Apr 27, 2012
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As many as 100 high school students walked out of a national journalism conference after an anti-bullying speaker began cursing, attacked the Bible and reportedly called those who refused to listen to his rant “pansy assed.”
The speaker was Dan Savage, founder of the “It Gets Better” project, an anti-bullying campaign that has reached more than 40 million viewers with contributors ranging from President Obama to Hollywood stars. Savage also writes a sex advice column called “Savage Love.”
Savage, and his husband, were also guests at the White House for President Obama’s 2011 LGBT Pride Month reception. He was also invited to a White House anti-bullying conference.
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Savage was supposed to be delivering a speech about anti-bullying at the National High School Journalism Conference sponsored by the Journalism Education Association and the National Scholastic Press Association. But it turned into an episode of Christian-bashing.
Rick Tuttle, the journalism advisor for Sutter Union High School in California, was among several thousand people in the audience. He said they thought the speech was one thing – but it turned into something else.
“I thought this would be about anti-bullying,” Tuttle told Fox news. “It turned into a pointed attack on Christian beliefs.”
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Tuttle said a number of his students were offended by Savage’s remarks – and some decided to leave the auditorium.
“It became hostile,” he said. “It felt hostile as we were sitting in the audience – especially towards Christians who espouse beliefs that he was literally taking on.”
Tuttle said the speech was laced with vulgarities and “sexual innuendo not appropriate for this age group.” At one point, he said Savage told the teenagers about how good his partner looked in a speedo.
The conservative website CitizenLink was the first to report about the controversy. They interviewed a 17-year-old girl who was one of students who walked out of the auditorium.
“The first thing he told the audience was, ‘I hope you’re all using birth control,’” she told CitizenLink. “he said there are people using the Bible as an excuse for gay bullying, because it says in Leviticus and Romans that being gay is wrong. Right after that, he said we can ignore all the (expletive deleted) in the Bible.”
As the teenagers were walking out, Tuttle said that Savage heckled them and called them pansy-assed.
“You can tell the Bible guys in the hall they can come back now because I’m done beating up the Bible,” Savage said as other students hollered and cheered. “It’s funny as someone who is on the receiving end of beatings that are justified by the Bible how pansy-assed people react when you push back.”
The executive director of the National Scholastic Press Association provided Fox News with joint statement from the Journalism Education Association that was sent to members – after a number of people complained about Savage’s remarks.
“We appreciate the level of thoughtfulness and deliberation regarding Dan Savage’s keynote address,” the NSPA wrote. “some audience members who felt hurt by his words and tone decided to leave in the middle of his speech, and to this, we want to make our point very clear: While as a journalist it’s important to be able to listen to speech that offends you, these students and advisers had simply reached their tolerance level for what they were willing to hear.”
The NSPA said they did not have a prior transcript of Savage’s speech and that wish “he had stayed more on target for the audience of teen journalists.” They also said it provided a “teachable moment” for students.
As for Savage’s attack on people of faith?
“While some of his earlier comments were so strongly worded that they shook some of our audience members, it is never the intent of JEA or NSPA to let students get hurt during their time at our conventions,” they wrote.
However, not once did the NSPA or the JEA offer any apologies to the students or faculty advisors or anyone else in attendance.
Savage did offer a sarcastic apology “if I hurt anyone’s feelings.”
“But I have a right to defend myself and to point out the hypocrisy of people who justify anti-gay bigotry by pointing to the Bible and insisting we must live by the code of Leviticus on this one issue and no other.”
Tuttle said that he “felt duped” by the event. “There were Christian schools who went to the conference. To have this happen was disappointing and shocking.”
The NSPA said they should have done a better job preparing schools for what to expect.
For his part, Tuttle said that he will definitely be more cautious about the speakers at future conventions.Tuttle related how Savage told students that for a number of years he was not allowed in schools. He told the students that because it’s gained national acceptance “he’s reveling in the fact that it’s basically a middle finger to all those teachers and administrators who wouldn’t let him have access to those students before.”
But for some of Tuttle’s students – they felt like the anti-bullying activist was in fact – the bully.
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Typical liberal, it's all about tolerance and free speech utill they run into something they disagree with., then they turn on you like a rabid dog.
this is straight (no pun intended) out of a South Park episode. the bullying awareness lecturer becomes the bully. and Leviticus is old testament, not exactly "Christan." life imitates art.
