Broward School Board considers pact with controversial gay group
By Bill Hirschman Education Writer Posted April 18 2002
One of the most controversial issues the Broward County School Board has faced in the past six months will erupt again Tuesday. The board will reconsider ratifying a proposal by GLSEN, a gay rights group, to teach educators how to deal with homosexual students.
"There is going to be a massive showing. Every pro-family activist I know is going to be there," said Brian Craig, producer for conservative radio talk show host Steve Kane.
Supporters of the agreement will counter, not just with speakers, but with 2,000 written endorsements from residents, officials and agencies, said Mike Record, co-chair of GLSEN Greater Fort Lauderdale. If the board ratifies the agreement, GLSEN would provide district employees with materials and training "to expand their understanding of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons."
The proposal is similar to one the board rejected in October, except the new version removes any reference to providing services to students. For years GLSEN -- an acronym for Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network -- informally provided the same training to Broward principals, classroom teachers, psychologists, social workers and guidance counselors.
Its most high-profile project was a videotape on tolerance shown to virtually every employee. Citing pervasive problems of educators ignoring bullying and attacks on gay students, GLSEN's goal is "to give teachers the skills they need to address and prevent harassment," Record said. GLSEN also advises Gay-Straight Alliance student groups that meet at several schools as outside clubs not affiliated with the district, on the same basis as Bible study groups and Girl Scout troops. The agreement would not change that situation, but not give its blessing either.
Anti-gay activists such as Margaret Hostetter say harassment of gays simply does not exist and that GLSEN regularly misrepresents facts, such as stating that homosexuality is a genetic predisposition. Instead, she said, GLSEN's goal is to infiltrate schools until they can openly encourage homosexuality among children. "This is homosexual propaganda and it has no place in school," said Hostetter, who is running for the School Board's District 6 seat. The board was asked to formalize its relationship with GLSEN last fall, but advocates on both sides created a firestorm. The board finally voted 5-3 on Oct. 16 not to endorse the group on paper.
Board member Lois Wexler, who voted for the proposal with Bob Parks and Beverly Gallagher, said Tuesday she revived the proposal because she thinks she has the votes. "This is about legitimacy," Wexler said. "Bringing it back really is to validate the existence of GLSEN and its relationship with the school district which has been put on hold the entire school year."
The issue comes at a politically sensitive time with five board members seeking re-election: Parks; Paul Eichner, Stephanie Kraft and Darla Carter who opposed the agreement, and Carole Andrews who was absent during the vote.
Throughout the winter Wexler and GLSEN have been gathering support from board members and groups such as the County Council of PTAs. But opponents plan their own offensive. Craig said Kane's upcoming radio shows would highlight parental efforts in other states to reject GLSEN partnerships.
Opponents have often pointed to GLSEN's training materials for in-house presentations in other states, which include role playing games that subject participants to derogatory language. Other material has advice to students exploring their sexual orientation.
One sign of the divisive nature of the issue: Someone in the district headquarters leaked the likelihood of the agreement on the agenda to the conservative Coalition to Reclaim America within an hour of a draft being signed by GLSEN on Friday, Wexler said.
Homosexuality and tolerance have become hot button issues for local liberals and conservatives over the past two years, which has brought national attention. The County Commission and the Fort Lauderdale City Commission refused to award grants to the Boy Scouts for the same reason. The United Way would not collect funds for them. At the same time, the district named an openly gay middle school educator as teacher of the year and Wilton Manors became one of the first cities in the country with a majority of openly gay council members.
The meeting is slated to begin at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the board room of the K.C. Wright Administration Building, 600 SE Fourth Ave., Fort Lauderdale, but the time the issue will be discussed has not been set. Bill Hirschman can be reached at bhirschman@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4513.
BUMP!
FYI - We're getting a lot of people moving on this. I'm telling EVERYONE I know and they are calling and faxing. A group of us are putting together a FAX forms to distribute to our E-mail circles and get them involved.
GLSEN should have learned from WWII about disturbing a "sleeping giant".
I live in a place that what people do in private is thier business as long as it does not harm anyone, but I have observed that gay men are all about sex, anytime, any where, with anybody doing anything and that having sex is the goal. They are bitchy and ogle my husband as he cuts the lawn. He now knows what women mean when they say a man's eyes never meet thier's, as they are stuck well below the chin.
They are personable, have good jobs, are affluent, bodybuilding, run all the time through the neighborhood trolling, or they rollerblade with thier BIG dogs looking for a roving eye. I do not have kids or I would be nuts about it!!! It is blatant!!!
We also have Lesbians in the neighborhood. They are not all about sex. They are professional and well behaved. Like gay men thier homes are well kept, but here, at least, they do not have wild sex parties and seem to live together in a more monogamous lifestyle. They do not kiss in public that I have witnessed, the men do. One can relate to them as people and professionals. Sex and inuendo are not part of thier vocabulary as it is with gay men.
I frankly, do not care why anyone is gay, I simply do not want them and thier ajenda in my face or in the schools. It is not the norm, it is abhorant. The boy scouts are right. Just look at the Catholic Church fiasco.
But, they are the voting block and there are enough leftist mush heads out there that think the gays need a level playing field and should all should be fair. The same laws and benefits available to normal folks are available to them, they do not need special laws, protections, treatment, and sympathy. They need to leave the straight population and it's children alone! Go to your rooms!!!!!!