Date: Thu, 03 Feb 2000 16:25:08 -0800 From: Jean Richter Subject: 2/3/2000 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. FL: Letters on Leon school board discrimination policy change 2. Editorial on Boy Scout court case 3. UK: Good overview of Clause 28 controversy ==================================================================== Tallahassee Democrat, January 23, 2000 277 N. Magnolia Dr., Tallahassee, FL, 32302 (Fax 850-599-2295 ) (E-MAIL: tdedit@taldem.com ) ( http://www.tdo.com/ ) Letter: Most School Board members voted well We cheer School Board Chairman Tom Young and members Joy Bowen, Scott Dailey and Maggie Lewis for putting the Leon County school district in the tier of other progressive school districts in the state. The board recently adopted rules that add sexual orientation to the list of protected classes against which discrimination and sexual harassment are prohibited. Animus, whether based on race, gender, religion, ethnic group, color or sexual orientation, is cut from the same cloth of hate. We hope that School Board member Fred Varn will eventually get the message and change his vote retroactively to yes. ­ Linda Miklowitz, President, Tallahassee National Organization for Women Letter: Commending Varn's vote on orientation policy Congratulations to School Board member Fred Varn for his consistent, conscientious and courageous stand against the idiotic "sexual orientation" policy recently proposed by our politically correct superintendent and approved by his image-conscious board. Varn, it seems, is the only member who understands that this sort of nonsense will only invite the kind of problems that his fellow board members say they seek to deter. Varn understands this situation, as he is the only school board member who actually has children in our public schools. He knows firsthand what truly goes on within the walls. The others, as much as they may want, will never have that sort of insight into the component of the educational process that matters the most ­ the kids! We can hardly believe that adopting a policy measure currently in use by only four other school districts in this state will raise Leon County to an "elite tier" of public education as stated by another letter writer. What a joke! But then again, as long as we are content to elect a school board full of non-consumers of public education, we'll get what we vote for. As for us, we will gladly cast our half-votes (we live in the underrepresented northeast) for anyone with the quality of character that is evident in Fred Varn. ­ Doug & Tracey Hay, Shannon Lakes Drive Letter: What's wrong with a display of affection? In the article on the School Board's ruling regarding harassment of gay students, Victoria Clements is quoted as saying that "the acceptance of homosexuality in our community could lead to outward displays of affection" and that if this happens, it is "we as a nation who will lose." Let me see if I understand her correctly. In this nation it's perfectly acceptable for some ill-bred cretin to scream obscenities and give me the finger in traffic, or to rattle the fillings in my teeth with his car stereo. Only a prude would frown at the boyish antics of clods who grab their crotches and thrust their hips at girls walking past. These kinds of "outward displays" cause no comment, but the display of affection ­ affection! ­ between two people of the same sex will send us reeling down the slippery slope to moral decadence. It seems to me that this society could use a great deal more displays of affection rather than the incivility that has become commonplace. People in love are happier, kinder, quicker to smile and laugh, slower to nurse grudges and take offense. Exactly what will "we as a nation" lose by that? I think it's not just the Grinch whose heart is two sizes too small! I applaud the School Board's action. It may not be able to change attitudes cemented in the pride of pious arrogance, but at least it has made the statement that this kind of bigotry has no place in the public schools of Leon County. ­ Julia Osmond, North Shore Circle ================================================================================ Oneonta Daily Star, January 17, 2000 Box 250, Oneonta, NY, 13820 (Fax 607-432-5847 ) (E-MAIL: meditor@thedailystar.com) ( http://www.thedailystar.com ) Editorial: Rulings will affect our lives (January 20, 2000) During the next several months, our nation's highest court will rule on issues that affect many ­ if not most ­ Americans. From abortion access to gay Boy Scouts, the justices have taken on issues that make for a particularly interesting docket this term. [Deleted article. filemanager@qrd.org] ================================================================================ Electronic Telegraph, January 28, 2000 (E-Mail: et.letters@telegraph.co.uk ) ( http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ ) Why Section 28 arouses such passion By Robert Shrimsley, Chief Political Correspondent • What is Section 28? Section of the Local Government Act 1988 bans councils from promoting homosexuality. It states that "a local authority shall not: a) promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality; b) promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship." [Deleted article. filemanager@qrd.org] =============================================================================== Jean Richter -- richter@eecs.berkeley.edu The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project (Public Education Regarding Sexual Orientation Nationally) These messages are archived by state on our information-loaded free web site: http://www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/