It's always a tough thing to repeat a trick, especially when it's someone else's trick and they just did it. You know, tough room, and all that.
But if you would be so kind, please imagine the following scenario:
Just what would happen? Disciplinary action against the teacher? Maybe against school officials for their part in it? Perhaps even electoral challenges for school board seats? Might there be protests?
Anyway, it's all theoretical.
Meanwhile, in Maryland, Liz Bowie of The Baltimore Sun brings us the happy tale of Jennifer Halterman and Wesley Peters:
Of course, not everyone is happy. More specifically, a local tipper forwarded the story to sex-advice columnist and newspaper editor Dan Savage with the following comment:
Now, in my circles, few would take the bit about "flaunting their sexuality" completely in earnest. That is, yes, it's one of those things people recognize, but most of the people I know just sort of chuckle about it.
To the other, there are probably more than a few out there who are incensed both by the line itself and, frankly, its veracity. This is, after all, how much of society treats gay relationships, and it's a fair question—in my opinion—why that doesn't work both ways.
I don't know, maybe there is a large portion of our community that doesn't recall the days when people literally would get married in order to finally get laid. The literary and Hollywood bit about it is undoubtedly exaggerated, but the idea really did exist, even well into my youth.
Of course, that's the past, isn't it? I mean, I'm pretty sure that there are some out there who believe in waiting until marriage to have sex, but ... yeah.
In the twenty-first century, though, is it fair to criticize heterosexuals for "flaunting their sexuality" like this? Or would it just be better to stop pretending that gay relationships are purely about sex, and acknowledge that they are very much like their heterosexual equivalent?
____________________
Notes:
Bowie, Liz. "Baltimore Co. teacher gets marriage proposal on school sign". The Baltimore Sun. November 23, 2010. BaltimoreSun.com. November 29, 2010. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/ma...er-marriage-proposal-20101123,0,7725875.story
Savage, Dan. "Gay Teacher Gets Marriage Proposal On School Sign, Gay Teacher's Gay Boyfriend Proposes On School Grounds, Gay Teacher Shows Off Gay Engagement Ring to Third Grade Students". Slog. November 24, 2010. Slog.TheStranger.com. November 29, 2010. http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/ar...l-grounds-gay-teacher-shows-off-gay-engagemen
But if you would be so kind, please imagine the following scenario:
Imagine that there is a gay teacher of either gender, whose significant other wants to tie the knot. So the other goes to the school, gets permission to use the sign out front, posts a marriage proposal; then the other hides in the classroom to propose in person; the teacher, of course, accepts, and the students spend part of the day admiring the shiny new diamond ring.
Just what would happen? Disciplinary action against the teacher? Maybe against school officials for their part in it? Perhaps even electoral challenges for school board seats? Might there be protests?
Anyway, it's all theoretical.
Meanwhile, in Maryland, Liz Bowie of The Baltimore Sun brings us the happy tale of Jennifer Halterman and Wesley Peters:
Hillcrest Elementary's third-grade teacher, Jennifer Halterman, was driving to work Thursday when her boyfriend text-messaged her to say he thought someone might have vandalized the sign in front of her school and she should take a careful look.
As she idled at the stoplight, she glanced over and saw that the sign had indeed been altered by a mischievous soul. "Ms. Halterman will you marry me?" it read.
Just where was that boyfriend of hers, she thought. He wasn't in the parking lot or at the entrance to the school. "I was freaking out," she said. At 8 a.m., none of the children were there yet, so she walked down the empty halls to her classroom, where balloons and a dozen red long-stem roses stood in a vase. But there was still no sign of her boyfriend, Wesley Peters, until he emerged from behind the closet door, got down on his knee and proposed.
"I said, 'Yes,'" Halterman said ....
.... Peters had to contact the principal and the PTA president to get permission to change the sign at Hillcrest, which also happens to be the school Halterman attended as a first-grader. Everyone in the building was in on the scheme. But last Wednesday when all the details were in place, including the balloons and flowers, Halterman called in sick, so it had to be redone for the next day.
When the children did arrive at school that morning, they were very excited, Halterman said. "The girls ooohed and ahhhed over the ring," and others were confused about when they could begin calling her Mrs. Peters, she said.
As she idled at the stoplight, she glanced over and saw that the sign had indeed been altered by a mischievous soul. "Ms. Halterman will you marry me?" it read.
Just where was that boyfriend of hers, she thought. He wasn't in the parking lot or at the entrance to the school. "I was freaking out," she said. At 8 a.m., none of the children were there yet, so she walked down the empty halls to her classroom, where balloons and a dozen red long-stem roses stood in a vase. But there was still no sign of her boyfriend, Wesley Peters, until he emerged from behind the closet door, got down on his knee and proposed.
