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Lowenna Waters
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It's a sad fact of life that even today, in 2018, many members of the LGBT+ community still face bigotry and homophobia.
Recent research by LGBT+ charity Stonewall shows that the statistics are shockingly high. One in five LGBT+ people will have faced a hate crime or incident because of their sexual orientation in the last 12 months. Further, two in five trans people will have experienced a hate crime because of their gender identity in the last 12 months.
However, the LGBT+ community are continually fighting back and making progress, and this teacher's response to a homophobic text message is just one brilliant example.
Performing arts teacher Michael Neri from London got the shock of his life when he received a homophobic text message from a parent of one of the children in his class.
In the text message, the parent said that they wanted to remove their child from his class because of his 'lifestyle' choices because of their Christian beliefs:
I have recently learned of your lifestyle and as a Christian I cannot allow my children to be influenced by your unconventional ideas.
It is our belief that a man should marry a woman.
I look forward to receiving my deposit which you may post to me via cheque.
Taking to Twitter, Michael made the exchange public.
Got a lovely text this week https://t.co/UWPGRycuph— Michael Neri (@Michael Neri) 1447708843
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Michael's response simply couldn't have been better. In a lengthy tweet, he succinctly argues against the bigoted homophobia expressed in the parent's message.
As well as suggesting he thinks that it's unlikely the parent would investigate a doctor's 'lifestyle' before allowing them to operate on their kids, he also wondered how the parent intends on continuing their child's theatrical education without ever encountering a gay person, eloquently quipping:
Theatre without gays is like cooking without spices.
BOOM!
Needless to say, Twitter loved Michael's excellent response in the face of bigotry.
Some expressed their embarrassment at the Christian's bigotry.
@michaelneri as a practicing Catholic, I am genuinely embarrassed by the person that sent this. Your response is absolutely perfect.— Mike Peters (@Mike Peters) 1447770464
@michaelneri As a Christian mom I would love it if you were my son's teacher. Kindness in the face of bigotry takes a big heart.— SOKelley (@SOKelley) 1448317523
@michaelneri I am a Christian myself & I felt embarrassed reading her message. There's no such thing as homophobic. Just ignorant.— Abigail Trumata (@Abigail Trumata) 1448418233
Others praised Michael for the calm way he responded.
@michaelneri I'm sorry you were forced to deal w/ this bigoted family. I appreciate seeing how you handled it, as I need good role models.— Janiece Staton 🕊 #BoycottNRA & #BoycottRepublican (@Janiece Staton 🕊 #BoycottNRA & #BoycottRepublican) 1448060760
Some loved the glitter references.
@michaelneri "WE JUST LOVE GLITTER" ME AFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF— louis in jeggings af (@louis in jeggings af) 1448217596
Many praised him for donating the money to Stonewall.
@michaelneri "Unfortunately deposits are non refundable but don't worry your deposit has been donated to an LGBT charity" xD So Good!— AnxiousTrap (@AnxiousTrap) 1448062550
Some called his response 'classy' and 'cheeky'.
But most simply said it was the best possible response.
@michaelneri @smxkings perfect response 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻— hex girls love child🖤🥵 (@hex girls love child🖤🥵) 1448081307
Michael, we salute you!
HT Bored Panda
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