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Bible quotes about gays in SLO teacher’s letter cause outrage

May 11, 2017

A letter to the editor written by a San Luis Obispo High School special education teacher and published by the school’s student news site has prompted outrage on the Central Coast over alleged shaming of the LGBT community.

The letter penned by Michael Stack quotes a bible passage that states sinful, wicked people commit a variety of sins, including gay sex, and that they deserve to die. Stack wrote the letter to the editor in response to an edition of the student newspaper Expressions that was devoted to LGBT issues. A photo of two girls kissing appeared on the cover of the LGBT edition of the paper.

Stack did not explicitly state in his letter that homosexuals deserve to die, and he concluded by wishing that “those who have stumbled” return to “the right path.”

Nevertheless, The SLO Tribune published a headline stating, “Gay people ‘deserve to die,’ SLO High teacher’s letter to student newspaper says.”

San Luis Obispo Mayor Heidi Harmon said in a post on her Facebook page Wednesday that the letter “is unacceptable” and that community members should share their concerns with the San Luis Coastal school board and the SLO High administration.

“A teacher at SLO High wrote this shaming letter against the LGBT community — a community that already has a high degree of suicide,” Harmon wrote.

In the letter, Stack stated he believes the bible is 100 percent accurate and that, out of obedience to God, he requests that everyone read Romans, Chapter 1, verses 16-32. The majority of the letter then went on to quote the bible passage.

“Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other,” one section of the passage states. “And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.”

After listing more sins, such as greed, hate, murder, deception, gossip, disobeying parents and having no mercy, the Romans, Chapter 1 passage states, ““They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway.”

Following the bible passage, Stack concluded the letter by stating:

“I write you these things in order to lift up those who have stumbled, or may stumble, and put you back on the right path.

“I pray you each have a great summer, a wonderful life and a perfect eternity.”

Though faced with pressure, the San Luis Coastal school district opted not to censor the publication, arguing Stack was within his First Amendment rights to author the letter and the student journalists were likewise free to publish it. The letter remains on the SLO High Student newspaper website.

The letter in its entirety:

Dear Editor,

I love the staff and students at SLOHS. My students know that. But I love God more, so in obedience to Him, I am writing this letter.

Without divine intervention it would be mathematically impossible to write a book filled with hundreds of predictions over thousands of years with 100% accuracy regarding their fulfillment, yet the Bible has done exactly that, with just a few prophecies yet to be fulfilled. Therefore, I have faith that the entire Bible is without error.

The Bible tells us  that we are all accountable for our actions, and that teachers are especially accountable. I’m a teacher, and I don’t want to displease God any more than I already have with my sinful life, so in obedience to Him, I’m asking you to please slowly read and consider the following excerpt from the book of Romans, Chapter 1, verses 16-32, in the New Testament. It describes a deception that has happened in the past, and is happening again right now, not only at SLOHS, but  throughout the world:

“For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes – the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in His sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

But God shows His anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because He has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship Him as God or even give Him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and shameful things with each other’s bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the creator Himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.

Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, He abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them too.”

I write you these things in order to lift up those who have stumbled, or may stumble, and put you back on the right path.

I pray you each have a great summer, a wonderful life, and a perfect eternity.

Love,

SLOHS Teacher Michael Stack


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I just saw that Stack resigned and that he got a death threat.


I wonder who the hero who threatened his life is? I’ll be Heidi Harmon and the local media won’t demand this person’s head on a platter.


The Tribune posted a photo with the caption: “An estimated 60 people showed up to protest teacher Michael Stack in front of San Luis Obispo High School on Thursday, May 11, 2017.”


The population of SLO County is 283,000 people! The caption of the photo should have read: A tiny, insignificant percentage of local residents got their picture taken standing in front of the school. Our newspaper decided to post that photo and report that “The community was outraged,” in order to get Mr. Stack fired and intimidate other teachers.


Mr. Stack….I wish you didn’t resign!


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He was going to retire in June anyway! He had a family to protect and the death threats need to be taken seriously because the Democrats have gone insane with all the special fascists agendas. Divide and control as taught by EX- President Barrack Hussin Obama! Lesson well learned…


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Settle down slobird, dont let the little birds in your head guide your life!