"I said, 'Yes,'" Halterman said ....
.... Peters had to contact the principal and the PTA president to get permission to change the sign at Hillcrest, which also happens to be the school Halterman attended as a first-grader. Everyone in the building was in on the scheme. But last Wednesday when all the details were in place, including the balloons and flowers, Halterman called in sick, so it had to be redone for the next day.
When the children did arrive at school that morning, they were very excited, Halterman said. "The girls ooohed and ahhhed over the ring," and others were confused about when they could begin calling her Mrs. Peters, she said.
Of course, not everyone is happy. More specifically, a local tipper forwarded the story to sex-advice columnist and newspaper editor Dan Savage with the following comment:
"When I read this article about how a woman's boyfriend used her employer's (a school) sign to propose to her and then how the kids later commented on her ring, I contrasted that with the fact that I can be fired if kids find out too much about my personal life. It's flaunting their sexuality is what it is. And it's the sort of double standard that straight people just don't understand."
Now, in my circles, few would take the bit about "flaunting their sexuality" completely in earnest. That is, yes, it's one of those things people recognize, but most of the people I know just sort of chuckle about it.
To the other, there are probably more than a few out there who are incensed both by the line itself and, frankly, its veracity. This is, after all, how much of society treats gay relationships, and it's a fair question—in my opinion—why that doesn't work both ways.
I got a little change in my pocket, goin' jing-a-ling-a-ling.
Want to call you on the telephone baby I, give you a ring.
But each time we talk I get the same old thing:
Always, "No huggy, no kissy until I get a weddin' ring."
My honey, my baby, don't put my love upon no shelf.
She said, "Don't give me no lines, and keep your hands to yourself."
Cruel, baby, baby, baby, why you want to treat me this way?
You know I'm still your lover boy, I still feel the same way.
That's when she told me a story 'bout free milk and a cow,
And she said, "No huggy, no kissy until I get a weddin' vow.
My honey, my baby, don't put my love upon no shelf.
She said, "Don't hand me no lines, and keep your hands to yourself."
You see, I wanted her real bad, and I was about to give in.
That's when she started talkin' about true love, started talkin' about sin.
I said, "Honey I'll live with you for the rest of my life."
She said, "No huggy, no kissy, until you make me your wife."
My honey, my baby, don't put my love upon no shelf.
She said, "Don't hand me no lines, and keep your hands to yourself."
(The Georgia Satellites)
Want to call you on the telephone baby I, give you a ring.
But each time we talk I get the same old thing:
Always, "No huggy, no kissy until I get a weddin' ring."
My honey, my baby, don't put my love upon no shelf.
She said, "Don't give me no lines, and keep your hands to yourself."
Cruel, baby, baby, baby, why you want to treat me this way?
You know I'm still your lover boy, I still feel the same way.
That's when she told me a story 'bout free milk and a cow,
And she said, "No huggy, no kissy until I get a weddin' vow.
My honey, my baby, don't put my love upon no shelf.
She said, "Don't hand me no lines, and keep your hands to yourself."
You see, I wanted her real bad, and I was about to give in.
That's when she started talkin' about true love, started talkin' about sin.
I said, "Honey I'll live with you for the rest of my life."
She said, "No huggy, no kissy, until you make me your wife."
My honey, my baby, don't put my love upon no shelf.
She said, "Don't hand me no lines, and keep your hands to yourself."
(The Georgia Satellites)
I don't know, maybe there is a large portion of our community that doesn't recall the days when people literally would get married in order to finally get laid. The literary and Hollywood bit about it is undoubtedly exaggerated, but the idea really did exist, even well into my youth.
Of course, that's the past, isn't it? I mean, I'm pretty sure that there are some out there who believe in waiting until marriage to have sex, but ... yeah.
In the twenty-first century, though, is it fair to criticize heterosexuals for "flaunting their sexuality" like this? Or would it just be better to stop pretending that gay relationships are purely about sex, and acknowledge that they are very much like their heterosexual equivalent?
____________________
Notes:
Bowie, Liz. "Baltimore Co. teacher gets marriage proposal on school sign". The Baltimore Sun. November 23, 2010. BaltimoreSun.com. November 29, 2010. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/ma...er-marriage-proposal-20101123,0,7725875.story
Savage, Dan. "Gay Teacher Gets Marriage Proposal On School Sign, Gay Teacher's Gay Boyfriend Proposes On School Grounds, Gay Teacher Shows Off Gay Engagement Ring to Third Grade Students". Slog. November 24, 2010. Slog.TheStranger.com. November 29, 2010. http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/ar...l-grounds-gay-teacher-shows-off-gay-engagemen
