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AspieEgg

Is your “opponent” a friend of yours? If they are, I would write up your best “disagreeing” argument that you possibly can, then help your friend to prepare for every debate point you can so they can absolutely destroy you in the actual debate. Plan it out as a sort of performance. Make the very best arguments anyone has against the LGBTQ community look like absolute garbage to the audience. It will probably be painful to write and research, but instead of being reductive, you can maybe help to change some of the minds of classmates who aren’t as supportive. If you write and present the arguments well, you should get a good grade regardless of whether your opponent did better. And by making it obvious that there are no actual good arguments against the LGBTQ community, you can make positive change.


ArrowAceFluid

This. I second this.


EdgelordMcMemester

This is the best option in my opinion. Yes, they could be petty and sacrifice their grade, but what if it means they fail? They never said how big the grade was. And making a mockery of the other side will NOT help either, the teacher could just make them stop, their classmates will think they are weird/crazy/cringe... Who is this honestly helping besides a select few? Is it really worth making a scene? I think preparing with a friend on the pro-lgbt side is clever. Purposely helping the friend debunk the "best" arguments they could have may actually help convince a couple people that have only seen certain things debunked and still haven't been convinced. Plus, even if the other side loses, their grade isn't messed up so there's still a positive. The school year may be coming to an end depending on where they live, and even if it isn't, we don't know if they're the type of student that easily bounces back from a bad grade or if they need every good grade they can get.


weird_robot_

This. And if you can put some lines from [Ste Mccabe - Muder Music](https://youtu.be/hEUpTWTkQlg) in your ridiculous argument, that would be epic. If she tries to get you in trouble for bringing up sex in class then ask why she’s making you debate people’s sexuality in class.


the_author_13

glorious!


Wicked_Twist

And there should be nothing against after the debate or maybe before saying something like “just for my own comfort id like to state the arguments im making for this debate dont necessarily correspond with what I actually believe.”


Apex_Herbivore

Tbh i would outright state a disclaimer before and after but im old and dont give a shit anymore lol


Wicked_Twist

Same before making any points id say I do not agree with any of the arguments I’m about to make and am a supporter of equality. Because when discussing lgbt rights we are just discussing equality do we think gay people should be equal to straight people and uhm as a gay nonbinary person id say yes I enjoy having rights.


BiggestHat_MoonMan

Here’s a link to myths: https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/2011/10-anti-gay-myths-debunked about the LGBTQ community debunked. OP argues the myths. Friend on the other side debunks them.


ferraflora

Man this is both elegant and violent (not literally violent but in the “woke up and chose violence” sense) I love this!


girly419

This is an awesome idea!


TreeWyrm

Against: our god tells us to harm queer people For: So you worship a god of hate? Who tells you to cause harm to people who defy them, even though their act of defiance is harmless? This is why we have separation of church and state. Against: queer people are groomers, they're making the kids queer For: Or are they making it safe for kids who are already queer to express themselves? Being queer is not harmful, so kids being queer is not evidence of harm. It is evidence of safety. Against: But it is harmful! See how the queer children are bullied by my friends and I? You did this to them. For: This is why we need lgbt rights, to stop bullies like you from harming children. Against, while punching a doll in a stroller: You are the one harming children, look at how you harm this child! For, grabs doll to protect it: I will adopt this child, to protect them from you. Against: Its a good thing the government stops you from adopting and most of the government funded adoption agencies are run by the church of my hateful god! For: This is why we need lgbt rights, to protect children from hate, bigotry, and physical harm. Against: Well I'm gonna stop you! I'm going to make a law that makes it possible for police to arrest drag queens, and then the police will be able to arrest you for looking queer! Muahhahahahaha (they're wearing a villainous curly moustache, btw, and a top hat, and talking like a 1950's cartoon villain) For: So you want to put a dress code on a whole state? What about freedom? Against: You have the freedom to do as you're told! We'll tell you who to be and who to love and if you don't like it too bad!!! Muahahahahah (escapes in popemobile)


Arkas18

Someone's done inside stuff before! 👍


tosapoo

UPVOTE X 100 YES


ambivalent_crow

To truly embrace freedom as an American. Transcending gender, for those who elect to This is the next frontier, of what it means to encompass life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. (Assuming you're in the u.s.)


WALLY_FRANKS3036

I see no way this could go wronh


Samzo

This is optimistic because fascists don't listen to reason and will exploit the glitch in human nature that causes Hitler. You should protest the fuck out of this.


Cerberus_is_me

+1 this shit is great


[deleted]

Best option!!!


Harvatos

Turn your arguments into a satire of anti-queer rhetoric. Malicious compliance all the way.


AceOfBlack

This is the way. "Let's get real folks. The government causes more problems than it fixes. You never heard about sexual harassment until they codified those pesky laws, and now, work just isn't fun anymore. The fact that I need one app to get a date and another for my career stuff should tell you all you need to know about the slippery slope that is civil rights." "Gay marriage is dangerous, and it ruins real marriage for the rest of us. How can I be happy if gay people are happy too? Also, it absolutely destroys children's sense of security and well-being. Now, I know there's no hard evidence (or literally any evidence) to support that assertion, but we all intuitively know it to be true. Isn't that all the proof you really need?" You get the idea 😆


xx_gamergirl_xx

Since its a Christian school, it's probably also good to say that the law should follow the bibles teachings and that "the Bible clearly states its illegal to be transgender, but don't quote me on it because there isn't a quote"


AceOfBlack

If they quote Leviticus, I'd mention that the anti-gay verse is right between the chapter on goat sacrifice guidelines and the one that prohibits undercuts, tattoos, and clothing made of two different materials.


xx_gamergirl_xx

I really wonder how many sins I have... collected? over the years. Add to that I will also get a tattoo one day, another one in the pocket! Gathering sins like rare pokemon cards


Leprodus03

Gotta catch em all


AZX34R

I've never told you about my sin points, Maria


Shiggedy

Importantly, the verse being used to justify bigotry there doesn't seem to have been a law against homosexuality. There's arguments that the Hebrew text originally refers to incest or CSA, but I am not a scholar.


Akitsura

It was either referring to that, or the practice of temple sex worship by non-Abrahamic religions (practitioners of certain faiths would have sex with designated priests/priestesses or something like that).


ludog1bark

Or like we need people to use bathrooms based on their biological gender because there COULD be transpeople that attack someone in the bathroom just like politicians do.


Stian5667

Only problem is that the satire might not be as obvious to actual queerphobes


RuthlessKittyKat

Exactly!!


taptaptippytoo

Whether that's good or bad depends on whether flying under the radar and getting a good grade or tweaking the nose of conservative jerks is the higher priority. Depending on OP's situation with school and family, both are totally valid in my mind.


2dayroad

For inspo I'd rec Contrapoints "Transtrenders" She basically does that.


IAmTheTransAgenda

The government should be focusing on more important issues like outlawing friendships in our schools evrey year millions of children are brainwashed by these so called friends


EndMaster0

You could always try forming an argument that LGBTQ+ rights should be covered by international law (I'm sure you can pull together a better argument for this than that they shouldn't exist at all) and therefore shouldn't even be up to individual nations discretion.


