When her daughter, Kayla, turned 15 in late December, Kimberly Alford decided to organize a small gathering of friends and family at her favourite Louisville restaurant.
She asked a local bakery for the most colourful cake on their menu – a fun way to celebrate this important life event. Someone snapped a picture and posted it on social media.
Unbeknownst to Alford, this seemingly innocuous series of events would lead to her daughter getting expelled from Whitefield Academy, a private Christian school in Kentucky. The reason? By posing with a rainbow cake (and wearing a rainbow sweater) the teen was advocating for LGBT causes – or so administrators allege – which is apparently a violation of Whitefield’s code of conduct.
The school demands adherence to Biblical teachings about morality, and Kayla’s “infraction” was deemed significant enough to merit punishment. Less than a week after the picture was posted online, Whitefield Academy sent an email with the photo attached informing the freshman she'd been expelled.
Backlash Ensues
Once news outlets picked up the story, backlash quickly spread online. Many people couldn’t believe a school that purports to represent Christian values could be so harsh in its punishment. Not only is there absolutely nothing wrong with supporting equal rights for all, they point out, but this was a birthday party that took place outside of school. Also, what do these school officials have against rainbows, anyway? A few Twitter users seized on this idea.
Ironically, Kayla apparently is not gay, nor was she trying to make any statement on morality or LGBT rights – she just likes rainbows.
“Rainbows don’t mean you’re a certain gender or certain sex or sexuality. I just feel like it's a label school officials have put on her," Alford said. "Just because I'm wearing a rainbow doesn't mean I'm gay,” she points out. “I’m not saying she’s this or that — she’s just Kayla to me. … I ordered the cake, she didn’t. She was really hurt.”
Was the Expulsion Justified?
The prevailing view online was a decisive “no.” But Whitefield officials are standing by their decision.
“The WA Administration has been made aware of a recent picture, posted on social media, which demonstrates a posture of morality and cultural acceptance contrary to that of Whitefield Academy’s beliefs,” wrote the academy’s head of school, Bruce Jacobson. “We made it clear that any further promotion, celebration or any other action and attitudes counter to Whitefield’s philosophy will not be tolerated.”
Jacobson insists that all parents “know upfront that we ask the students to adhere to a lifestyle informed by our Christian beliefs.” Indeed, the parent/student handbook notes that the school’s "biblical role is to work in conjunction with the home to mold students to be Christ-like."
"On occasion, the atmosphere or conduct within a particular home may be counter or in opposition to the biblical lifestyle the school teaches. This includes, but is not limited to, sexual immorality, homosexual orientation or the inability to support Biblical standards of right and wrong," the handbook states.
But the expulsion has left the Alford family – and many others who’ve read about the story – wondering: “who determines what’s Christ-like?” Would Jesus really want someone denied an education due to the type of clothes they wear?
Moreover, how is it even possible for a color scheme to “violate” Biblical teachings? Have Christian schools become so sensitive on LGBT rights issues that they get triggered by the mere sight of inclusionary symbols like the rainbow?
63 comments
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Yvonne
The Rainbow is the sign from god that all will be well. How can this be presumed to be wrong in any mould ?
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Angelene Moore
That's my belief also after God had Noah to build the ARK and take two of everything aboard and then God made it rain for forty days and forty nights washing everything else away. Then God said that it wouldn't happen again and His promise to us was the Rainbow. Even today when we go through the storming rain, and after the rain, I look to the sky for God's promise the Rainbow.
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Reverend Will
My question to this school is will you expell God? He used the rainbow as a sign so God must be gay too by their reasoning.
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Dr Asha Sharma
Are you all serious a cake with maulti coolers!!!! We need to join forces and stop the unjust wars focus on getting our youth back into religion that is our job as ministers. All this other stuff is a distraction we need to fight all the evil which harms our society. Let’s us send love for our fellow humans, except who they are and not judge them.
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Angelene Moore
What's missing in this article that we are reading is that she had been on probation since October for smoking e-cigarette and cutting out of school during lunch. The article didn't give a reason why she cut out of school during her lunch. For all we know, she could have been siick or not feeling well. If that be the case for her being expelled, then that should have been the reason of her expulsion and not because the cake was rainbow representing the LGBT-Q. It should have been all inclusive with the three and not the cake alone.