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If the school district doesn’t have a problem with Mr. Stack’s letter being published in the school newspaper and the editorial staff at the paper chose to print it, I don’t see what all the fuss is over.


There is no Constitutional right to free speech or freedom of expression at work. However, if Mr. Stack wrote the letter on his own time and submitted it as any other citizen would, then the school district probably made the right call.


As long as Mr. Stack treats his students equally and respectfully while adhering to the schools curriculum I don’t see why anyone should be upset about his personal views expressed in a letter.


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Parent of a student iin the school district here. Absolutely excited that free speech was observed. Excited that consequences of freely speaking will be administered. He spoke freely, was not censored. The consequences of his abhorrent opinions are that the majority of fair minded people do not want their children anywhere near this person. Hit the bricks and thanks for letting us know how you feel.


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Gordo:


1. Exactly. If we’re going to crucify someone it should be the people who published Stack’s free speech thus making it public. Until they put it in the school newspaper, Stacks’s letter was private correspondence. The students who published it should be expelled from school and the teacher who supervised the newspaper should be fired and possibly jailed for Hate Pre-crime! (if we punish pre-crime we can reduce actual crime….theoretically)


2. There is no “Constitutional” right to anything. Our rights belong to us because we’re individuals. The Constitution doesn’t grant us rights! No, The Constitution recognizes that we are born with rights and it LIMITS THE GOVERNMENTS ABILITY TO INFRINGE ON OUR RIGHTS. The misunderstanding of this basic, fundamental principle is at the root of most of our problems.


3. If Mr. Stack was a practicing witch, or a Muslim, or an atheist the media would not be attempting to start a fight.


Hopefully this is all forgotten, Stack keeps his job and we can find some other poor soul to publicly execute for not wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day, or driving a car that isn’t a hybrid, or asking questions about the safety of vaccines or some other crime.


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The response from the district superintendent and the SLOHS principal are far, far more encouraging than the alarmist vitriol spewed by the Tribune and Heidi Harmon:


https://docs.google.com/gview?url=http://KSBY.images.worldnow.com/library/94ca88c8-e5f6-4109-9e3a-f6a50439d286.pdf&embedded=true


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I wonder how SLOHS instructor and SLOHS Expressions editor-in-chief Mr. Scott Nairne is being treated over the publication of this article?


Is the exceedingly liberal Nairne being vilified by Heidi Harmon and the Tribune for allowing this letter to the editor to go to print, or is he being lionized for providing an atmosphere where the First Amendment and dissenting views are tolerated and possibly even welcomed?


Did Mr. Nairne green light the printing of Stack’s letter in the hopes of galvanizing support for the homosexual community or was his intent positive and above board? I would really like to know the answers to these questions.


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Bible quotes encourage local media effort to foment outrage.


That’s how the headline should have read. Lot’s of people say lots of outrageous things. Big Deal!


The only kind of Free Speech that matters is the unpleasant kind that people don’t agree with. Even in North Korea they can talk about the weather.


No one is outraged over this, despite the media’s attempt to gin up interest and start a fight….maybe get someone fired.


Here’s the message every kids needs to hear:


Little Johnny, you can be anything you want to be if you just put your mind to it! President, a soldier, a doctor, a fireman, an astronaut, gay, straight….anything you want! Except a Christian. You can’t be that, Johnny.


You can say anything you want, Johnny! You deserve to be heard and your opinions are just as valid as anyone else’s! Don’t ever let anyone tell you what to think. Don’t ever let anyone silence you or get you to stop believing in yourself! You’re special, Johnny…..just like everyone else.


Except you can’t say anything from the Bible and any opinions you derive from the Bible are horrible. You can say anything you want, unless it’s from the Bible. You’re no longer a special, unique, beautiful person if you believe the Bible, Johnny.


As usual, this post is dripping in sarcasm as it is the only proper literary tool to employ when such BS is flowing.


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“…No one is outraged over this, despite the media’s attempt to gin up interest and start a fight….maybe get someone fired…”


AND Heidi Harmon’s attempt…


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Loved this post and the sarcasm was spot on! Good job…


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I have to wonder if those in the SLOHA Expressions editorial chain included Stark’s letter to the editor simply because they knew the outrage it would cause in some circles and the resulting increase in support of homosexual activism?


