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Washington high school students hit back at Westboro anti-gay protesters Washington high school students hit back at Westboro anti-gay protesters
(2 months later)
From the moment high school principal Pete Cahall grabbed a rainbow flag and marched through a crowd of cheering students, it was clear that the attempt to deter his school from hosting gay pride events was backfiring riotously.From the moment high school principal Pete Cahall grabbed a rainbow flag and marched through a crowd of cheering students, it was clear that the attempt to deter his school from hosting gay pride events was backfiring riotously.
Several hundred pupils from Woodrow Wilson high in north-west Washington DC were joined by parents and students from neighbouring schools on Monday in a spirited counter-demonstration against a small group of pickets from Westboro Baptist church in Kansas.Several hundred pupils from Woodrow Wilson high in north-west Washington DC were joined by parents and students from neighbouring schools on Monday in a spirited counter-demonstration against a small group of pickets from Westboro Baptist church in Kansas.
But it was Cahall's decision last week to come out and reveal his own sexuality to students that catapulted the event from a familiar clash with an extremist Christian group – notorious for seeking to provoke attention – into a very personal and unusually powerful moment of solidarity for the suburban public school.But it was Cahall's decision last week to come out and reveal his own sexuality to students that catapulted the event from a familiar clash with an extremist Christian group – notorious for seeking to provoke attention – into a very personal and unusually powerful moment of solidarity for the suburban public school.
“I have hidden in the shadows, but I am liberated today to be me, and let myself be me without fear, retaliation or consequence,” Cahall told a Pride Day assembly on Wednesday. “I feel safe and want all of my students and staff to be and feel safe.”“I have hidden in the shadows, but I am liberated today to be me, and let myself be me without fear, retaliation or consequence,” Cahall told a Pride Day assembly on Wednesday. “I feel safe and want all of my students and staff to be and feel safe.”
And despite homophobic epithets on a dozen Westboro placards around the corner, at least 10 times as many defiant messages of inclusiveness greeted the headteacher as he appeared again on Monday morning at the counter-protest.And despite homophobic epithets on a dozen Westboro placards around the corner, at least 10 times as many defiant messages of inclusiveness greeted the headteacher as he appeared again on Monday morning at the counter-protest.
“I wonder if we can arrange for another hate group to come in the fall because it's a really great community bonding experience,” said history teacher Jonathan Shea.“I wonder if we can arrange for another hate group to come in the fall because it's a really great community bonding experience,” said history teacher Jonathan Shea.
Elias Benda, a 17-year-old in 11th grade, agreed: “It's a unifying factor and a lot of people who wouldn't normally rally on the side of gay rights have come together.”Elias Benda, a 17-year-old in 11th grade, agreed: “It's a unifying factor and a lot of people who wouldn't normally rally on the side of gay rights have come together.”
Westboro first targeted Wilson – a diverse school in a city with the nation's highest percentage of same sex couples – when its students formed a Gay Straight Alliance club five years ago.Westboro first targeted Wilson – a diverse school in a city with the nation's highest percentage of same sex couples – when its students formed a Gay Straight Alliance club five years ago.
But its picket caught the school by surprise and only led to a small counter protest.But its picket caught the school by surprise and only led to a small counter protest.
This time, student groups had warning and enlisted support from DC mayor Vincent Gray and the two candidates to succeed him: Democrat Muriel Bowser and openly-gay independent politician David Catania.This time, student groups had warning and enlisted support from DC mayor Vincent Gray and the two candidates to succeed him: Democrat Muriel Bowser and openly-gay independent politician David Catania.
Cahall has thanked both students and local politicians for giving him confidence to speak openly about his sexuality and backing the school's efforts to promote inclusion.Cahall has thanked both students and local politicians for giving him confidence to speak openly about his sexuality and backing the school's efforts to promote inclusion.
“The critical factor for me as the principal has been that I have been inspired by my students,” he said in his speech at Wednesday's event. “The critical factor for me as the principal has been that I have been inspired by my students,” he said in his speech at Wednesday's event.
“To date, I have not made this declaration because I did not want my kids to think of me differently or not respect me. Those fears were obstacles in my mind because of the culture of when and where I grew up.”“To date, I have not made this declaration because I did not want my kids to think of me differently or not respect me. Those fears were obstacles in my mind because of the culture of when and where I grew up.”
The small group of around 15 Westboro activists insisted they would continue to target educational institutions around the country despite the apparent unifying effect its presence has had in Washington.The small group of around 15 Westboro activists insisted they would continue to target educational institutions around the country despite the apparent unifying effect its presence has had in Washington.
“High schools and colleges, particularly, are important because these young minds don't have a hope in hell. They are the lost generation,” said Rachel Hockenbarger of Topeka, Kansas.“High schools and colleges, particularly, are important because these young minds don't have a hope in hell. They are the lost generation,” said Rachel Hockenbarger of Topeka, Kansas.
But she rejected criticism that the group's language and message was inappropriate outside a school.But she rejected criticism that the group's language and message was inappropriate outside a school.
“Do I think it's offensive? I don't care if it's offensive,” Hockenbarger told The Guardian. “There are no hate signs in my hands. These signs have the word hate on them, but we are talking about God's hate, we are not talking about human emotion. God's hate means that if you don't repent of your sins, you are going to hell.”“Do I think it's offensive? I don't care if it's offensive,” Hockenbarger told The Guardian. “There are no hate signs in my hands. These signs have the word hate on them, but we are talking about God's hate, we are not talking about human emotion. God's hate means that if you don't repent of your sins, you are going to hell.”
The two groups were kept apart by a heavy police presence and both demonstrations passed peacefully, with staff intervening to keep students largely out of sight of the separate Westboro protest.The two groups were kept apart by a heavy police presence and both demonstrations passed peacefully, with staff intervening to keep students largely out of sight of the separate Westboro protest.
"Five years ago the counter protest was very much a spur of the moment thing," said Shea. "This time we knew they were coming in advance, a student group started making the counter protest a big facebook thing, and the administration got involved to make sure it remained a calm event: uplifting for the people who want it to be uplifting but also not one that involves any violence.""Five years ago the counter protest was very much a spur of the moment thing," said Shea. "This time we knew they were coming in advance, a student group started making the counter protest a big facebook thing, and the administration got involved to make sure it remained a calm event: uplifting for the people who want it to be uplifting but also not one that involves any violence."
Wilson's history teacher, with the school for 20 years, said the Westboro protest had helped cement the school's values publicly.Wilson's history teacher, with the school for 20 years, said the Westboro protest had helped cement the school's values publicly.
“We want to make sure we are here for everybody, and we want to make sure that everyone feels love and support," added Shea. "That's one of the things I've loved about this school for a long time but this just puts a very public face on the fact that we really do embrace diversity.” “We want to make sure we are here for everybody, and we want to make sure that everyone feels love and support," added Shea. "That's one of the things I've loved about this school for a long time but this just puts a very public face on the fact that we really do embrace diversity.”