Louisiana bus driver detains gay student to make him repent for ‘sinful ways’ of homosexuality

[Playinghardball]

The ACLU of Louisiana on Tuesday urged the East Baton Rouge Parish School System to take action after a school bus driver allegedly tried to make a student “repent” because she thought he was gay.

In a letter to the Superintendent of East Baton Rouge Schools, the principal of Broadmoor High Schools, and the Director of Transportation for East Baton Rouge Schools, the ACLU argued that the bus driver had violated Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 by discriminating against the student with LGBT-related harassment.

The driver also violated the First Amendment Establishment Clause by proselytizing to a student, the ACLU said.

According to the letter, the 16-year-old student — who was identified only as John Doe — attempted to exit the school bus on Oct. 10, but he was stopped by the bus driver.

“The driver then asked John Doe if he went to church or participated in any church-like activity,” the letter explained. “When John Doe told the driver no, she told him that ‘going to church is how he can avoid sin.’ She proceeded to tell John Doe that homosexuality is a ‘sin’ and that he can go to hell for it.”

John Doe said that the driver warned him that he must “repent” for his “sinful ways” by praying to God, and by going to church. She also reportedly gave him advice on which Bible to get, and which church to attend.

After John Doe was released from the bus, he told his sister what happened, and she informed Principal Shalonda Simoneaux, who advised the students to “call transportation because I’m not her boss.”

More here: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/11/louisiana-bus-driver-detains-gay-student-to-make-him-repent-for-sinful-ways-of-homosexuality/

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

1. Diaper Dave Vitter's constituency n/m

[hifiguy]

2. Someday the time will come when humanity transcends

its imbecilic and childish attachment to Bronze Age superstitions. But I am not going to hold my breath waiting.

[Odin2005]

18. Iron Age superstions.

Sorry, I'm a nitpick!

[hifiguy]

19. 's cool

I'm Asperger's and a classic obsessive Twilight Sparkle type so I do it all the time to others; karma is fair!

[dembotoz]

3. call transportation--so much for outrage....

[WorseBeforeBetter]

4. Damn, Shalonda!

The bus driver needs to be canned. With disciplinary action against ol' Shalonda. Ha... she's on Rate My Teachers:

One of the best English teachers of all time, but don't mess with her while she's praying; or it want be pretty.

http://www.ratemyteachers.com/shalonda-simoneaux/1237367-t

Want be pretty, indeed.

[Wella]

11. Principals are not usually in the bus driver's chain of command

Whatever Shalonda Simoneaux's own beliefs are, she wouldn't have any ability to fire a bus driver. You'd have to go to the driver's boss and that would be in the transportation department.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

12. No one thinks she has the authority to fire the bus driver.

But she has the ability to get involved. Hope she's standing up for her student.

[Wella]

13. From some of the comments, it sounds as if some people do

There may be a complaint procedure as well that we're not aware of. Looking up this principal and trying to smear her before knowing all the facts is unfair.

[TlalocW]

5. I don't know if they still do it

But in the late 80s/early 90s, in Broken Arrow, OK, (suburb of Tulsa), members and students of Rhema Bible College were encouraged to get jobs like bus drivers and janitors in the school system so they could preach to students. A friend of mine told me that when she was in high school riding on the bus, a middle-aged man drove by in a convertible, and she jokingly exclaimed, "That guy is a god! I would worship him if I could!" The bus driver, being from Rhema and lacking the capability to understand high school humor, tried to stop her from getting off the bus so he could preach to her. She shoved past him and went to class but was later called into the principal's office where the principal and the bus driver were waiting for her. The driver made up some story to get her in trouble, and she was given detention.

TlalocW

[Bluenorthwest]

6. Bigoted hater driver but Principal Shalonda Simoneaux seems to be just as cold hearted and

nasty as can be. Those poor kids. In a world of haters.

[Wella]

14. You don't know that. She may have simply directed the parent to the proper chain of command

and the proper complaint procedure.

[on point]

7. Driver should be fired. Keep your delusional religion to yourself

[ZombieHorde]

8. I agree.

Adults should know better.

[progressoid]

10. but but but...freedumb of religion and stuff.

[Initech]

9. Just when I think they couldn't get any more batshit crazy...

Although who am I kidding? At least guano servers useful purposes. Can't say the same for Southern values voters.

[Logical]

15. Sue the asshole. Should e worth a few $1000. nt

[Behind the Aegis]

16. Some all around assholes involved.

The bus driver should be canned for interfering with a student. The principal needs to put the welfare of her students in her list of priorities.

[Odin2005]

17. Why hasn't he been ARRESTED for KIDNAPPING???

[lpbk2713]

20. Must be related to Barney Fife.

Letting all that power of being a school bus driver go to her head.