Parents Protest 'Homosexual Rights' in Virginia School District (Update)

CNSNEWS.com ^ | 7/26/02 | Lawrence Morahan

[kattracks]

CNSNews.com) - A proposal to add "sexual orientation" to anti-discrimination statutes in local schools is causing dissension in Fairfax County, Va., where some parents claim the measure is unnecessary and could be used to undermine the religious convictions of students who believe that homosexual behavior is wrong.

Parents and pro-family groups also complain that Fairfax school libraries contain books that depict homosexuality only in a non-critical light and that the testimony of people who left the homosexual lifestyle is not allowed in school board debates on anti-discrimination.

"This is the work of gay activists in the school system," said Peter LaBarbera, a senior policy analyst with the Culture and Family Institute, a Washington pro-family group that opposes additional anti-discrimination language.

"These sexual orientation codes in the schools become Trojan horses for a much wider agenda, which includes pro-gay curricula, pro-gay diversity training for teachers, and gay-oriented books in the schools," he said.

On Thursday night, the Fairfax County School Board indefinitely postponed a vote on the "sexual orientation" proposal, until it receives guidance from the state attorney general on whether such a vote would be legal under state law.

Adding "sexual orientation" to the school system's anti-discrimination policy is redundant, because according to current policy, the school board is committed to eliminating all forms of discrimination in the school system, said Rita Thompson, one of three at-large members of the 12-member Fairfax County school board.

"So if it says all forms of discrimination, wouldn't that, if they believe they're being discriminated against, include them as well?" Thompson asked, referring to claims by homosexuals.

The current policy for students and teachers prohibits discrimination based on age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, and disability.

Robert Rigby, a special education teacher at Hayfield Secondary School and co-chairman of the local Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), said adding "sexual orientation" to the non-discrimination policy is necessary to protect people.

"I've experienced discrimination," he said. "I know other teachers who've experienced discrimination. I know students who've experienced discrimination. I don't know a lot of parents who have experienced discrimination, but I know parents who have expressed fear of discrimination."

Mychele Brickner, an at-large member of the Fairfax County school board, said she opposed adding "sexual orientation" to school policies. But she said students and staff should be more alert to possible cases of verbal and physical abuse in schools.

"I've had parents call me because they didn't feel the school was doing enough [to protect] their third grader from being picked on by other kids because he was little," she said. "I've had people call and complain that their child was harassed in high school for any number of reasons," she added.

"This happens and I'm sure it happens on the issue of perceived sexual orientation as well. I would never deny that it happens," she said.

But the solution, as Brickner sees it, is not for the board to add another category to the schools' anti-discrimination policy, but rather for teachers and staff to stop abuse whenever it happens.

"They already have that responsibility," she said. "And kids have the responsibility to make teachers or principals aware when it happens."

Board Rejects Inclusion of 'Ex-Gays'

A review of Fairfax County school libraries revealed there were 191 books on the shelves with homosexual themes, and a majority of the titles were "pro-gay," LaBarbera said, citing information provided by Fairfax County officials. Apparently there were no books about coming out of homosexuality, he said.

Regina Griggs, executive director of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gay and Gays, said she asked the school board to specifically include "ex-gays" in their sexual orientation amendment. However, the board denied the request under pressure from GLSEN, Griggs said.

"It is evident that the school board intends to use its proposed sexual orientation amendment to protect some groups - gays, bisexuals and transgenders - while discriminating against others - ex-gays," Griggs said in a statement.


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[BufordP]

"For whatever reason several students, mostly in my seventh-grade Spanish immersion course, came to the conclusion that I was gay and by early spring had begun a systematic personal attack upon me in the classroom, finding opportunities to say or write words such as queer, fag, homo, openly questioning my sexuality and making vulgar references to sexual acts," Worthington said.

Worthington said he tried sending the students to "time-out," but the attacks continued and became worse as more students joined in.

"I consulted with my department chair and began to write-up referrals instead of or in addition to time outs. Though administrators were aware of these problems, I felt like nothing was being done to alleviate this toxic atmosphere that was increasingly taking over my fifth period," Worthington said. "Needless to say, this situation caused me much stress, concern, frustration and rage. I do not ever want to be in a similar situation again and I do not think any teacher, staff member or student should have to function in such a hateful environment."

In my day they resorted to more severe punishments to maintain discipline - not these [ahem] "pansy" time-outs.

