I need to ask for your help, folks.  As an officer of the local ACLU
chapter, I have been contacted by some teachers at a Lexington, KY
high school because one of the football coaches at that school (Tates
Creek HS) is a deacon in a very large, very influencial right wing
christian church here.  He is going around telling people that his
church leaders are up in arms about gay and lesbian teachers at Tates
Creek and must do something about this.  So far, though, there has been
no overt action on their part and I realistically must consider this
a well-informed rumor for the present.

Here is what we are planning to do for now:

1)  set up an informal and low-key meeting of representatives of the local
teachers union, P-FLAG, ACLU, Kentucky Fairness Alliance, Lexington Fairness
Campaign, several teachers and some current or former student from that
school for the purpose of determining a strategy to respond when the time
comes.  What we do NOT want to do is provoke the situation or be seen as
instigating this discussion, because there are too many people's careers
at stake potentially.

2)  I have contacted a friend who is a member of the School Board here and
I am sure of his support on this.  He was very distressed to hear of this
because the Board is currently taking a great deal of heat for failing to
appoint even a single African American to the Superintendent Search Committee
and their overall poor rating in most equity issues.  He felt this would
just be overwhelming to deal with and suggested that if they bring this
up now, it will backfire on them.  I tend to believe the fundies are more
politically savvy than that, so the logical conclusion is that we probably
have some lead time in which to organize.

3)  We are fortunate that the Kentucky Supreme Court's Wasson decision of
last year speaks directly to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation
by finding that homosexuals constitute a recognizeable class for purposes of
equal protection provisions in the Kentucky Constitution.  the Court was a
bit ambiguous about what level of scrutiny this right deserved and probably
the decision will be interpreted to allow for only a low level of scrutiny,
or "rational basis."  Even at that, though, it will be pretty easy to
poke holes in any argument that the school board might make.

I could really use some input, though, from those of you who have gone through
similar campaigns in your areas.  What worked, and what didn't?  What
sorts of resources did you have to call on to fight back with?  Whatever
else you can think of that might be helpful.

We are very lucky that we have some time to prepare for this attack.  I think
there is no question that it will come, and fairly soon.  I hope that when it
does come, we can be prepared to mount an aggressive and organized campaign
almost instantaneously so we can seize control of the debate.

Thank you for any help you can give.  Please email me privately at the
address listed in the sig.file at the conclusion of this posting.  Thanks again

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KEITH ELSTON, LLBERM01@UKCC.UKY.EDU
              PHONE: (606) 266-3934
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"IT IS A GENERAL POPULAR ERROR TO IMAGINE THE LOUDEST COMPLAINERS FOR
THE PUBLIC TO BE THE MOST ANXIOUS FOR ITS WELFARE." - EDMUND BURKE, 1769
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