I have no problem with the cake because it's a great looking cake. Then if the cake was the problem, then we need to let the young bakers on food network and the adult bakers that rainbow cakes are not allowed. It's looks more like they wanted a reason to oust her out of school and used the cake rather than the other two incidents. Plus, she's in her third year at that school and has a sister that graduated from the school. Some of our schools administrators policies are getting out of hand, be it public, private, or christian schools. I don't think she should have been expell due to the cake.
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Sharmagne Leland-St. John-Sylbert
Jacob with his coat of many colours would not have made it past orientation at that school! We were born with spirituality and then man invented religion and it went downhill from there.
I hope the parents due the school and I hope they win!
I sued my daughters middle school for expelling her based on a letter I wrote to the principal and I won.
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Minister Mike
I was told decades ago, that people get angry, upset, and/or irrational at others because they see in themselves the thing(s) they are not happy with. One must wonder when the school officials will come out of the closet.
Being a christian establishment one might also wonder which ones are pedophiles and which ones just gay.
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Paul J. Fumero
Christians can be so hateful sometimes. Their behavior is su much unlike Jesus showed us. It will be their undoing.
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Reverend Will
Those AREN'T Christians. God has no place for hatred.
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Dorothy E. Cogswell
No it was not justified! How can a person call themselves a Christian if they hate a particular group?!
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Dan Anderson
This was not the only situation which caused her expulsion, apparently. Without knowing exactly what else was a problem, I cannot judge whether or not it was reasonable that she be expelled. If it were a public school, of course there would be absolutely no reason sufficient for expulsion, but private schools, if they put certain issues (like rainbows, for example) in their rules, they can do pretty much anything they want as they are not governed by US government laws and regulations.
Personally, this issue of fear about homosexuality is complete nonsense if anyone actually studied the historicity of the writings in the Bible. One would say, with exception of any Bible newer than KJV1611, 1Cor6:9-10 it does not even mention the term "homosexual" as for those not able to "enter the kingdom." So many of the passages in the Bible where people take it to be about homosexuality actually ISN'T.
Oh, isn't ignorance bliss, as long as being willingly hateful and bigoted is called "bliss".
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Yvonne
You say “this was not the only situation that caused her expulsion” Can you state the other reasons please ?
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Eric Norrbom
Smoking e-cigarettes and cutting class were the two mentioned. She will be better served by a school more reasonable about current social issues.
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Angelene Moore
Then her expulsion should have been about smoking e-cigarettes and cutting class and not a rainbow cake!!! And...what ties a rainbow cake into LGBT-Q?
When God told Noah to go and build the ARK and take two of everything aboard, God let it rain for forty day and forty night and washed away everything that was not on board the ARK!!! However, God also made a promise to us that it wouldn't be that again and His word was that there will be a rainbow in the sky as to His promise to us!!!
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Angelene Moore
This post is also for Yvonne but Eric Norrbom who is right about two other incidents of the smoking e-cigarettes and cutting class. So I think this should have been noted for her being expel and not just the cake. She was on probation as of October for the other two incidents. However, I never knew the LBGT-Q community had color codes, so I pulled this up on the internet and learn that they do have color codes and this is what I learned, "It represents the diversity of gays and lesbians around the world. In the original eight-color version, pink stood for sexuality, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for the sun, green for nature, turquoise for art, indigo for harmony, and violet for spirit."
After reading this, I pulled up the colors the LBGT-Q community flag colors and the cake which represents all these colors. However, if the bakery was told the family wanted something colorful, maybe the baker represents the gay community and not the student. Even so, I don't think the cake alone should have been reason for the student to be expel or necessarily represent her sexuality. When I buy a rainbow cake is that to say, I am gay? Hopefully not because I like rainbow cakes and am not gay, but I don't down folks either for their sexuality and I do not up hold gay marriages being that of the Lutherans.
