TOTALLY GEEKED!

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
totallygeeked -> totallygeeked general -> Teacher of the Year Photo Goes Viral
Post Info TOPIC: Teacher of the Year Photo Goes Viral
Lady Gaga Snerd


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 25897
Date:
Teacher of the Year Photo Goes Viral
Permalink  
 

The meaning behind Rhode Island's Teacher of the Year photo with President Trump

by Erin Vogel-Fox

Sunday, June 18th 2017

53558e33-5bbf-4d4d-8977-42e459762e5c-lar

Nikos Giannopoulos pictured with President Trump and First Lady. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

AA

WASHINGTON (Sinclair Broadcast Group) - Rhode Island's 2017 teacher of the year Nikos Giannopoulos, posed for a picture with President Trump and First Lady, while holding a black lace fan, rainbow pride pin and anchor necklace.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The picture has gone viral. The teacher explained in a Facebook post the meaning behind his wardrobe choice for meeting.

 

 

Giannopoulos wore a rainbow pin "to represent my gratitude for the LGBTQ community that has taught me to be proud, bold, and empowered by my identity - even when circumstances make that difficult."

He explained that his bold print blue jacket and lace fan were to "celebrate the joy and freedom of gender nonconformity."

During a recent interview with NPR, he explained that the fan he brought belonged to his partner and was purchased as a souvenir on a trip to Venice, Italy. during that same interview, Giannopoulos said the president "loved" when he popped open the fan and complemented him on his style.

Before the picture was taken, he was asked to put his fan away, but before the image was captured he asked the president if he could pose with it and Trump agreed, according to Giannopoulos' NPR interview.

His necklace, was worn in honor of Rhode Island's state motto "hope," which Giannopoulos explained was inspired by Hebrews 6:19.

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure,” the bible verse states.

 

 

Giannopoulos said he did not have much of an opportunity to speak with the president.

But in his Facebook post, he states he would have like to explain why he feels proud to be an American.

"I would have told him that the pride I feel as an American comes from my freedom to be open and honest about who I am and who I love. I would have told him that queer lives matter and anti-LGBTQ policies have a body count. Taking pride in queer identity means rejecting the shame imposed upon us by a harsh society," Giannopoulos said.

Giannopoulos is a special education teacher at the Beacon Charter High School for the Arts, in Rhode Island.

"I have a Department of Education and former Rhode Island Teachers of the Year who believed in me more than I believed in myself. They gifted me a platform to elevate the voices of those LGBTQ youth who must still fight against brutality inside and outside the classroom," Giannopoulos wrote.



__________________

https://politicsandstuff.proboards.com/
TrudyML


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 10458
Date:
Permalink  
 

Burst out laughing! That is a classic!

__________________
lilyofcourse


My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Status: Offline
Posts: 38325
Date:
Permalink  
 

So his only sense of pride comes from his sexuality?

That's so sad.



__________________

A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.

Charley Harper
Lady Gaga Snerd


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 25897
Date:
Permalink  
 

He seemed to talk ME ME ME. Did he actually say anything whatsoever about Education? Wow.

__________________

https://politicsandstuff.proboards.com/
FNW


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 18703
Date:
Permalink  
 

Is it me, or does it seem that Trump and Melania are LMAO'ing over it?

I guess it's more important to exploit one's sexuality than it is to focus on an education these days.

__________________

#it's5o'clocksomewhere
Momala


Great cook-happy wife-superb fisherman

Status: Offline
Posts: 4846
Date:
Permalink  
 



Well, at least it is a good photo of POTUS.
Much of the media seems to take delight
in getting the most unflattering pics of
Trump that they can find.



__________________
I love helping people
flan327


Itty bitty's Grammy

Status: Offline
Posts: 28124
Date:
Permalink  
 

FNW wrote:

Is it me, or does it seem that Trump and Melania are LMAO'ing over it?

I guess it's more important to exploit one's sexuality than it is to focus on an education these days.

 Frankly, it seems to me like he's doing both.

flan



__________________

You are my sun, my moon, and all of my stars.
Tinydancer


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 6573
Date:
Permalink  
 

Sure. Where did he talk about that in the article? It seems he was way more focused on being gay. Like he deserved a prize or something.

__________________

“Until I discovered cooking, I was never really interested in anything.”
― Julia Child ―


 

 

 
Lawyerlady


On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Status: Offline
Posts: 27192
Date:
Permalink  
 

He didn't really talk about education at all.

__________________

LawyerLady

 

I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you. 
cadiver


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 649
Date:
Permalink  
 

It was an interview that resulted because of the photo, so the questions were going to more focused that way.

