You've got to be carefully taught

You've got to be taught
To hate and fear,
You've got to be taught
From year to year,
It's got to be drummed
In your dear little ear
You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made,
And people whose skin is a diff'rent shade,
You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught before it's too late,
Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate,
You've got to be carefully taught.
-- YOU'VE GOT TO BE CAREFULLY TAUGHT South Pacific (Rodgers & Hammerstein)

No doubt you remember the furore last year when Outright Vermont, an organization providing social activities and support for LGBTIQQA or queer youth, encountered opposition to its presentation on anti-bullying and diversity at the Williston Central School. After initially canceling the presentation, that school rescheduled with Outright Vermont following a large community forum where the majority of those in attendance voiced their support of the presentation.

Well, the pressure is on Outright Vermont again, this time from a local conservative radio host, whacko Paul Beaudry. Thanks to Vermont Snarky Boy for alerting me to this story in yesterday's Burlington Free Press.

The lede --

SWANTON -- A proposed presentation about gender and sexual orientation-based bullying has come under fire at Missisquoi Valley Union High School after a conservative radio talk show host skewered the school district for scheduling a two-day series of panel discussions with a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender youth organization and called for the school to revoke its invitation.

Paul Beaudry, host of the "Comments Show" on WRSA in St. Albans and "True North Radio" on WDEV in Waterbury, objected to a plan to allow the LGBT youth advocacy organization Outright Vermont to present a series of workshops aimed at combating bullying and violence. Beaudry said he couldn't believe the school was allowing the group to come in.

We have a very, very long way to go to raise awareness so that reason will exist in Vermont. As a gay man, I ache at the pain that Beaudry's hate-filled speech has caused in our state. I also hunger for a world where people with vastly different opinions can sit together and share their stories. The workshops offered by Outright Vermont in schools allow for that. It is only through that connectedness, a one-on-one encounter, that people's hearts will be changed. When they sit with a gay or lesbian person and hear their stories, they begin to ask questions and that opens up some possibility of change. So, I'm with Snarky Boy --

This whole episode should be a lesson to Vermonters about how far we have to go before true tolerance and inclusion can be a reality for ALL of us. Let’s hope the Beaudrys of Vermont will actually tone down their screaming long enough to attend an Outright Vermont workshop and learn a little something about truly loving your neighbors. Similarly, I hope everyone opposing Beaudry and his wingnut views will do so in a manner that is creative, effective AND legal. We do, you know, have reason on our side.

It is noteworthy that not one of the mainstream Vermont bloggers has had the balls to decry Beaudry's abhorrent behaviour. And as for the Burlington Free Press? I won't hold my breath.