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Donna K Fransen
Read the story again. It states; “The WA Administration has been made aware of a recent picture, posted on social media, which demonstrates a posture of morality and cultural acceptance contrary to that of Whitefield Academy’s beliefs,” wrote the academy’s head of school, Bruce Jacobson. “We made it clear that any further promotion, celebration or any other action and attitudes counter to Whitefield’s philosophy will not be tolerated.” It is all about the cake.
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Peter William Hart
Get real!! Another case of Political Correctness gone mad. Perhaps the school needs to look at its own thought patterns and beliefs lol
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Carol A siebert
It's just a cake, a colorful cake!
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Anisahoni
OMGosh, The colors of the rainbow are the same as the color frequencies of the sun, and the colors assigned to the Chakras. These people are just evil minded and ignorant. Religious fanatics like this should not be anywhere near children.Nice way to go to hurt a child who is celebrating her birthday.
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Maria
A rainbow 🌈 sounds like that’s all it was. What’s the problem with that? Sounds like the school got a little paranoid in this instance. However, since it’s a Catholic school I guess they are entitled to feel a certain way about the LGBTQ.
When we start dictating how a private school wants to run their school then we are just as guilty as they are. I’m not agreeing or disagreeing with them because I am not religious person because religion has throughout history caused so many problems. The simple solution, you don’t want to follow their teachings or rules go to a public school. Just because you disagree with a policy doesn’t give you the right to change it if an institution is a private one!-
Asa William Sprague, II
Correction: Whitefield Academy is NOT a Catholic school. From the school's web page regarding their history: Whitefield Academy began in 1976 in Louisville, KY as a ministry of Highview Baptist Church. In addition, in 2003 the school became known as Whitefield Academy; named after the great evangelist George Whitefield.
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Daniel Gray
this is pushing it. whats next? banning neapolitan ice cream because it has three colors?
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Tom
Respectfully...it is hypocrisy for the school to want "Christ-like" behavior, and expel her...Peace...Tom B
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Rod Gesner
Next is Xtian Art Classes expelling All kids that try to Draw or paint a rainbow. Maybe Unicorns are Next; as They are used to describe the Perfect partner for a Threesome?? I had a friend that was an art teacher at a Public grade school in Kentucky; She had a Student that for whatever reasons was not participating.. Till one day he Made a Picture of the Devil and really put some effort into it; So she put it up in the hall like any other students work.. Next thing the Principal comes at her demanding She take it Down; She refused, saying " it is his Art whatever it means to you or the other teachers does not matter it's what he wanted to Draw and he did a Good job he deserves the same treatment as any other student"// Fortunately She had Tenure and Did ALOT more for that school than just teaching art; so It Stayed and She stayed..
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Rod Gesner
as far as the issue of the other crimes They blame her for?? SO What How many other kids do those same things and get Kicked out; Why was she left alone over those issues but expelled for this one?? I was the Victim of a mean spirited principle in public school the 60's; That Put me into Isolation for much less he was harassing the whole lunch room with threats he would make us Quiet All Year; "anyone think I Can't"?? he asked?? I stood up to say: " we are just trying to eat our lunch and talk to our friends" He cut me off Yelling "You Call me Sir when you speak to me".. I replied No anyone that has to Demand it doesn't deserve it; He Grabbed me and dragged me to alittle room behind his office and left me there for Days; with him coming in to harass me regularly under the guise of instructing me; I went on strike refused to do anything but count to a million; it turned into a dress code Issue; cause he was trying to enforce New standards for Boys only; that hair could not be over collars and ears; and had to be pulled own in front and cut if it was past the eyebrows..My Dad combed his hair back and agreed that this was rediculous as his hair wouldn't stay back if cut that short. Parents got an injuction returning me to Classes; school got change of venue from an Indianapolis Black Judge; to a Martinsville OLD Man ( a Sundown town where a Black women was killed during the 60's) Then the Schools Lawyer distorted Facts about a disagreement with a friend that owed me 80cent's for something he broke; to Make me Look like an out of control Hoodlum; as an Ohio Case was Won using similar tactics; The Irony was the friend that happened to be with us the day that the case was heard; was a serious Pickpocket and Hood and had kept his hair Much longer than mine ever was by saying "yes sir I will" whenever the principle told him to cut it.. SO ya, religious school or Not if this girl is getting singled out; while her previous behaviours and other students similar behavious were not cause for suspension/expulsion?? Then SHAME ON The Schools administration; But I guess we have Learned That Hypocrisy is to be Expected from Xtian Schools That take money from Parents; and Some parents have More money therefore More Influence..
