'Chastity ring' girl loses case

[meegbear]

Source: BBC News

A 16-year-old girl was not discriminated against when she was banned from wearing a "purity ring" in school, the High Court has ruled.

Lydia Playfoot was told by Millais School in Horsham, West Sussex, to remove her ring - which symbolises chastity - or face expulsion.

The school had denied breaching her human rights and said it was "delighted" with the outcome.

Miss Playfoot said she was "very disappointed" by the decision.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6900512.stm

---

BREACHING HER HUMAN RIGHTS!?!?

[liberal N proud]

1. WHAT?

1. If a chastity ring is what I think it is, how did the school know she had one?
2. Again, if it is what I think and it would be out of sight, what business is it of the schools? Do they do panty checks?

[Paulie]

2. Um, that's a Chastity Belt

This is a ring, she wears on her finger, when she goes through a "marriage" ceremony with her father to claim she will not have sex until marriage.

She can put it on her toe if she really wants to...

[peace13]

6. marriage" ceremony with her father ?

That sounds gross!

[DBoon]

33. see what happens when you allow gay marriage

all sorts of strange things become permittted.

</snark>


Yeah, people who think gay marriage is an abomination are having fathers "marry" their daughters?

[liberal N proud]

11. And there is a problem with her wearing a ring on her finger?

Most teenage girls have one or more rings they wear. Schools sell class rings.

[Beaverhausen]

39. This school has a "no jewelry" policy for all students

She and her parents knew it when they enrolled her. She could change schools if this ring is so important to her.

[Ken Burch]

59. Oh, it's a "no jewelry" thing. I thought it was seen as a religious thing.

I'm fine with the school doing this.

I think Children's Services should ask some questions about this whole concept.

[Javaman]

69. Blingless school. LOL nt

[Javaman]

68. I'm thinking it was the bells on her toes there were concerned about...

sorry, couldn't resist.

[peace13]

3. Nope this one was to keep her finger pure! n/t

[LiberalFighter]

35. She could use her other fingers? Was the chasity finger

for when she got married and then she could use it? WOW!!

[TankLV]

56. I wonder what her boyfriend does with his Prince Albert?!

Inquiring minds want to know...

[Javaman]

71. He has to let him out now and then so he doesn't "suffocate" LOLOLOL nt

[demgurl]

5. A chastity ring is a piece of jewelry.

It is like any other. I am not sure if she wore her ring on her finger or on a necklace around her neck but the school had a policy about wearing jewelry and she cried foul like fundies often do.

[Tanuki]

7. Fortunately, it's NOT what you think

The girl wears it on her hand like a wedding ring as a pledge to "wait till she's married." I'm glad that the school prevailed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purity_ring

[liberal N proud]

13. Thank god

That is scary

[ProudDad]

44. Does this mean they can only use the other 9

to masturbate???

[Drifter]

8. I would have to think ...

that it is NOT what you think. I think you're are thinking of a Chastity Belt.

I think the ring is a normal (finger) ring that symbolizes her pledge to chastity.
I pray that I am correct.

Cheers
Drifter

[meegbear]

22. The school has a ban on students wearing jewelry ....

they originally argued that it shouldn't be considered jewelry, since it's not being used for decorative purposes.

[tularetom]

4. I don't know where to start - hate to defend her

but unless she was wearing the ring through a visible nip piercing (or worse) why would a friggin ring bother anybody?

Understand I think the concept of a "purity ring" is ludicrous and appeals mostly to adults who don't want to believe their daughters are out there doin the horizontal hootchy koo.

And WTF is with that name? Lydia Playfoot?

But I still don't get why they get so hot and bothered about a god damn ring.

[Tanuki]

10. Nobody else at the school is allowed to wear jewelry of any kind,

due to the school uniform policy, so why should she be an exception?

[Tom Joad]

16. why should there be such a stupid rule?

[Tempest]

19. That's really not the issue here

You'll have to take up the reason for the policy with the school.

[pitohui]

29. everyone else has to follow the rules, religious fascists don't gets to be special

schools have rules against jewelry for a number of good and sound reasons, including that in a few areas jewelry including religious symbols such as the crucifix have been annezed by some gangs as a secret symbol, and the risk of theft and disputes, also there is an issue of class since jewelry is a major status symbol and a big way that we signal class in this world

there is no reason a 16 year old needs to wear jewelry in a school where no one else is allowed to wear any jewelry

rules should be for all, not just for us little people

she is not special just because her dad is a creep and she's pledged her virginity to him, well, she may be "special" in the mental health sense i suppose

[endarkenment]

48. Why should she get an exception to a stupid rule?

That is the point, the idiocy of the rule is not relevant.