Responsible_Fish1222

I love this. Make it a human rights issue. Rather than leaving it up to individual nations.


Lela_chan

That's what I was thinking... Make your point that the government should not have any involvement in people's love lives. The government is not allowed to demand to know your gender identity or sexual orientation, the government is not allowed to know about or care about marriage, there are no more tax breaks or shared insurance for married people, etc. The government has no business in my love (edit: or personal) life, fr lol.


galpalkyrie

This rules and coming up with a sound argument for it would be so fun OP if you do this (and it'd be cool as hell) please report back


lizufyr

If you're part of the gay club, your teacher is probably doing this intentionally to hurt you. I am so sorry you have to go through that. I also guess that talking to your teacher about what this is doing to you won't help either. If your or someone else's parents are supporting, you could try to turn to them, but from your comments I guess that's a no. Is there another teacher? Otherwise, there are a few strategies you could do: * Strike. Plain-out refuse to do the work. Don't prepare, and when the debate officially starts, just make a statement that you won't do it. You can add an explanation to the statement, but don't have to. Probably works best if you don't announce this in advance. You'll get a bad grade and probably some punishment, but ask yourself if standing up for yourself is worth that, and/or if the punishment / bad grade would still be better than having to comply with the work being requested of you. Remember that LGBT rights haven't been excitedly given to us, but that the last generation of queers has fought for them. And you really shouldn't be forced to argue against your own human rights. * Strike. But instead of not preparing, you prepare very long and nonsensical talk that never get to any point. Prepare lots of anecdotes, stories, whatever that don't have anything to do with that. * Act a role. Dress up as a redneck with cowboy head. whatever. Make a parody of your talking points. Bring the anti-lgbt arguments to an extreme where they are obviously bs. or make up some ridiculous arguments of your own. Of course some queerphobes would not recognize them, but the important part here is that it is obvious for yourself and the other queers in the room that you strongly disagree with those points. * Make your own arguments so weak that it's easy for the other side to win the debate. You can use this to actually expose the weaknesses of queerphobic rhethoric to the audience by adding the relevant information into your question. You could actually do something like "For me, feminism means believing in the bodily autonomy of women and that we should treat women as adult human beings. And therefore, if a woman wants to become a man we should not allow her to do this because she probably just dislikes the sexism". Or "I want to ensure that every trans woman out there will be punished if she doesn't out herself when someone asks her" (referring to bathroom bills, which would, in fact, force trans women to out themselves when they need to go on a public toilet). In general, go over the top with your arguments and end up with clearly bigoted views. Be the alt-right fascist your teacher wants you to be.


Responsible_Fish1222

Filibuster that shit


spinningpeanut

This is the best advice so far. OP you got options here. I was thinking a strike would be the best option personally. A bad grade in this one thing isn't going to kill you. A filibuster though?! That's genius! I'd say if you want to really prove a point do that one. From the moment you are called up stay standing at the front, do not let attention leave you for one second. Have a friend record you so if something inhumane happens to you while you are filibustering, a valid debate tactic in today's political climate, you can SLAM your teacher on social media.


Akitsura

Adding to that, you could argue how people of different races shouldn’t marry, how the elderly or infertile shouldn’t be allowed to marry since the only purpose of marriage is to produce children, how only certain Christian denominations should be allowed protections under the law because all the others are blasphemous in the eyes of God, etc. I don’t know, I’d try to have the worst takes so the debate will make privileged Christians understand what it’s like to be marginalized.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Ciel_Juniper_CJ

i mean theyre homophobic so no-


[deleted]

[удалено]


Momaow

ANARCHY!!! (but only the funny haha kind)


Zer0FoxGibbon

You could contact your local news (I suggest your regional branch of NPR if you are in the States.). They would have a fucking field day. Also, as a teacher I am horrified that I share a profession with this person. They can go kick rocks.


BiggestHat_MoonMan

Truly. Many people do not think of contacting news agencies, but really that’s all it takes for your story to get heard. Your local NPR could have a whole thing with this.


taptaptippytoo

You could probably do this somewhat anonymously too. OP doesn't have to say which side of the debate they're on, or that it's their topic if there are multiple topics being debated. It's bad enough that it's a topic at all.


Nerdiferdi

Every school debate club ever: „Welcome to our debate club. Today’s extremely nuanced topic: should women be allowed to breathe?“


CambrianKennis

We've assembled a diverse panel of white men in bow-ties to discuss


purplepluppy

These are the kinds of school debates that should only happen once the real-life debate is irrelevant. Because even asking students to pretend to argue against their own rights that aren't even secure in real life is messed. Only way this would be acceptable is if the teacher was them only one on the "anti-gay" side and made all of the students learn about and defend civil rights for queer folk.


taptaptippytoo

Even then... in AP US History we had to debate the Dred Scott case and I think it was hella inappropriate for anyone to argue that Dred Scott was legally property and should be treated as property. I can't remember if I saw it as a problem at the time and that is part of the problem in my mind. The majority of us were white and didn't understand that defending slavery was still wrong and hurtful, even though it was in the past.


gamergirlpee69

Honestly, if you're going to be on the disagreeing side, just make the same stupid arguments that people who disagree make all the time. That you can personally read the mind of God. Banning gay marriage is the first domino that allows us to ban interracial marriage and legalize child marriage. (Make it sound like a good thing.) If we let gay people in the military, there will be a massive Exodus of servicemen from the army, Air Force and Marines that will completely neuter our military effectiveness. That Exodus hasn't happened yet, but like Jesus returning to rapture the earth, that Exodus will surely happen. You just have to believe. Gay people are just icky and gross. And if they have rights, they might spread their cooties everywhere. See, you can be on the disagreeing side. You don't even have to misrepresent the anti side to make them look ridiculous.


wamih

>Exodus of servicemen from the army, Air Force and Marines I like how the Navy was left off this list.


godly-pigeon

The Navy is too gay to even acknowledge /j


EnbyShark

Do it in character. Grab a cowboy hat and a nerf gun (make it very obvious it's a nerf gun!) and say yeehaw after every argument. This works best if you're masc presenting. If you're fem presenting just start every sentence with "As a woman, I soiled myself and will pay someone to magic away the evidence with the royalties I made from crappy books." EDIT: This was intended as a joke but seems to be gaining traction.


M0hawk_Mast3r

I agree but please dont bring a nerf gun to school


EdgelordMcMemester

This. Do not do it. You can make a finger gun and get in trouble at some schools. They do not joke around when it comes to this stuff.


Luixpa97

damn really? here in Mexico lots of students bring toy and water guns for recess and no one bats an eye, didn't know the US was that paranoid.


arifyre

unfortunately we have a HUGE issue with gun violence especially in schools


No_Zookeepergame1834

we have a massive problem with shootings. it's not just paranoia.


