Posted on 07/26/2002 4:36:38 AM PDT by 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.
E-mail a news tip to Lawrence Morahan.
Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.
Nov 27, 2002Kilgore: Anti-gay discrimination protection not allowed
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) _ Anti-discrimination protection for gays and lesbians should not be added to Fairfax County School Board policies without a change in state law, Virginia Attorney General Jerry W. Kilgore said. [Current GOP House and Senate in Richmond will NEVER vote for pro-normalization of homosexuality]
Kilgore told the board in a written opinion that it does not have the authority to add language protecting gays because such a statute does not exist on the state level.
His opinion was in response to a request by Del. Vincent F. Callahan Jr., R-Fairfax, to allow the board to add sexual orientation to its nondiscrimination policies for students and employees. The policy already covers age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, marital status and the handicapped.
But Kilgore said the state's Dillon Rule prohibits local governments from superseding state authority.
"This office previously has concluded that, without enabling legislation, Fairfax County has no authority to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation," Kilgore wrote.
Gay activists decried the opinion and noted that the Arlington and Alexandria school districts have policies barring discrimination against gays, despite the state law. Those measures have not been challenged.
"They want to continue to say that gay people can be discriminated against," said Rhonda Buckner, executive director of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.
Fairfax School Board Chairman Stuart C. Gibson said it was unlikely the board would follow the other localities' lead, but said discussion on the issue would continue.
"I think there are ways that the School Board can provide for the general safety of its employees and students without changing state law," Gibson said. "We're not done with this."
The issue was brought before the Fairfax School Board by gay-rights activists last July. Nervous about how a new nondiscrimination policy would be interpreted, and whether it would lead to lawsuits, Gibson sought advice from Callahan and Kilgore.
Sexual orientation is protected in the Fairfax County government's nondiscrimination policy for personnel. But the county has not been able to protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation in housing, real estate transactions, employment, public accommodations, credit and education.
___
On the Net:
Fairfax County Public Schools: Fairfax
Office of the Attorney General: Kilgore
Rhonda Buckner, executive director of the Washington chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, said she was "very, very disappointed" by the decision. ... Buckner said those measures could be as simple as principals telling staff members "that being a gay teacher is okay," she said. "If you know your principal is okay [with it], you're more free to be who you are. Gay kids need role models."
What is the line between a teacher being a "role model" and recruiting new children to the gay "life style?"
[Please note the person quoted above is BUCKNER, never to be confused with Mychele BRICKNER, who, along with Rita Thompson, has been spearheading efforts to protect children from such "role models."]
Yikes. See California schools for where this leads....
Victories in Virginia. It looks like conservatives were motivated to turn out to try and stop the liberal agenda. Moran garnered fewer votes than other incumbents. We in the 8th will keep working to defeat him. Liberals looking to the future should learn by this election and see the light or face extinction.
Dec 01, 2002
Final figures show voter turnout exceeded predictions
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Despite rainy weather and a lack of competitive races, voter turnout on Election Day exceeded expectations, the official canvass by the State Board of Elections shows.
Of the 4.2 million registered voters, 39.4 percent cast ballots for one or more issues on Nov. 5. Election analysts had predicted a turnout of closer to 35 percent.
The two sales-tax referendums in northern Virginia and Hampton Roads apparently helped lure voters. The turnout in two northern Virginia congressional districts, the 8th and 11th, was the highest in the state. Usually, those districts lag.
As usual, county voters turned out in higher numbers than did city voters. The turnout rate in the counties was 40.4 percent. In the cities it was 37.3 percent.
Of the 1.6 million people who voted, almost 1,489,000 cast ballots in the race for the U.S. Senate. Sen. John W. Warner, R-Va., received 1.2 million votes, 82.6 percent of the total, to easily defeat independent Nancy Spannaus for his fifth term in office.
More people cast ballots in the $900 million higher-education and $119 million parks bond-issue referendums than in the Senate race. More than 1.5 million votes were cast in each referendum.
About 1.5 million votes also were cast on two constitutional amendments: one allowing the Virginia Supreme Court to directly consider new DNA evidence that might lead to guilt or innocence, another allowing local governments to grant property tax breaks to nonprofit organizations.
The bond issues and constitutional amendments were all approved.
The final results demonstrate how easily incumbent congressmen coasted to re-election in districts they helped draw.
Of the five candidates who faced major-party opposition, Rep. James P. Moran Jr., D-8th, had the lowest percentage of votes, 59.8 percent.
Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr., R-5th, won with 63.5 percent. Rep. Rick Boucher, D-9th, received 65.8 percent. Rep. Eric I. Cantor, R-7th, received 69.4 percent; and Rep. Frank R. Wolf, R-10th, won 71.7 percent.
The General Assembly draws congressional district boundaries, but the congressmen offer advice.
Ping! (Any of you all heard from C-girl in a while?)
We need to make this topic a campaign issue when we elect school board members. The majority of the Fairfax County Board needs to be kicked off.
1. Homeschool
2. A good private school
3. A combination of homeschooling and private school classes
Hey - you can't call it that any more! The proper PC term is now "Intergenerational Love". Awwwwwww, now ain't that sweet?
Eh? What's that you said? You say your seven-year old daughter traded her virginity to a 50-year old guy for a bunch of barbie dolls and candy, and also got a full-blown case of AIDS out of the deal? Gee, that's a tough break, buddy, but there's nothing you can do about that kind of thing. After all, like they say, "That's Love!" I mean, hey, you can't fight Love now, can you? It's what makes the world go 'round! "Dat's amooooooooore ....... lala la la"
Subtitled...
And she knows how to use it!
Clear discrimination against heterosexuals. Don't give us the truth, we have an agenda here.... Homosexuals are not born homosexuals, they are born children. To create a special law structure to protect a learned behavior will create diversity in the society instead of a society that is diverse.
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.
A clear attempt to halt a vote with law. If it was a question on if it was legal to add something it is appropriate to consult lawyers, but when the question is if a standing law can be voted to be maintained, to block a change by consulting lawyers is a clear attempt to use the law to block opposition to standing law. It then is interference with the right to vote.
It is one thing to try to make homosexuality a favored by law special case, it is another to block the attempts to create new law structures by removing the right to vote from the public by law. Law is suppose to be subject to vote, not vote subject to law. When vote is subject to law over the peoples desires we have tyranny not freedom.
Kudos and a tip of the hat to this board member, so rare to see someone know their limits in the bean counter world.
I can't believe I missed this from the original article.
Note that this sexual deviant teaches the mentally unstable. How many special-ed kids do you think he's molested all ready? New SAD motto "Work with the handicapped, they put up less of a fight"
God Save America (Please)
Absolutely. She's a solid conservative trying to stand firm. I pray she can remain steadfast in the force of the onslaught. People in positions of power who stand up to the militants are usually targetted for some sort of reprisal. She happens to be a black republican which makes her even more interesting. She's a role model for other conservative Christian black women thinking of leaving the Dems due to their support and belief in sexual immorality.
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