Posted on 01/31/2006 7:55:51 AM PST by DBeers
(AP) - The exact role of gay-straight student groups in Virginia schools depends on who you ask.
According to Arlington Del. Adam Ebbin, the after-school groups offer a safe space where gay youths can seek comfort.
But Harrisonburg Del. Matthew Lohr argues too many of these groups are just promoting sexual activity.
They faced off Monday as the House of Delegates debated a bill that would empower local school boards to disband groups seen as encouraging teen promiscuity.
Lohr's House Bill 1308 would authorize school boards to prohibit the use of school facilities by any student club that promotes sexual activity among unmarried students.
It would essentially dissolve the gay-straight alliances, which typically meet on school grounds, said Dyana Mason, head of Equality Virginia.
On a voice vote after lengthy debate, the bill advanced to a final vote Tuesday in the House.
An identical bill last year passed the House 95-0 only to die on a 9-6 vote in the Senate Education and Health Committee.
Monday, lawmakers appeared split over the bill, some arguing it unfairly singled out gay groups while others countered the legislation targeted no one.
"This bill is not aimed at one particular group," Lohr told House members. "The intent is to give local school boards more control over the types of groups which use the buildings."
But when pressed by Del. James Scott, D-Falls Church, about which groups could be interpreted as addressing sexual issues, Lohr referred to a situation involving a Chesterfield County gay-straight student alliance last year.
In that case, Lohr said school officials canceled a planned book signing by a gay author after it was learned the author would be including a steamy novel about gay fraternity sex.
Lohr argued school officials should have been able to quash the group entirely.
"Whether it be homosexual or heterosexual, school is just not the place to be talking about sexual activity," said Lohr, adding he would encourage schools to disband heterosexually oriented groups that promoted teen sex.
But gay-straight alliances are focused on helping teens sort out their sexuality -- not telling them how to act on it, argued Ebbin, the state's first openly gay House member.
"What troubles me is the targeting of student groups because they (acknowledge) the idea that gay people exist," he said.
Family Foundation director Victoria Cobb lauded the legislation she said would drive home school boards' duty to protect kids.
"Our public schools should not sponsor groups that are nothing more than taxpayer subsidized dating services," Cobb said.
House members also gave preliminary approval Monday to a bill requiring that family life education programs encourage abstinence as the only guarantee against unwanted pregnancy.
So -will this bill pass constitutional muster?
There are no groups in schools that encourage heterosexual sex. That's the whole point.
Excellent. I hope it passes, and more states follow suit. Get them on the run!
There are no groups in schools that encourage heterosexual sex. That's the whole point.
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Of course. Just like the professional victimized blacks -- they want PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT (which is totally racist) and now the queers are getting on the victim bandwagon ---
It is how the LEFT gets votes.
I'm still wondering why there are groups is state-supported schools who define themselves by what they do with their genitals. How pathetic an excuse for a human being does one have to be to resort to that to define themselves? IS there nothing else to these pathetic little people. If it wasn't so sick it would just be sad.
Can we please re-cede Arlington County to the federal District of Columbia? PLEASE?
It has as much in common with Virginia as San Francisco does.
Wow, so what made you reach all the way over to my neck of the woods for this news? :)
There are certainly no gay clubs in my homeschool. We're not very tolerant either.
Yes, and, if love is supposed to be the defining factor, why do the pro-homos always manage to go so far into the pro-gay sex arena.
Guyess what the answer was in 1975 when we wanted to start an Italian Student Union?
The only thing good in arlington is the Lee Mansion...and the Holy ground of the Cemetary.
Fuggetaboutit? :0)
"Amen" to that!
:-)
News is news -good news is better...
I always got lots of encouragement from watching the cheerleaders..... But I take your point.
Wavy 10 isn't bad... Wtkr 3 and WVEC 13 seem to carry more local news for us. Wavy 10 is the Fox affiliate...FOX43. Buddy of mine used to work there, Kelly Wright, now the DC correspondent.
As opposed to the public restrooms where they'll "seek comfort" for most of their adult lives.
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