I don't think there are any . Like I said. There's likely not a lot of them. Also due to the fact stuff like labels and mental health isn't really categorised right here. It's prone to lead to a misunderstanding.
If there are more than about 40 people in a space, group, organisation… there will be at least one LGBTQ+ person.
If there are 10, there is probably 1. If it’s not safe to be out (to say publicly who you are), that won’t change how many… it just changes who has to hide.
Yep. And it’s not just safety. It’s also those supposed “values” communities are steeped in.
When my kids had a day off school recently, I took them to a nice state park (close to the city), where I noticed a bunch of mostly middle-aged men just sitting in their cars in the parking lot. Mostly alone, sometimes two to a car. Every once in a while, you could see two guys going into the woods together or returning to their respective cars.
At first, this utterly confused me, because this was 10 years after same-sex marriage had been completely legalized throughout the U.S. and even longer in our state!
Later, I talked with a police chief about this (just out of curiosity, not to get anyone in trouble) and he confirmed that this was a well-known gay hookup spot. The men who go there to have sex with anonymous other men are all married to women, he said, and deny they are gay. 🤷 Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt. (Nobody minds these guys being there, and police don’t bother them, either. I just feel bad that THEY feel they still have to hide like that.)
Attraction isn't a question of "values." Queer folks are not choosing to be queer any more than straight folks are choosing to be straight. It isn't the values of a nation that determine whether or not people are born queer in a given population. It may change how those people feel about themselves and how much of their identity they have to safeguard out of shame, fear, or both.
Respectfully, it sounds more like you want to use LGBTQ+ flags as some sort of prank than a show of any kind of underground support, which means you absolutely should not hide them around the school.
I don't know. It's kind of like vandalism. Also it's not really like I can find anyone to do it with. It's likely a few people are pro LGBTQ in the school, but they know better than to state that in public.
Even if the teachers don't care about what I put up on the wall , my classmates will. I mostly wanted to do it as a gag
If the laws don’t bar it, I I would consider wearing a pride bracelet or something instead. It’s great to know that there is support there, and it’s even more valuable to know who is supportive/safe
I mean no offence, but that would be like wearing a Nazi symbol to a Jewish neighbourhood. You don't get it. Parents have already thought their kids that gay people aren't good. I get you're trying to help, but I chose the whole flag thing because the back of the school doesn't have any cameras.
I would maybe flip that simile(!), but I understand what you mean and I don’t think you should do anything that puts you at risk.
And trust me, I get it. I proposed to my wife with loose stones because a ring would invite comments from colleagues and students. But as a gay pupil in the 90s I would have appreciated knowing which teachers were gay or allies (at the time in the UK we had section 28 which put my teachers in to a similar situation to yours)
I'm pro LGBTQ. These people are based. Here you basically spend most of your time speaking to some of the most brain-dead NPCs alive. Queer people have personality and I am on their side.
If you do, don’t tell a single person you did it and delete this post.
Wear gloves whenever handling the posters, don’t uses a public printer where the printing record can be traced back to you, know where the cameras are in the school and surrounding properties, and make sure you get rid of all the posters so if your bag gets searched there’s none that can be traced back to your possession. Also no tape or any tools in your bag that could be connected.
In short, be smart about it and make sure it can not be traced back to you.
You may think it’s funny, others would view it as an act of social political protest against the gay oppression happening in your area. Could get you in some pretty hot water so caution is advised.
But as a responsible adult aware that I’m talking to a child, I would not encourage you to do something that is illegal in your country. I doubt it would be worth the consequences.
No. That part isn't illegal. Gay " propaganda" in schools is. See , somewhere in our capital a presentation showed how to give a blowjob for some reason. There was never anything queer here. We are the only EU member where it's illegal to be trans ( gender hormonal therapy is illegal).
Your original post said it's illegal. Either way, it sounds like something that could get you in trouble, so tread carefully.
From your replies here, it seems like your motivation for doing this is really unclear.
If your goal is to show support to the LGBTQ community and/or students in your school who might not feel safe "coming out", I like the idea, but I think it could backfire.
If your goal is to play a silly prank and make a joke of the LGBTQ community, don't fucking do that.
Trust me. You haven't been there. They say it publicly. Literally just yesterday, one dude from my class said that women have no opinions and bassicaly no one from the class disagreed with him. Same with gay and autistic people. Rude shit, egos clashing, racism sometimes. Elite school btw. Bassicaly most older students I know also tell me it's shit. Trust me. Don't go here or to a Balkan school in general.