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The interpretations/extrapolations of what Michael Stack actually wrote by The Tribune and Heidi Harmon are irresponsible and calumnious. Shame on them both.


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After putting myself through the labor of reading all your comments, I think you all sound quite silly. You all don’t have to keep screaming about free speech. Stack spoke freely, the school district printed it and kept it in their publication, and some people were upset about it and spoke about that too. The system works!


Christians: if you truly are the majority then stop being so offended when you get questioned about your beliefs. Don’t dish it out if you can’t take it.


Anti-religious folk: you don’t have to be so dismissive. I actually fall on your side of the debate but insulting your neighbors isn’t endearing.


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“Christians: if you truly are the majority then stop being so offended when you get questioned about your beliefs. Don’t dish it out if you can’t take it.”


There is a world of difference between being QUESTIONED versus being CONDEMNED Questioning is fine. Condemnation is not, hence the whiplash.


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Here is the problem with your unreasoning: • Each episode of LGBT victimization, such as physical or verbal harassment or abuse, increases the likelihood of self-harming behavior by 2.5 times on average. [6]

IMPACT. (2010). Mental health disorders, psychological distress, and suicidality in a diverse sample of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youths. American Journal of Public Health. 100(12), 2426-32.


Stack is allowed to say what he wants.But he is in a position of power at the school and he is harassing that population. According to HIS god. Will he be held accountable? A Homophobic, religious fanatic adult should not be proselytizing to a highly vulnerable population. It is hate speech and should be condemned. So condemn it Unreason or own it.


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If these kids had supportive parents, teachers, socialized with other associated like minded people for support, attended gay social groups at GALA, their churches, etc. stayed off drugs and alcohol they would be able to handle this. It is a part of life that we have all survived! I had a tough time in school because of my heritage but thanks to my grandma and family, I learned how to overcome and it and eventually was accepted. It’s life!


I think what makes a lot of people angry is when we have to change our life, our believes to accommdate other people’s belief agenda.


I am mad that Oregon just passed a law that states you don’t have to declare your gender. You get to put an “X” under gender which means this liberal State of California will be doing it too! If you don’t know your gender, well, I just don’t know what to say! You only have two options and why is it so hard to figure that out. You can love who you want, dress the way you want, but, you still only two choices. Geez!


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Can you explain why the gender that some random stranger picks for themselves makes you so angry? You said you had a tough time at school because of your heritage, but you must have been teased, picked on, and beaten up pretty bad if you are still harboring so much latent anger that you want to direct it towards things that have absolutely no effect on your life like what gender someone else selects on a form.


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They effect all of our lives why else would there be so much scuttlebutt over LGBT, Q? rights and matters. Do as you please, dress as you please, if you can handle others asking why or how then maybe you better consider your ways. With regard to making X for sex, if you cant figure that out then you need some professional help finding yourself. If you done you might have a tough time making your way through this life. Pretty simple stuff really.

You tell the original posted they must have been beaten as a kid that’s why so much anger exists. Who is it out in force all to often anymore screaming bloody murder, calling anyone who voices their own opinion a hater, a bigot, a racist, and a neanderthal?


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Believe, I am not angry person, quite the contrary! And yes, I know my gender and have no problem with its identity. I have no problem with anyone else’s identity but I do think our law enforcement personnel, second respondents, hospitals, doctors, insurance companies and I can think of so many other examples probably do. I do not want to hear one story about someone in a situation, especially a jail, being put in the wrong place because of their gender and complaining about any personal issues when they don’t know their gender. Insanity has its consequences so go for it…


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Is Stack using his position to harass students? Is he proselytizing as a teacher? If so, I agree. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have First Amendment rights outside the classroom to speak his mind even if it does show a lack of critical thinking ability.


I tend to agree with UnReasoned here.


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Two quick notes.


The person on right in that provocative cover shot is dressed in a manner that is forbidden (bared midriff) by the SLOHS dress code. Why would such an image be used on the cover of a school publication?


Apparently this is a special homosexual edition of “SLOHS Expressions.” Are there special editions for those with faith in God and/or those that profess their heterosexuality (are they even allowed to do so on campus)?


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