Sean Simonson had something to say about anti-gay sentiment in his home state of Minnesota. So he wrote a heartfelt, sincere, brave call to arms editorial entitle "Life as a Gay Teen." Said editorial was published. And then said editorial was pulled. Why? Because Sean is a student at a Catholic high school.

The administration at Benilde-St.Margaret's, while originally approving Sean's piece, balked when questionable comments, some regarding Sean's sexual orientation and some about the Church's stance on homosexuality, were posted to the school's website.

The school issued the following statement to the media:

-- Benilde-St. Margaret’s School is committed to ensuring that all students are safe, respected, and protected. As a Catholic school, our responsibility is to respect and uphold the dignity of the vulnerable, including students who are attracted to the same sex.
-- Section 2358 of the Roman Catholic Catechism says that men and women with homosexual tendencies must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity.
-- As educators, we encourage student dialogue in a responsible way under the supervision of caring adults. As a Catholic high school, we have a responsibility to uphold the teachings of the Catholic Church.
-- All high school administrators, public or private, have the right to regulate the standards for the school newspaper.
-- The online comments regarding the editorial and the opinion piece in question were creating a disrespectful environment as well as confusion about the teachings of the Catholic Church.
-- The administration exercised its prerogative to have the material removed from the website.

By pulling the comments and the piece, they aren't respecting Sean, or creating a safer atmosphere in which he can thrive and live openly. Cutting the dialogue off at the pass only validates those who believe it was wrong in the first place. It leaves Sean with one less safe haven in which to speak his mind. It means the bullies win.

This petition is an open letter to Benilde-St. Margaret's, asking that they not only republish Sean's column, but also to work towards a school atmosphere of communication, support, respect, tolerance and safety by establishing a Gay Straight Alliance, and by educating its staff on non-discrimination and combating bullying.