Wow, that’s nasty. Still, what you’re thinking of doing is really silly and juvenile. Sounds like you want a feeling of sticking it to the haters and somehow hiding flyers is the way to do it. Maybe just be a good friend and stand up for people when others speak poorly of them.
What do you mean “listen to you”? Telling someone something they’ve said is nasty (or whatever the Balkan equivalent would be) in support of a classmate isn’t the same as issuing a command that you expect to be obeyed. You aren’t responsible for managing the reactions of other people. Sorry buddy, you’re losing me.
No. I just mean that I am doing this without support, because no one will publicly support this. It will not generate some massive counter movement. It's meant to send a message.
Guessed so. But still, people hide drugs here and don't get in trouble. People smoke Infront of it - nothing. If this gets me in trouble, that's my defence.
You’re a teacher. Leave your beliefs at the door and teach the kids to your best ability. Please don’t let politics cloud your judgement. It’s about the kids. Full stop.
That’s a whole other conversation. This one is about a teacher who’s putting their job at risk over a stupid prank not even to prove a point. Just being petty
Right right. I need a mask. They also can't kick me out.
Some of my classmates were systematically bullying a black kid last year In our class and they only got off with a visit to the psychiatrist and maybe getting grounded for a bit. If they remove for that, that's bad PR.
I end on June 31st. So yes I will just be doing medium trolling.. probably on the back wall next to the football field. If this even gets one of our classes interrupted for a speech about propaganda, I have done my job well to make them very angry.
Since it's Balkan, I'd say don't do it if there's any chance of you getting caught and prosecuted for it. If you do it, make sure it can't be traced back to you. That includes not getting your fingerprints on them and making sure you locate all security cameras first if at all possible.
Honestly you probably wouldn't get in trouble for that to be honest especially if you're in like a northern state if you're in a southern state I don't know but like if you did then Michigan where I'm from like your set
If you're doing this "gag" as a means of raising awareness or opposing the anti-gay policies, that's one thing. If you're doing it just to be funny, that's another. If t's the latter, don't do it: it's not funny. If it's the former, ask acheiving your goal.yourself if this is the best means of
Instead of actual flags, what about stealth flags? Those are items that have the colors (often in flag order), but aren't necessarily obvious to anyone "in the know".
You would accomplish nothing whatsoever and would put yourself at great risk. Social media, hidden cameras, etc. are easy to track. Based on what you’ve said, rude or immoral is not the issue. “Thinking it’s funny” isn’t a reason for doing something you know to be considered illegal. Just because other people don’t get in trouble for doing something similar, doesn’t mean you won’t. The risk is not worth it. Anyone encouraging you to do this, is not the one who will suffer whatever consequences might come of it. Just you. And your family, possibly.
As a gay teacher, no. You'd be bringing down extra hostility, suspicion, and witchhunting down on your gay colleagues and students. Leave us alone. If you want to protest, have the courage to do it openly instead of bringing crap down on the gays and allies.
Why would you do something you, yourself consider rude or immoral. What are you trying to prove. Are you doing it to poke people. Also consider the law of unintended consequences. What you’re going to do is make people think, “oh, it’s those people again. They are so rude and immoral.”
Way funny, maybe. Way helpful to the cause, maybe not so much.
You guys dont seem to striaght pride flag also isnt homophobic even though lots of homophobes use it and ruin it for us whom still want to be happy and fear. When I see the flag sometimes it makes me feel like I am not welcomed even though I am not homophobic
Im not sure to be honest Im autstic and kinda just feels like some of the pride stuff though I am 99% unintentional comes across as a striaght is bad and boring and cant be happy. hard to describe
The hill I would like to die on is one where everyone is equal. I have seen a lot of bigotry here . Half of the shit said in my class alone is considered hate speech in some countries
Only real problem is that that would literally just affect my existence worse. But it would make news atleast. Also , this is Bulgaria, it's not really the most fair country and I have switched my opinion on the LGBTQ community a lot in the past months.
Illegal? Apparently so, given the law you mentioned. Immoral? I don’t see how.
Still, you’d want to ask yourself the question of what such an action could possibly accomplish.
Would it show queer students or staff that they’re not alone? Great!
Would it only prompt retaliation and greater oppression? Not so great.
Good luck!
I don't think there are any . Like I said. There's likely not a lot of them. Also due to the fact stuff like labels and mental health isn't really categorised right here. It's prone to lead to a misunderstanding.
If there are more than about 40 people in a space, group, organisation… there will be at least one LGBTQ+ person.
If there are 10, there is probably 1. If it’s not safe to be out (to say publicly who you are), that won’t change how many… it just changes who has to hide.
