There were several good comments made by supporters of the Gay/Straight Alliance including the co-chairs of PFLAG as well as David Lowenfel--one of the students who organized the club at Dimond High.

The board rejected by a 4-3 vote a motion to ban all non-curriculum clubs and this morning approved the Administration's plan to allow all clubs to continue to exist on campus with the stipulation that all membership in non-curriculum based clubs must be approved in writing by the students parent(s).

Dan

P.S. One of the exciting developments I learned about last night is the possibility of having a march/rally/demonstration in support of gay/les/bi youth. David, JR and Willow were talking to us about it last night. I will keep you informed as to what we all can do to help them. It sounds like an event that many groups could support and a great chance to do a lot of networking with others.

ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS February 11, 1997
P. O. Box 149001,Anchorage,AK,99514-9001
(Fax 907-258-2157, print run 103,831)
(E-MAIL: letters@pop.adn.com)

PANEL CONSIDERS CHANGE IN SCHOOL CLUB POLICY

by Rosemary Shinohara

For the Anchorage School Board, the issue before it Monday night was district rules about school clubs: should all clubs be allowed, or or just academic clubs? And if all clubs are OK, should students be required to get permission from their parents to join them?

But people testifying on the subject honed in on just one club:the Gay/Straight Alliance formed at Dimond High last fall to promote tolerance and oppose predjudice.

"Keep the non-academic clubs open, but shut the Dimond clubdown," said Frank Murphy, who identified himself as youth pastor at a local church.

"Im appalled at what the devil is trying to bring into the school system," said Alice Lawrence, who operates a mountain view charity and is known as Mother Lawrence. Lawrence made it clear she thinks the Dimond club is innapropriate.

Elliott Dennis and Norman Schlitter, cochairman of a group called Parents and Friends of Lesbians and gays and bisexuals, both told the School Board that clubs like the Gay/Straight Alliance are important for young teens, and they shouldn't have to get permission to join. "If you pass this, some of those (gay) students will continue to lead a lonely life," Dennis Said.

The School Board began considering rules for non-academic clubs last fall after formation of the Dimond club set off a controversy.

Superintendent Bob Christal recommended requiring students get written permission from their parents before joining any club started bt students. The School Board late Monday postponed a decision on district policy until this morning.

FROM blackout@asylumbbs.com

The Anchorage (Alaska) School Board has passed a final decision this morning regarding school clubs. They decided to continue allowing non-curriculum clubs, including the Dimond High Gay/Straight Alliance.

An amendment was included, however, to require parental permission slips be signed - forms which must include the clubs statement of purpose - before a student can be permitted to join any non-curriculum club. That amendment passed. This decision effectively ends the debate over school clubs, as this was a voted (final) decision.