09/13/2007
Students Stand Up in Pink Solidarity for Bullied Classmate
When a freshman student showed up for the first day of class at Central Kings Rural High School in Cambridge, Nova Scotia wearing a pink shirt, he was set upon by a group of up to 10 students who called him gay and threatened to assault him.
The next day the bullies didn't have a chance to repeat their actions. David Shepherd and Travis Price (above), two seniors who had witnessed the incident, showed up to school with 75 pink tank tops for students to wear as well as a pink basketball and material to make pink headbands and armbands, according to the Chronicle Herald. Shepard and Price handed the shirts out before the beginning of class.
Said Price: "The bullies got angry. One guy was throwing chairs (in the cafeteria). We’re glad we got the response we wanted. [The bullies] "keep giving us dirty looks, but we know we have the support of the whole student body. Kids don’t need this in their lives, worrying about what to wear to school. That should be the last thing on their minds."
According to the Herald, "[Shepard] said one of the bullies angrily asked him whether he knew pink on a male was a symbol of homosexuality. He told the bully that didn’t matter to him and shouldn’t to anyone. 'Something like the colour of your shirt or pants, that’s ridiculous,' he said. 'Our intention was to stand up for this kid so he doesn’t get picked on...It’s my last year. I’ve stood around too long and I wanted to do something.'"
According to Shepard, when the bullied kid saw the group of kids in the pink shirts, "he was all smiles. It was like a big weight had been lifted off his shoulder."
Are you listening GLSEN? Give these kids a medal!
'I've Stood Around Too Long' [chronicle herald]
Posted 5:45 PM EST by Andy Towle in Bullying, Canada, Fashion Men, News, Nova Scotia | Permalink
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You might want to read this story as well:
http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Alberta/2007/09/13/4492502-sun.html
At first, I was irritated by this comment:
"Phair also said he believes a number of gay and lesbian Americans are attracted to Calgary because of the big oil companies in the city, and a more tolerant attitude compared to some U.S. states."
I thought, how the hell would he know? Has he ever lived in the States? A bit arrogant.
But the more comments I read on this site from gay men in the USA, the more I believe it may be true.
(And no, I am not gay)
Posted by: Lady Heather | Sep 14, 2007 1:57:57 AM
As someone who was relentlessly bullied throughout school for a sort of unpopularity trifecta--fat, poor, AND gay--this story literally brought tears to my eyes. I'm pretty cynical (it's part of my charm) but stuff like this melts my tar-covered, deep-frozen heart in an instant. If those students happen to be reading this: thank you.
Posted by: John | Sep 14, 2007 2:03:20 AM
burgundy? purple lime green and burgundy are perfectly good colors lol
Posted by: Dusty | Sep 14, 2007 2:31:38 AM
I thought pink shirts were for golfers and investment bankers. Maybe Governor Arnold can turn up and give the kids a talk in his pink tie: http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s190/
gabbybabble/2007-03/19/GovArnold.jpg
Posted by: Mike | Sep 14, 2007 8:04:43 AM
As a gay male, I am proud of these students. The responded on principle with dignity and humanism. Bullies are a disgrace to mankind and one should stand up to them whenever possible. We are all human beings dispite our sexual orientation and no one has the right to harm a human being for being who they are. If pink is such a girly color, why do business men (heteros and gays alike) wear that color in ties? Stand up to bigots, conservatives who are braindead and for your right to be who you are! Peace!
Posted by: j-m | Sep 14, 2007 8:15:16 AM
While I admire the pluck of these kids for standing up to bullies, I'm just curious where the _actual_ gay angle here is. Like the boys told the bullies, it didn't matter about the gay subtext, this was basically about clothes. I didn't read that the boys said anything about respecting gays at all. "Kids don’t need this in their lives, worrying about what to wear to school. That should be the last thing on their minds." That doesn't sound like this is about defending gay teens to me at all.
Posted by: RSL | Sep 14, 2007 8:27:19 AM
It's about solidarity in resistance to bullying, RSL. If you don't consider that to be incredibly important to GLBT Youth I really don't know what to say to you.
Well actually I DO but this story has put me in too good a mood.
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Sep 14, 2007 8:55:50 AM
I could never imagine anything like this happening in my old high school. Anyone who wasn't gay simply didn't have the courage or desire to stand up for those who were.
This is very encouraging to see. I wish it happened more often.
Posted by: Wes | Sep 14, 2007 9:30:17 AM
I choked up reading this.