[TheMadMonk]

60. I can think of several.

Theft, injury, jealousy, gangs, religion. As stupid rules go, it's a lot less stupid than most.

[KittyWampus]

30. actually, the school made exceptions for religious symbols, IIRC. The 'chastity ring' is not

a religious symbol.

[BearSquirrel2]

31. How about ...

Howes about der flyin' spaghetti monster pendant?

Garsh, pirates are figured for wearin' their plunder so any types of jewelry really should be allowed. After all, its te stop global warming ... ARRRRGGGGHHH!!!!!

[marshall]

66. She thought an exception would be made

Rules also prevented students from wearing hats and scarves, but exceptions were made to allow fundie Muslim girls to wear their head drapes. This girl thought she could get an exception too. Stupid girl.

[demgurl]

12. It wasn't the type of ring that bothered them.

The school had a policy about wearing jewelry and this girl felt she should be the exception since it is a 'religious' thing. Perhaps if all people in her religion were made to wear it she would have a point but since it is more of a personal belief, that they tie into their religious beliefs, she didn't have a leg to stand on. She knew the jewelry policy when she attended the school.

[nini]

15. the issue is it's a school rule that doesn't allow jewelry

They decided the ring was not of religious meaning therefore wasn't an exemption.

[Tempest]

17. School policy forbid wearing jewelry

The ring violated the school policy.

[Dhalgren]

20. It's a private school with a "no jewelry" rule. Ms Playfoot wanted an

exception to be made for her virgin ring and the school said no...

[tularetom]

32. Sorry - should've read the link before I replied

I didn't realize she wanted an exception to the school's no jewelry policy. She ain't entitled to a pass because it's a purity ring.

[CJCRANE]

34. "Lydia Playfoot"

Maybe she's a hobbit and that's why she has a fascination with the Ring...

[BlueInPhilly]

41. Couldn't have come up with a better porn name

LYDIA PLAYFOOT!!!

Or maybe Linda... LINDA goes very well with PLAYFOOT.

July 2012:

Lydia Playfoot, known for going to court (and losing)so she could wear a chastity ring, has now starred in several adult films. She is known in the porn industry as Linda Playfoot.

[Dogmudgeon]

70. There was a Rev. Oral Blow, too

A hundred years ago, but it was probably still just as meaningful.

--p!

[LostinVA]

77. No jewelry allowed -- which isn't a bad thing, imo

[dipsydoodle]

9. The school have however agreed.

to allow her to continue to clutch an M&M between her knees.

[liberal N proud]

18. LOL

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

28. My neighbor's advice to his teenaged daughter...

Aspirin can prevent pregnancy. Just hold it between your knees.

[poverlay]

50. LMAO. Thanks. That's the best laugh I've had all day. All I keep thinking, for some reason while

reading this article, is: "These people need to get laid...".

[bumblebee1]

57. m&m?

Maybe a Smartie. That's the British version of M&Ms. However, I think Smarties are smaller than M&Ms.

[dipsydoodle]

61. Majority on DU

are American so I used a user friendly expression to suit - M&Ms. Didn't know that many would know what Smarties are unless they are sold your side too.
Yes - here I would say a Smartie and the joke actually goes back to when the birth control pill was first intro'd............lol.

[Norrin Radd]

62. Our Smarties are different:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smarties_(Ce_De_Candy)

[dipsydoodle]

63. I used to be touchy about the USA and Smarties

A long time ago the FDA effectively banned the red ones............lol. It was to do with the dye that's used - cochineal : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochineal
That meant we lost the red ones too and landed up with blue ones which looked ridiculous - I've been munching Smarties for at least 50 years. Eventually we got the red ones back again.

[bumblebee1]

76. I understand completely,edwardlindy.

You could probably get Smarties on this side of the pond. You might have to go to a specialty candy shop for them.

[Tom Joad]

14. school does not allow free expression. pathetic but traditional.

[Tempest]

21. Not true

She's still free to pronounce her decision to stay celibate until she's married.

She just can't wear a ring.

[Dhalgren]

23. Her parents should put her in another school. I assume that they wanted this

private school and eschewed the public school. They should look for a school that allows bling...

[dipsydoodle]

26. Millais isn't a Private School.

It's a normal State Comprehensive School.

[Dhalgren]

36. My bad. The "girls school" thing threw me.

[LanternWaste]

40. Odd way to look at it.

Odd way to look at it. When jewelry and clothing are the only means for freedom of expression for an individual, I'm forced to assume the individual has little thought, wit, creativity or imagination...

