This 10 Year Old Won’t Stand for a Country that Doesn’t Support its GLBTQ Population

Sorted under GLBTQ, politics on November 20, 2009

Will Phillips Will Phillips is an exceptionally bright 10 year old boy who recently skipped a grade in school and whose family had always taught him to be aware of what’s right, wrong, and what’s fair. The family has many friends in the gay community and they are allies for the community, having attended pride parades and standing up for the rights of their gay and lesbian neighbors, including their right to marry and to adopt. Will has always tried to analyze things (because he wants to be a lawyer) and it is that logic he uses when he hears the pledge of allegiance and has determined that we do not really live in a country that gives liberty and justice for all, which is why he has refused to stand up and recite the pledge of allegiance in school–after asking his parents if it was illegal to not recite it, of course.

The first time Will refused to stand and recite the pledge of allegiance he had a sub at school, a woman who had known his mother and grandmother. When he refused, this woman got angry and resorted to telling Will that she knew his mother and grandmother and that they would want him to stand up and recite the pledge of allegiance. Will is very, very lucky because he has a supportive family who raised him to respect and taught him about the unfairness that GLBTQ people are treated with by their own country. Of course this substitute teacher was incredibly out of line to tell him that she knew his mother and that she would want him to stand up and recite the pledge when if she truly knew his mother for the woman that she is, she would know that his mother lets him make his own decisions and come to his own conclusions with his analysis, and as long as he is not hurting anyone (and in this case he is actually extending love to others and standing up for the same people that are discriminated against) I do not see the problem.

There are undoubtedly people all across the country who have heard Will’s story and support him for exercising his right not to stand up and recite the pledge of allegiance, but where there are supporters, there are people who are condemning him and taking the completely close-minded ‘America: Love It or Love It‘ stance. One comment I saw on another blog that mimicked everything that we constantly hear from people who think they stand for the people of this country but really all they stand for is homophobia, bigotry and blind admiration for the country:

This kid doesn’t deserve to live in this country. We have soldiers overseas fighting to save his sorry *** and he can’t have the respect for the nation that he lives in to say a simple pledge? If he doesn’t support this country he can find someplace else to live because anyone who takes dislike to this country can feel free to take their ignorant selves elsewhere. I understand him supporting gay rights but first of all, the national government doesn’t even control laws about homosexuality because it was not a power given to them in the constitution; it is a right reserved for state legislation. If he is so knowledgeable in this area of politics he should also be aware that Arkansas, like most southern state, is a very traditional, conservative state and one that frowns upon homosexuality, in this case i could understand him not supporting his state because they do exactly what he is against. That being said, even if the national government did have control over issues like this, it’s still not an excuse to support the pledge. It’s very simple, if you don’t support the country than the country shouldn’t support you and you can find somewhere else to live like Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Somalia etc. and then see how bad it is to live here! This kid has a lot to learn! He is being just as ignorant as the gay bashers that he is fighting against and if you’re supporting this your just as ignorant as that kid too!

I seriously love this kid and sticking to his convictions about the discrimination against GLBTQ people in this country. When the war in Iraq started I was in high school and I was (and still am, obviously) opposed to the wars that we are currently sacrificing our soldiers for. So in the mornings in home room, I refused to stand or recite the pledge of allegiance. Of course, just like in Will’s case, it caused quite a stir with my teachers who were offended by me and my refusal to “support my country.” I ended up having to get a note written by my father saying that it was fine for me not to stand and recite the pledge of allegiance and present it to the principal. Thankfully, my father has always respected my opinions and decisions, in life and my political stance, and because I have been gifted with my father’s sarcasm and sense of humor, he did write a letter to my principal… telling him that he does not remember having to write a note giving me permission to stand up and recite the pledge of allegiance in the first place. No, the apple does not fall far from the tree.

Way to go Will, keep fighting the good fight!



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  • Personally I have to say bravo to this kid. How many of us would be brave enough at 10 years old to stand up (or not stand up in this case) and say, wait a minute this isn't right?
  • Why do children have to 'pledge allegiance' in the US anyway. It sounds Stalin-esque to me, coming from a UK perspective.
  • What is GLBTQ ?

    And I didn't stand for the pledge once and I got thrown out of the classroom by my teacher. Then sent the office...
  • GLBTQ stands for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer. You may also see it as LGBT, which is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender.

    I was also sent to the office and then told I had to get a letter from my dad saying it was okay that I didn't stand. I guess it was their way of saying 'We're making you tell your dad!'
  • Wow and go Will! Nice to see a child raised to have his own beliefs and think for himself. I understand why some people feel refusing to cite the pledge is un-American, but I also respect why he doesn't want to recite it. Sadly their is not always liberty and justice for all.
  • raincy
    This is a good child, I really loved that. Is also a good article.
  • I love this kid! Saw him on a morning show and he blew me away. His thoughtfulness, awareness, wisdom, and action give me hope for the future. If a young child can clearly understand the inequality for GLBTQ in the U.S. and stand up for his belief why is it difficult for so many others?
  • There will ALWAYS be imperfections any time people are free to express their opinions through elected officials.....especially if by "imperfections" we mean whenever persons are not allowed to do certain things because the society does not believe those things to be wholesome or healthy.

    It is THAT FREEDOM of a society to decide what matters through the free vote that forms the basis of why the Pledge is important. There are certainly laws and regulations that I don't agree with, some that curtail MY freedom. However, that doesn't mean that I am going to disrespect the flag that so many have died for.

    My view is that this young man is not being instructed properly if each time he sees something in our society that is contrary to his opinions, he is allowed to disrespect the entire structure by refusing to honor its symbol.

    I am sorry to see this, especially because it would have been my hope that the boy's relatives would have agreed with the substitute teacher.

    Evidently that isn't the case.

    That's very sad for the Nation.

    In a country where dictators like Robert Mugabe rule, to disrespect the flag in such a manner would mean death. It is a happy circumstance that your son lives where he does.
  • Wow... What a great article about a great boy..
  • soga168
    a heart touching article,Thanks for sharing
  • puppypens
    thanks for posting i have one thing to say short and sweet, that is a very thought evoking article and ime sure it has made quite a few people think.
  • alokshrii
    I always prefer to fight for the good. I am no good for nothing who don't want to stand for country. Thanks for giving the best of you.
  • He is a great boy and doing great job.
  • this is a sad reality, and at the same time a great article thanks for sharing.
  • I could never seem to understand people who discriminate. As much as I want to, I always end up with the conclusion that maybe they got only half a brain in there heads. I feel sorry for them.
  • A beautiful story about a beautiful boy... nice to read in the morning before work... keep up the good work and thanks...
  • deadale
    this is a great post, absolutely...
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