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Angel
This is what you deal with when you put your kids in private school.
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Ilmenheru Terikson
I recently read somewhere that the guy who was behind the life size ark so called museum was wanting to take back the rainbow from the godless sodomites as he put it. The guys name is Hamm or something like that.
Well Ill say this. the rainbow is simple a natural prism effect. Its the first and most obvious natural clue to lead to an understanding of Light and its properties. That color resides in the Light not the object. The rainbow belongs first and foremost to science. The first mind that ever looked at a rainbow and thought what is that is also the first natural scientist.
While I believe the origin of the rainbow being a symbol for the LGBTQ has something to do with the whole wizard of oz/dorothy cosplay thing so popular among them, it also is a perfect expression of the spectrum that exist everywhere in the universe.
The old joke of the most homophobic are the deepest in the closet in a way seems more true then ever. Because now that we recognize sexuality and gender are both on a spectrum those trying to define it as binary are clearly disturbed that even being a firm heterosexual isnt enough for them, they need the world to be black and white because they cant stand to think maybe they are a dark charcoal or an egg white on the spectrum.
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Rev. Forrrest
It's annoying to see the media take a story like this and run with it. Many people see headlines and photos and read no further before choosing a side. We're quick to blame the school for what is perceived to be unfair treatment, when in fact, the headline is misleading. If you read further into the story, you find there is a mention of other ongoing conduct problems. The media appears to have deliberately put more focus on the parent's/student's version of events as opposed to presenting a more balanced headline and coverage.
The article is designed to stir controversy and gain publicity. The real story here is that a private school student with ongoing conduct issues was expelled sometime around her birthday, where she just happened to have a rainbow birthday cake. That's it.
It's equally possible the cake had nothing to do with her expulsion, and the family hopes to shame the school into reconsidering, get revenge by hurting the school's reputation, or perhaps filing a lawsuit in hope of getting some sort of settlement. We can't know what their motive was.
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Donna K Fransen
If you go back and read the story you will see the statement: “The WA Administration has been made aware of a recent picture, posted on social media, which demonstrates a posture of morality and cultural acceptance contrary to that of Whitefield Academy’s beliefs,” wrote the academy’s head of school, Bruce Jacobson. “We made it clear that any further promotion, celebration or any other action and attitudes counter to Whitefield’s philosophy will not be tolerated.” It does have to do about the rainbow cake. How narrow minded. Are the younger children not allowed to draw rainbows in school? If so, then I question the true intentions of learning at this institution.
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Robert A Stiff
You need to read the statement issued by the school before you write about it. The school's press release said nothing about 'other issues'. Religious hypocrites care little about the 'truth' on any issue...all they care about is whining about being persecuted by a larger society fed up with their intolerance.
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Dorothy E. Cogswell
No it was not justified! How can a person call themselves a Christian if they hate a particular group?!
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AnnaMarie Ingrassia
"Christians" today need to really detach themselves from their delusions or be known as the foretold prophets for profit. FAR TOO many are blurting thoughtless commentary of what God/Jesus said or wants. They never HEARD a word nor KNOW what they want. Perhaps doves and olive branches need be objected too as well...NO one told Noah about today's rainbows...OR STOP USING YOUR PERSONAL DEFINITION OF CHRISTIANITY TO JUDGE ALL OTHERS...IT IS NOT YOUR PLACE TO JUDGE ANYTHING! You KNOW who's job judging is...GOD DOESN"T NEED YOUR HELP...YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS (who are EVERY living creature on Earth...even the last little beetle!) THEY ARE WHO NEED YOUR HELP...NOT your discrimination!
