Dayton Campus Paper's Gay Slur: Dumbledore Cartoon Draws Apology

DAYTON (TDB) -- The student newspaper says a "lack of judgment" led it to print a controversial editorial cartoon depicting the Harry Potter character Dumbledore with a wand in his mouth and a line saying "Deathly Swallows." The cartoon was meant to satirize author J.K. Rowling's revelation last month that Dumbledore was gay. An editorial published by the Flyer News apologized after the paper received sharp criticism.

"From our staff to the UD community, we would like to sincerely apologize to anyone we may have offended. Our lack of judgment in this case is now obvious. We meant no disrespect and meant nor harm. At Flyer News we continually strive to be a publication that accepts and includes everyone. Furthermore, it is not our mission whatsoever to make anyone feel unwanted or unloved here on campus."

Some of the letters to the editor denouncing the cartoon are here and here and here.

Campus minister Emily Strand complained to the newspaper's faculty advisers and called the cartoon absolutely tasteless.

"I'm all for the First Amendment, but that's not the issue here; we could print the F-word all over a page and call it an article, but we don't for reasons that are obvious. It's not about whether we can print something, but whether we should if we with to be consistent with our Catholic and Marianist identity. (Not to even mention your cartoon was not even witty.)"

Ohio's New Anti-Bullying Law: Christian Right Says It Opens Schools To Gay Activists

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Nothing is much meaner than schoolyard bullies, the apprentice thugs who pick on kids because they are bigger or older. But some Christian right zealots -- the same people who consider the Harry Potter books a form of witchcraft -- have launched a campaign this month aimed at Ohio's public school districts. The goal: Portay anti-bullying efforts as anti-Christian brainwashing because religious people disapprove of homosexuality.

Throughout the coming school year, local boards of eduction across Ohio will begin enacting anti-bullying policies compelled by HB 276, enacted during the last legislative session. The measure was designed to reduce the numbers of schoolyard meanies, including those who pick on kids by using hateful words . Indeed, sticks and stones can break bones. But names can also cause trauma.

Linda Harvey of Columbus, who runs an Ohio organization called MissionAmerica, is urging Christians to stop school boards from putting measures in effect that include gays and lesbians as students who should not be slurred or preyed upon by bullies. She says the "homosexual activists" will be out in force.

"They want to insert language in local districts that was kept out at the state level, adding specific categories about incidents of bullying, including ones for 'sexual orientation' and for 'gender identity.' Why? By adding such categories, any bullying incident over homosexuality becomes a rationale for advocates to stigmatize all disapproval of homosexual behavior as the cause of such bullying."

She adds:

"Next come the social engineering programs recommended to solve this supposed attitude problems, ranging from establishing 'gay' clubs for students, to peer 'watchdog' programs training kids even as young as middle school to report so-called 'homophobe slurs' on the part of their classmates. I am not kidding."

So, is it okay to use a slur? Shouldn't a kid who calls another a f-ggot be counseled that such language is not fit for home, hearth or a public school playground in Ohio. Harvey contends the"f" word and its ilk are not improper because she knows of no evidence "that people are born homosexual.' She says that counseling students who use anti-gay slurs would be unfair and harmful.

"It's a type of discrimination, and it further normalizes the immoral and high-risk homosexual lifestyle."

Her commentary appears in this month's CitizenUSA, a newspaper that is distributed in evangelical churches across Southern Ohio. And there is information of MissionAmerica's other goals on its Internet portal, including some interesting reading about Harry Potter as a helpmate of Satan.