Austin Wallis, a 17-year-old student at a private Christian high school, had posted an emotional video on YouTube after he had claimed to have been bullied by school administrators. He says in the video that they had told him he would have to choose between his sexual identity and the school, forcing him to either delete his social media accounts or leave. Below is the video in question:
Wallis is seen breaking down in tears while in his boyfriend’s arms, as he describes being told to pretend to be straight or leave the school.
“I was called to the principal, and he said that he had found out that I was gay, and that I was openly gay, and basically he said that, you know, ‘I’m gonna call your parents, they’re gonna get involved.’ … So the next day, my mom came in with me, and he basically told me that … I had to go back into the closet … to stay at the school. And I could never be involved in another video, or do anything that mattered, which is really hard for me, because this YouTube channel means the world to me.”
Although Wallis had never specifically identified the school, stating that he did not wish to affect the students and teachers who had supported him, the Texas Observer soon found out that he was enrolled at Lutheran High North, in Houston. When contacted by the press, school head Dallas Lusk released a statement that had been written with the assistance of Wayne Kramer, executive director of the Lutheran Education Association of Houston:
“Lutheran High North welcomes all students and their families to the LHN community,” the statement reads. “We profess and proclaim our Christian beliefs with the foundations and authority taught in the Bible, all within the teachings of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. We respectfully require students to adhere to these accepted values and moral beliefs. Sometimes, as in this case, students have to make choices and decide whether their beliefs align with our community, and we respect their choices. We also respect student privacy and do not comment on any individual student or their actions.”
Lusk, in an email to the Texas Observer, referred to a ‘morals clause’ in the student handbook that had forbidden students from promoting ‘anything sinful’:
Wallis has found a new school to attend, stating that he did not wish to be in a school that considered him immoral. (I would point out that schools like that would probably find anything sexual immoral, because prudes will be prudes.)
“I think it’s ridiculous that, in this day and age, you can be excluded from your own school for being gay,” he said. “When I came out, I knew I was going to have bullies …but I never expected it to be from the people who are supposed to protect you from the bullies, who are supposed to try to stop that.”
Wallis remains faithful to his religion, despite the school’s more strict interpretation. “I am a Christian and I love my God, and I don’t feel like this is what he would have wanted.”
Christians…. why. I feel like parents hate their children who are gay, or an atheist so I’m hoping religion ends IMMEDIATELY.
Austin, You are beautiful just the way you are. You did the right thing. How dare they give such an ultimatum. Come be Humanist, they will, love you for who you are! Peace, love and light, my young friend.
its the AntiChrist!
The entire notion that the Scriptures forbid same-sex affection has been totally debunked by the apologetics at http://g0ys.org and one of the most telling comments in the Scripture that proves this is a statement made by King David himself regarding his relationship with his friend Jonathan in a song he wrote shortly after Jonathan’s death in battle. See for yourself and make up your own mind:
“How I weep for you, my brother Jonathan!
Oh, how much I loved you!
And your love for me was deep,
deeper than the love of women!” – II Sam 1:26
One eye-popping Bible quote is pointed out in the apologetics section from http://g0ys.org:
“I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
You have been very pleasant to me.
Your love to me was more wonderful
Than the love of women.” – II Sam 1:26 NASB
This was a statement made by King David himself regarding his relationship with his friend Jonathan in a song David wrote shortly after Jonathan’s death in battle. It is Scriptures like these that clearly illustrate that the contemporary positions against same-gender affection made by so-called “churches” are completely devoid of the authority of Scripture.
Such “churches’ actually fit the description the Bible itself gives as those who hold to “Doctrines of Demons”! And Jesus himself said about false religious systems that: “If Satan masquerades as an angel of light, -should it be any surprise that his followers masquerade as ministers of righteousness?” -GVT
Hope the homophobic era ends soon
are you aware that 2 males cannot reproduce? are you aware of the fact that our specie exists due to reproduction? living in a gay society would basically result in the end of our specie.
