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Iowa High School Students Bombarded with Anti-Gay, Pro-Life Messages

Posted by on Mar 9, 2012 in Oh Hell No! | 15 comments

The Price of doing stuff like this is that the world finds out you're all just a bunch of jerks.

Last night, I was alerted to the 10 o’clock local news. A report was airing talking about the superintendent of an Iowa high school apologizing for an earlier assembly. As I listened, I couldn’t believe what came next.

Apparently the superintendent invited a rock band, representing  Christian youth ministry “You Can Run, But You Cannot Hide,” to talk to the kids about usual high school stuff: The dangers of provocative lyrics, saying no to drugs, condemning the LGBT community and showing you what an aborted fetus looks like. You know, normal stuff.

Everyone anticipated the message from Junkyard Prophet, a traveling band based in Minnesota, to be about bullying and making good choices. Instead, junior and senior high students at Dunkerton High School and faculty members said they were assaulted by the group’s extreme opinions on homosexuality and images of aborted fetuses.

“They told my daughter, the girls, that they were going to have mud on their wedding dresses if they weren’t virgins,” said Jennifer Littlefield, a parent upset with the band’s performance.

Littlefield also did not appreciate what she described as gay bashing.

“They told these kids that anyone who was gay was going to die at the age of 42,” she said. “It just blows me away that no one stopped this.”

Junkyard Prophet in all its glory (or lack thereof). Perhaps the lead singer is just upset that he lost an Axl Rose lookalike contest?

As if that wasn’t bad enough, they then split the room into three groups–boys, girls and teachers–and starting soliciting their extreme views in other areas, including drugs, women assuming a submissive role, and the U.S. Constitution.

During the breakout session, the young men learned the group’s thoughts on the U.S. Constitution and what one Prophet referred to as its “10 commandments.” The leader also showed images of musicians who died because of drug overdoses, including Elvis Presley.

Members of the group blasted other performers, like Toby Keith, for their improper influence.

The girls, meanwhile, were told to save themselves for their husbands and assume a submissive role in the household. According to witnesses, the leader in that effort also forced the young ladies to chant a manta [sic] of sorts about remaining pure.

Those who walked out or attempted to confront the speakers were shouted down or ridiculed as disrespectful, according to students.

I can’t think of anything more damaging or dangerous than a group, under the guise of good intentions, going into a high school and telling students that anyone who is gay is going to die when they’re 42.

Many of those same kids could be getting bullied for being gay or being perceived as gay right now, and this does absolutely nothing to help the situation. It’s disturbing and vulgar, to say the least.

The superintendent was apparently mortified, and had no idea what this group represented. He said that he had contacted other schools in the area and heard nothing but good things said about the band. As a resident of this state, I sure hope that’s not indicative of Iowa being A-OK with this stuff.

Also, should come as no surprise, but Michele Bachmann has supported this radical band and its Christian youth ministry. Keep it classy, Bachmann.

(via KCRG)