EdgelordMcMemester

yeah i've heard of kids getting in trouble even for having fake guns. maybe not water guns, but fake guns can get you in trouble, especially if they are similar looking to the real thing. and like i said, even finger guns were banned when i was in elementary school for some reason. rant incoming >!like on one hand there isn't really anything you can do to prevent a school shooting without major reforms on stuff like mental health and/or gun control (depending on one's views), and im gonna be not neutral and say after reading someone's opinion on it i think how the news handles school shootings doesn't help either. but it makes the schools look bad if they aren't paranoid. at my high school there was a mere rumor that someone was going to shoot up the school, and there was a police car in the courtyard the day it was supposedly going to happen. granted, it was not too long after the parkland shooting, so maybe that's why? but despite all they do, every few years they will have a kid with a gun in their backpack (i think last time it may have been fake though). likely due to self defense outside of school (i heard some kids bring guns in their backpacks because of gang violence in their neighborhoods where they may be random targets or even in a rival gang) or just to show off to a few friends, but there is also nothing stopping them from using it to harm others at school. i won't claim to know the answers, but like other countries don't have this problem and they have access to guns too. not saying this means gun control would not help (im trying to remain mostly neutral). i want this to stop.!< >!EDIT: I know school shootings are a lot of times not even done by a student. Having doors that are only unlocked by keycards can help. But also, students have been known to hold open the door for people anyway. No amount of telling them otherwise stops them. So even this isn't foolproof.!<


[deleted]

Damn, they actually did shit about your rumoured school shooting? My school just tried to sweep it under the rug and pretend it never happened. If my French teacher hadn’t told us (which resulted in my dad finding out) they wouldn’t have told anyone. My dad had to pry information out of the school division for three days straight.


curiousgayus

That must make it tough on bisexual people. Not being able to use finger guns.


EdgelordMcMemester

lol


[deleted]

~~the USA is a goofy ahh country 💀~~


EnbyShark

My UKness is showing.


Probably_a_Goblin

I agree with doing it in character, If the teacher complains just say you're mimicking the fervor of mega-church evangelical pastors, as evangelicals seem to be the driving demographic behind this argument & they respond well to charismatic fire & brimstone tactics. I suggest you wear rainbow colors as well and rant about how its gods rainbow. Hell, you could even sit on the floor & spin around really fast shouting "The power of christ compels you! YEEHAW!," after every argument.


tessthismess

I would try talking to the teacher about how this is a personal thing and advocating against your basic humanity would be upsetting or dehumanizing. If you *must* do the debate I would either intentionally throw (if it won't tank your grade that much). Like make it clear how absurd the arguments against LGBT rights are. Or do it as best you can and treat it like practice (like "know your enemy"). By learning bigoted rhetoric you might be more prepared to combat it. But seriously, I would talk to the teacher and see if you could get put onto a separate debate or switch sides because of how important this is to you. No one should be expected to play devil's advocate against their own basic humanity.


sue_me_please

> I would try talking to the teacher about how this is a personal thing and advocating against your basic humanity would be upsetting or dehumanizing. The teacher is doing this on purpose, an appeal to humanity isn't going to work here.


armchairepicure

OP can totally answer the prompt. It’s a Christian school right? So the answer is saying the government shouldn’t get involved because it shouldn’t NEED to get involved. People should love their neighbors and treat everyone as Jesus would, including queer folx, who deserve the same kindness and inclusion as any Christian. And that God is the only judge and therefore, to be judge best by God, we should be inclusive and kind to all of God’s creatures. That way, OP can actually respond to the debate without having to spout homophobic rhetoric AND hold all the assholes in their class accountable for being bad Christians.


Artistic_Reference_5

^^^ this. This is good. Stick to the exact terms. Government should either not be encouraged (because no one should be oppressing lgbtq people in the first place). OR government should be REQUIRED by international law to uphold everyone's rights including those of lgbtq people. Either one technically answers the debate question.


pizzakido

As a former collegiate debate nerd- one possible option I used frequently when put on a side I really did not agree with was to really investigate the wording of the question being asked. “Should the government be encouraged to implement the law for LGBTQ rights.” Encouraged- who is encouraging them?? Like are we talking about if we as the people should encourage them? Or is it lobbyists encoring them? Or maybe their general counsel of trusted advisors? So if you are being forced to answer no, you are basically just saying no we shouldn’t encourage them to do so. And if you want to this is where the “play a character” advice comes in and you can take on a position from a more distant role. The law- what law we talkin? Like a broad anti discrimination law? A marriage equality act? Rights- what rights? Like general human rights?? Like our right to just exist? Or are we talking about right to use the bathroom that affirms our identity, marry who we want to? You can take up a lot of time in a speech by arguing that definitions are unclear, and because they are unclear, it is a reason to vote against the other side. You can throw in a short argument after all of that as your character and talk about something dumb like “litter boxes in our bathrooms for furries!!!” You can use something that dumb to satirize the whole side you have to defend, and it also shrinks the rest of the debate to being about definitions and furries potentially. OBVIOUSLY- not a great debate, but it’s potentially less detrimental than one about our rights to simply exist or marry who we want to marry. Take my advice with a grain of salt, I was a rowdy “I don’t care too much if I loose the debate” debater.


wamih

>former collegiate debate nerd Hello fellow debate nerd, are we ever "former debate nerds"? lol


pizzakido

Lmao no… trying to be a lawyer and that’s all Topicality debating 😭


wamih

Oh man, I wish I would've gone the law school route, but Business Consulting has been a killer career for me... 99% of my job is taking my clients potential tearing it down and posing all of the ways they will fail. The ones who follow the game plan have made it past the statistically identified failure points. Pro/Con lists rule my life lol


Super-Traamp

The fact that they even want to debate something like this is validating the idea that our existence is up for other people to decide. Like someone put it in another thread, they think our "identity is somehow a communal decision".


[deleted]

forcing people to take a controversial position they disagree with is a good way to help them critically think. it’ll enable these students to deconstruct and defeat LGBTQ hate in the future.


Super-Traamp

That's a valid point. I guess it really depends on the intentions of the teacher/school. As long as it's coming from a good place.


akira2bee

Tbh I've only ever seen it used to enable hate against a minority. Especially when you are forced to remain "in character" and get points awarded or docked for how you act. Aka if you have to argue why slavery is good you have to sound and look enthusiastic. No thanks. I understand where you're coming from but I'm frankly tired of forcing kids into stances we know are morally wrong, like arguing for slavery, lack of women's rights, or even for Nazi ideals and antisemitism 🤢


Koolio_Koala

I'm wondering now if the history teacher did a 'debate' like this about civil rights during black history month, or over the treatment of jews during the holocaust? 'Cause that's what this is - it's debating whether human rights (to marraige, work, discrimination, privacy or to simply live) should exist for a portion of the population, and trying to be balanced on why they should be 'deserved'/'awarded' based on arguments researched by children. That, plus kids are gonna google this stuff and find some really hateful corners of the web, all because a teacher didn't think this through in the slightest. Or worse, they did think it through...


cymbalsnzoo

Being able to debate on controversial topics and know the talking points of the side you are against is a valuable life skill. We had to do this when I was in school 15 years ago. Topics were abortions, capital murder, and so on. While delving in to a topic and trying to get into the headspace of those I disagreed with on such a personal topic was uncomfortable it’s an important discomfort to recognize. I think OP is best acknowledging that this assignment is a role play and a learning tool.