This bozo has every right to bash Christians, Jews, Muslims, gay, straight….whatever…EVERYONE has that right (at least for the moment). You can DISLIKE and TALK ABOUT anyone you want (as long as you don't libel them)…BUT, it is the height of hypocrisy for someone speaking on an "anti-bullying" program to behave like that!
not exactly. its just showing them what people like him go though. but believers love this sort of thing. they love being the victim.
Rochelle Sprague That's nonsense… you speak against bullying by bullying??? BS!!!
Why aren't any christians commenting on this actually address what he's saying? You know the bible states all of that right? So is the bible the word of God or not?
There is no doubt the God story is made up to control women and children. Those who wish to believe are those who are afraid of the dark. As stated by Stephen Hawking. By you can't help those who are that desperate. But the fact of the matter here is this sick queer who likes to insult people. That is why so many hate the gay community. They think they are some way better than the rest of us. They are in fact biological mistakes. The closet was the best place for them after all.
see what happens when you poke the tiger too much in his cage. he's going to fight back. * que we're not going to take it."
Loved this story. I have to say, I'm leaning towards Savage's side. He talked about the problem that he was hired to speak about, but as soon as he proposed that the people in the audience might be part of the problem… they get offended and leave.
If I were to analyze this situation, I would say that he may have gone further than was needed, but at the same time… you might want to look at the people who left and those who took issue with what he said. Why? Because they are most likely the ones who are facilitating the bullying. It is a very obvious reaction. Those who are intolerant of those who get bullied, aren't going to like it when the victim speaks up.
There are much better ways to state your case than he demonstrated, and all he really showed is that it's okay to be a hypocrite as long as you're a loud hypocrite.
Al Vanderwall What is hypocritical about pointing out what is wrong, and what is to blame?
Ok people say it is ok BUT I ask you to sit and listen to A john Hagee service on homosexuality once and let the school bring in a pastor to speak Notice how God is No longer allowed in our schools but yet this man got up and was allowed to talk about our God and the Bible.And Praise God for the students who got up and walked out and took a stand for thier Savior Jesus Christ AMEN! This man is getting just what he wanted everyone talking about his speech.He can try to justify homosexuality all he wants he will NEVER win.And one day he will understand how God feels about it as well.The one thing is we should pray for his stupidity.
you like thinking about people getting harmed by some one else?
Instead off just posting here, we should also notify the groups that allowed this and then mushmouthed about his hate! And, we should encourage everyone of walk out of that type of hatefest…no matter who is speaking!
yeah cus walking away gets stuff done.
Rochelle Sprague Geez, where do types like you live? Getting up and walking out of a "speaking hatemonger dumbarse" may be rude, which is what you meant, right? You didn't actually advocate violence like the progrs regularly do, did you?
if they have done any research on Savage they should have realized this is what to expect. teens are not stupid they shouldn't cover their eyes and ears they should look and listen and open their hearts to what is being said. to say "lallalal go away" isnt how life works. and all he said was bullshit. people say it all the time and if they are old enough to read the bible that talks about rape, murder, incest, and the supposed killing of thousands of people by their god, surely a little curse word(that was not directed at them) wouldn't hurt.
Perhaps someone could enlighten me: what, precisely, did Dan Savage say about the Bible that was factually incorrect. I should think these budding teen-age Ed Murrows would be concerned about whether what Savage said was actually … you know … TRUE or not … which concern would no doubt disqualify them for working for "Faux" News.
I would have beat the faggots ass.
In short, Mr. Savage was–a bully.
Good for those kids who walked out! Bet he wouldn't say those things about The Koran!
I don't care one bit about his gayness or whatever BUT when he attacks the Bible because he thinks it's what obammy his mentor and benafactor wants him to do then he needs a good old fashioned ASS WHUPPIN"!
Why does this issue of Christian intolerance of Homosexuals lead to bashing the whole religion? There is a point to following the Bible and it would be propogation of the human race. I know, there are plenty of other people to do that, right? Here is another question. Why is no one bashing the Muslim religion on this issue? Hell your gay, they cut off your head. It makes Christins look pretty tolerant after all doesn't it? The very fact that no one is talking about that is a testiment to terrorisim, they have scared the crap out of everyone and no one will say a word. Did I miss something, just asking.