[ladylib]

E-mail this website to the Fairfax Board of Education and let them peruse it. They might have a change of heart.

http://www.ccv.org/ccv-red-Issues-School%20Liability%20and%20Homo%20Ed.htm

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

The fate of the amendment to the Fairfax County Public Schools' nondiscrimination policy will rest in the opinion of one man instead of 12 elected School Board officials.

Can we guess where Jennifer Lesinski is coming from? Tell this isn't a biased lead. Ligeia, don't you elect the Attorney General in Virginia? Aren't his decisions mad in consultation with his staff?

[Ligeia]

It's obvious this man isn't cut out to be in the classroom for more reasons than one. I know for a fact there is an openly homosexual teacher at one of the two high schools in McLean. He certainly doesn't fear for his position since he speaks to his students about his partner's and his' efforts to adopt a child. Kilgore will be at the Cuccinelli fundraiser tomorrow. I'm going to try and go and see if Kilgore will discuss his thoughts on the situation.

I also wonder why they decided to drag Vince Callahan into this mess. Vince is a conservative Catholic. Must be some sort of ranking seniority status reason.

JBV, yes, Kilgore is newly elected as of last November. He is well regarded so far and word is he's the number one GOP candidate for governor in three years. I'm sure he'll handle this issue vedddy carefully.

[Ligeia]

Thanks for the link. They must have gotten so many hits from FR today that it knocked them offline! I'll check it later as it's not loading now.

[ladylib]

I don't want to see homosexual students and teachers harrassed in any way. No one should have to work or attend school in a hostile atmosphere; however, there is no reason for a homosexual teacher to discuss his and his partner's efforts to adopt a child with students (just as there is no reason for a heterosexual teacher to discuss his personal/sex life with his students). Just stick to the state-mandated curriculum and cut the chatter so the kiddies can pass their high-stakes tests and pull the fat from the fire in order for teachers and administrators to keep their jobs and enable the rest of us maintain property values on our homes. Not a lot to ask as far as I'm concerned.

[Ligeia]

I agree with your post completely. Your link is working now. I will pass it along to School Board members. Thanks for your help.

[EdReform]

BTTT

[Guillermo]

Who's defending their actions???

Who's defending the "right" of adults to have sex with children?

Who's in schools trying to sexualize 5 yr olds?

[EdReform]

BTTT

[A. Pole]

Just stick to the state-mandated curriculum

But what if celebration of homosexuality and other sexual "orientations" is becoming a part of mandated curriculum ?

[A. Pole]

Just another reminder of WHY, should I ever have children, I want them homeschooled. I'll be DAMNED before I send my kids to a public school, the way they are, now.

This is a part of the plan. To allow independent and principled parents to take their children away from the public school so the remaining passive majority will be easily brainwashed into the cult of homosexuality. Once this is done, the homeschooling will be restricted and private schools will be forced to adopt the same aagenda.

You give away the most of territory in order to be marginalised, isolated and subjugated in the end. Divide and conquer.

[Green Knight]

I doubt it, considering how often folks in the school system try to screw with and otherwise harass homeschoolers.

Whatever the case, I wouldn't give a damn about other peoples kids. If they want to keep sending their kids to public schools then let them. My number 1 concern would be to see to the education of my kids. And I'll do the best I can to give them that education. Even if it does mean "giving away territory". I'm not interested in any son of mine performing oral sex on other boys in the 5th grade (Which is something that HAS occured!).

[ladylib]

I see your point. What if a private school can't get state certification because they won't teach multiculturism, pro-homosexuality, etc.? Are the kids considered truant if they attend? That's why the above should never be considered part of the curriculum.

[A. Pole]

Once this is done, the homeschooling will be restricted and private schools will be forced to adopt the same aagenda.

I doubt it, considering how often folks in the school system try to screw with and otherwise harass homeschoolers.

I am missing you logic. How the present harassment will protect the future crackdown on homeschoolers. I wish you were right, but I do not get it. What do you mean exactly?

Whatever the case, I wouldn't give a damn about other peoples kids. If they want to keep sending their kids to public schools then let them. My number 1 concern would be to see to the education of my kids.

I do not think that your attitude can work in a larger scale. If we let the liberals remake the majority of society in the direction desired by them, sooner or later your little enclave will be overrun. Then it will be too late.

[Green Knight]

I am missing you logic. How the present harassment will protect the future crackdown on homeschoolers. I wish you were right, but I do not get it. What do you mean exactly?

That was a response to something else you said. Namely that there's some sort of liberal plan to force people to homeschool, which I very much doubt.