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flugo
'ann airing as': More of our erroneous blather! You say, ' , , , , it is not your place to judge anything!' Well, in John 7:24 Jesus encouraged us to 'judge', and in Luke 17;3 we are told to 'rebuke'. Who we do we believe? You? or God's Word? Sensible, intelligent people discern, judge, and discriminate. Pull your head out!
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Amber Fry
I think it's ridiculous to react that way, yes. The girl just seemed to love color and rainbows. It was her birthday and they celebrated with a rainbow theme. Nothing at all wrong with that. As far as they know she isn't even gay and there were no indications that was what they were trying to support or promote... Not that I think there would be anything wrong with it if they were. Love and support is what Jesus taught. He only got angry and banished money changers from an area for taking advantage of people... you know, greed and abuse of those in need?
Seems to me whoever reported her and the school have not only over reacted considerably, but judged and condemned an innocent girl. Shame on the school.
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Robert Philip Ryden
Of course the expulsion was not justified. But probably in the long run the girl will be better off somewhere else so she isn't exposed to Christian bigotry throughout her high school years.
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Edwin C. Selby
Christ's life story and his teaching argues against intolerance of those who are different from us. I hope this experience teaches this young women, her family, and her friends the difference between "love thy neighbor as thyself" and the targeted hate preached by some self-proclaimed Christian groups. There are many alternatives when seeking a loving, supporting, respectful education. This particular school is Not one of those options.
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Simon E Blatta
I encourage this behavior among religious institutions. Could help drive away members and expedite their demise. Of course, religionists aren't going down gracefully: they are willing to take society down with them. Can't imagine banning symbols of homosexuality is the only example of ignorance from school officials. Students would be better served by a tolerant and accepting public school. The school probably can't even go on field trips for fear of falling off the edge of the Earth.
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Paul Dolk
Well this school really shows its real colours, doesn't it? Darkness rules them. Physics is probably banned too at that school.....
BTW, I have a stack of black T-shirts with the Solar Spectrum printed on them front and back. I wear them quite often at physics related happenings.
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Daniel Gray
Ahhh, so the truth finally comes out. Seems the girl was not expelled for the cake as the family is trying to claim. She attended a Christian Private School and constantly was breaking the rules she agreed to when she entered as a student. She was disciplined for Vaping on school property which is against the rules. She is an admitted lesbian and was warned that while this was not allowed as long as she kept it to herself they would not do anything about it. She didnt and in fact went out of her way to not only promote her lifestyle but tried numerous times to entice other students into her lifestyle. This was the final straw. According to the Whitefield Academy, the school she attended;
“Inaccurate media reports are circling stating that the student in question was expelled from our school solely for a social media post. In fact, she has unfortunately violated our student code of conduct numerous times over the past two years. In the fall, we met with the student to give her a final chance to begin to adhere to our code of conduct. Unfortunately, she did not live up to the agreement, and therefore, has been expelled.
“Whitefield Academy is a Christian-based school with a 43-year history of educating students in a learning environment informed by our shared Christian values. All parents who enroll their children in our private school know upfront that we ask the students to adhere to a lifestyle informed by our Christian beliefs. There are numerous school options in our community for students who do not wish to attend a Christian-based school, and we wish our former student all the best as she finds a learning environment that is right for her.
“Whitefield Academy is accredited by ACSI/AdvancEd and a member of the Non-Public School Commission of Kentucky, and therefore we meet all Kentucky regulations and laws. Our code of conduct is on par with other private Christian schools in our area. It is unfortunate that one of the student’s parents chose to post internal family matters on social media, and we hope our former student is not adversely affected by what her parents chose to make public about her situation.”
So it seems that the school was completely justified in expelling her if she could not follow the rules she agreed to when becoming a student.
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Robert A Stiff
Total bullshit. The above letter is typical of christians..in order to hide their bigotry and hypocrisy, they lie. Sound familiar? The young woman is NOT a lesbian, she DIDN'T attempt to entice anyone, she had NO previous history of problems. The local newspaper in its coverage of this case made all of this abundantly clear. But the writer, Daniel Gray, chose to ignore the truth and just spread lies that protect the school. And these so-called christians wonder why religion is rejected by most of today's youth. There is no 'war' on christianity as they like to claim, it is just the vast majority of people see them for what they are..intolerant hypocrites.
