NYC Principal Bans 5th Grader's Marriage Equality Speech

via AlterNet





NYC Principal Bans 5th Grader's Marriage Equality Speech


Principal Beryl Bailey in Queens, New York blocked 5th grader Kameron Slade from delivering a speech on marriage equality. She said the speech was too “inappropriate" for the Democracy Speeches contest at PS 195.

Principal Bailey told students to write a speech on any topic for the contest, and Kameron’s was the winning speech in his class competition. “I was really looking forward to it,” he told NY1, “I thought that this was a real good winning speech for tomorrow.” But on Wednesday, the principal told Kameron that he would have to write a new speech or be removed from the contest.

“For him to be denied the right to voice his opinion really upsets me,” said Kameron’s mother, who explained the issue to him after acquainting him with her lesbian friends. His speech, which he instead delivered to NY1, shares a touching anecdote about the couple, "They seemed happy. Best of all, they seemed to love each other. The only difference was that there were two moms instead of a mother and a father."

He continues eloquently:



Kameron’s mother said, “(Same-sex marriage is) on the news. It’s part of our lives now. They need to open up. The New York City Department of Education needs to open up.” ...............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/965644/nyc_principal_bans_5th_grader%27s_marriage_equality_speech/