Conor Hebert tells his Cole Valley story

Topics include judgement, harassment, out-dated views, and hypocrisy

I published a blog post reflecting on my Cole Valley experience and why I have such negative feelings about it. Since then, a support group has started, there’s a dedicated website, a joint statement has been published, and we delivered it to Cole Valley in an unofficial meeting. We’re trying to discuss our ideas with the administration (example, example), but they’re ignoring us.

Conor was a past student (Class of 2012), and he wanted to tell his story for the benefit of anyone that wants to listen.

This is the uncut conversation. Below are hyperlinks to highlights if you don’t want to watch it in full.

• Context of the Cole Valley Speaks movement (0:00)
• Conor’s reaction to the blog post when he first heard saw it (4:31)
• Conor’s went to Cole Valley for his senior year, after getting kicked out of Meridian High (6:20)
• After Cole Valley, Conor went to Boise Bible College. That was more of the same. You weren’t supposed to associate with people that believed something different. (8:16)
• Conor got expelled from Boise Bible College for smoking weed. A friend had been expelled weeks earlier because they found out he was gay. Certain “sins” were worse than others. (13:50)
• Cole Valley was anti-gay. They taught that gay people are going to hell. (16:55)
• When Conor and his girlfriend moved in together, he was harassed continually be Cole Valley and Boise Bible College teachers and staff telling him he was going to hell (20:22)
• After he was expelled, Boise Bible College and Cole Valley told the churches he was interning at. The churches said to never come back. (21:15)
• Conor still has his core beliefs, but he doesn’t call himself a Christian. He can bring himself to visit a church again. (22:51)
• Conor wanted to apologize to anyone that was offended by his past behavior (23:50)
• None of Conor’s previous pastors would officiate his wedding because of what they’d heard about him (27:45)
• Conor doesn’t think Christian education is compatible with a modern society. (28:52)
• Not only does Cole Valley do kids a disservice, regarding belief, it actually harms them (30:05)
• Conor’s message to Cole Valley administration — don’t harass people about their beliefs (33:30)
• Conor’s message to prospective parents — think twice and watch Cole Valley Speaks interviews (34:48)
• Conor’s message to current students — don’t be afraid to think differently (36:12)