Did students at Richardson High School near Dallas learn today how God expects them to be “dateable”? That appears to have been the purpose of a speaker who visits high schools in Texas and across the country. And a lot of Richardson students appear to have been understandably angered by the presentation.
Motivational speaker Justin Lookadoo gave a presentation at the high school earlier today. According to his rudateable.com website (“R. U. dateable”?) , “dateable girls” should “know how to shut up,” are “soft” and “gentle,” aren’t “Miss Independent,” and remember that “God made guys as leaders.”
And what about “dateable boys”? They remember that “men of God are wild, not domesticated” and that they’re “stronger, more dangerous, and more adventurous” than girls are. They “keep women covered up” because they know that “porn is bad.” “Dateable guys are real men who aren’t afraid to be guys.”
Apparently, young people who don’t fit these outdated and outrageous stereotypes and expectations aren’t ready to make a commitment with God to be “dateable”:
“If you believe the dateable rules and are ready to commit to the list, then read on brave one! This commitment is between you and your God. He knows what is in your heart and He will help you stick to the commitment.”
At this point we don’t know how much of what Lookadoo has on his website made it into his presentation today. But Richardson High School students didn’t seem to like the presentation very much. Tweeting with the hashtag #lookadouche, a number of them offered some rather sharp “reviews”:
Walking out, I refuse to listen to the enforcement of stereotypes and gender roles. #lookadouche
— Aisleen Menezes (@aisleenmenezes) November 13, 2013
— Meg Colburn (@Megeramarie) November 13, 2013
At this rate, our speaker on Friday will be Ritchie Incognito #Lookadouche
— (@NateBeer) November 13, 2013
Being appalled by this “motivational speaker” has legitimately exhausted me in my ventures of defending the rights of women. #lookadouche
— Es†iee.♡ (@InGodsArmy_) November 13, 2013
The Texas Freedom Network received emails and calls from concerned parents who say they weren’t notified in advance about the school presentation. After they found out and voiced their concerns, Richardson High School officials at first “postponed” today’s presentation. But the school then decided to go forward with the event. TFN sent a public information request to the school this morning asking for more information about the presentation and who paid for it.
A calendar of events on Lookadoo’s website indicates that he makes presentations at scores of public schools. The “dateable” rules on his website promote gender stereotypes and sentiments similar to those that a 2009 report from the TFN Education Fund found in many abstinence-only sex education programs taught in Texas public schools. You can read more about that report at www.justsaydontknow.org.