Tuesday, January 25, 2011

The face of courage.

Carrillo High School senior Kayla, stands up in front of her fellow student and comes out as a lesbian.



As you watch this ask yourself, "Would I have had the courage to stand up and tell the world that I was gay.  Especially while a teenager in high school?"

Courage comes in many forms.

She is standing up and speaking out not just for herself, but for all of those frightened gay teenagers still too afraid to stand up for themselves.

I know a fearless young woman just like this, and I am honored to be her Dad.

24 comments:

  1. angela1:47 PM

    Courage comes in many forms.

    Indeed it does . . . . .

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  2. Kayla is wise beyond her years. If only more thought like her. Her parents have to be extremely proud of that girl she is impressive.

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  3. Anonymous1:57 PM

    I think Levi listen to you Gryphen,
    Now this person called Rex???? I do not trust him

    http://www.hollywoodlife.com/2011/01/25/bristol-palin-parental-rights-custody-levi-johnston/

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  4. No one should live in fear of who they are in life.

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  5. Anonymous2:03 PM

    In all sincerity, I wish my dad was more like you.

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  6. Anonymous2:11 PM

    You don't have the courage to admit being wrong about Bristol being pregnant.

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  7. teutonic132:12 PM

    The only issue I have with this- is that she in HS so therefore most likely under the age of consent.

    Her coming out suggests that she has experienced a lesbian encounter- which then implies a whole slew of legal issues for the person she engaged in sexual acts with.

    Other than that- good for her. Takes guts...

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  8. Anonymous2:12 PM

    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX That's me giving both of these young ladies a standing ovation. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  9. Anonymous2:12 PM

    What an eloquent and brave young woman. I hope her story will make a difference.

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  10. Anonymous2:12 PM

    Wow - I would never have been able to do something like that in high school. I could barely answer a question when called upon, let alone stand up and take a stand and open up my personal life. Amazing.

    Hope it works out well for her. Sometimes it doesn't. Depends upon the community and how supportive her parents and the school is.

    Congratulations to her!

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  11. Mark In Everett WA2:20 PM

    Awesome!! Thank you for posting this. Bravo!

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  12. Anonymous2:24 PM

    What an outstanding speech and remarkable young woman!

    Any parent should be proud of such a daughter. How could one not be bursting with pride that your child had the self-confidence, the self-awareness and the poise - and yes, the courage to stand up before her peers and say what she did!

    Any parent who could not be proud, is a not a loving parent.

    Love IS the most important thing in this world. Love is the only thing that really matters - no matter what form it takes.

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  13. Anonymous2:29 PM

    Brava Kayla! Forwarding this to Ellen and Rachel!

    What a wonderful voice for her generation!

    - kellygrrrl

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  14. Amazing. Thanks for sharing that Gryph. That girl has shown courage beyond what most have. I have several friends who are gay and I shared this with them as well. I love them no matter who they are and no matter who they love. I went through the "coming out" phase with one of them...she told me first...it was so difficult for her, but she knew I would accept her. Five years later she is still quite strained with her family, but as I tell her all the time...you are who you are and you should never hide that from the world.

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  15. Anonymous2:36 PM

    Teutonic...her coming out suggests nothing about her actions.
    You can be hetero in high school without having sex. Surely you can also be gay without having sex?

    It is inappropriate to suggest illicit behavior on her part - and even more so since she is a minor!

    Rob

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  16. ENOUGHwiththetrainwreck2:59 PM

    @2:11 pm speaking of courage - maybe you do not understand the issue at hand.....this is not a matter of whether or not gryphen does or does not believe anyone was pregnant -- it is about the culmination of the photographic and video evidence that leads most viewers to only one conclusion.

    the courage requirement is on bristol and the palins. not us.

    we are merely observers and those who ask the tough questions.

    see how that works?

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  17. Anonymous3:02 PM

    Teutonic:

    The age of CONSENT is 16 in most
    states. That's a fact, and no amount of obfuscation can deny it.

    It's also LEGAL provided that her partner is close enough in age, and that her partner is not a person "in authority" over her, or vice-versa

    So, she could be a Sophomore, and be 16, and have LEGAL sex with someone who is 16 or 17.

    Some states require parental "approval" , which takes various forms and would be pro forma in many cases.

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  18. Anonymous3:03 PM

    Comment @ 2:11 pm

    You keep bringing up Bristol when no one is talking about Bristol.

    Is Bristol gay too?

    ReplyDelete
  19. I agree that she's very brave in coming out the way she did. She was very "at home" on that stage and that suggested a performance background. (In fact, she refers to singing). So she's really able to handle herself when speaking in public.

    And hooray for her family. They've obviously raised a very level-headed young woman.

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  20. Anonymous3:56 PM

    @ anon 2:11

    Take a look at this picture of Bristol on 11/24/10 and tell me how anyone would not think she is pregnant. That is not weight, that is a baby bump of several months.

    http://theview.abc.go.com/photos/dancing-stars-finalists-visit-view

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  21. I would hope that our nation at some point would not have to point this as a statement of courage, but simply a normal matter of fact.

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  22. I would hope that at some point, this would not be shown as a display of courage, but simply a matter of being able to feel free to say who you are.

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  23. Anonymous6:33 AM

    I have always taken it for granted that I don't have a problem whatsoever with Gays and Lesbians. Therefore it always surprises me when there is public backlash against them or their issues for equality and acceptance.

    It gave George W. Bush a second term, voters who came out 'in defense' of marriage. Who would have thought?

    So I don't keep my acceptance in the closet, I let the public know I support the LGBT community.

    As for this girl, she is a role model. Why doesn't she get a paid speaking spokesmodel gig with Candies?

    She may not think herself a hero, but it did take courage to come out in such a fashion. I'll bet she doesn't want to give birth five times before she does this again.

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  24. Anonymous6:41 AM

    I agree with Rob @ 2:36 on teutonic13's odd statement.

    Are you criminalizing underage (yet consensual) lesbian experiences? Not all teens are abstinent, Bristol has been put on a pedestal for her not "pausing" before she played with Levi.

    Anon @ 3:03 - No, Bristol is not gay, she just makes gay jokes with her family and against haters.

    Next Chapter @ 5:57 - Amen. But with the addendum that we don't have to come out with our sexual identity for display and explain ourselves.

    ReplyDelete

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