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For Logan Kehrig, being the only openly gay kid in his high school placed him on the receiving end of a lot of awful attention from the bullies. One day members of the football team cornered him and fearing for his life, he fought back.
Fausto Fernós is the host of iTunes’ #1 LGBT talk show, the Feast of Fun podcast, which he produces and hosts with his partner, Marc Felion.
Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Fausto Fernós created the Feast of Fools in 1998 as wacky artists variety show in Chicago, Illinois. Feast of Fun grew out of an audio blog to promote the live show into the world’s most downloaded talk show aimed for gay people.
When he’s not blogging, recording or sleeping, Fausto can be found at the gym or appreciating the beauty found in nature.
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Comments
Wow! What a moving show. Thanks Logan for sharing.
I just wonder how many of these stories are out there? Imagine if the poor kid’s parents weren’t as supportive as Logan’s (or mine, if I may add).
I agree. This was a powerful story & one I imagine several people in our community go through. Thank you so much Logan for sharing your story & your strength. You are an inspiration.
It’s easily understood that a teenager could make such a mistake, but fighting back was a mistake. The incident clearly illustrates why violence under any circumstance is impermissible. Nonetheless, I have all the empathy in the world for what Logan went through and came close to committing violence against myself under similar circumstances. It takes uncommon resolve to resist our violent impulses in those situations.
I couldn’t disagree with you more. They were trying to get him to get into a car and they were going to take him to another location to do whatever it is they wanted to do with him. Don’t ever let anyone force you into a car and take you someplace else even if they have gun. The whole point to getting you to go someplace else is because they don’t feel comfortable doing what they want to do in that space, but once they get you where they are comfortable, they have the upper hand.
Sure, if you can run, run, but if you are surrounded and you know martial arts, fight for your life.
That’s okay. Reasonable people can disagree. I guess I’m a bit of a Quaker and a pacifist. I philosophically don’t believe that violence is ever justifiable. Whenever you use violence to defend yourself, you are placing your own wellbeing above another’s, and that is immoral by definition. Of course, I don’t know what I would do if I was in the situation, and I can’t expect a teenager to uphold the same standards in such a situation. He and the bullies were put in that situation by a society, a school administration, and parents that set a horrible example.
Logan did say at the moment he picked up the construction stake he had broken free and could have run away.
Just wanted to clarify a few things…while I agree with Than that violence should never be the answer (and I certainly hope no one took from my interview that I encourage it) in some cases it comes down to fight and live-or stay and die. And running away isn’t always an option.
It wasn’t for me that day- imagine a half circle in front of you and a wall at your back. In this case, the wall was the car they had open and were trying to force me into. The circle was the six people in front of me. I did get knocked down, and did try to break through, but when I got up the last time holding something in my hand it was because I couldn’t get away. I issued a warning, they attacked anyway, and I struck once. Even then it was restrained.
If some people want to consider that “immoral”, then I guess I am an immoral person. To me, using violence to *attack* is the immoral act. Defending oneself physically is not immoral. If you respond with greater than necessary force, sure, you’re just as bad as the instigator. And I think most people would agree that they wouldn’t willingly go along with a group of men that wanted to beat, torture and in all likelihood end your life. No matter how big a pacifist you are. I guess I’d make a horrible Quaker
How the school can just force him to take a break or leave? It is hard to imagine for me as in Germany you have the right to go school, the school cannot just pressure you to drop out. But then I also went to a secundary school which was known to be good one with a protective enviroment. At other schools in Germany, particular in more traditional areas like South Germany it can be also quite difficult for gay guys due to bulliying.
But thanks to guys like Logan who are not afriad to fight back our schools can become a better place for gay kids. Thanks for the powerful story and interesting interview!
This was an excellent podcast – Logan Kehrig’s story is truly harrowing.
Fausto, you asked if there had been other, earlier cases involving antigay harassment in school. There was one: Nabozny v. Podlesny, a case arising from Wisconsin. In 1996, the federal appeals court for the Seventh Circuit overturned the trial court, holding that a school district could be held liable for failing to stop antigay bullying. This was the first time a federal court had ever reached this conclusion. See the link below for more information on the case.
By the way, although the case arose in Wisconsin, it was in federal court, and the appellate ruling came from the appellate court that covers Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana. As a result, while Nabozny is merely persuasive authority in the rest of the country, it is binding law here in Chicago and throughout the Seventh Circuit.
Again – an excellent show.
http://www.lambdalegal.org/in-court/cases/nabozny-v-podlesny
Excellent show. I never think to stop and post because I listen in the car and then forget, but after this show, I made it a point to get to the computer as soon as I got home.
I was riveted to every word! Logan, you come across as so well adjusted that it’s hard to imagine you ever experienced such physical hatred – and every day! Your story alone is compelling, but your positive attitude is an inspiration! I wish you all the best for a happy future; you deserve it! Hugs!
“Each time we face our fear, we gain strength, courage, and confidence in the doing.” – Somebody
thanks for sharing your amazing story!!