This is Bulgaria. People here are thought differently. Traditional values.
Oh, I understand - but they still exist. The rates of being LGBTQ+ don’t change based on whether it’s safe to be out or not…
Yep. And it’s not just safety. It’s also those supposed “values” communities are steeped in.
When my kids had a day off school recently, I took them to a nice state park (close to the city), where I noticed a bunch of mostly middle-aged men just sitting in their cars in the parking lot. Mostly alone, sometimes two to a car. Every once in a while, you could see two guys going into the woods together or returning to their respective cars.
At first, this utterly confused me, because this was 10 years after same-sex marriage had been completely legalized throughout the U.S. and even longer in our state!
Later, I talked with a police chief about this (just out of curiosity, not to get anyone in trouble) and he confirmed that this was a well-known gay hookup spot. The men who go there to have sex with anonymous other men are all married to women, he said, and deny they are gay. 🤷 Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt. (Nobody minds these guys being there, and police don’t bother them, either. I just feel bad that THEY feel they still have to hide like that.)
Attraction isn't a question of "values." Queer folks are not choosing to be queer any more than straight folks are choosing to be straight. It isn't the values of a nation that determine whether or not people are born queer in a given population. It may change how those people feel about themselves and how much of their identity they have to safeguard out of shame, fear, or both.
Respectfully, it sounds more like you want to use LGBTQ+ flags as some sort of prank than a show of any kind of underground support, which means you absolutely should not hide them around the school.
Why is it immoral
I don't know. It's kind of like vandalism. Also it's not really like I can find anyone to do it with. It's likely a few people are pro LGBTQ in the school, but they know better than to state that in public.
Even if the teachers don't care about what I put up on the wall , my classmates will. I mostly wanted to do it as a gag
If the laws don’t bar it, I I would consider wearing a pride bracelet or something instead. It’s great to know that there is support there, and it’s even more valuable to know who is supportive/safe
I mean no offence, but that would be like wearing a Nazi symbol to a Jewish neighbourhood. You don't get it. Parents have already thought their kids that gay people aren't good. I get you're trying to help, but I chose the whole flag thing because the back of the school doesn't have any cameras.
I would maybe flip that simile(!), but I understand what you mean and I don’t think you should do anything that puts you at risk.
And trust me, I get it. I proposed to my wife with loose stones because a ring would invite comments from colleagues and students. But as a gay pupil in the 90s I would have appreciated knowing which teachers were gay or allies (at the time in the UK we had section 28 which put my teachers in to a similar situation to yours)
If you are pro-LGBTQ, it is a good thing to do and will give people courage. If you are not pro-LGBTQ, it is an unkind thing to do, so do not do it.
I'm pro LGBTQ. These people are based. Here you basically spend most of your time speaking to some of the most brain-dead NPCs alive. Queer people have personality and I am on their side.
Go in peace, my child :)
If you are a teacher or employee, it is a fireable offense; if this is a student- go for it!
Or you could just let people live their lives as normal
If you do, don’t tell a single person you did it and delete this post. Wear gloves whenever handling the posters, don’t uses a public printer where the printing record can be traced back to you, know where the cameras are in the school and surrounding properties, and make sure you get rid of all the posters so if your bag gets searched there’s none that can be traced back to your possession. Also no tape or any tools in your bag that could be connected.
In short, be smart about it and make sure it can not be traced back to you.
You may think it’s funny, others would view it as an act of social political protest against the gay oppression happening in your area. Could get you in some pretty hot water so caution is advised.
Thanks for the guide. Now all I need is a colour printer.
Sounds like a peaceful protest to me. I say go for it, and protect yourself like the gentleman said before me.
As a gay person, I support it 🤷♀️
But as a responsible adult aware that I’m talking to a child, I would not encourage you to do something that is illegal in your country. I doubt it would be worth the consequences.
No. That part isn't illegal. Gay " propaganda" in schools is. See , somewhere in our capital a presentation showed how to give a blowjob for some reason. There was never anything queer here. We are the only EU member where it's illegal to be trans ( gender hormonal therapy is illegal).
Your original post said it's illegal. Either way, it sounds like something that could get you in trouble, so tread carefully.
From your replies here, it seems like your motivation for doing this is really unclear.
If your goal is to show support to the LGBTQ community and/or students in your school who might not feel safe "coming out", I like the idea, but I think it could backfire.
If your goal is to play a silly prank and make a joke of the LGBTQ community, don't fucking do that.
How do you know anyone hates anyone?
