Would You Let a Gay Man Teach Your Children Performing Arts?

viv1969 said:
Unless she's stupid, which given the religion is possible, she would know her reasons may offend.
The problem is that people think they can play the religion card and say whatever they like in it's name.
Click to expand...
I find it a little two faced too, I mean look at the bad things being done in the name of someone's beliefs these days. Yet we're not sitting here saying "oh well they're entitled to their belief". Just because it's not physically hurting someone doesn't make it any less wrong.
 
ianp5a said:
Why? Do you believe in all that far fetched mumbo jumbo too?
Click to expand...
What has that got to do with it. Fact remains she hasn't persecuted him in anyway, so what gives you the right to be derisive of her religious beliefs.
 
Apart from anything else, I pity this woman's children.
They're going to grow up with a very narrow, bigoted view of the world; one with little insight into the realities and diversities of society....poor sods.
 
To me - there's another aspect of this

The drama teacher raised the question of her GP - i.e. would she object to a gay GP . That leads me to say what about the teachers in the schools her children attend ? Does she ask about them ?
 
nilagin said:
What has that got to do with it. Fact remains she hasn't persecuted him in anyway, so what gives you the right to be derisive of her religious beliefs.
Click to expand...
Well, your swearing reaction was why I asked.

Should I respect her religious beliefs then?
 
Last edited:
neil_g said:
I find it a little two faced too, I mean look at the bad things being done in the name of someone's beliefs these days. Yet we're not sitting here saying "oh well they're entitled to their belief". Just because it's not physically hurting someone doesn't make it any less wrong.
Click to expand...
"I'm removing my kids from your class because of your lifestyle and my religious beliefs".
"You don't believe in my interpretation of my religion so I'm going to kill you".
If you feel both are the same, you need :help:
 
neil_g said:
If it were the other way around, he'd denied her gay son access to lessons there'd be laws broken. How is it any better the other way around?
Click to expand...
Because she isn't breaking any laws.
Let's assume in an adult acting class, someone is given the role of playing a homosexual. Are you saying they have to play that role, even if it is against their beliefs and they don't want to?
 
nilagin said:
Respect doesn't have to be earned, it should be afforded automatically, it can then be withdrawn if it isn't deserved.
Click to expand...

She certainly showed no respect to the teacher did she. In her view he was not worthy of teaching her children.
 
A second class citizen. Her religion told her not to have respect for gay people. She did what she was told without question. Why would anyone respect that attitude?
Is it no wonder that people don't respect religions?
 
Last edited:
nilagin said:
Respect doesn't have to be earned, it should be afforded automatically, it can then be withdrawn if it isn't deserved.
Click to expand...

I disagree.
Common courtesy is afforded to all automatically for me.
Respect comes through better knowledge of a person and their actions.
 
nilagin said:
Because she isn't breaking any laws.
Let's assume in an adult acting class, someone is given the role of playing a homosexual. Are you saying they have to play that role, even if it is against their beliefs and they don't want to?
Click to expand...

Just a reality check. The teacher's sexuality has absolutely nothing to do with his ability to do the job she originally wanted him too. It has no relevance whatsoever. She made it an issue for out-dated, bigoted reasons.

And in case you are in any doubt, the guy, like you, like the mother, is a human being.
 
I'm not clear - did the woman post her message to the teacher on FB?

It looks like it in the article.
 
ianp5a said:
A second class citizen. Her religion told her not to have respect for gay people. She did what she was told without question. Why would anyone respect that attitude?
Is it no wonder that people don't respect religions?
Click to expand...
Did it really?
 
nilagin said:
From what I can make out, that is where he posted it.
Click to expand...

Where can you see him specifically posting to fb? Is all it looks like to me is she messaged him and it looks like via fb.
 
viv1969 said:
I disagree.
Common courtesy is afforded to all automatically for me.
Respect comes through better knowledge of a person and their actions.
Click to expand...
So what you are saying is you would be disrespectful to someone who bears you no malice, just because they have religious belief and you don't.


Nice.
 
nilagin said:
So what you are saying is you would be disrespectful to someone who bears you no malice, just because they have religious belief and you don't.


Nice.
Click to expand...
Where have I said that?
 
Cg_Girl said:
Where can you see him specifically posting to fb? Is all it looks like to me is she messaged him and it looks like via fb.
Click to expand...
"Since posting the message on Facebook Michael has received several messages of support, congratulating him on his calm response to the mother".
 
nilagin said:
"Since posting the message on Facebook Michael has received several messages of support, congratulating him on his calm response to the mother".
Click to expand...

Ah ok fair enough I missed that bit... Good for him though.
We shouldn't still be having the whole sexual preference discrimination
 
Ricardodaforce said:
Just a reality check. The teacher's sexuality has absolutely nothing to do with his ability to do the job she originally wanted him too. It has no relevance whatsoever. She made it an issue for out-dated, bigoted reasons.

And in case you are in any doubt, the guy, like you, like the mother, is a human being.
Click to expand...
Reality check for you, she has every right to withdraw her kids from his class and she had every right to express her reason for doing so. It doesn't even occur to you that your opinion of her faith can be deemed just as bigoted as you feel her views are.
 
