Fifth-Grader Prohibited
From Giving Speech
Supporting Marriage Equality
A Queens, New York fifth-grader named Kameron Slade won a class competition and was slated to deliver a speech as part of a school-wide competition at PS 195. However, because Kameron’s speech was to be about same-sex marriage, his principal told him he would be removed from the contest if he did not choose a different topic. Here are some excerpts from Kameron’s “inappropriate” speech:
SLADE: Some people are for same-gender marriage, while others are against it. Like President Obama, I believe that all people should have the right to marry whoever they want. Marriage is about love, support, and commitment. So who are we to judge? If we judge people like this, this is a form of prejudice. We must learn to accept all differences.[...]
My mom is very open to me about same-gender marriage. However, some adults may feel uncomfortable and think it’s inappropriate to talk about this to children. I think adults must realize that as children get older, they become aware of these mature issues that are going on in the world. If children read or watch the news, they can learn about things like same-gender marriage, so what’s the point in trying to hide it?
In conclusion, I hope that everyone understands how important it is to respect everyone for who they are. Same-gender marriage is becoming more popular. I believe that same-gender marriage should be accepted worldwide and that parents and teachers should start to discuss these issues without shame to their children.
Watch Kameron read his full speech, courtesy of NY1:
Some parents agreed with the principal that the topic was an “adult conversation” that didn’t belong in school, but Kameron’s own speech addresses this hollow complaint. In addition to the fact that young people can easily learn about this issue from the President of the United States, many are bound to encounter same-sex families among their friends and classmates. To censor such topics is an attempt to erase gay and lesbian people from communities entirely.
Numerous studies have found that schools are safer for LGBT students when curricula are LGBT-inclusive. Young Slade should be applauded for doing for his peers what his school community refuses to do. Supposedly, he will have the opportunity to give this speech in some sort of different assembly, but in the meantime, he is preparing a speech for the competition about preventing animal cruelty.
__________________________
Fifth Grader Will Be Allowed
To Give Speech
Supporting Same-Sex Marriage
Kameron Slade, Family Are Happy Department Of Education Reconsidered
June 15, 2012
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott says a fifth grade student at P.S. 195 in Queens will be allowed to give a speech about same-sex marriage after all.
The school’s principal barred Kameron Slade from delivering the speech in front of a school-wide assembly, saying it was inappropriate. Instead, he delivered a speech Friday about animal cruelty.
“I thought my original speech was really gonna win. I was very confident in it,” Slade told CBS 2′s Tony Aiello.
Walcott said Friday that Principal Beryl Bailey will allow the speech to go ahead in front of a special assembly of fifth graders on Monday.
“This extra day will give her the ability to reach out to those parents to make them aware of the content of the speech because we’re talking about an elementary school,” Walcott said. “She wants to be responsible in making sure that people have a clear understanding of what the speech is about.”
“I’m really pleased with that compromise. I’m really glad that the Department of Education has taken time to pay attention,” Slade’s mother told CBS 2′s Aiello.
Slade said his speech calls for acceptance and tolerance of gay couples, and added he hopes parents talk with the children about same-sex marriage, because, in his words, “it’s out there.”
“They can sneak stuff. They can search it on the computer. They can watch it on the news,” Slade said.
New York City Council Member Daniel Dromm said Slade’s principal “has taught a lesson in hate.” Dromm called the decision to allow Slade to deliver the speech in front of a separate assembly “discriminatory.”
“Separate but equal does not work,” Dromm said.
“I think the young man has the right to give a speech, so it’s not undermining her. She needs to make sure that she reaches out to the parent community and she’s trying to balance a variety of different needs,” Walcott said.
The New York Civil Liberties Union told CBS 2′s Aiello that Slade’s First Amendment rights were violated.
“At a time when Marriage Equality is the law of our state, we should not stifle students from engaging this issue on their own terms and in their own ways,” said Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. “Kameron’s speech is a heartfelt expression of understanding that deserves to be commended. He has shown far more maturity than the adults in his school. His voice should be heard, not sidelined.”
>via: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/06/15/walcott-fifth-graders-speech-supportin...