The Anchorage School Board voted 6-0 last night to keep the book, "Athletic Shorts," on middle and high school library shelves. (One of the seven members was absent) The book will, however, be pulled off shelves in elementary school libraries. Last week a parent complained to the Board's Controversial Issues Review committee about the books handling of homosexuality. The parent objected to the portrayal of gay characters in childrens fiction. (In the books first short story, an unpopular high school boy named Angus has gay parents, who both have partners) The controversial Issues Review committee sends a recommendation to the School Board after holding its own hearing, and the board has the final say. Although the issues often become contentious, the Anchorage School Board has in recent years been very friendly toward gay concerns. A Gay/Straight Alliance got the green light from the board in 1997, the same year that the high school curriculum was slightly adjusted to be less demeaning of homosexuality.

Return to P.E.R.S.O.N. Project Home Page