Posted by: dc-20008 | Sep 14, 2007 9:34:17 AM
Bravo! These kids are to be commended. Now, maybe they could go on to inspire a few adults to take a stand.
Posted by: Dean | Sep 14, 2007 9:44:56 AM
So proud to be Canadian!
Posted by: Landis | Sep 14, 2007 10:33:47 AM
Wish this was on the national news here. Very sweet.
Posted by: secretagentman | Sep 14, 2007 10:49:48 AM
Damn you Landis... smuggle me across the border!! ;)
Posted by: Wes | Sep 14, 2007 10:50:59 AM
Awwwwwwww....I'm all teary-eyed!! Go Nova Scotia!!
Posted by: Shabaka | Sep 14, 2007 10:51:11 AM
Those of you who think this happened due to Canada's (perceived)greater open mindedness about GLBT issues need to keep in mind the immense size of this country.
Small-town Nova Scotia IS NOT a place where "gay and lesbian youth" are likely to "feel more empowered" as one poster put it.
More power to these kids who live in a place where such ignorance is common place, and not Toronto.
Posted by: banky | Sep 14, 2007 10:51:26 AM
Proud to be Canadian too, Landis. I'm amazed when Americans say that they live in the "greatest country" on earth. But I'm humble enough to say that I live in one of the greatest countries on the planet. Go Nouvelle Ecosse, Go!
Posted by: Shabaka | Sep 14, 2007 10:59:23 AM
David Ehrenstein,
ditto. sometimes people are just needlessly annoying.
Posted by: nic | Sep 14, 2007 11:26:56 AM
Simply awesome. I wish there were more people like these guys in my high school.
Posted by: marco | Sep 14, 2007 11:42:36 AM
What a great way to bring a smile to my Friday morning. This story brought a tear to my eyes :-)
Posted by: Wady | Sep 14, 2007 11:54:51 AM
That's amazing. That made me feel great, it's great to see there's young people out there to care about issues like discrimination and want to do something about it specially in high school.
Posted by: dd | Sep 14, 2007 12:05:11 PM
The defining characteristics of the global radicalization of GLBT youth are ubiquity, connectivity and audacity.
It’s not limited to metropolitan centers or to ‘advanced’ nations - it truly is global. It’s connectivity via the internet and news media gives it an unprecedented scope and a quick response time. Around the globe young gay and lesbian activists and their allies initiate struggles and support each others struggles. That explains why groups of Mexican and Taiwanese GLBT youth will soon demonstrate outside Nicaraguan embassies in their respective capitals against stern Nicaraguan antigay laws: why young EU, north American and Japanese activists launched a massive campaign to save Pegah Emambakhsh, and won; how Italian GLBT youth and others organized mass kiss-ins defying the police arrests at the Coliseum; why there so many GLSEN/GSA high school chapters in towns big and small in the US; how young Iranian gays and lesbians organize in the face of legal lynchings; why the GLBT movement is winning unprecedented victories in many Latin American nations; Etc...Etc...Etc.
It explains why they come out when they reach puberty and why they’re so level headed about internalized homophobia and bigotry.
Unhappily, THE defining characteristic of youth movements is that they’ll have to graduate from the school of hard knocks before their impact begins to fundamentally alter the political landscape. Ouch!
Posted by: Bill Perdue | Sep 14, 2007 3:33:03 PM
Metrosexual and/or JOcks rock pink to the fullest im confused. Alot are homophobes.
Posted by: sasha | Sep 14, 2007 8:35:42 PM
I sent an email to Oprah telling her she should put these boys on her show. If a bunch of people sent similar emails, perhaps we'd see this story go international and inspire more of this type of courage and compassion. Good news stories about teens are so great to hear.
Posted by: LALIA | Sep 15, 2007 9:50:28 PM
I know Nova Scotia pretty well, it's no more tolerant than comparable U.S. areas like northern New England. Gay bashing occurs regually in Montreal, Boston and New York andI've seen some pretty wild gay scenes in southern red states so be careful stereotyping. Speaking of stereotyping, someone posted a rant about the the gay rights movement being comparable to African American civil rights movement and self appointed and described radical Hispanic groups. Some of the most homophobic people I've ever encountered haven't been white skinheads; they've been everyday African Americans and Latinos/Latinas. Nice try.
Posted by: me | Sep 17, 2007 12:03:34 AM
Where did they get 75 pink shirts that fast?
Posted by: me | Sep 17, 2007 12:16:18 AM