David Davis will in the end be remembered as Lester Maddox and George Wallace, heroes to a nefarious cause and someday to become a symbol and embarrassing reminder of bigotry.

Those who hail him now will in a few years deny ever supporting him...

This illustrates the true battle we all face, whether GLB or T: how to show fundie Christians that they're wrong, that nothing about Christianity should justify opposition of GLBT rights. Until we find a way to do that, the David Davises of the world will be heroes to their fans. Using a misinterpretation of the Bible to justify one's own prejudices is blasphemy, and love and respect for the equality of all human beings IS true Christianity.

Oh, please, can these comments get more ridiculous? As if somebody gives a flying fuck about queer history;as if someone will actually bother to take record of these individuals and teach future generations about it.

Outside of Black History material, we can barely even squeeze the Holocaust into middle school curricula. By the time high school is reached, the World Wars are covered more through a military viewpoint than a commentary on the victimization of Jews.

Both black and Jews are not subject to war by the greatest dogma of humanity, Christianity; and yet, you only see people remotely informed on these issues at the university level, and that's assuming they're interested in taking the time to attend the relevant classes. Most people are ignorant of the most significant events in these two sectors' histories, even today.

What makes you think we'll have any better chance of seeing atonement from our oppressors? I wish people would leave their delusions of eventual justice at home.

These students will continue to be harassed, and there's nothing the feds will be able to do. No hate crimes legislation, and locals--including the authorities-- will completely turn a blind eye to any future wrongs. There won't be justice; there will only be retaliation by the community against the rebels.

I can only dread the hardship these people will face at the hands of these goddamned Christian hicks.

Is there a way to reach out to this student? A way to send letters or cards to provide support?

Lucrece, we do see change I those areas though. The UN responded to the Holocaust by setting up Israel under international authority. And blacks and allies did fight and did make massive advances. And we are aware of these struggles and the information is there. It isn't perfect and it doesn't change overnight but it does change and we do win and we will win. If you are bothered by the hardships then I invite you to participate in the struggle against them, support those youth. Volunteer with organizations that help them.

Not surprised. People like him don't just appear and get into power - they have the support of all the people around him.

Wonder how much they're talking about the hoity-toity librul activist judge who ruled in favor of Heather?

I have a radical idea that just might let Mr.Davis and his supporters know just how bad their behavior and support of him is.Place a conviction bounty on his head.Since he is still teaching make it so any student that is harassed or has their constitutional right to free speech curtailed by him gets a nice bonus for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Mr.Davis.That bounty can also be put out to include anyone in that community that acts in a deliberate and harm full way to anyone lgbt.Let's see how this gentile Christian Community that doesn't want to tar and feather anyone likes being made to conform to the law.

lucrece, your opinion is soooo pessimistic. or realistic. in many ways, i think that most will agree with you. i do myself.

just the same, davis and those like him are becoming relics of the past. rapidly. the best revenge is living well, and i believe the LGBT community will in the end have our revenge. just being able to live our lives with dignity and equality. young people like heather gillman don't "feel" like second class citizens. they lack the "slave mentality" of my own generation, accepting the oppression they face as a matter of fact. they deserve, and are increasingly demanding, full equality. i believe they will obtain it. will discrimination and bigotry still exist? of course it will. we humans are a flawed and imperfect species. but there is progress being made, one small skirmish at a time. let's all try to focus on the positive side - we have a lot to be thankful for. and let's just keep fighting the fight. kicking bigot butt is really a lot of fun, so enjoy! and you rule, heather!

Thanks for covering this, Waymon!

We can’t give out Heather’s contact information, but if you want to say something here I'd be happy to send a link to this post along to her. And what beachcomberT said about supporting local GSAs is a fantastic idea.

It seems like I have been waiting 35 years for the deadwood fools to die out of the system. Oh, it has been 35 years. Judging by his waist size he has been at too many church waffle breakfasts and will soon pass from the scene.

I KNOW this is woefully superficial--but just LOOK at the guy! He embodies, literally, the worst stereotypes of appearance of the fundie homophobes. I imagine the whole town is similarly fat and foolish....except the kids. It will be long years before the entrenched yuobboes die out. I'm encouraged, though, by the support the kids showed a classmate.

This is absolutely despicable.

I'm glad you raised this. It needs immediate attention and community-level action. Unfortunately and fortunately, it's not the first time we've had to intervene in this way and we have superb organizations, tools and experts who have worked through similar situations successfully. Only when they're not raised do we end up with 'If only we knew...' responses and sad stories as outcomes.

I can't help but think of Ryan White and HIV/AIDS, given the work I do today.

I grew up in the time and place of Lester Maddox and George Wallace, but the voices we were allowed as youth were fashioned differently -- with no organizations like ACLU, PFLAG, GLSEN and others doing the incredible work being done now, at the school and community levels. And I'm sure they invlolve local communities of faith, the center of community even for youth in these zones.

For the sake of this young person, I'm sure others are ON IT, but I will also use what you wrote to add my voice and action to this initiative, asking the experts to step up immediately if they have not already.

Situations like this are an emergency, and we can look at the current tragedies against youth in our schools to remember that. Thanks again. Diego