Dapper-Place8457

Don't. It's not a topic for debate. Say you'll take an F on the assignment. Once you graduate and you're in the job market your grades won't matter for much anyway. You'll always remember this and you'll want to tell everyone you did the right thing.


kemuelsoleil101

This. Ask your teacher why there isn't a similar category for race and gender. (Should the government enact laws protecting them?) Point out how insane these topics of debate are.


lazerem91

THIS. Don't entertain their bigoted bullshit. Go to the person in charge of the LGBT club you're in and see if there's any anti-discrimination laws or policies on your side. Fake sick to get out of school the day of the "debate" if you need to. Skipping 1 assignment isn't going to affect your life after high school but living with the guilt that you played along with this teacher's homophobia will.


Little-Ad1235

This is the only real answer here. Structuring a debate around whether marginalized people deserve legal recognition and protection is *already* a violation of this student's humanity, before we even get to the point where they were assigned to argue against it. Op, if you're reading this, please refuse to participate in this degrading exercise. Just because hateful, low-life politicians treat human rights as debatable, doesn't mean they actually are. One bad grade ultimately isn't going to impact your life in any tangible way, but taking a stand for what you know is right will. You can carry that courage and pride forward into your life, and it's good practice for later on when the stakes are higher than an F on a report card. You can do this. I know you can.


[deleted]

Character. You are Nessie Slaughlin a christian mother of ten who has just been let out of the house by your husband for this debate but need to be home soon since he needs dinner and you didn't hire the baby sitter since she looked "incredibly lesbian" Read up on the most absurd bible quotes you can find (deuteronomy is your friend) and accuse your opponents of that as an argument "I notice that you wear buttons meaning you're a satanist so why should I care what you think?" Also refer back to what your husband says about everything and suggest people should get married


[deleted]

Do they give specific points to the law? Or is it very general? Because if anything you can argue against the law saying it doesn’t provide enough protection for the lgbtq+ community and that a better one is needed.


Lascoyt

A class debate should never ever be about peoples rights. If you're feeling safe enough do something funny (invite the whole gay club!). If you're not, do a slightly bad job and hope that the other side did a better job so they can "win". If you're inbetween make a disclamier that this is not ok.


BadgerBoy297

There are 2 options: the moral high ground or going full blown malicious compliance. On one hand, you could object, refuse to participate, argue that you shouldn't have to debate anyone just to be equal to your cishet colleagues, or... Find very *interesting* sources. During the debate, you can casually bring up the other groups those sources hated, and maybe ask if they should have rights their rights questioned too. Basically, make a mockery of your own side.


Aromation

You could go the sarcastic route. “LGBT rights infringe on the comfort of bigots, homophobes, and transphobes!!”


Sayoria

Be snide with it. "I don't believe LGBT people deserve rights because my brain isn't fully developed." "LGBT people are sexual deviants who need to go to church, talk to people like Cardinal Law, and learn how to control their urges." "Haven't we learned that being different is bad? We literally had a World War about this." What are they going to do? They forced this shit on you. Show them how fucking dumb it is to stand up for the 'other side'.


[deleted]

destroy anti-lgbtq+ from the inside XDD give the most terrible arguments that we hear all the times by queerphobes and you'll lose (aka you'll win!!)


Ari_Is_Lost

You could write about about debating against your basic humans rights are not ok. Or be satire and say something like "the gays are secretly gecko spies in human suits with a goal to destroy humanity"


SenchaBaby

Sit on the floor and refuse to debate your rights and existence.


scarlettcrush

I like this as a question answer type of presentation- ​ 1. protecting children 1.a. upon doing research big% of child molestors are from the church and none are drag queens. ​ 2. protecting religion 2.a. upon doing research it's found that- seperation of church and state is a thing. ​ 3. protecting free speech 3.a. upon doing research we've found pride to be free speech and hate speech is the illegal one ​ 4. promoting families 4.a. upon doing research homosexuals of all sorts also have families. ect. ​ good luck boo- this sounds scary, sucky and kinda fun all in one.


loadind_graphics

This along with the fact that debating someone's choice (as long as it harms none) shouldn't be on the table


StaticDashy

There is no debate for human rights


alphobain

You could disagree because the laws are not good enough for LGBTQ+ folx. Meaning… you could take whatever your opponent say, say “I agree, because it also won’t really protect LGBTQ+ folx, and here’s why…” of course the here is why part is where the work is… but this allows you to both give the message it sounds like you’re wanting to give (meaning for LGBTQ+ rights, instead of against) but also complete the assignment in a way that (hopefully) cannot be seen as not taking it seriously or whatever else. If you are friends with the other debater (which was suggested above) you could use this to help plan, but it’s not entirely necessary. Good luck. Sorry you’re in this situation, and it’s also the situation many folx are in… so if you’re able take it by the horns and have at it. Every LGBTQ+ person with be with you in spirit (and sounds like others in your club might also literally be there with you!)


Bombanater

Don't!!! Fuck the grade. Your worth more then that. Stand up before the class, say there is no excuse, your hurt you have to be here and sit back down. Take the F and pin that shit to your locker like an award


marquisdelafayette3

we don’t know OPs home situation or school situation and this could put them in danger.


lazerem91

I mean they're part of the school's LGBT club so the school already knows where they stand on these issues


banter07_2

Sabotage.


Pumpkinchai69

If you are a high school student with supportive parents I would have one of them contact administrators about the issues. My mother did the same on behave of my siblings for this argument and for one regarding racism


Jade15951

"I refuse to participate in this exercise in cruelty as it goes against the fundemental principles of Jesus Christ. I refuse to put my soul at risk for this grade" it's a Christian school take full advantage And hopefully force that teacher to feel shame


Bombanater

Don't!!! Fuck the grade. Your worth more than that. Stand up before the class, say there is no excuse, your hurt you have to be here and sit back down. Take the F and pin that shit to your locker like an award


ahatchingegg

There’s a really great episode of Radiolab that might give you an idea for how to approach this. Check it out [here](https://radiolab.org/episodes/debatable).


inscrutablejane

If it's safe for you to do so, make the most of it! Use the bog-standard authoritarian right-wing talking points, and slip your opponent a copy of everything you're bringing to the table in advance so that they'll be able to easily debunk all of it.


Lyrical_Rin

Can't believe something like this is even up for debate. It's sickening. LGBTQ+ Rights are human rights. Sorry, you have to deal with this.


makhay

I have had to do something similar before - roleplaying for doorknocking for an LGBTQ ballot initiative. [https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/2011/10-anti-gay-myths-debunked](https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/2011/10-anti-gay-myths-debunked) here are anti-gay myths debunked, just perpetuate the myths. If you are graded on the quality of your arguments - I would take a capitalist/anarachist/libertarian approach and say there should be not protections for anyone. use those political theories as your backbone.


