Anti-gay high school commencement speech sparks community scorn

Public outrage ensued following the River Valley High School graduation ceremony after alumni speaker Jim Mcguire condemned homosexual relationships Friday in his commencement speech.

Mcguire, who owns a manufacturing company, J.L. Mcguire and Associates, encouraged the graduates of the Marion County public school to pursue the “Biblical principles” of only romantic relationships between a man and a woman.

After opening his speech by encouraging the graduates to spend time “learning

God’s word,” Mcguire said this about relationships:

“Choose a spouse, I suggest. I also strongly suggest to make sure to choose Biblical principles, you know, a male with a female and female with a male.”

Although River Valley has made the video of the graduation ceremony private, the district made public a full transcript of the speech along with an official statement clarifying Mcguire was speaking on his own accord.

“In cooperation with the River Valley Board of Education, the River Valley Administrative team will be reviewing our processes for future ceremonies,” the statement said.

Across social media and conversation, the Marion community has been responding with public outcry. “When he made the comment that marriage should only be between a man and a woman, my jaw dropped to the floor, and I honestly thought I was hearing it wrong,” said Alexis Osipow, who was at the ceremony to support her graduating younger sister.

“I had to look around and see if other people were having the same reaction, and they were.

“I felt like crying when I heard some people in the crowd clapping.”