I do not think that your attitude can work in a larger scale. If we let the liberals remake the majority of society in the direction desired by them, sooner or later your little enclave will be overrun. Then it will be too late.

OR, I could have my kids homeschooled, thus increasing the homeschooling movement and helping to push it more into the public eye. Make it more of an acceptable alternative to public schools and conversely more common. I can raise my kids right and have them do the same to their kids.

I certainly like that plan a LOT more then sending my kids to someplace which'll contradict everything I teach them and will teach my sons to be gay and my daughters to be whores. Sorry, but I don't like that alternative. I'm not interesting in turning any kids I have into footsoldiers for remaking the school system. I'm more interested in giving any kids of mine a proper education and raising them to be moral and upright people.

[A. Pole]

That was a response to something else you said. Namely that there's some sort of liberal plan to force people to homeschool, which I very much doubt.

Well, this was a misunderstanting. What I meant is that for liberals it is convenient to have independent, critical minority leave for a time so the rest can be changed into mindless Brave New World drones. Later they can either to supress the sane margin or marginalise it for good (exactly like in Brave New World.) Some gratuitous harassment of homeschoolers might be not so much as a part of the plan, but simply the spontaneous expression of malice. Liberals also have emotions, you know :).

I think that as a citizen you should fight against corrupting of public school students. After all it is YOUR money at work and officials elected by YOU. You still can homeschool, (BTW many liberals send their children to private schools or abroad while they experiment on others people kids).

[Ligeia]

Hey, our Democrat School Board Chairman is in the news...

Lawsuit prompts probe of Gibson
By ANDREI BLAKELY
Journal staff writer

Fairfax County School Board Chairman Stuart D. Gibson, Hunter Mill District, is under investigation for his role in the release of tax records filed as part of an Internal Revenue Service lawsuit against the accounting firm KPMG LLP.

Gibson, a senior trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, confirmed Tuesday the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Professional Responsibility was investigating the case, but he would not comment on any specifics.

``I'm confident that when the investigation is completed, I will be absolved of all wrongdoing," Gibson said Tuesday.

The conservative Landmark Legal Foundation and the Fairfax County Republican Committee say Gibson and his Justice Department staff allowed the release of private citizens' tax records. They also claim the action was politically motivated.

The IRS's uncharacteristic release of names was reported in a Wall Street Journal article July 12. Among those whose tax records were released were several prominent individuals, including California Republican gubernatorial candidate William E. Simon Jr.; Gary Winnick, chairman of Global Crossing; Earl Phillips Jr., ambassador to Barbados and a large Republican campaign contributor; and late NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt.

The Office of Professional Responsibility would neither confirm nor deny the investigation, said Dana Perino, a Justice Department spokeswoman.

``Stuart Gibson has served in the Department of Justice for 18 years under six attorneys general, and he continues to serve with the full confidence of the Department of Justice," Perino said.

The release of the tax records, according to Landmark officials, violates an IRS code that says taxpayer identities should remain confidential unless the proper authorization is given.

The information was released in papers filed during a court fight with KPMG. The IRS alleges the accounting giant used questionable tax shelters to inappropriately reduce the tax burdens of some clients.

Landmark referred the case to the Office of Professional Responsibility on July 23. It asked for an investigation into the entire case in which it says Gibson is the lead attorney.

``We want an investigation into why it happened," said Mark Levin, Landmark's president. ``This to me is the greatest violation of taxpayer privacy since at least the Nixon administration."

The Fairfax County Republican Committee also is calling for an investigation. The Republican Committee's complaint, the group said, is not related to Landmark's complaint.

Eddie Page, chairman of the Fairfax County Republican Committee, said Republicans are calling for an investigation solely based on the information contained in the Wall Street Journal article and an editorial, ``The IRS Out of Control," published on July 17.

``I just don't think it's right to disclose information from the IRS to the public," he said.

According to the Wall Street Journal article, written by Glenn R. Simpson and John D. McKinnon, the IRS generally is reluctant to release information about taxpayers who have not been accused of a crime.

In the past, Fairfax County Republicans have criticized Gibson for close affiliations with Democrats in the county. Former county GOP President Joe Underwood has said Gibson is under investigation for violating the Hatch Act.

Page said the decision to ask for a formal probe of Gibson was made by Fairfax Republicans and not by national party officials. However, he has sent letters to each of Northern Virginia's three congressmen asking them to request a Justice Department investigation as well.

http://cold.jrnl.com/cfdocs/new/ffx/story.cfm?paper=ffx&section=fp&snumber=04

[BufordP]

Too bad! Thanks for the ping!