Do you realize that nmost people are NOT gay, therefore the dissapearence of homophobia doesnt mean everybody would become gay… So, no, honosexuality will not make humanity dissapear because the majority will remain straight….
Homophobia can be translated as “the hatred or fear of homosexuals” so a little disclaimer: i have no fear nor hate towards homos. But accepting homos would imply more homos as people tend to follow each other and that can be a problem from my point of view. If i would have a kid who would become gay i wouldn’t feel good about it – and now you can understand exactly why i don’t like this gay acceptance.
Please have in mind that i wouldn’t have any problems at all if they would manifest in private spaces rather then public/web ones. It’s kinda like seeing a completely indecent woman on the street and you worry that if you would have a girl someday that girl might follow that woman’s example.
Thinking about morality nowadays is perhaps a good thing to do from time to time.
And again, the fact that our specie exists because of straights (not gays) is unbeatable so perhaps we should follow our nature rather than depart from it.
I think my reply applies to mister Anonymous Ignoramus as well 🙂
Eh, get bent on your “morality” idea regarding sexuality.
Go screw yourself for “homos”.
Google “specie”. That word, I don’t think it means what you think it means.
And you do hate gay people. Otherwise why stand in the way of our acceptance?
You obviously confuse the word hate with dislike. You see hate causes hate. But if you’re gonna just dislike me for my views please go ahead, i don’t mind.
Ironically i started this topic with a logical argument, not a religious one.
It is not my problem if you understand it or not. This is your choice alone actually. In my world we’re all free to decide, as long as we don’t harm people around.
When you will be able to contradict the ideea that gays and the specie perpetuation do not go together i will be open to discussions on this topic. Otherwise continuing the conversation is futile from my point of view.
Believe it or not i appreciate your feedback. Because feedback can open my mind or strengthen my beliefs. I’m pretty sure you can tell what effect had your feedback upon me.
So i really thank you for that 🙂 But please don’t confuse my views with hate… hate is so lame and narrow minded!
Because accepting gay people and acknowledge that they exists suddenly make the whole society gay, right?
Yeah i do see that. Thats why im semi-cautious because i do see what some people who are anti-gay believe. (I try to see both sides)
i really don’t see how being gay can be a serious concern for anybody, and i do not see in any kind of way how Christianity can be used as an excuse for homophobia. Other peoples sexuality should not concern you, because it isn’t any of you’re business, And i don’t see how the bible can tell you that you should accept everybody no matter what. and all of that crap about homosexuality being a sin, and that god should hate it. God made all of the gosh dang world himself, according to the bible. if he doesn’t like it, its his own fucking fault! And how can the almighty make mistakes? according to the word ‘almighty’ that should not be possible. So i really see no reason of so many people drawing lines between homophobia and Christianity.
Because being Gay isn’t natural. Its a ‘genetic error’ many say and people don’t like that. Being gay doesn’t help the the family linage go on. Its almost like a dead end. You may not care but others do. And some people still have the idea that if everyone becomes gay than the species will end because gay’s wont reproduce.
My aunts view on this stands (Who is heavily christian) Hate the sin, Love the sinner. Personally i cant see whats wrong with being gay. Feel so sorry for the guy that he and others still have to put up with this stuff.
thanks for reminding me to think with my heart, not with my brain. The heart is smarter 🙂 i wonder why womens do not love (literally) gay people? they are better than misogynists or whatever type of men that hate womens.
I think he should just ditch his school.
Dont go to a Christian private school. Done. Problem solved. The administrators can believe whatever they want and do whatever they want. Its their school, and they follow their beliefs (Even if we think its irrational) so if you dont like what they do leave.
(Suggestion to all gay ppl. Dont be Christian, most of them wont accept you and you should just accept that fact and move on. Religion is stupid there is no reason to stay with a group that hates you)