Principal Resigns Over Newly Allowed GSA

A high school principal in Columbia, S.C., is stepping down from his post after being asked to allow the creation of a gay-straight alliance club at his school.

A high school principal in Columbia, S.C., is stepping down from his post after being asked to allow the creation of a gay-straight alliance club at his school. Irmo High School principal Eddie Walker's resignation won't take effect until June 2009, according to WIS TV in Columbia. Walker said in a resignation letter he wrote to the school that allowing the group creates a conflict involving his professional and religious beliefs.

"I feel the formation of a Gay/Straight Alliance Club at Irmo High school implies that students joining the club will have chosen to or will choose to engage in sexual activity with members of the same sex, opposite sex, or members of both sexes," he wrote.

Walker said that he would make the announcement to the student body on Wednesday over the intercom system, promising to work steadily through the 2008–2009 school year at Irmo.

"I have prayed about the decision for a period of time, and I have a peace about it," he continued. "I would ask that you respect my choice as I respect your choice to disagree with me on this issue. I bear no malice toward anyone involved. If the people involved at the district level had chosen not to allow the club to form, I am sure the district would have been sued, and the current legal opinions and precedents indicate that in all likelihood the district would have lost."

The school district said in a statement that the federal "Equal Access Act does not permit the school to discriminate against a club based on the club's purpose and viewpoint by not allowing it to form unless the purpose of the club is unlawful." (The Advocate)

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Name: Rasta
Date posted: 5/29/2008 2:34:00 PM
Hometown: Beaumont, TX

Comment:
Wow, for him to think that the students forming this group will cause them to engage in sexual activity is obsurd. What about the straight sex that goes against the bible that is going on? I am a straight Christian male, but thanks to taking a gay politics class at my school have found an understanding for any LGBTs. The homophobia needs to disappear. Will say that better for him to leave than cause a scene though. Some people just take longer than others to come around.
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Name: Nicole
Date posted: 5/28/2008 1:21:00 AM
Hometown: Charleston

Comment:
There is a straight club. It's called the entire rest of the school.
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Name: Mari
Date posted: 5/22/2008 9:49:00 PM
Hometown: New Haven

Comment:
Wait... he thinks GSA means that kids have decided to "engage in sexual activity with members of the same sex, opposite sex, or members of both sexes"? Like it's an orgy club? His problem isn't religion, it's basic understanding of what a GSA is.
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Name: Gay George
Date posted: 5/22/2008 7:17:00 PM
Hometown: New York City

Comment:
Good riddance is correct! “It doesn’t agree with his religious beliefs!” Outrageous, this is a public school (or the article would have stated otherwise)! If Jewish students wish to eat Matzoh (unleavened bread) for Passover, does this also offend his religious beliefs?
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Name: Shane Farmer
Date posted: 5/22/2008 6:41:00 PM
Hometown: Hartsville

Comment:
i think Mr. Walker was completely right in his ideas as a Christian he did the right thing and i for one stand by him i believe he should be given credit i mean if we give one group this then we need to give it to everyone i mean maybe we should start a straight club. I for one support Mr. Walker 100% as a Christian and an American. He is a beacon of hope in this dark society.
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Name: C. Orgilve
Date posted: 5/22/2008 5:03:00 PM
Hometown: Atlanta

Comment:
Good riddance! After he has resigned, perhaps a real leader will step up to the responsibility of being a principal at that school. On the bright side for him, this frees him up to lend his "talents" to a religious school where his views won't be so out of step with his students and faculty.
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Name: Reed Braden
Date posted: 5/22/2008 1:53:00 AM
Hometown: Roanoke, VA

Comment:
I, for one, am glad he's leaving. One less bigot in charge of our children!
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Name: Jeff
Date posted: 5/22/2008 1:45:00 AM
Hometown: Seattle

Comment:
Yet another misguided Christian who is not mature and confident enough in his faith to live "in this world, but not of this world". Instead of acknowledging that there are people in the world who do not believe as he does, Principal Eddie is going to "take his ball(and his bible)and go home". He should only stay there.

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