Cg_Girl said:
Ah ok fair enough I missed that bit... Good for him though.
We shouldn't still be having the whole sexual preference discrimination
Click to expand...
It's her religious belief, she is entitled. As I said she hasn't persecuted him in anyway, just withdrawn her children from the class and asked for her money back, the latter would be the only thing I would say was wrong.
 
nilagin said:
As I said she hasn't persecuted him in anyway
Click to expand...

I disagree.

I agree that she is entitled to her beliefs, as much as I despise them, but if she in no way intended to persecute, as in cause him personal discomfort, she should simply have withdrawn her children with no comment about her opinion of his personal sexuality.
 
simon ess said:
I disagree.

I agree that she is entitled to her beliefs, as much as I despise them, but if she in no way intended to persecute, as in cause him personal discomfort, she should simply have withdrawn her children with no comment about her opinion of his personal sexuality.
Click to expand...
Why should it cause him personal discomfort?
He has done more wrong by posting a private message on facebook and as a consequence it has appeared in the press.
He could just as easily expressed his regret at her decision and even offered to allow her to sit in on his classes and persuade her otherwise. Instead he makes fun of her beliefs and donates the money to a group he hopes she would not be agreeable to.
 
You really think that being told you can't be trusted with children because of who you are isn't hurtful?

OK
 
My 11 year old goes to drama classes with an openly gay tutor - don't see a problem with it at all.
I don't feel my child is at risk in any way whilst he is there.
A persons sexual orientation shouldn't come in to it at all.
 
JulesP said:
My 11 year old goes to drama classes with an openly gay tutor - don't see a problem with it at all.
I don't feel my child is at risk in any way whilst he is there.
A persons sexual orientation shouldn't come in to it at all.
Click to expand...

She's not suggested she feels her kids are at risk as far as I can see it.

As I read it, she's said, privately - "my kids won't be coming anymore because the way you live your life doesn't match my view of the world, and I don't want my kids exposed to that view".
He's then escalated the issue publicly, trying to be a bit of a smart arse. Escalation because he brings up 'life and death' (he's a dance teacher not a bloody doctor).

I think she's a bit of a tit because of her views, and I think he's a bit of a tit for turning it into a crusade (far from the calm response that's claimed, he shared it on Facebook, and that is not in itself indicative of a calm response, that's a "look at me, I put that bigot down in style" boast), and for that reason, I think he's the bigger tit in this situation.

Had she posted her message publicly, I'd have a different view, but there's nothing to indicate that is the case.

I think she's wrong to deny her kids the opportunity of learning with a well respected teacher because of an irrelevance such as the sexuality of the instructor, but I don't think her private message to him to inform him of her decision was wrong in itself; it was truthful. A better response would to have been respond in private and educate her.
 
Last edited:
Furtim said:
She's not suggested she feels her kids are at risk as far as I can see it.

As I read it, she's said, privately - "my kids won't be coming anymore because the way you live your life doesn't match my view of the world, and I don't want my kids exposed to that view".
He's then escalated the issue publicly, trying to be a bit of a smart arse. Escalation because he brings up 'life and death' (he's a dance teacher not a bloody doctor).

I think she's a bit of a tit because of her views, and I think he's a bit of a tit for turning it into a crusade (far from the calm response that's claimed, he shared it on Facebook, and that is not in itself indicative of a calm response, that's a "look at me, I put that bigot down in style" boast), and for that reason, I think he's the bigger tit in this situation.

Had she posted her message publicly, I'd have a different view, but there's nothing to indicate that is the case.

I think she's wrong to deny her kids the opportunity of learning with a well respected teacher because of an irrelevance such as the sexuality of the instructor, but I don't think her private message to him to inform him of her decision was wrong in itself; it was truthful. A better response would to have been respond in private and educate her.
Click to expand...
I agree with that, she wasn't accusing him of anything. And a private exchange was made public. It really isn't hard to then identify who it was for those going to that group.

However I'm still gobsmacked by the reasons that mother provided. I can't help but feel it to be a very unchristian act and really bad judgement. Surely it's a dance group not a private social studies group. I pity the children involved, but I have faith in young minds who should be much more open to this. Heck when it is forbidden as per their parents, surely it makes it more interesting and reason to experiment?

But most of all I pity the mum, she just doesn't get what parenthood is about, and must make it really hard for herself with lots of worries to not expose her children to all the things she doesn't agree with. She lives in a prison.

Than again it can just all be a lot of crap. It could be just an ordinary stupid mum who thought she was clever and found a way around a non-refundable deposit. And it backfired big time.

Who knows.
 
nilagin said:
Reality check for you, she has every right to withdraw her kids from his class and she had every right to express her reason for doing so. It doesn't even occur to you that your opinion of her faith can be deemed just as bigoted as you feel her views are.
Click to expand...

Bravo, excellent response as always. Do you see that you have no problem with discrimination?
 
nilagin said:
What has that got to do with it. Fact remains she hasn't persecuted him in anyway, so what gives you the right to be derisive of her religious beliefs.
Click to expand...
She has reduced his income. You clearly have a different version of not affecting him in any way.

For the sums involved it's not worth a fight, but what she did is illegal, you're entitled to an opinion, but the law disagrees.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top