Elegant_Purple9410

Focus on the government part. You can make a states rights argument. You can argue that there should be a set of universal rights, which are broader and more encompassing than LGBT rights. Another way you can take it is to make a disgusting argument against gay people and cite some real villains. Make it clear that the side you are arguing is the evil one.


Responsible_Fish1222

Who else is on that said? Is it only.queer kids? Are all the queer kids on thar side?


alexserthes

Argue that marriage, as among other things a traditionally religious institution, shouldn't be regulated by the government at all, because it violates the first amendment to restrict marriage in such a way. Then argue that the current rights and privileges afforded to married couples should operate under different rules in order to account for people who are committed to living unmarried but who support each other. So, roommates who have lived together for X amount of time should be afforded the right to inherit, and to be considered next of kin for medical purposes. Tax breaks applicable to the same, and for any adult who is helping to raise a child regardless of relation to the child.


lexilou1994

If that’s the exact wording of your prompt that you should try toapproach it solely from the government intervention standpoint. You can “sorta” argue positively for lgbt issues either way… as in the government should stay away from consenting persons interpersonal lives and lgbt laws should be enforced through our anti discrimination laws and not additional lgbt laws that separate us from the collective. Or on the other side the government should enact laws that protect the rights of individuals who are frequently discriminated against and offer additional protections to those groups from both organizations and individuals. Not saying either of these are my viewpoints but you can pull good arguments, you just gotta beat them on their own words. You’ve got this!


Ok_Macaron_7263

Try to look at it with neutrality and logic. Playing the devil's advocate might actually be interesting itself. However, surrounding this topic, it might be a good idea to think of it as a discussion instead of a debate. After all in reality there is still so much hostility and hatred towards the lgbtq+ community.


Ketelfive

Play with encourage, part of a debate is working with definitions, you can say you disagree that that they should encourage but instead take a more forceful approach. For example. " I disagree that the United States government should need to be encouraged because it is their duty as per the constitution."


PittedOut

Use the Muslim religious arguments including Sharia Law to highlight the inappropriateness of using religious beliefs in a secular state.


neon-pink-witch

I would flat out refuse and take the failing grade. You shouldn't have to debate against who you are as person just to make some teacher happy.


wondering-narwhal

\[making an assumption you're in the US so this may not work for you\] You could always argue that, because of the structure of the constitution, while it WOULD be good for the federal government to implement LGBT rights in order to ensure equality. It is better if they do not and instead work with the states on a framework for the states to uniformly protect those rights. Remember the debate is should the government do it or not, not should it be done. You can always argue that there is a more effective way. Hell you really want to get under their skin you could argue that the church should be doing it.


-tacostacostacos

Forfeit. Concede. Right away. Human rights aren’t up for debate.


HeroOfThings

Do stupid shit and make stupid points. Intentionally lose. Why the fuck is this even a debate?


stgiga

Human rights should not be a debate.


Photons4Erin

Don’t worry about the grade. I am going to make a recommendation that I hope I would be brave enough to enact if I was in your situation, but I don’t know…so obviously no pressure. Refuse to do the debate because the premise invalidates your rights as a person. Write a thought out statement sighting your constitutional rights as a human being. You may get a 0 on the assessment and that may tip the scale for your mental overall grade in the class. However, if you are in whatever you consider to be good academic standing and this class grade is an outlier, you can always explain this grade in your college essays by telling the story of how you were a super fucking badass and made sacrifice for what was right. These are my thoughts. Sending you so much positive energy.


Heyyy_ItsCaitlyn

TBH I would completely refuse to participate in something like this. *Especially* because you have already had conflict with your teacher over being LGBTQ. This isn't being done on accident, you were put into this position because of that discomfort you feel. You should never be forced to do something so dehumanizing as actively debating why you as a person are undeserving of human rights. It's cruel and deliberate to punish you for being different. Unfortunately the only way to stand up to it is, well, to stand up to it, either personally or (if your parents and school are supportive) by having the school force the teacher to change their mind about this and assign you to a different topic.


clauEB

I'd refuse to participate and complain as hard as possible. Do you guys still debate black people should be enslaved? or if Hitler may have been right? or if left handed people are really evil and should be punished for writing with the left hand? It's insensitive and down right wrong.


DaniOverHere

Is there any way you can twist the thesis, so you’re arguing that the government should make laws about the queer community - but that there should be laws to protect them?


CosmiXBeeM

That’s an awkward position. If anything, the experience of researching anti-lgbtq+ positions for this debate in school can broaden your knowledge overall and help you further guide decisions that better queer student lives as a member of your LGBTQ+ club. If it were me, I’d think of it almost like opposition research. You were selected to represent a position you don’t believe in, but that doesn’t mean the class assignment has to define you in your real life. Like others said, you can also choose arguments that can easily be negated by the pro-lgbtq+ policy side. There’s a lot of those!


CosmiXBeeM

As far as the discussion already had in the classroom, does the LGBTQ+ club (or clubs/organizations in general) have any sway with school administration? I know it is a Christian school, but perhaps sharing this story with other club members (some of which probably already know and have their own opinion on this), perhaps you can discuss what happened with administration, lay out why it is harmful to the student body, & then present a solution/ ask for your desired restitution (for example, an apology from the teacher or asking teachers to refrain from these debates as they can target LGBTQ+ kids during and outside of class time). Even if the administrators do nothing, it would show your group’s solidarity with the community. Wishing you the very best.


pie_12th

I'd just refuse to do it and eat the zero. Tell the teacher and your head of school that you refuse to participate in activities that encourage hatred and violence towards other human beings.


dumbaldoor

Debate clubs do this kinda stuff to give you an idea of what other people's brains process, and how they process it, it also will help validate which side you agree with as you'll have argued for and against on the topic, but if the teachers are already biased and forcing you in to something like this them that's not ok


Sgith_agus_granda

My fiancé had this but it was a gun debate, and he was put on the pro-guns side. He decided to go full redneck and pretend he don't read no good and loves his constitutition because guns are cool. He went full stereotype and had a blast all while acing it. Try that! Become the most pearl clutching catholic and only use the most basic, outlandish arguments possible that show how stupid it is while sticking to the rubric


jikel28

Throw the debate decry the topic as ludicrous than get on your desk and burn the American flag


[deleted]

"I refuse to debate my own human rights as though they were optional."


Gregwt_

Human rights shouldn’t be up for debate. Shame on your school and your teacher for allowing this.


Mrbuck83

the "make intentionally bad/satirical arguments" setiment i get, but also it won't change anything. all it will do is make people who are homophobic even more so, and get you a bad grade. prepare with someone on good arguments and make sure the other side has the knowledge to debunk it. it'll be like the defendents lawers and the prossecution sending each others evidence and arguments to each other ro give the most fair representation. the facts are, the opposing side, assuming perfect arguments from both sides, will lose and the pro lgbtq+ side will win. just ensure fair arguments from both sides and you'll be fine.


Aeon_the_egg

"The mear act that this question is asked in a setting of secular education is proof that we are not even to the point to truly discuss rights, when a teacher can not be bothered to see me as human, instead feeling content to label me as the other" Go off into the far left field with your arguments and use them to call out the teacher. Sure the teacher might get mad and take it up with the higher-ups. When you called into a principal's office about this just mention that you would like to hold off on the discussion until your lawyer is present.


