This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/29/valedictorian-gay-graduation-speech-colorado

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
School refuses to let valedictorian come out as gay in graduation speech Colorado school refuses to let valedictorian come out as gay in speech
(35 minutes later)
A Colorado charter school refused to let a class valedictorian deliver a graduation speech in which he planned to come out as gay, prompting criticism from activists.A Colorado charter school refused to let a class valedictorian deliver a graduation speech in which he planned to come out as gay, prompting criticism from activists.
Evan Young, 18, said he agreed to make some suggested changes to the speech he planned to deliver on 16 May at the commencement ceremony for Twin Peaks Charter Academy High School in Longmont. But he refused to remove the disclosure about his sexuality, the Daily Camera reported Thursday. Evan Young, 18, said he agreed to make some suggested changes to the speech he planned to deliver on 16 May at the commencement ceremony for Twin Peaks charter academy high school in Longmont. But he refused to remove the disclosure about his sexuality, the Daily Camera reported on Thursday.
“My main theme is that you’re supposed to be respectful of people, even if you don’t agree with them. I figured my gayness would be a very good way to address that,” Young said.“My main theme is that you’re supposed to be respectful of people, even if you don’t agree with them. I figured my gayness would be a very good way to address that,” Young said.
He and his father, Don Young, said they weren’t notified until a few minutes before the ceremony that Evan wouldn’t be allowed to speak or be recognized as valedictorian.He and his father, Don Young, said they weren’t notified until a few minutes before the ceremony that Evan wouldn’t be allowed to speak or be recognized as valedictorian.
Evan said he previously emailed a speech with other suggested changes to school officials, but they contend that he didn’t submit a revised version.Evan said he previously emailed a speech with other suggested changes to school officials, but they contend that he didn’t submit a revised version.
In a statement, the district said the first draft also included ridiculing comments about faculty and students and was condescending toward the school. School attorney Barry Arrington said in the statement that a graduation speech is not the time for a student to “push his personal agenda on a captive audience.” In a statement, the district said the first draft also included ridiculing comments about faculty and students and was condescending toward the school. School attorney Barry Arrington said in the statement that a graduation speech is not the time for a student to “push his personal agenda on a captive audience”.
Before the ceremony, Don said school principal PJ Buchmann called and said the speech was a problem because his son had mentioned another student’s name and planned to come out as gay. Before the ceremony, Don said the school principal, PJ Buchmann, called and said the speech was a problem because his son had mentioned another student’s name and planned to come out as gay.
Don said he and his wife didn’t know their son was gay. They were initially sympathetic to Buchman’s objections to the speech, considering there would be young children at the event, but did not like how Buchman handled the matter. Don said he and his wife didn’t know their son was gay. They were initially sympathetic to Buchmann’s objections to the speech, considering there would be young children at the event, but did not like how Buchmann handled the matter.
“It’s wrong, and it’s not fair,” said Mardi Moore, executive director of Out Boulder, a gay activist group. “The young man has all but a 4.5 GPA; he has told me that since a toddler he has worked for that honor, and they denied it.”“It’s wrong, and it’s not fair,” said Mardi Moore, executive director of Out Boulder, a gay activist group. “The young man has all but a 4.5 GPA; he has told me that since a toddler he has worked for that honor, and they denied it.”
Out Boulder has asked Young to deliver his speech at an annual awards event on Sunday.Out Boulder has asked Young to deliver his speech at an annual awards event on Sunday.