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Daniel Gray
Total fact. And I see that you try and justify her actions because she violated rules that she agreed to and you dont like? And no I am not spreading lies, I took this directly from the school's site itself. How typical when you dont like the response or the facts of the matter you start name calling like a spoiled child. And again sorry, but the christian religion is the fastest growing religion in the US right behind Muslums. You really need to get your facts straight before posting.
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Donna K Fransen
As stated publicly by the school: “The WA Administration has been made aware of a recent picture, posted on social media, which demonstrates a posture of morality and cultural acceptance contrary to that of Whitefield Academy’s beliefs,” wrote the academy’s head of school, Bruce Jacobson. “We made it clear that any further promotion, celebration or any other action and attitudes counter to Whitefield’s philosophy will not be tolerated.” The key words are morality and cultural acceptance contrary to their beliefs, therefore they are referring to the rainbow cake. A cake her mother ordered because she likes rainbows. Perhaps their god should stop rainbows from being formed. The school was wrong and this young lady will do much better in a school that is not so narrow minded.
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Daniel Gray
I am sorry if the truth and the facts seem to bother you. But you seemingly ignore the simple fact that when she became a student she agreed to follow the school rules. She did not and now she is suffering the results of her actions
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Scott Smith
Genesis 9:12-13 - "and God said, 'This is the sign of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for ALL future generations. I set my Rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.' "
I guess Whitefield Academy hasn't read their bible, or they have and choose to disrespect God. Would the Alfords, or any other family really want to choose to have their children raised in such an environment?
If LBGT issues offend, take back the Rainbow.
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Lionheart
We of course now know what causes rainbows and with that knowledge we know that rainbows will have existed well before mankind and will continue to exist while ever there is a sun and rain on earth.
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William Leon Barfield
Rainbow means unity. Remember the rainbow collision? Meant a rainbow of skin color. There is nothing wrong with a rainbow.
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Teresia Pederson
These are my thoughts: I have known many people in my 70 yr lifetime.I have gone to many churches and met many Christians, some are true, and some are fake. Some are genuine, welcoming, kind, compassionate, giving & loving. They carry on Gods work here on earth by respecting others, giving with an open heart, No judgements, none of the "I am better than you because I have a lot of money and I can live a better life than you!" They don't look down on anyone and are always thinking of others not themselves. You can tell the fake ones. They hide behind the church and God's word, they are fanatical,mean, hateful, judgemental, spiteful, and have many skeletons in their closet they are hiding. Regardless of who you are, or what you believe, or how you live, we all are here together, trying to live among each other who have been taught different values and beliefs. We are all Gods people and should be working for a greater place to live for all, where peace and harmony thrive within, Not hate and aggression, stabbing, killing, raping, causing us to live in fear of being shot in your home, leaving your home or work for fear of being attacked or killed, or worse, mangled and beaten. I praise God for giving me a heart that loves, has patience, forgiveness,compassion, otherwise I would be a raving maniac like some others are. THIS school sounds like a horribly disheartening place to be. Kids are going to be kids and try things they are curious about, to experience it for themselves. There is no sin in having a rainbow cake AND I will stand on that. The schools must take a more open approach to explain and show the students what is expected but with alot more tolerance and patience. IT breaks my heart for this girl to have to suffer through all of this ridicule and mental torture because she loved Rainbows and wanted a rainbow B Day cake. This is cruel and unjust punishment and truly does not fit the criteria of whether or not she is is lesbian or supports it. This is ludicrous!! This school is definitely from the dark ages. Its not a very Christian & God Like school if it teaches prejudice and judgemental behaviors upon others who want a little fun, happiness and color in their lives. For goodness sake, God created the rainbow. I have no thoughts about it other than its beautiful and enjoyable to see.This school and their beliefs are comparable to a" juvenile detention center." SO Heaven help the individuals who seek a little fun. You may be punished for your thoughts and be careful what you wish for.... Blessings and rainbows to everyone, God Bless, Minister Tess
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Michael Lee Dishman
That school has excepted and let the lgbt crowd have the rainbow that God gave to ALL of us, they are the ones that let the gay crowd have a gift that God gave to them and now are judging someone else for wearing clothing that display Gods gift that they now resent because of fellow sinners that they feel are worse than them. They should know that sexual immorality and thou shall not judge are in the 10 commandments. The rainbow does not belong only to gays and we as Gods children should not let them make our gift exclusive to them.