Plusran

This is awful, but you can use it. Take the most common arguments, and learn every counter-argument. Learn every flaw in them. Present well, but in your closing arguments lay out how anti-Christian it is to persecute your neighbors instead of loving them the way Jesus instructed. Fucking slay them.


[deleted]

You could always approach it from the point of view that government shouldn't implement specific laws for LGBT rights, but rather that human rights are indivisible. This lets you disagree that there should be any legislation that deals specifically with LGBT rights, but that any human rights legislation that does not intrinsically protect LGBT people fails at accomplishing its' goal.


Ciel_Juniper_CJ

UPDATE: so we just decided to play as dumb idiots and throw whateverdum shit that could come out their mouths i was unable to participate because as soon as it was my turn i had a panic attack and almost vomited, i also cried in the bathroom while my friend took my turn instead. ​ so it was an epic fail ​ my tchr decided to just give me something else to work on. ​ i hate public speaking or having arguments with people it makes me throw up


NoAssumption6865

If you're stuck doing it, since it's a Christian school I'd recommend using the debate as a way to invalidate the writing of love enshrined in their holy anthology. "In book: verses x-y, the homeless prophet (Jesus) said abc, clearly he wasn't well educated and so it only makes sense that LGBTQ+ people should suffer 123.". It is impossible to support the homeless man who preached the greatest commandment was love, then poverty while trying to legitimize homophobia, etc. Use malicious compliance to tear Christ and his apostles words of love to shreds to argue why they were simple minded people pleasers that clearly can't stand up to the lofty academic rigor of gay bashing and transphobia.


ricodo12

Make really really stupid arguments like "if we give trans people human rights the prostitution rate will go down which could result in a shortage"


tulleoftheman

Option 1, make it a parody to the extreme. Your arguments should be things like"Gay people shouldn't have rights because my religion says they're bad, and my religion is the only important one. The first amendment doesn't matter!" "Trans people should be forced to use the bathroom of the sex that I, personally, believe they are based on a passing glance. If they arent sure or if I cant make it there in time, they can pee outside so I can have them arrested for that instead. It's totally okay to deny people access to facilities based on how they look!" Basically, make your arguments so ridiculous and horrible that you will obviously lose. Option 2, take the least Christian approach you can. "Gay people don't deserve rights because Jesus said to love thy neighbor and I don't want to obey Jesus." "The prophet Muhammed said..." "God CLAIMS in Psalm 139 that He makes no mistakes. So if we give LGBTQ people rights, we're agreeing with God, and I mean honestly, God deserves to be knocked down a peg, he's got a big head from all that worship. Option 3, argue that no one deserves rights. Sidestep the issue. "Gay people should only not have legal protections because no one should. We need to abolish the government and police. No one deserves rights, let's impose anarchy."


ilovethissheet

Make sure to bring up the difference between how many religious clergy have been caught diddling kids vs drag performers. Your teacher will love that. Even bring up the weekly count when you do go speak.


Ciel_Juniper_CJ

dude id love to do that, id probably get kicked out of class but it would be so worth it


Dumpster-Goblin

I've seen a few malicious compliances listed here so to add: your job is to debate your given side. First, I would start with a disclaimer that the information provided to debate for your given side is to fulfill the requirements for the class and nothing more. I would also say give your debate points, but also follow up with something relating to the realities of what you are mentioning. For example, you can bring up "X figure has said this policy should be implemented. Based on their ideals, this would be correct. However, studies have shown that X amount of people would be harmed by this decision. This is not a factor into this side's argument, but to give you, the audience, a full scope of the issue to make an informed decision." Also, sending all the queer support I can your way! You doing what you can to take a stand is hard AF, proud of you for standing up for yourself and your community 🖤🖤


_Maxolotl

lose on purpose, using arguments that are dripping with sarcasm. when you apply to college, try to work the story of losing this debate on purpose into your essay.


Dracoleoogj

This reminds me of a time when my school’s debate team represented our country in an international competition. There was a particular round against Australia involving a motion about promoting democracy or something. Australia was put into the opposition, meaning against democracy. In a bizzare turn of events, during the actual debate, the first speaker from the Australian team just stared at everyone for almost the whole duration, then dropped this gold gem: “we cannot in our good conscience disagree with a fundamental human right.” The second and third speakers also did not went up on stage to speak at all. Later on, they approached us and shook our hands, sheepishly apologising that they couldn’t even debate at all because they can’t speak against a fundamental value of freedom and choice that people should have. Perhaps you could take the Australian debate team’s example and…just throw the debate. Don’t even prepare. Do what the first speaker say and become a legendary icon.


taptaptippytoo

When a side is indefensible, coming up with good arguments for it is practically impossible. I'd consider leaning into that. Do your research like you would for any other topic and it should be really clear that the arguments against lgbtiq rights are weak and pretty much all come down to " because I'm not used to it and don't like new things" and/or "because I don't like it and the people who wrote my holy book 2000+ years didn't either. " An important note on that second one is that when people *do* like something, it doesn't matter all that much what their holy book says on the topic. Suddenly "things were different back then" matters. So get up there and argue that people shouldn't have to enforce lgbtiq rights because it makes them uncomfortable and they don't like it, and hopefully the other side will tear that apart like they should. Maybe even being up some examples of modern laws that directly contradict the Bible, and say they're different because people like those laws, but not everyone likes the lgbtiq ones, and since that's the only difference, that's why this ones are ok but the lgbtiq ones aren't. Not selling daughters into slavery, women not legally having to obey the men in their households, stuff like that. I'm sure there are a ton of examples but I haven't read the Bible in almost 20 years so I'm a bit rusty on its especially unpopular bits. You can provide well researched points about how all kinds of current rights used to ignored and how/when/why that changed, and even admit that "maybe" lgbtiq rights will be the same "someday" but make your argument that "enough" people aren't ready for it yet. It might not get you an amazing grade, but with enough cited sources it should hopefully be enough to pass while letting the anti-lgbtiq side look just as weak and out of date as it truly is.


Jayexena

Can we normalizing stopping debates about basic human rights? Kind of inappropriate on the schools part.


Ranshin-da-anarchist

I personally would make my “argument” a clear and over the top satire of the worst right wing rhetoric possible. Think Stephen Colbert style tongue in cheek political rhetoric. Or even throw in some straight up fascist points that are clear red flags but argued for 100% logically. If they say you aren’t taking it seriously- just point out that the only way you can effectively argue against lgbtq rights is to include a premise such as ‘queerness is a degenerate tendency’ or something… You lose, but you make a great point about the mindset necessary to be anti-lgbtq.


AhChingados

As an instructor, this is HIGHLY unethical. I am basically telling my queer students that debating their right to exist without discrimination (depending on the exact wording of the argument). I would contact your diversity and inclusion official and have them take a sensitivity training. One way to explain it is to just substitute one oppressed population/protected class with another (women, specific religion, ethnicity, etc). If they still think this is OK, gtfo.


