Date: Thu, 28 Mar 1996 06:35:20 -0800 (PST) From: jessea@uclink4.berkeley.edu (Jessea NR Greenman) Subject: Action Alert: Dallas, TX The Dallas school district plans to adopt a policy prohibiting students, employees and board members from using certain slurs [but does NOT bar them from using certain other slurs... guess which ones or just keep reading]. The policy, slated for adoption at the board's meeting TONIGHT, sets procedures for reporting and investigating racial and religious harassment complaints. If complaints are substantiated, student and employee violators could face a reprimand, suspension or termination. Board members found to have violated the policy could be censured by their colleagues. School Superintendent Chad Woolery said the policy fills a gap in the Dallas Independent School District, which already had a policy against sexual harassment. "It ensures fair treatment of any employee or any student in the district," Mr. Woolery said. "It establishes for all of us the kind of climate we expect in our school district. We didn't have a policy before other than good sense and good judgment." [NOTE: the policy does NOT protect ANY employee or student if it continues to omit sexual orientation]. The proposed policy prohibits "oral, written, psychological, physical and other demonstrative actions with regard to race, creed, ethnic origin or religious preference that is harassing." The policy does not address anti-gay harassment because the topic didn't arise during discussion, which originated based on racial and religious slurs uttered by a school board member and captured on tape. Trustee Jose Plata, who was the target of antigay slurs from another board member, believes that the issue of homophobic behavior should probably be examined before the policy is adopted. "I will certainly look at it," he said. "Considering the fact that it's still all in tandem with what occurred last fall, it should probably be included." Cece Cox, a Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance leader, said she had not seen the policy but was appalled when she heard that sexual orientation was not addressed. When consulting with district officials after the board slur controversy, "we made it clear that diversity also means sexual orientation," she said. "If DISD is not willing to commit to that, then they are in serious neglect."... The following action alert is from Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance: To express your concern about the omission of sexual orientation from the Dallas Independent School District's proposed harassment policy, contact DISD Superintendent Chad Woolery, 214-989-8080 or the DISD Main number, 214-989-8000. The public school board meeting at which this policy will be discussed will be held Thursday, March 28, at 7:30 pm at DISD Administrative Offices, 3700 Ross Avenue. If you wish to speak, sign up for agenda item #12. For more information, contact Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance, Cece Cox, President, or Michael Osborn, Director of Administration, 214-528-4233. *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ YOU MAY RE-POST. Jessea Greenman The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project (Public Education Regarding Sexual Orientation Nationally) CHECK THIS OUT FOR TONS OF INFO - - http://www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/ Please cc us (for our files) on correspondence you send or receive re our action alerts.