, obviously, so when did you choose?

Since you quite obviously are uneducated in this area, I can tell you that you DIDN'T make a conscious decision. The decision was made for you, and it was out of your control.

I'm sick of people like you pretending to sound intelligent. I wish you knew how stupid you sound.

I'm embarrassed for you!!!

Does the Tribune not have a garbage can in the building anywhere? This letter shouldn't have made it past one person much less into the paper.

It is just sad that so many people are so fearful of something that just doesn't effect them in anyway.

For a letter this stupid and ignorant to come out of a Fremont business owner is one of the saddest things I have seen in a while. Please cancel my pager service.

I feel that the day should be held as a way to focus on treating all people with respect. I don't feel that it should be focused on only one group of people, which it clearly is if you see the signs that are posted throughout the school. We have a very diverse student population at FHS (which is good). I think FHS tries very hard to keep students from bullying others and encouraging them to treat each other with respect. (However, we cannot be everywhere and cannot control what people say, text or do-so obviously at times, all types of people are bullied or disrespected- just as it is in every school, workplace, etc.)
I honestly believe that focusing on treating all people with respect would send a greater message on this day!

Ah, Brian the voice of reason. How right he is.
I would advocate "ISD", Idiot Silence Day, but then there would be no posters on the Trib's boards to entertain me. Except my own. And maybe Brian's.