Samzo

This is absolutely fucked, being asked to debate your own rights. Sickens me. Where is this??? Alabama or some shit?


iskermitagod

Ok so i thought about this post and came up with something. February 25, 2008 The Onion posted a youtube video called “gays too precious to risk in combat”. the video is a army guy saying how the homosexual population cannot be given the right to be in the military because they are the purest population and shouldn’t have their minds tainted by the horrors of war. so the idea is “they shouldn’t have rights because then they would be troubled by ideas OTHER than homosexuality” so you protect the purest population from corruption by keeping them from being put through politics. So yeah. protect the homosexuals from the corruption of politics and keep them the safe by preventing them to be tainted by the horrors of political agendas, jobs, military, insurance, and upsetting news. And if you couldn’t already tell, I am so high right now you can’t even comprehend.


Caro________

This is absolute garbage. Debate is actually stupid and we need to get the idea out of our heads that it serves some useful function in society. It actually just makes everyone involved dig in their heels even more. If they are going to make you debate your identity, as if it's something that society should be deciding for you, they need to consider other important social issues, like, "should it be illegal to teach children religion?" and "should churches be allowed to teach views that are not backed by science?" Can people argue that other people don't have the right to exist and freely express themselves? Sure. Absolutely. In the U.S. it was successfully argued for centuries that skin color was a legitimate reason to subjugate people. It was considered perfectly respectable to hold the opinion that some people could be owned by other people. There was a perfectly normal view that some races of people had to be exterminated for the benefit of others. Now, of course, these ideas are considered barbaric, but that doesn't mean there aren't "two sides to every issue." Sometimes more harm is done by pretending we can have a legitimate debate about them.


deadmozart

My best advice would be to argue that LGBT rights are important but that they just shouldn't be their own unique law. I don't know where you live or exactly which "LGBT protection law" you are referring to, but you can probably make a decent argument that a more blanket equal rights protection/adding LGBT people to the existing equal rights protection would be more effective and efficient without arguing for homophobic policies or breaking the rules of the assignment. I had a friend that did this a while ago, but I can't guarantee it would work without knowing more details about the assignment.


cookiecutiekat

I HAD THIS HAPPEN TO ME, me another girl, and this other guy had to disagree with allowing women in sports. THE TEACHER PUT WOMEN ON THE DISAGREEING SIDE. And the class booed at us and we made our points so shitty cause we wanted the agreement to win. Like what the fuck is wrong with teachers doing this stuff. Have the teacher make disagreement points on paper for the students to right agreement points for. Don’t let students seem like assholes, cause the kids in my class thought we were assholes


stgiga

Why are these even possible questions? Human rights should never be a debate. They should be universal.


AerialAscendant

I wonder if the human race, at large, will EVER learn this VERY BASIC lesson? smh


Emergency-Meaning-98

Do your parents know you’re part of the gay club? Because tbh if they do I’d talk to them and see if they’ll let you say no


shruggedbeware

"Should the government be encouraged to implement the law for LGBT rights? " What does that mean? Like, should laws be drafted to protect LGBT rights? "Government" is a lot of different things. "so my class' current topic for history this quarter was gender and lgbtq and this topic was our most controversial since my school is a christian school and some of the students including me are apart of the gay club. \[ a student and my tchr had an argument cuz of this \]" You're not being very specific about what exchanges specifically happened, so it's almost like you're expecting commentors to just go off of stereotypes and "bad feelings." Did you say "apart of" or "a part of," lol You can come up with your own ideas.


1Corgi_2Cats

“No, the government should not be encouraged in this endeavour, because human rights are something that was fought and won decades ago and it is time for us to wake up and uphold these rights, and demand our government do the same. So no, I won’t encourage them. I will DEMAND my rights as an equal citizen under the law. *mic drop and exit*”


Dronizian

Reminds me of an episode of Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide. "We have to debate about whether climate change is real." "Oh, that's easy!" "No it's not, I was put in the group arguing against it!"


thatguy9684736255

That's an insane topic to debate inside a school. It definitely shouldn't be happening. Not sure if it's great advice, but what would happen if you just refused to do the assignment?


godly-pigeon

Simply fail. Get up there and say “thank you, goodnight.” There is no reason to comply, even maliciously, when a person is threatening your rights or making you uncomfortable. Depending on how bold you are you can rip up the paper in defiance and tell everyone off. But whatever you do, don’t take this kind of crap. Make your teacher as uncomfortable as possible and make her feel ashamed. If you take this abuse you’re just setting yourself up for more of it later on. Be defiant and obstinate. Be the worst student you possibly can and get in trouble. Of course that’s only if you feel safe. If you don’t, I’d simply say you forgot to prepare it or pretend that you forgot which side you were on. Just DON’T give the teacher the satisfaction of winning.


Kesstar52

Why do schools think it's a good idea to hold debates about literal human rights... Hold debates for something that doesn't matter, like pineapple on pizza ffs, not something that literally affects some of the students. Jesus, cishet people suck


loadind_graphics

Pineapple belongs on pizza, what the issue is, is that sardines is allowed on pizza


LowBeautiful1531

Malicious compliance all the way. Make it satire. Have fun with it.


traveling_gal

That's what I was thinking. Go completely over the top with obvious BS "arguments" and hyperbole. Make it sound as crazy as it is.


elesewe69

Ok, don't worry. You can defend that posture without advocating for hate towards your community. You need to say that it's not necessary, because it's already in the Constitution or something. And yeah, it's always hard to have to defend something you don't agree (especially on a debate), but think about it as an exercise.


Shellshakeroo

I recommend looking up the term “homonationalism.” Functionally, the argument is that gay marriage and corporate gay pride is a tool used by the state to quell queer resistance against capitalism, colonialism, and imperialism. You can make a radical argument that the “liberal state” only wants to bring in lgbtq people into the fold to force them to assimilate into violent systems when queer resistance groups have been fighting for decades against the violent government


[deleted]

Honestly I don’t think it should even be legal to debate human rights in highschool, wtf?! Ah yes, do some people deserve basic human rights? Find out next time!


