Update, 2/28/2013: The Facebook page, “Prayers for South Panola School District” was taken down earlier today.
BATESVILLE, Miss. — Hundreds of angry parents and citizens have joined a Facebook “prayer” page after a high school student in northern Mississippi came out as transgender.
The Facebook page, “Prayers for South Panola School District” had more than 500 “likes” as of Wednesday evening, and was launched Tuesday after a student, identified only as “Leah,” began her transition by dressing according to her gender identity.
Leah
Family photo, via Mississippians Support Leah
The American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi said Wednesday it is working with the South Panola High School student to ensure a smooth transition for Leah, who is in the early stages of gender transformation.
“The first step in that is really to start dressing according to your gender and today was about going to school and being able to be the person that she is,” Mississippi ACLU Legal Director, Bear Atwood told WMC-TV.
Atwood said gender transformation is a long process that begins with a person dressing in accordance with the gender in which he or she identifies. The process later includes medications and surgery.
Teachers and staff have been supportive, and while several classmates showed support for Leah by wearing green and pink, many still referred to Leah as “he.”
“He’s like any other student at South Panola, he minds his business, he’s not hurting anyone,” classmate Jabrea Joiner said. “He’s only wanting to be himself.”
Mike Foster, interim superintendent of South Panola School District, said officials will “follow what the law says” in protecting students’ constitutional rights to dress in accordance with the gender in which they identify.
But many parents from the area disagreed and are planning to protest at an upcoming school board meeting; in the meantime, opponents have created the Facebook page, “Prayers for South Panola School District,” which was set up “to form a Christian based group to pray for our school’s administration, board members, principles, teachers and students,” according to the page’s mission.“It’s time to STEP UP and put CHRIST back in our schools where he belongs!” the page declares.
According to Deep South Progressive, page admin Ryan Moss posted that the page “isn’t for bashing a single student. It’s for the people who have strong belief in the Lord and what he does for us that created this page. The incident that happened yesterday was just an example of not only the governments power but the power of Satan.”
When asked what the “incident” was, Moss responded that the incident was about “the cross dressing student who has not yet become a transgender person being in schools with other parents kids,” reported Deep South Progressive.
A separate Facebook page, “Mississippians Support Leah,” had more than 1,800 “likes” after being created Tuesday by Betsy Chapman, of Oxford.
“The outpouring of support from people around the world is incredibly moving, but it’s the support from Mississippians that means the most because it provides hope for those of us who want to see the state we love move forward,” Chapman said.
Atwood, the ACLU attorney, said “it’s a complex situation.”
“It’s an issue that people in Mississippi don’t understand very well. And so we’re working with the school and Leah to make sure her constitutional rights are upheld and she can go to school in a safe learning environment,” Atwood said.
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Wow..
Bs… went through the same crap just for coming out as one :I…
She’s beautiful <3
Best of luck to her!
I live in ms. & im lesbian. not all mississippians are like that.
Brave like a Lioness!
Stay strong Leah. Be true to who you are and you are not alone.
it is none of their business and the should let her transition.
jesus chriiiist. will the hate ever end?!
:( that’s just sad that so many people are that backwards..
I wish they would get the pronoun right. It is about respect. Hell people were calling me ‘she’ before I ever started transition. But after transition I still have people saying ‘he’. They need to think before they speak. It is respect you have for a person. If some woman gets married, no one has a problem with the name change. Think about that.
pray all you want just leave her alone with your bigotry and hate.
This person deserves our love and support. As a mom I would stand up and stand by them.
@shea lets get something straight. pronouns are part of respect but they are also part of our system of constrained gender definitions. They are as binary as the idea of handing over your name and lineage because you are a woman. I see the acknowledgement of someone’s bravery in transitioning in pronoun use but people who make mistakes aren’t monsters. Monsters are the people vilifying this child in order to justify their elitism. Lets focus on the real issue here: that no matter what we want to be called, human and worthy is first on the list.
I’m just tired…I don’t even have words to express this ridiculous non sense! A FB to pray for her & everyone who supports her? OMG… Get a life!!! Mind your own business!
Is there a pro-Leah Facebook page where we might show our support?
Are they going to pray her back a penis? Or pray to accept her as God’s child, too.
