In His Own Words: Lance Sanderson Explains Why He Will Not Be Silenced

"I am appalled by the idea that an institution can censure its students from voicing a different opinion."
From: NewNowNext

 Editor’s note:

Lance Sanderson, the 18-year-old senior at Christian Brothers High School, an all-boys Catholic prep school in Memphis, Tennessee, was denied a request to bring another boy with him to the school’s Homecoming dance over the weekend.

Adding insult to injustice, Sanderson was suspended on Monday morning, asked to stay home for the rest of the week. The reasons cited: CBHS did not “appreciate the unwanted publicity” the story had generated and were receiving insults as a result.

After speaking with Lance several times over the phone, I realized the best way to report on this ongoing story was to give Lance the opportunity tell his story, his way.

Here are his words.

I am overwhelmed by recent events.

After a challenging weekend, I arrived at Christian Brothers High School on Monday morning ready to learn and hopefully find solutions to persisting issues. Instead, they sent me home for the week.

I do not believe that they had grounds for their actions. I did not sign anything that would prevent me from speaking out and I do not know why the school is punishing me.

I am appalled by the idea that an institution can censure its students from voicing a different opinion. I felt discriminated against because of their dance policy.

 I think of myself as a whistle blower. I see all of these things that should not be happening and I’m no longer staying silent about them. I can’t imagine how the people who were in my situation, but remained silent must have felt. On second thought, I can, because I was silent for a long time.

I was afraid to speak up and speak out. It was awful and I wish that no one would ever have to go through that again. It is only fair to the people who went through similar situations before me, like Austin Wallis, that I do all that I can to push for equality.

I was overly careful and nervous at first, but once I realized how important and far reaching this work truly is, I felt nothing but confidence.

I hope that when people look at me, they see the average teenager. I do not claim to be more than I am and hope that shy/nervous teens around the country see some of themselves in me.

I feel awkward in large crowds, have acne and stutter on occasion. I am not the smartest person I know, fastest runner, best writer or loudest fan at a Shawn Mendes concert, but when I want something done, I make it happen. That is what’s special about me: I have unstoppable determination.

Once, someone asked me what type of guys I like. My response was simply, ’any that are not average.’ When I look for friends and boyfriends, I look for people I can talk to. I look for people that are entertaining and different because that makes them irreplaceable.

I think it’s normal to be different.I hope that when people look at me, they see the average teenager. I do not claim to be more than I am and hope that shy/nervous teens around the country see some of themselves in me.

I feel awkward in large crowds, have acne and stutter on occasion. I am not the smartest person I know, fastest runner, best writer or loudest fan at a Shawn Mendes concert, but when I want something done, I make it happen. That is what’s special about me: I have unstoppable determination.

Once, someone asked me what type of guys I like. My response was simply, ’any that are not average.’ When I look for friends and boyfriends, I look for people I can talk to. I look for people that are entertaining and different because that makes them irreplaceable.

I think it’s normal to be different.