We do not have a post or hear much of the other 50 or so teachers, even the winner.

__________________

 
Lawyerlady


On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Status: Offline
Posts: 27192
Date:
Permalink  
 

I'm assuming he didn't win teacher of the year b/c he is gay. Therefore, that really shouldn't have been the focus of his media output. Perhaps we could have heard more about what a great teacher he is, and why he was chosen.

__________________

LawyerLady

 

I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you. 
flan327


Itty bitty's Grammy

Status: Offline
Posts: 28124
Date:
Permalink  
 

cadiver wrote:

It was an interview that resulted because of the photo, so the questions were going to more focused that way.

We do not have a post or hear much of the other 50 or so teachers, even the winner.

 Thank you.

flan



__________________

You are my sun, my moon, and all of my stars.
Tinydancer


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 6573
Date:
Permalink  
 

Yet he still did not speak at all about his methods or even the fact that he IS a teacher.

__________________

“Until I discovered cooking, I was never really interested in anything.”
― Julia Child ―


 

 

 
Lawyerlady


On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Status: Offline
Posts: 27192
Date:
Permalink  
 

The interview resulted because he decided to make the photo op about being gay instead of being a great teacher. I guess that is what is most important to him. More of the "me, me, me" generation. Sigh.

__________________

LawyerLady

 

I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you. 
Tinydancer


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 6573
Date:
Permalink  
 

I bet when flan is bragging about what a great librarian she is she tells everyone how proud she is to be heterosexual...lol

__________________

“Until I discovered cooking, I was never really interested in anything.”
― Julia Child ―


 

 

 
lilyofcourse


My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Status: Offline
Posts: 38325
Date:
Permalink  
 

According to him, the only thing that defines him is geing gay.

That's first.



__________________

A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.

Charley Harper
cadiver


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 649
Date:
Permalink  
 

Tinydancer wrote:

Yet he still did not speak at all about his methods or even the fact that he IS a teacher.

His first sentence before the questions even started:

 

I'm Nikos Giannopoulos , 29 years old, and I am a special education teacher at the Beacon Charter High School for the Arts. I was named Rhode Island's 2017 Teacher of the Year, which is why I got to go to the White House, with all of the other teachers of the year. 

 

This is an article that references a 5 question telephone interview by someone else and gleamed his facebook page.

 

The interview was about the photo that went viral of an event back in April.



__________________

 
flan327


Itty bitty's Grammy

Status: Offline
Posts: 28124
Date:
Permalink  
 

Nice try, cadaver, but most of them won't listen.

flan

__________________

You are my sun, my moon, and all of my stars.
lilyofcourse


My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Status: Offline
Posts: 38325
Date:
Permalink  
 

cadiver wrote:
Tinydancer wrote:

Yet he still did not speak at all about his methods or even the fact that he IS a teacher.

His first sentence before the questions even started:

 

I'm Nikos Giannopoulos , 29 years old, and I am a special education teacher at the Beacon Charter High School for the Arts. I was named Rhode Island's 2017 Teacher of the Year, which is why I got to go to the White House, with all of the other teachers of the year. 

 

This is an article that references a 5 question telephone interview by someone else and gleamed his facebook page.

 

The interview was about the photo that went viral of an event back in April.

 In which when asked why he chose to dress this way, answered he is only proud of being gay.

 



__________________

A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.

Charley Harper
flan327


Itty bitty's Grammy

Status: Offline
Posts: 28124
Date:
Permalink  
 

So he actually DID answer the question.

flan

__________________

You are my sun, my moon, and all of my stars.
FNW


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 18703
Date:
Permalink  
 

I do tend to agree with cadiver, that the reason he focused on his sexual orientation was because that was the topic for which he was being interviewed, due to his flamboyant pose.

__________________

#it's5o'clocksomewhere
cadiver


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 649
Date:
Permalink  
 

lilyofcourse wrote:
cadiver wrote:
Tinydancer wrote:

Yet he still did not speak at all about his methods or even the fact that he IS a teacher.

His first sentence before the questions even started:

 

I'm Nikos Giannopoulos , 29 years old, and I am a special education teacher at the Beacon Charter High School for the Arts. I was named Rhode Island's 2017 Teacher of the Year, which is why I got to go to the White House, with all of the other teachers of the year. 

 

This is an article that references a 5 question telephone interview by someone else and gleamed his facebook page.

 

The interview was about the photo that went viral of an event back in April.

 In which when asked why he chose to dress this way, answered he is only proud of being gay.

 

 I do not know where your getting that.

 From the interview:

Congratulations on being named a teacher of the year.