[dipsydoodle]

24. Have you all realised this is a GIRLS school ?

Exactly what would have been he point of wearing the ring with boys about.

[Dhalgren]

25. If you wear the ring it means you're "good", if you don't have the ring

it means you're a whore (or something along those lines).

[poverlay]

52. These are the kinds of girls who like anal because it keeps their hymens intact. At least their

parents won't have to raise their children...

[bumblebee1]

58. BJs are also another option. n/t

[pitohui]

27. good fair is fair

i'm tired of the religious fuckwits who think the rules are only for the little people

no jewelry means no jewelry

next question?

[underpants]

37. "Based on conservative Christian theology and until recently funded by the U.S. federal government,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Ring_Thing

http://www.silverringthing.com /

[xchrom]

38. good. n/t

[ClintonTyree]

42. Blatant religious persecution....

oh, come on, SOMEONE had to say it! Why not DU's most avowed atheist?

[poverlay]

53. As Dennis from Monty Python's "Holy Grail would say: "Help! Help! I'm being repressed!" n/t

[Fresh_Start]

43. I hope it cost her family a pretty penny

since it certainly cost the school and indirectly her classmates.

[Bridget Burke]

54. No, the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship & Christian Concern for the Nation footed the bill.

Just as Religious Rightists do in this country. So they can make the news & cry "persecution!" The Silver Ring Thing in the UK just happens to be based out of Mr Playfoot's church.

www.silverringthing.org.uk/aboutus_ukteam.asp#PhilPlayf...

And I didn't know this:

The Silver Ring Thing program received more than $1 million from the U.S. government for its abstinence education work until funding was discontinued in 2006....

"Lydia really is in many ways a microcosm of something much bigger that's happening in our culture, where in the (United Kingdom), Christians' views and values are being sidelined," he said. "You're basically being told, 'You can believe what you like, but don't let it impact into the public sphere.'"

www.christianpost.com/article/20070624/28137_British_Co...

[dipsydoodle]

64. If she'd kept "her hand on her ha'penny"

she wouldn't have needed the ring.

That's an old music hall song. Ha'penny is abb. of half penny but that might be a meaningless expression in the USA

[HockeyMom]

45. No jewelry in my Catholic school (uniforms)

Yep, that even included CROSSES. They said it could turn into a competition to see who could buy and wear the most elaborate (EXPENSIVE)cross. We were supposed to all look the same. Baaaaaaa.

I used to feel sorry for the girls with pieced ears walking around with empty holes in their ears. It looked dumb, but they took them out before school and put them back in after school.

That girl could do the same with her ring; off before school, on after school.

We survived and so will she.

[Zenlitened]

46. I guess the "Ask me about my hymen!" lapel pin is right out, then?

[Ex Lion Tamer]

47. You owe me a monitor.

Very nice!

[guitar man]

49. ROFLMAO!!!!

[poverlay]

51. This has got to be the most funny thread I have read in ages! ROFLMAO...Thanks!. n/t

[LostinVA]

78. OMG -- hahahhahaha

[sakabatou]

55. LMAO

What a larf.

[peace frog]

65. So OK, she is banned from wearing the purity ring

Here's a thought: wear a red sash around the waist to signify membership in the Junior Anti-Sex League.
Winston Smith would be proud.

[Javaman]

67. I just can't get past her last name. nt

[Bake]

72. Seems to me there is a bit of hypocrisy here on ol' DU.

Many here are applauding the decision simply because they find the "purity ring" concept offensive (as do I), and there are all sorts of "rules are rules, dammit!" comments. Personally, I find the "no jewelry" rule about as stupid as most other school "zero-tolerance" policies. If this kid had been expelled for wearing a "Buck Fush" ring, I suspect many here would be leaping to her defense and decrying the rule as ridiculously intolerant.

It all depends on whose ox is being gored. And that's pathetic.

Bake

[muriel_volestrangler]

73. But you have no evidence for your charge of hypocrisy

which ought to be born in mind. You suspect you know what the reaction would be. But you shouldn't call it 'pathetic' when it's just your idea of what might happen.

[Bake]

74. The evidence is in the cheering for the decision and the support for the rule

Which HAS been expressed in this thread.

And I've been around here long enough to guess the rest ...

Bake

[muriel_volestrangler]

75. You do not know that the members who support the school in this

would also be members who would say a ring with an anti Bush or Blair ring should be allowed. You're just making that up. It can't be dignified with the term 'guess'.