One of the most often repeated arguments against allowing gay clubs in public schools has been that homosexual sex is illegal in Utah, so the state cannot implicitly endorse something illegal by allowing the clubs to meet. Regardless of the good intentions of the students involved, and the possible benefits to be gained by fostering a little openness and understanding, the law is the law and you can't overstep it.
Fair enough.But I wonder if people aren't picking and choosing which laws they wish to obey when they decide that LDS seminary classes can be held in a public school when the seminary burns down or when graduation ceremonies for Richfield High can be held in an LDS tabernacle because of a similar disaster. The very reason students get released-time credit for seminary is so they can attend off campus, because teaching religion classes like that in public schools, is - guess what? - illegal. Neither the good intentions of the students involved nor the fact that holding a few seminary classes on campus temporarily probably won't hurt anyone, gives them the right to overstep the law. Any more than the gay kids at East High have that right, right?
How many people taking a strong "the law is the law" viewpoint on the gay clubs issue let the seminary issue slide by, "just this once?" How many people ignored the law for the Richfield High graduation since "religious overtones were not a problem" in predominantly Mormon Richfield?
Predominant majority status does not give anyone the right to step on the rights of others who may not belong to the majority group. So what if Richfield is predominately LDS and nobody objected to the graduation ceremonies at the tabernacle? The law is still the law and you can't ignore it just because everyone agrees to.
If a group of gay students at a public high school can't have a club there because it's illegal and that's that, then Mormon students at a public high school can't have their seminary classes there because it's also illegal and that's that.
Scott Van Tussenbrook
Centerville