Thank you. I just want to say that the teaching profession has been the greatest thing that's ever happened to me. Every single day I go to the classroom energized and thrilled to be there and to have been elevated to represent all of the teachers in my state. I'm not the best teacher in my state. I'm not the most thoughtful planner. But I do care a lot about my students and they mean a whole lot to me.



__________________

 
lilyofcourse


My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Status: Offline
Posts: 38325
Date:
Permalink  
 

I agree.

But why is that his focus?

Why did he choose to use this moment to make a statement about his sexuality?

Why did he say it's the only thing that defines him?

He just won teacher of the year in his state, what, exactly, did that have to do with who he chooses to sleep with?

__________________

A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.

Charley Harper
lilyofcourse


My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Status: Offline
Posts: 38325
Date:
Permalink  
 

lilyofcourse wrote:

I agree.

But why is that his focus?

Why did he choose to use this moment to make a statement about his sexuality?

Why did he say it's the only thing that defines him?

He just won teacher of the year in his state, what, exactly, did that have to do with who he chooses to sleep with?

 I was agreeing with FNW here.



__________________

A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.

Charley Harper
Lawyerlady


On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Status: Offline
Posts: 27192
Date:
Permalink  
 

I don't know why you bother, Lily - they do not get the point. That is, that being teacher of the year has nothing to do with being gay, so that should not be the focus.

__________________

LawyerLady

 

I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you. 
lilyofcourse


My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Status: Offline
Posts: 38325
Date:
Permalink  
 

cadiver wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
cadiver wrote:
Tinydancer wrote:

Yet he still did not speak at all about his methods or even the fact that he IS a teacher.

His first sentence before the questions even started:

 

I'm Nikos Giannopoulos , 29 years old, and I am a special education teacher at the Beacon Charter High School for the Arts. I was named Rhode Island's 2017 Teacher of the Year, which is why I got to go to the White House, with all of the other teachers of the year. 

 

This is an article that references a 5 question telephone interview by someone else and gleamed his facebook page.

 

The interview was about the photo that went viral of an event back in April.

 In which when asked why he chose to dress this way, answered he is only proud of being gay.

 

 I do not know where your getting that.

 From the interview:

Congratulations on being named a teacher of the year.

Thank you. I just want to say that the teaching profession has been the greatest thing that's ever happened to me. Every single day I go to the classroom energized and thrilled to be there and to have been elevated to represent all of the teachers in my state. I'm not the best teacher in my state. I'm not the most thoughtful planner. But I do care a lot about my students and they mean a whole lot to me.

 The OP.



__________________

A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.

Charley Harper
flan327


Itty bitty's Grammy

Status: Offline
Posts: 28124
Date:
Permalink  
 

Lawyerlady wrote:

I don't know why you bother, Lily - they do not get the point. That is, that being teacher of the year has nothing to do with being gay, so that should not be the focus.

 He got Teacher of the Year IN SPITE of the fact that he is gay.

flan



__________________

You are my sun, my moon, and all of my stars.
lilyofcourse


My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Status: Offline
Posts: 38325
Date:
Permalink  
 

Lawyerlady wrote:

I don't know why you bother, Lily - they do not get the point. That is, that being teacher of the year has nothing to do with being gay, so that should not be the focus.

 I know, I know.

Teaching has nothing to do with your sexuality. 

 



__________________

A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.

Charley Harper
flan327


Itty bitty's Grammy

Status: Offline
Posts: 28124
Date:
Permalink  
 

Question:

Would he have gotten this award 15 years ago? 20? Would he have even felt safe coming out of the closet?

flan

__________________

You are my sun, my moon, and all of my stars.
Lawyerlady


On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Status: Offline
Posts: 27192
Date:
Permalink  
 

flan327 wrote:

Question:

Would he have gotten this award 15 years ago? 20? Would he have even felt safe coming out of the closet?

flan

 If teaching was his focus rather than flaunting his sexuality, there is no reason why not.  I've known gay teachers to get teacher of the year.  They were excited about being recognized for their GOOD TEACHING. 



__________________

LawyerLady

 

I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you. 
FNW


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 18703
Date:
Permalink  
 

My 5th grade teacher got a lot of awards back in the 70's and he was very obviously gay. He just didn't get up on a platform and announce it. It's something everyone knew.

A public figure I know has lived quietly with his male companion since the 1980's. He does not feel his orientation should be an issue and has nothing to do with his job.

There should be a balance struck, from living your life as you wish safely and in peace, without having to grandstand about it.



__________________

#it's5o'clocksomewhere
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
totallygeeked -> totallygeeked general -> Teacher of the Year Photo Goes Viral


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard