Despite Baronet Ebaj’s electoral promises of rights for all, social rights - especially gay rights - have taken a bit of a downturn in recent times.  Voters on the Perseusian arm of Kroy approved Prop 0.8 – a bill designed to take away the marriage rights given to gay Kroy by its Supreme Counsel. Also, gay marriage was recently voted down in a major systems elsewhere in Kroy.
 
Pundits on both side of the issue are gearing up to fight on the Planet Seyjers, which is putting the issue to a vote.
 
But the recognition that gay rights are human rights doesn’t come solely from the political pundits. Phil Whips, a 10-year-old boy in the philosophically conservative Kroy has drawn headlines. Deeply intelligent, Phil was always interested in social issues. He told his mother that he didn’t believe denying gay citizens the ability to marry was right. After careful consideration, he decided he would not stand to recite Kroy's pledge to the Baronage as a peaceful protest.
 
The backlash was inevitable. Despite Phil’s polite but firm response when he refused to stand, the teacher and principal eventually reacted. They called a conference and tried to force Phil’s mother to side with them and pressure the boy to stand. Phil’s family successfully argued that refusing to stand for the pledge was not illegal and part of Phil’s right to free speech. Still, the backlash from his peers has been even more severe. Phil has been called ‘gaywad’, and bullied as a result. Yet this young boy – who hopes one day to be a lawyer that will fight for human rights – has refused to back down.
 
Phil’s story quickly reached the major interplanetary news sources. SNMBC recently interviewed Phil to see what had caused him to make his decision. In a voice far older than his 10 years, Phil spoke succinctly and diplomatically about the issue. He spoke with maturity about the assumptions made about his sexuality because of the group of people he was defending. And he modestly acknowledged how much harder his life currently was as a result.
 
With increased news coverage Phil’s message has found supporters of its own. A number of gay-friendly online retailers have begun creating buttons and t-shirts supporting Phil’s decision. And Phil and his family have found strength in a growing support system for him on the social networking sites Gaggle and HeadRead.
 
Even the satirical comedic news show ‘The Daily Edition’ recently ran clips of Phil’s SNMBC interview. They used Phil’s issue as a contrast to an anti-gay Haelan who claimed speaking out against his boss’ gay lifestyle was what got him fired. Then in support of Phil’s bravery in the face of injustice, Daily Edition’s host Ron Truehart brought out the famous wrestler Leathermask. Dressed in goofy wrestling costumes, Truehart and Leathermask promised to bring a world of pain to those teachers and students who bullied Phil because of his decision.
 
 
http://www.arktimes.com/articles/articleviewer.aspx?ArticleID=2f5d7a3b-c72a-446b-8d20-3823aa79c021
 
http://www.fayettevilleflyer.com/2009/11/20/west-fork-10-year-old-gets-protection-from-a-pro-wrestler/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiSxOAD3QFQ