Trust me. You haven't been there. They say it publicly. Literally just yesterday, one dude from my class said that women have no opinions and bassicaly no one from the class disagreed with him. Same with gay and autistic people. Rude shit, egos clashing, racism sometimes. Elite school btw. Bassicaly most older students I know also tell me it's shit. Trust me. Don't go here or to a Balkan school in general.
Wow, that’s nasty. Still, what you’re thinking of doing is really silly and juvenile. Sounds like you want a feeling of sticking it to the haters and somehow hiding flyers is the way to do it. Maybe just be a good friend and stand up for people when others speak poorly of them.
See , that would be my voice ( a person who bassicaly never speaks ) vs a person who actually knows people in the school.
I don’t know what this means.
Bassicaly, I'm kind of a nobody. Which in my current book is fine.
I’m sorry I don’t understand what you’re using that as an excuse for.
Who will listen to me of all people ?
What do you mean “listen to you”? Telling someone something they’ve said is nasty (or whatever the Balkan equivalent would be) in support of a classmate isn’t the same as issuing a command that you expect to be obeyed. You aren’t responsible for managing the reactions of other people. Sorry buddy, you’re losing me.
No. I just mean that I am doing this without support, because no one will publicly support this. It will not generate some massive counter movement. It's meant to send a message.
I don't think there's enough room in any school for all of those different flags
I don’t think it’s immoral or illegal but I’m not sure what it would accomplish.
I think the prank would be ill-advised. There is absolutely nothing to gain, but certain punishment and ridicule to follow.
My other idea was toilet paper, but I can't throw it 5 stories up
That's just straight up vandalism. Don't do that.
I think it's more "littering" than "vandalism," but your point holds.
Nope. Would not recommend
Guessed so. But still, people hide drugs here and don't get in trouble. People smoke Infront of it - nothing. If this gets me in trouble, that's my defence.
It might be illegal but it is certainly not immoral.
You’re a teacher. Leave your beliefs at the door and teach the kids to your best ability. Please don’t let politics cloud your judgement. It’s about the kids. Full stop.
What about the queer kids who are being stifled and harmed by politics?
That’s a whole other conversation. This one is about a teacher who’s putting their job at risk over a stupid prank not even to prove a point. Just being petty
I guess if you believe in this more than you like your job its a risk worth taking.
I'm a student.
That being said, if you value this cause over your attendance at that institution...
Right right. I need a mask. They also can't kick me out.
Some of my classmates were systematically bullying a black kid last year In our class and they only got off with a visit to the psychiatrist and maybe getting grounded for a bit. If they remove for that, that's bad PR.
I'm guessing nobody is worried about PR. Revolutions start in the smallest ways and educational institutions are a breeding ground. Best of luck.
Isn't pride month in June?
Yes. Why ?
Are your classes in session then? Most schools near me are out by the end of May.
I end on June 31st. So yes I will just be doing medium trolling.. probably on the back wall next to the football field. If this even gets one of our classes interrupted for a speech about propaganda, I have done my job well to make them very angry.
Be careful.
Sorry just saw you are in the Balkans.
Since it's Balkan, I'd say don't do it if there's any chance of you getting caught and prosecuted for it. If you do it, make sure it can't be traced back to you. That includes not getting your fingerprints on them and making sure you locate all security cameras first if at all possible.
It's not immoral, but it sounds like you'd be taking a personal risk if it's actively illegal in your country.
What are the penalties if you get caught?
Only if you are ok with losing your job and never being a teacher again
I wouldn't risk your job over this
Does your school have cameras? This post is traceable to you. It’s possible it could really blow up if people decide to be pissed enough
Not saying you shouldn’t do something like that. We just have to be more careful than we were before
I'm going to go look around tomorrow. I'm going to have to get to work quickly
Honestly you probably wouldn't get in trouble for that to be honest especially if you're in like a northern state if you're in a southern state I don't know but like if you did then Michigan where I'm from like your set
Surely there's cameras in the school?
If you're doing this "gag" as a means of raising awareness or opposing the anti-gay policies, that's one thing. If you're doing it just to be funny, that's another. If t's the latter, don't do it: it's not funny. If it's the former, ask acheiving your goal.yourself if this is the best means of
Instead of actual flags, what about stealth flags? Those are items that have the colors (often in flag order), but aren't necessarily obvious to anyone "in the know".
Definitely not immoral, but there are better outlets for civil disobedience than getting fired and possibly arrested.
"Rude and immoral" is a funny way to say "Radical and awesome".
Find a way to strategically support LGBTQ rights.