She is beautiful.
wow… stark contrast to the college students who are holding fundraisers to fund surgery for a transgendered classmate. http://bostinno.com/2013/02/26/emerson-college-frat-raises-money-for-surgery-donnie-collins/#ss__302432_270418_0__ss ….. is the difference in perceptions socioeconomic? geographical? religious ‘values’? or is it more simple? plain ol’ All American Ignorance? then again….. up unitl 2003, it was ILLEGAL TO ENGAGE in same-sex sexual relations in MISSISSIPPI …. nuff said?
She’s beautiful! She is fully welcome to move up here, and we will take care of her, and make sure she is safe, and happy and most of who she is meant to be!
Ah, it was right in front of me in the article. https://www.facebook.com/MississippiansSupportLeah
The people who ARE PROTESTING NEED TO MIND THEIR OWN DAMN BUSINESS. It Does NOT Concern them. They ONLY make it their Business to INTERFERE with SOMEONES Life. LIKE GET A LIFE People and BACK OFF!
Hope they’re praying not to be so ignorant…
I went to their page and let them have it! I have a gay transgendered son and he is the light of my life!
I’m sharing this on my page and asking all my friends to go post on their page!
I truly try not to be prejudiced against religious people, but stuff like this makes it AWFULLY hard.
Terri whats their page name?
And these are the same idiots who cannot fathom why church attendance is low or why gay and trans people decide to quit Christianity for their own peace of mind.
https://www.facebook.com/PrayersForSouthPanolaSchoolDistrict is their page (the haters, I mean)
Pray away. Disagree all you want. Just let her live her life with dignity freedom and respect
Girl gets her rights, Christians don’t like rights, I post constitution on there pages. Rage ensues.
And that’s the point when the phrase “I’ll pray for you” becomes an offensive term. Used as an insult by “Christians” everywhere.
how about joining a “fu*k you, and let me live my own life the way I see fit” page.
Aweosme Leah! You are beautiful young lady! Best of luck!!
Prayer is not going to change this student, or help this student… the situation is what it is…
I would be happy to pay for her first pistol permit when she reaches the legal age. Sorry, that’s all I could afford. Just the permit.
What the hell is that gonna do?
She is beautiful
That facebook page is another HATE GROUP. They want to and intend to Pray away the Trans people. They want the Gays and Trans TO GO AWAY, then they use religion to make their point, except for the fact that they are going against what God has said all along Love and ACCEPTANCE!
news flash!!!!! u cannot pray the gay away…nor can u pray the transgender away….yes i know its not as catchy a saying, but….
I been Preyed upon by christians since day one , we even got Preyed outta business in our restaurant in Georgia only a few years ago… theyre all SCHMUX!
Too many facepalms. I don’t have the stomach to read anymore of their disgusting page. Instead, just focusing on how lovely and courageous this young woman is and sending out good vibes.
People need to learn this motto quick and fast: “Live and let live.”
Ha. I know it’s just a random image of her, but she looks like she’s 300% done with those dullards in that pic.
What will wishes to Santa do?
oh well. apparently, prayer can change your genitals back.lol
Who are you to judge how anyone else 1. feels and 2. dresses. Get you’re heads out of your you-know-whats and give that person the respect you’d want. Parents acting in disrespect protesting about how this person feels and dresses. It is not up to you how they live/feel/dress. And you should be ashamed that you are adults who cant even set good examples for kids
Jesus save us from your followers. If only they’d stop THUMPING their Bibles and open & READ them.
report the page for harrassment. let’s work together to get it removed from facebook. discriminating leah for being who she is… is HARRASSMENT.
ugh why do people think that just because schools dont force every child to pray a christian prayer that “god isnt in schools anymore”… i didnt realize that god needed an invitation.
mostly…. not everyone is christian. just because someone else practices a different religion doesnt take away from anyone elses. what is with this idea that if someone does something it makes someone else less??
God I can’t believe these people actually set up a prayer page. God bless Leah and help her on her transistion
Sending good vibes and support to you from New Mexico!
Lead by their fear, not at all faith.
God is NOT in that stupidity!
What a buch of ignorant, hateful and fearful people. How does one girl trying to live her life in a way that makes her happy and complete do anything to hurt you?
Isn’t “God’s” place in Churches? “He” doesn’t belong in schools.
My parents are Born Again Christians and won’t even talk about me being trans. They’d be of the same opinion as those “parents” in thinking they can ray it away. My Dad hasn’t said anything to me about it, but my Mum does and tells me how he feels. They do still love me and haven’t disowned me, or anything, but it is if they’re pretending it’s not happening and they certainly aren’t respecting me.