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Michael Lee Dishman
It clearly states in the Bible what the rainbow represents. So Do you believe It represents what God said or do you believe it represents gayness? I’m sure God doesn’t believe it represents gayness.
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Lionheart
For well over a billion years or more it represents the weather is about to possibly get better with the rain clouds retreating and the sun shining it’s beautiful face through each tiny raindrop. Each color representing the gaseous elements that the sun is made up of. Spectroscopy, logic, and science, is wonderful isn’t it?
It’s a pity those that penned those biblical pages were so ignorant at the time of how a rainbow is constructed. I’m sure they saw it as magical, mystical, and supernatural, and very worthy of assigning a “god of the day” to it.
🦁❤️
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Robert Edward Szekely
As many others have articulately stated here, just because LGBTQI+ causes have adopted the rainbow as a symbol of their cause, does not automatically mean that all rainbows represent LGBTQI+ interests, nor does the use of that iconography by LGBTQI+ interests somehow denigrate the symbology. "....Let us make man in Our Image, according to Our likeness (GEN 1:26)...God created man in His image....male and female he created them." (GEN 1:27). The masculine and feminine elements co-exist within the Divine: only with the creation of humankind was the dichotomy created. Notice how in 1:26 God speaks in the reflexive plural: if, as some may argue, this is the royal "We", then why would the tense change in the very next verse, except to avoid awkward constructions that would do nothing but obfuscate the message. Even though Kayla Alford was not advocating for LGBTQI+ causes in her choice of birthday cake--as was claimed by the school administration--homophobia is nonetheless not a Christian value. Ergo, Whitfield Academy has, by this action, revealed themselves a Christian school in name only, not in spirit. What they have done in no way emulates the teachings of Jesus. Vaping and cutting class have nothing to do with Christian values: these latter two are simply violations of school rules. WA was looking for an excuse for that "third strike" to expel Kayla, as clearly, they didn't approve of her rebellious spirit. Yet Jesus was a rebel. He turned over the moneychangers' tables in the temple. He rejected the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees, who constituted the established religious order of his time.
Whitefield Academy's argument of the image of the rainbow cake alluding to the support of LGBTQI+ causes violating Christian values smacks of hypocrisy, and their use of it as justification to expel Kayla, as prejudgement: these are also things that Jesus neither taught nor condoned. Rather, He spoke against these two qualities in people as negative traits to be avoided, and not embraced.
If Kayla's parents want here to get an education which includes Christian values, then perhaps this situation actually constitutes a blessing in disguise.
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Michael Dench
In my opinion Whitefield Academy did young Kayla a big favor! The sooner she learns the hypocrisy that is the basis of so-called 'Christianity' (none of which Jesus would have recognized or wanted to be associated with) the better. If her parents are allowing her to be indoctrinated with that religious rubbish, more fools them.
There's so much good we should be doing by helping people to learn the truth. Lets not waste our time bickering over nonsense like this. By drawing attention to it we only empower the idiots that subscribe to such superstitious cant.
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Richard Heath
What’s with all the hate?!? High and mighty churches, pastors and church members seem to forget the lessons they themselves preach. In Matthew 7:1-5 it says “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.”
One of their defense arguments is that they are “forgiven” as if somehow they are now sinless. They fail to believe the above verse. It warns us of our own failure to look within. Those people want us to believe they are righteous! However, in Romans 3:10 As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;“ and 2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”
These people agree that they hate gays and others. Hate is ones own pride. We are to abstain from it. The scripts warn of the failure to have eternal life. 1 John 3:15 “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” When this verse is shown to them hate is not the word they choose. Their description then changes in an attempt to again apear righteous.