He can oppose Christian intolerance AND Muslim intolerance. The fact is that around 85% of American are Christians, so that is the source of much of the bigotry in the USA. If he was speaking in Algeria (or Dearborn, Michigan), then it would make sense to call out the Muslim religion.
If you want opposition to Muslim intolerance, you might read Taslima Hareen, Maryam Namazi, or Ayaan Hirsi Magan Ali. You are also welcome to join me and many others yearly in Everybody Draw Muhammed Day, a protest against religion-based censorship. Or maybe you're too scared…
Another angry fag who, if you don't agree with will turn into a ranting lunatic. Be happy that your able to live your homosexual lifestyle openly and quit trying to push it as a rule of acceptance to those who see it as wrong. Shut up and live so to speak.
Why all the harping from Dan Savage about The Bible's ties to slavery when most of the current slave trade is occurring in Africa by Muslims against fellow Muslims and non-Muslims? Why didn't Dan discuss the Koran? Talk about acts of hate against homosexuals under Islamic law? Dan is a lily livered chicken!
Let's be honest here:
This is NOT an anti-bullying speaker, or organization, OR movement.
It is run and controlled by people who have the openly stated agenda to PROMOTE HOMOSEXUALITY.
They teach kids it's a "GOOD" choice and even instruct kids on how perverse acts are done.
They of course never mention the shortened life span, misery and disease involved. And they never ever. EVER allow opposing views or scientific facts in from any source.
On the general topic of his abuse please know these facts:
If any of you doubt this you can easily and independently verify it.
Do a database search of ALL political violence (and even violent speech) in the US for the last 60 yrs. note every act from political sign vandalism to actual shootings. You will see that approx 90% of the acts were done BY so called "liberals" and/or against conservatives, Republicans, etc.
This is a fact – I dare any here to try and disprove it>.
The libofascists are the source of most violence abuse and violent rhetoric and they are the source of most all gov't and political deaths in the last 80 yrs as well.
Furthermore one of the biggest lies that most Americans believe is that "Fascism" is the opposite of communism or socialism. This is a huge and monstrous lie of the left. PLEASE SPREAD THIS PROOF:
Short video: http://is.gd/xxy8EK Short paper: http://fwd4.me/0zPH.
What a hypocrite that idiot is.
What a hypocrite that idiot is.
There was so much confusion, distortion and outright error in Dan's application of scripture, why don't we concentrate on that instead of harping on Christians being bullied and misunderstood? Our Christian leaders and clergy can point to the lost and painful (or angry) condition of the speaker rather than his insulting words, and then explain the gross error in biblical interpretation. This would educate believers and non-believers as well. Seems to me that would have more constructive and far-reaching affects for the glory of God.
What a bigot
Did anyone else notice BHO's carefully chosen words in the video from his revised Constitutional documents? "All men are equal" (He is the creator, therefore saying it would be redundant.) After his "hope" it will be a reality, except, of course, for the elite. I didn't say 1% because that's a bad term; I said the elite. They are actually more than 1%. Wait a minute, maybe some of them will be "pared" after "equality" is reached. Be prepared Keith and Debbie.
There's a school of thought that suggests anti-christian rhetoric and other types of religiophobic behavior may actually be a Freudian reaction formation resulting from the chronic suppression of "shameful" spiritual or religious urges…
A degenerate, Leftist faggot hates Christians…surprise, surprise.
If you belive in Jesus and believe gays are sinning, your breaking the lords law, read this… Matthew 19 11:12 Jesus clearly states his views on gays and you are all violating his laws, which mans All Christians are going to hell, congratulations!
Matthew 19:11,12 has nothing to do with gays but it is about people who do not choose to get married… It also has nothing to do with hell or going to hell…
Let me see if I understand this. Dan can bully Christians because in his eyes it is OK?
They hate the God whose existence they deny.
I wonder what would happen if this guy took the same stance publicly about the Muslim faith and their stance on homosexuality?
It is very sad that this man apparently learned nothing from being bullied himself. His message against bullying is an incredibly worthwhile one – it is a shame he has taken it and warped it into an opportunity to get revenge on those who may have hurt him in the past.
How pathetic – as soon as he gets even a modicum of power and the chance to have his voice heard against bullying he bullies defenseless teenagers who came their to hear his message.
