intolerances (help)

[Unregistered]

As a freshman student (15 yo) that goes to a vocational school that specializes in science, it is very hard to be a republican christian (creationist). Most kids at my school believe in evolution and the big bang, and i dont. There strong opposition to any existence of another being is eating at me. People at my school know that i am a christian. I cant even stress how many times Ive been made fun of for thinking porn and masturbation is immoral, or thinking that contraception is wrong. Truth be told. I got into an incident, in which i told a homosexual kid that i was going to "murder" him. Where i come from, the term "murder" is widely used as a joke. However, i understand that what i said was not at all acceptable and take full responsibility for it. After making those remarks, most of my grade turned against me. I was the butt of many jokes, after receiving a 5 day suspension for my actions. However, the kids that make fun of me every day for my religion, do not get any sort of punishment for their wrongdoings. I have found myself down in the dumps, searching for an answer to this injustice. It just seems that today's society is completely against me. Im running out of options. Because my parents are well off, I have sought a therapist that i can bounce my ideas off of. None of this seems to help. It just seems that my school was very quick to enact a punishment against me for "attacking" a homosexual, and they do not even care about the religious intolerance that i face every single day. I want to maintain my faith and ideals because i refuse to be oppressed or to conform. I think i really just need some help/guidance/advice so i can weather the storm that i am currently going through.

[2NDFLOOR]

I am sorry to hear that you are going through this. It seems like you are in a very difficult situation right now. However, I am glad that you take full responsibilty for what you said and understand the wrong in it. It sounds like what is happening to you could be bullying and your school has to take more responsibility in handling this correctly. This is the Harrassment, Intimidation, and Bullying law that is in many states:

"Harassment, intimidation or bullying" means any gesture or written, verbal or physical act that is reasonably perceived as being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory handicap, or by any other distinguishing characteristic, that takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function or on a school bus and that:

a. a reasonable person should know, under the circumstances, will have the effect of harming a student or damaging the student's property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to his person or damage to his property; or

b. has the effect of insulting or demeaning any student or group of students in such a way as to cause substantial disruption in, or substantial interference with, the orderly operation of the school.

I would explain this to your parents and have them contact the school right away because there is no reason why you should get reprimanded for your behavior and not the other students. You definitely have a right to your beliefs and are being bullied for them. I am not sure where you are from, but you can google "Harrassment, Intimidation, and Bullying" in your state to find out more information. You can also call us here at the "2NDFLOOR Youth Helpline" for more assistance at 888-222-2228. We are here 24/7.