I’m not sure planting random propaganda is the move. Is it more likely to draw negative attention? Is it likely to help LGBTQ teens feel safer?
Where are you located..... Like the country?
US? Sure absolutely nothing legal will be done about it.... Detention or day suspension maybe if it's school policy.....
Use painters tape and print outs and that's not vandalism.... But could be against rules.....
If you are not in the US I'd say it depends on where you are... There are a few Balkin states.... Different laws
Why are you being so extra
Are you willing to ‘fess up when the gay community starts taking the heat because of your ill-thought out prank?
Please do. Hopefully you are caught on camera and unceremoniously terminated.
Or you could just focus on teaching and not activism. I would never in a million years pull some political shit at work.
You would accomplish nothing whatsoever and would put yourself at great risk. Social media, hidden cameras, etc. are easy to track. Based on what you’ve said, rude or immoral is not the issue. “Thinking it’s funny” isn’t a reason for doing something you know to be considered illegal. Just because other people don’t get in trouble for doing something similar, doesn’t mean you won’t. The risk is not worth it. Anyone encouraging you to do this, is not the one who will suffer whatever consequences might come of it. Just you. And your family, possibly.
As a gay teacher, no. You'd be bringing down extra hostility, suspicion, and witchhunting down on your gay colleagues and students. Leave us alone. If you want to protest, have the courage to do it openly instead of bringing crap down on the gays and allies.
Do it, fight the power, stick it to the man anyway you can!
Why would you do something you, yourself consider rude or immoral. What are you trying to prove. Are you doing it to poke people. Also consider the law of unintended consequences. What you’re going to do is make people think, “oh, it’s those people again. They are so rude and immoral.”
Way funny, maybe. Way helpful to the cause, maybe not so much.
Immoral? Bullshit. Do it!
Sounds like you need to be fired.
Hmmm. How do you feel when you find a Christian “tract” or booklet placed everywhere? Does that “work”?
Why would these two things be comparable?
Spend some time in r/vexillology and mix in 50:50 with random countries and historical movements for an educational scavenger hunt!
Find an actual protest and join it outside of the school.
They aren't your kids, and pushing your beliefs on them while they are captive to you is a breach of trust with their parents.
If teachers could indoctrinate kids so easily they'd start with getting them to behave in class and study. No one's starting the revolution. lol
This is literally what teachers do.
Pushing what beliefs? Can you be more specific? I don’t think the flag means what you think it does…..
Pretending to be stupid in order to start an argument?
No argument, I’m genuinely curious what beliefs it’s pushing?
You guys dont seem to striaght pride flag also isnt homophobic even though lots of homophobes use it and ruin it for us whom still want to be happy and fear. When I see the flag sometimes it makes me feel like I am not welcomed even though I am not homophobic
Why does it make you feel that way? Edit: I don’t have a counter argument I am just interested in your personal opinion
Im not sure to be honest Im autstic and kinda just feels like some of the pride stuff though I am 99% unintentional comes across as a striaght is bad and boring and cant be happy. hard to describe
Honest question: why do schools have LGBTQ flags up at all?
It is not immoral. The flags may make people angry, but they will hurt no one and they will not be difficult to dispose of
Uh yeah don’t do that. Why is this the hill you want to die on? You can be a nice person without saluting to all these fake flags.
The hill I would like to die on is one where everyone is equal. I have seen a lot of bigotry here . Half of the shit said in my class alone is considered hate speech in some countries
If you call people terrible bigots for long enough, they become them. And yeah the 1st amendment applies in classrooms as well.
The OP is from a Baltic state, they don't have protection like that necessarily. The OP is not American.
balkan* they said bulgaria, which actually doesn't have an amazing track record for human rights / speech "against the government"
How is it Rude or immoral?
It’s not immoral. And you’re not actually damaging anything. I think it’s perfect.
This seems like an excellent prank in the tradition of political teenager pranks dating back to the 60s. Honor tradition!
(When I was 15 I printed up flyers for the "Young Fascists Club" with the meeting place/time the same as the Young Republicans Club.)
Do it and Don’t hide it. Make a stand.
You shouldn't ask on the Internet for morals, you should see what Jesus Christ said about morals.
He even loves his enemies!
I’m don’t know if I can post here bc I’m not a teacher, but I support this 100%.
Do it.
john lewis: good trouble
Yes
Do it
A simple act of Chaotic good and let the hateful folks tell on themselves.
Only real problem is that that would literally just affect my existence worse. But it would make news atleast. Also , this is Bulgaria, it's not really the most fair country and I have switched my opinion on the LGBTQ community a lot in the past months.