He does neither homosexuals nor the anti-bullying cause any justice.
You troglodytes calling Dan Savage a bully make me want to retch. How dare you diminish the meaning of bullying in this way? Bullying is a targeted physical and emotional attack on someone. In our schools it's often also enabled by other students and even at times teachers and administrators. You people should be ashamed to attempt to draw up a moral equivalence between Dan Savage's freedom of expression and true bullying. It's just more evidence that you just don't get it or you don't care. I am banking on the latter, quite frankly.
Here is a deal for you, you morally bankrupt buffoons: when just one of the poor persecuted presumably Christian kids who walked out on his speech commits suicide as a result of what Dan Savage said I will eat crow.
Wow, we are so open minded and tolerant have progressed to such a point of anti-hate speech, that is unless we are talking to Christians or about the Bible…I'm sorry, I am not buying it…That it makes it justified that 2 wrongs make a right…You don't stop violence by hitting people and you don't stop bullying by bullying…They should get someone without a bias against Christian beliefs and the Bible and then even the Christians will respond to the message. The message should be positive… not against Christian beliefs…I think that any bullying perpetrated by Christians against gays is exaggerated. Usually, it is the popular kids picking on the weak loners and not Christians picking on gays. I don't think that this is at all realistic. I think that I would be talking to my lawyer if my kids experienced this. A lot of bullying happens online now days and is usually done by words…But if you think wrong justifies wrong, then you're mistaken..
Wow, we are so open minded and tolerant have progressed to such a point of anti-hate speech, that is unless we are talking to Christians or about the Bible…I'm sorry, I am not buying it…That it makes it justified that 2 wrongs make a right…You don't stop violence by hitting people and you don't stop bullying by bullying…They should get someone without a bias against Christian beliefs and the Bible and then even the Christians will respond to the message. The message should be positive… not against Christian beliefs…I think that any bullying perpetrated by Christians against gays is exaggerated. Usually, it is the popular kids picking on the weak loners and not Christians picking on gays. I don't think that this is at all realistic. I think that I would be talking to my lawyer if my kids experienced this. A lot of bullying happens online now days and is usually done by words…But if you think wrong justifies wrong, then you're mistaken..
Kelly Jackson "…I think that any bullying perpetrated by Christians against gays is exaggerated. " <– a testament to your colossal ignorance.
I was telepathically communicating with the creator of the Universe last night an he told me he also didn't really like what the bible had to say about him, nor did he like his followers. He said they bitch too much and their all hypocrites.
I didn't know you were the follower that he was talking about…because you are the only one to which your inane post applies…I think that you are listening to the voices in your head again…
I want to see how Dan Savage explains his perversions and blasphemy to God on the day of judgement? I would hate to be his light loafers….
what a bully.
Savage is a low class individual and his bitterness and intolerance void any positive messages he may have tried to convey in the past.
The hypocrisy of this person reeks. He is saying that it is wrong to bully his particular cause, yet bullies other people and their causes. Either no bullying whatsoever or it is OK to bully anyone. You don't get to "pick" who or what can be bullied. He is just as bad as the people who he attacks. You should have found a better spokesperson.
Just because we disagree with the gay lifestyle does not mean we hate. Sin is sin; you can’t water down Christianity and say that homosexuality is right. Fornication is a sin also but I don’t see anyone saying we hate fornicators. Love the sinner and hate the sin.
Well said.
Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views.
William F Buckley.
love the sinner, hate the sin, deny them rights, make life terrible for them. done and done.
All of this bickering about petty things is irrelevant anyway. Homosexuals are one generation away from extinction anyway as they cannot propagate. so why concern ourselves with it? Mr. Savage if he isn't careful he'll go the way of Hugo Chavez. G_d the creator of time and the universe will not be mocked, whatsoever a man sews he shall reap! everybody just exhale and relax! There's been G_d haters since the beginning of time, why is it we expect it to be any different today.
and what about all the women and men that are straight and cant have babies naturally too? hmmmm oh wait, SCIENCE!
Wow, that's one pot calling a kettle black. What a hypocritical bully Mr. Savage is.