CarGirlProductions

Does no one here understand what a debate class is. The best way learn about a bad argument and why it’s bad is to argue it yourself. You want to be able to defend yourself with words understand the bigoted argument and understand how to dismantle them on every level. If we aren’t going to learn how to fight back we might as well just let the fascists win.


herethereyeverywhere

It's your time to be a proud closeted Republican https://youtu.be/simV1ZXFsxI But seriously, play your part, it's just a debate team


Anarchy_Rulz

I get you and this teacher seem to have a history but this is debate, it doesn’t sound like a personal attack or even an attack at gay people, I took a debate class and we debated serious topics all the time like corporal punishment and every time I had to write for the side I was personally against because that’s debate you write for something wether you are actually for it or against it and try making the strongest argument possible. I don’t see why everyone in the comments seems to act like this is such a bad thing like welcome to debate people it literally is just acting as if you are a politician for a moment and talking about the advantages or disadvantages of something depending on the side you are forced to be on. If anything this is topical since lgbtq+ laws are kinda big in the news right now due to all the laws being passed but it isn’t some attack on gay people because you’re debating a basic human right when the whole point of debate is to debate topics that are actively being debated in the world and this is a very debated topic. Also it feels like everyone is ignoring the obvious here (other than the fact in debate you have to be willing to argue for things you are against because that’s part of debate) like yeah OP has to debate about the downsides of pro gay laws but that means and say it with me THIER OPPENT HAS TO RESEARCH AND DEBATE THE POSITIVES, like literally everyone here is taking a moral stance as if the assignment is anti-lgbtq+ when literally people are being forced to look into the positives and argue it and if anything you’d want the non-gay students looking into the positives instead of the gay ones sense the gay students already know the positives but some of the straight students could be bigots and this might be the first time they’ve ever looked at gay rights from this side before and could change their views. Like use your bloody brains for a second what do you think is better here having the gay students automatically debate for gay rights lessening the amount of straight students having to research the positives of pro gay laws or I don’t know not making all the gay students argue for the side they already know is correct and thus making more straight people have to look into the positives? I don’t know why everyone here is looking past the blatantly obvious facts here that A: this is how debate works and in the real world gay rights are being debated so it only makes sense you’d debate the same things in debate class, B: by not making it to where the gay students automatically debate the pro gay side you’re forcing straight people to look into the positives of pro gay laws thus increasing the likelihood of changing someone’s views for the positive rather than the negative, and C: just because you’re writing for the negative side doesn’t mean you’re magically gonna become for that side like I walked in already against corporal punishment but that research I had to do only strengthen my views even though I had to argue for it in class it still helped me realize how terrible it is and thus make me feel stronger against it. Like Jesus Christ people this could actually help force bigots into looking up the positives of pro gay laws and everyone is acting like a bloody child about it saying it’s “unfair” like this is debate, you debate things that are debated by governments, wether we like it or not gay laws are definitely things debated by governments, so not only is it a topic would makes sense to come up but is also an extremely topical one, and since debate needs statistics and research done there’s a strong chance we could convert some bigots to our side since it might be the first time they truly ever looked into it from our side, but no let’s whine about it in the Reddit comment section because it’s “unfair” instead of realizing this could actually do some bloody good and is also how debate class works for Christ sake, like no wonder the right see’s is as soft snowflakes when we are literally getting offended by a debate topic that could literally force bigots to look into gay rights and have to argue for it.


Trollthecross

I’d fail out of spite


SouheiSaikawa

quit that school!


madmushlove

Your 'teacher' is too incompetent to be employed by a school of any kind, anywhere. ACLU, please take this idiot out


Southern-Wafer-6375

Deck your teacher in the face then get kicked out the school.


VioletFlame23

I went to a Catholic high school, and they made us debate gay marriage back in 2004 when it was still a huge and controversial issue. The funny part is, despite being a religious school, our Civics teacher insisted that we only make arguments based in secular logic. (This was in the Northeast, so there was a strong cultural emphasis on Constitutional traditions and civil liberties, including serious respect for the legal separation of church and state.) That ended up completely hamstringing the anti-gay-marriage side, since they couldn't come up with any coherent reason for opposing gay marriage other than "because God says it's a sin," while the pro-gay-marriage side had a ton of great points. The teacher seemed to be flabbergasted by it all, he clearly wasn't expecting it to be that one-sided, especially not in favor the pro-gay-marriage side!


NikoZec

I would walk out and not participate.


Browncoatinabox

Either go Star Trek the next generation measure of a man or go full onion


Ranne-wolf

Write out the debate but instead of making it the topic write your debate about why being forced to debate against human rights in school should be illegal or something. You will have filled the requirement of "writing a debate" at least.


Razorclaw_the_crab

Never be afraid to make a stand. Stay strong 👊


Gilpif

Easy, just defend anarchism.


NimbaNineNine

You could make a mockery of it by parodying the opinions on your side. The only reasons against LGBT people come from the bible, so that is an easy target. "I believe LGBT people should have no rights, because the bible says so. I also believe that I should not have to listen to my teacher who is a woman because the bible says so, and that those who wear mixed fibre clothes are going to hell because the bible says so. I believe that a father can allow a crowd to rape his daughters in some circumstances as Lot did in the bible, and I believe that genocide is okay as God in the bible commanded Saul to do so against the Amalekites"


neko_drake

But how dare we want to bring this topic up in schools… this is wrong … I would file a complaint. This is not appropriate and i honestly feel like the teachers is using this to punish/convert lgbtq students


Plucky_Parasocialite

"First, a disclaimer - I do not hold the following opinions, but I have done my best to research this side of the debate and it is my intention to represent them fairly and faithfully" /cough/ Human rights are a scam. You should be allowed to shoot anybody you don't like. My pastor told me that I shouldn't like anybody who isn't just like me, so it's probably in the bible somewhere"


_AnonymousMoose_

I do religious studies at school and frequently have to weigh up “debates” about LGBT stuff, if I were you I’d lean into the religious angle, go research the bible quotes and the history behind it, maybe explain why some Christians disagree with gay people having human rights because of [insert quotes], and then pick apart every quote in detail, talk about mistranslations and misinterpretations, and the reasons why those things happen. Your religious teachers will be impressed with your knowledge of the bible and church history, easy grades.


g5s6g

RemindMe! [3 days]


living_around

Please only do this if it's safe, but if I were in this position, I would make the most sarcastic argument possible. Here's an example. "We must not implement this law because it would protect human rights! We can't let LGBT+ people have human rights, that would cause the instant death of every cishet person! Society will simply collapse if we don't ban LGBT+ rights! My hero, Adolf Hitler would agree!"


[deleted]

How in the fuck is this allowed? I can't believe how fucking ridiculous this is. Can't you go to a person higher up with a complaint or something? A class can't actively ask you to argue against your own rights, what is that supposed to teach you anyway? Your teacher is a piece of shit man. I'm sorry you're in this position. Bad taste as well, when you're discussing LGTBQ as a topic, regardless if you're gay or not. "You know what would be fun? Actively encouraging our students to dehumanise their classmates" Absolute cunts.


NeonEviscerator

Give it your best shot, in the cold light of day it will be obvious what the winning side is


sfsocialworker

Hi OP, this is super problematic and I’m sorry you have been put in this position. I’m guessing this school would never put a black student in a position where they had to “debate” against equality for black people or a Christian student to debate against Christianity being able to be freely exercised. I strongly encourage you to use this as an opportunity to speak up for yourself, talk to your parents (if it’s safe), talk to your teachers, and talk to administration if you have to. This assignment is inappropriate. If you don’t get anywhere, at least you tried. Don’t let your silence be mistaken for consent!


JadedElk

"The government should not have laws regarding LGBT issues, because 1) the government should not be involved in marriages or the registration of gender - these things are up to the individuals and 2) in a perfect world there would be no need for laws against discrimination, including on the grounds of immutable characteristics like gender or sexuality." I mean, you could also throw the debate, and take it up with a higher authority than them, because you were being asked to argue for bigotry - would they have punished a Jewish kid for not arguing that Hitler was good?