Another argument is that homosexuality is unforgivable. In Matthew 12:31 it says “Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.”
They see themselves in a manor in which they are able to speak against their own prejudices and hate. But again there is a warning for that. James 1:26 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” and Matthew 12:34 “You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
Finally I do, however, agree that homosexuals should not be there! But, neither should anyone else! The Bible also warns us of who we are learning from. James 1:26 “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.”
In all, we should learn from those that have love! For they know God! They know we all sinned and have come short of God’s glory. They show compassion for their brethren. They know that as teachers they themselves will be judged with a stricter measure. That’s a place where I’d like to be!
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Dennis Allen Topolewski
I feel we do not have enough information the real reason this girl was expelled. As far as far as the Christian churches and colleges, trying to figure out what is christ-like, I know that they are the least christ-like of many groups. Having grown up inside these organizations, I know this for a fact. Let me explain. The Messiah Yahushua, spent his time teaching his disciples, not to follow man-made laws and traditions that the Jews were heavily into. He taught them to follow the Torah of YHWH/Yahuah. Christian groups do not do this, but instead follow many Pagan practices and traditions. That means they are not christ-like.
These groups do however teach on topics such as sex, even though they have no idea what the Torah says about it. They only use their man-made interpretations of the renewed Covenant. And furthermore they don't follow the ten commandments that they have posted on there walls. I spent 50 years in the church, I know this for a fact. Groups such as Assemblies of Yahweh, know what's in the Torah, prophets, and Psalms, and we can and will answer questions and help anyone interested in the truth of Yahweh. Shalom Allen.
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Richard Lee Cornell
Void their 501 (c) (3). That speak louder then any God or beliefs.
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Jeffrey Andrew Lund
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KAYLA!!! Your cake looks magnificent. I'm sure you'll find another school, and a better one.
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Rev. Jack Harte, DD, MscD
A fair amount of language and symbology has been hijacked, and we all suffer. A rainbow, sometimes, is just a rainbow. Who loves colorful things more than a teenage girl, and it is possible that she want a colorful cake, for cryin' out loud. By the way, didn't God send Noah a rainbow as a symbol of peace after the destruction of the flood? Tell that Christian school to re-examine their Christianity.
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T Kosse`
The LGBT-Q. community don't have the monopoly on the rainbow. check out the link below
Rainbow spiritual meanings Rainbow Symbolism: Spiritual and Symbolic Meanings
https://anextraordinaryandordinarylifeblog.wordpress.com/2018/10/25/rainbow-spiritual-meanings/
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Philip Joseph Ryan
Reading between the lines, this is about a very strict school dealing with a family that has decided that they will decide what their daughter will be punished for, not the school, even though they must have accepted the school's values and that the school acts in loco parents. It would seem that the parents decided to cock a snook at the school by posting a picture of the cake, knowing full well what the likely reaction would be. This is really about an ill-disciplined family not prepared to accept the school's standards. It's a culture clash, with the daughter being piggy in the middle. She will never fit into the school's culture, so it's better she goes to a school with lax discipline. The school, meanwhile, needs to examine what drives its hatred of the gay community. Religions ought to realise that homophobic was a historical aberration, with no more justification than ant-semitism, which used to be a part of 'Christian' Church teaching, or the acceptance of slavery, which was never criticised in the Bible. Both parties need to consider their attitudes and recognise the damage that they do by their inflexibility and refusal to give ground. They both need to grow up.
As it points out in the article, it seems the Christian god likes rainbows, so what’s the problem?
The problem for the school is that she was on probation since October for two other incidents being e-cigarettes and cutting school during her lunch break! Yet rather then include them in their reason for her being expel, the school used the cake. Maybe the school was trying to say, three strikes and you're out. Nonetheless, it does not justify her being expel for the cake.
A fair amount of language and symbology has been hijacked, and we all suffer. A rainbow, sometimes, is just a rainbow. Who loves colorful things more than a teenage girl, and it is possible that she want a colorful cake, for cryin' out loud. By the way, didn't God send Noah a rainbow as a symbol of peace after the destruction of the flood?
I agree