Please, someone tell me what is so wrong with homosexuality? Because I simply don't see it. Even if you might not like Savage's ways of expressing his opinions, he brings points up, ones that need to be considered. Also, why is there so much hatred toward liberals? Liberals don't despise conservatives or wish to "do you in". We do often disagree, but there is no need for this. So… will anyone explain?
this freak is a homo, and calls others," pansy asses "? oklydoakly
just HOW! did freakboy become a media manwhore anyway? what is his dayjob? I'm quite sure that I could guess his night job…
How can the crowd applaud this type of language at an "Anti Bullying Rally"? This is what is wrong with America, Shame on him, shame on everyone who clapped to encourage him and may the Lord have Mercy on all of us! This Country was FOUNDED on a belief in God, what happened? How can you return evil with evil or teach on anti bullying of gays by bullying Christians and have people applaud this behavior? Kudos to EVERY person that stood up and walked out on this foul mouthed man!
Friends, the time for us to INTERCEDE for this world is now, like never before, the Word says we will be mocked and persecuted in the LAST DAYS, and now a man approved by our very own President curses teenage Christian's , mocks God and spits hatred while promoting Homosexuality and gets APPLAUDED for it! I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I think an apology should be DEMANDED! These are OUR children you are cursing and mocking where is the outrage?
Well, it looks like all the student journalists that walked out are prime for Faux News. How are these students going to be adequate journalists if they walk away from a story because they don't like it? OMG! And since when did speaking truth and reality become bullying. And furthermore, who started the war on gays? Where did the thought that homosexuality is a bad thing come from. Who started the intolerance? Who is responsible for the hate on gays? And why shouldn't gays fight back?
Wow, this one really brought out the psychos and the bigots, didn't it. Dan Savage might have gone a bit too far in calling kids pansy asses, but his points about the bible were spot on. Explain the double standard. Who exactly gets to decide what you ignore and what you hold as canon in the bible?
He is different and that is wrong, he goes against nature.
And another thing, it says in the bible that "God" says that gays should be put to death. What are you all waiting for? Don't you think you should be doing what "God" says?
sounds like he intended ot to turn into a LGBT indoctrination session for these kids.
The virtues of 1950… God, Country, Family. Were they unhappy?
pretty sure my family and people that looked like me had a rough time in the fifties.
Rochelle Sprague Which one was rough for you?
It is not "panty-asses" to leave that speech–no intelligent person wants to sit and listen to the ravings of a class A fool like Dan savage!
Jesus was asked what is the greatest commandment. Jesus answered "love God with all your heart, soul strength and mind and the second is equal; love your neighbor as yourselves. On these, all the law and prophets hang." (in other words, all the laws and commandments) Christians don't hate homosexuals and if they hate them, they are not following what Jesus commands. However, as Christians, we can love someone while at the same time not approve of a particular lifestyle. Savage mentions Leviticus however in the New Testament, Romans 1 is very explicit regarding homosexuality. It doesn't say we should beat up on all the homosexuals. What it DOES say is that it is wrong yet because of their persistence for their desires, God gave them over to those desires. God loves us so much that if we want to continually turn our backs and go against His will, He'll turn us over to those desires of our hearts. Does it make these desires right? Not at all.
Bottom line is that Savage is wrong yet there are also many Christians that need to do a better job at loving people (all people) while at the same time, sharing the truth about Jesus Christ. The truth is, is that Jesus does NOT condone homosexuality; it's wrong and goes against the very holiness of Jehovah God. But if we are to share the Gospel with people, we are to do so with gentleness and respect yet without wavering on the truth of the Gospel. And if advocates for the homosexual community desire to share their beliefs, then they too should do so with gentleness and respect as well.
Savage sheds a very dark and terrible light on the community he's part of, and rather than make himself out to be someone who should be admired for his work, instead he's someone who comes across as bitter, hateful and the very type of person he is supposedly trying to protect people from.
Lastly, if you want to continue to express your views in the manner in which you've expressed them here, please don't use quotes from Sam Harris. This just dims the light your trying to shine even more. I'm sure you have enough intelligence within you, without having to quote someone who's journalism and authorship is weak and void of truth.
Rick Tuttle is a very compassionate, considerate teacher who works very hard to empower students. Even here, he is supporting his students in their choice to walk out on a speaker bent on attacking their values in his effort to gain tolerance for his.
It is funny how the self-espoused tolerant people are the most intolerant of them all.