More rancid church people.
these southern bigots and their religion need to get a life and get out of the church and all their brainwashing….they r so un-eveolved!! it’s back to 1860!
Just who the fucks business is it anyways if this person is transgender but that person’s own fucking business. People need to stop giving a fuck about shit that has nothing to do with them. I am only 22 and I am sick of this world. The way people treat each other is just putrid. I have never seen so much disrespect and disgrace and pure filth before. I give the human race a couple hundred more years left on this earth, for we no longer deserve to walk its beautiful paths. We are all human and we are all here living the same mystery of life so worry about your own shit and leave people the fuck alone when are doing nothing to hurt you.
- If you’re really “praying for” someone then you shouldn’t be petitioning your god against their rights or their free will or their happiness. If it fails all of those three criteria, it sure as hell ain’t praying.
Because nothing says “Christian” quite like calling out a minor for something they have no control over and acting like they are a freak of nature worthy of Hellfire for all time.
I do not agree with their actions but they have the right under our constitution and their right needs to be honored and protected the same as the students right.
WTF !
They need to get over it already. Long as she isn’t bothering anyone or harming herself, what are they bitching about it for?
I’ll pray for them to start understanding that god loves ALL of his children.
well what can one expect from Mississippi I am not surprised, a real shame people harbor so much hate and ignorance.
why are so many americans such intolerant asses???i thought its a land of freedom???a land of free will??i always wanted to visit america, but after reading all this shit, i guess i dont wanna go anymore.
one only needs to read the comments here to see the heat this produces …We need light not heat.
Perhaps they should pray for themselves, and the hatred they carry in their hearts!
So freaked out! It would be amusing if not for the terrifying undertones.
To them, I say, f*ck you haters!!!!!
christians just need to stop. how moronic.
How about this. If these supposed “christian” parents feel THAT strongly about their children attending a PUBLIC SCHOOL with a transgender student, why don’t they just pay to send their kids to a private school? Oh… can’t afford to? NOT the transgender students problem. Deal with separation of church and state and STFU. This is america. Not Iran.
Liberty and Justice for ALL… no?
I’m a Christian, but I also have enough sense not to follow – like a sheep – all the people who spout chunks of the bible like parrots copying each other; I’d even hazard a bet that more than 50% of those who “pray” or use quote from the bible have never actually picked one up…
What modern Christians need to understand is that if they want to have one tiny bit of an ancient text that has been butchered in translation to suit the still largely male-dominated religious hierarchies, then they must adhere to ALL; meaning selling their daughters into slavery, not wearing mixed fabric clothing, not working on a Sunday lest they be stoned to death, and the list goes on…
Christianity at its core is about following the teachings of Jesus, and he promoted unconditional love & tolerance, not the bigoted transphobic & homophobic bully that I see fellow Christians committing…
Transphobia and homophobia are crimes, and Jesus – I GUARANTEE YOU – would be the first in line to admonish and chastise the judgemental bigots of this world…
Yes, I am a Christian; I follow Jesus Christ and his example, NOT the dogmatic, out-of-date, and shameful doctrines of “religions” as dictated by Mankind!
Love the religitards that always want to shove their beliefs down everyone’s throat, like Christianity is THE only belief that’s right.
*rolls eyes*
And they act like being transgender is wrong. We are who we are, there’s no reason to change who we are. Nobody has the right to tell us who to be and how to live our lives, or who we can love.
What’s the saying?… ‘Lord save me from your followers.’
Oh how I wish this was an Onion article…….
There are Christians then there are Xstains. The problem is that most Christians are way quieter than Xstains. Kinda like decent Muslims v. terrorist crazy-ass Muslims.
It is so scary how this kind of people always involve God and the Christ in their minds, with their own fears and phobias! This is so sad because all the ignorance that still exist in the people who claim to love God! Yeah, let’s pray so these assholes phobics can see the real love of God and the real Jesus Christ who they claim to believe. The only thing I see is superstitious people. Shame on them! An do never forget the world will know for your love and actions!
It is so scary how this kind of people always involve God and the Christ in their minds, with their own fears and phobias! This is so sad because all the ignorance that still exist in the people who claim to love God! Yeah, let’s pray so these assholes phobics can see the real love of God and the real Jesus Christ who they claim to believe. The only thing I see is superstitious people. Shame on them! And do never forget the world will believe for your love and actions!