Message from:
The Coalition for Safer Schools of NYS, PO Box 2345, Malta, NY 12020
John Myers, Director of Operations and Programs
Email to:SARATOGANY@aol.com
The Real or Perceived Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Student Protection Project

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Tri-Valley Herald, May 1, 2003
4770 Willow Road, Pleasanton, CA 94588
(Fax:925-416-4850) ( http://www.trivalleyherald.com )
http://www.trivalleyherald.com/Stories/0,1413,86~10669~1362270,00.html

District to address gay rights
(CSS-NYS:should be "gay civil and human rights" or "equal protection for GLBT students")

SRV trustees consider forming panel to promote tolerance

By Jeanine Benca, Staff Writer

DANVILLE - San Ramon Valley school board members said this week they will aggressively pursue ways to stop bullying on campuses and promote respect for all children, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students.

That informal consensus among trust- [sic] bian, gay, bisexual and transgender students and their allies.

Students also urged the district to adopt a resolution that would harden punishments against harassers of such students and ban "homophobic" expressions like "That's so gay!" from campuses.

"It's not just hearing someone say that (expression) once. It's over and over ... Every time I hear those words it's like a dagger stabbing into my heart and tearing out my identity," one student said in a trembling voice.

"It's when you get to high school that you realize you are burning inside. It's that homophobia that almost threw me off an overpass into traffic. I'm sure that you will never want to be held responsible for the (death) of any student," he told trustees.

The boy's father also spoke, telling board members they should "acknowledge the bravery" of the kids who had come forward by granting their "modest" request to form a committee overseeing their safety.

"All they want is a committee that would let them know they're safe ... and (promote) understanding and some discussion. Whatever your personal feelings are is not really the issue," the father said.

He credited the Gay-Straight Alliance Club at his son's school with saving the teen's life by providing him with much-needed psychological support.

Started last year on several San Ramon Valley Unified high school campuses, the student-led branches of the national organization have been met with great resistance from many other teens, as well as from some teachers and principals, student speakers said.

Following the presentation, more than 60 audience members aired their thoughts, with comments sharply divided between those who were sympathetic to the students' grievances and those who said they opposed adopting any resolution that would encourage tolerance for the "gay lifestyle."

On the side of the students were several local church and synagogue leaders, members of the National Organization of Women, and numerous representatives from Valley branches of the Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, including one 76-year old former president of the group.

Those in favor of the students' cause compared discrimination against gay students to the once widespread public discrimination against African Americans.

One middle-aged man, describing himself as a "former harasser" of gay students, said he'll never forget the day a constantly assaulted gay student in his high school class committed suicide.

On the other side of the issue was Catholic school teacher Sharon Arata, who said she "felt compassion toward those students who struggle with gender," but believed allowing them to organize was wrong and was ultimately harmful to other impressionable adolescents.

She argued that teens should not be encouraged to accept homosexuality.

Other parents said they resented the involvement of outside "special-interest groups" such as the Queer Youth Action Team.

"They're using these kids as pawns," one man complained.

The Pleasant Hill organization first got involved with San Ramon Valley Unified two years ago, when a controversial issue involving gay rights erupted at one of the district's schools.

A Charlotte Wood Middle School eighth grader posted an anti-gay message about a teacher on a student-created Web site.

The incident eventually led to a public discussion similar to this week's. Although no formal recommendation was ever made, trustees at that time considered forming a "diversity committee" that would help address such concerns.

But the action was never taken, schools spokesman Terry Koehne said.

Queer Youth director Rachel Floyd said her organization began meeting with school officials, parents and students who wanted to create a more healthy environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth at district schools.

When conditions failed to improve, Floyd said, distraught students started planning their school board presentation - the result of months of "hard work and tears."

San Ramon Valley Unified, Floyd contended, has one of the worst reputations in the area for intolerance and hostility on campuses against gay students.

"Please do not wait for a youth suicide to acknowledge that there's a problem," she implored trustees.

But other parents pointed out that the district has an extremely low number of reported incidents of violence and other crimes on its campuses, as evident by statistics released by the state each year.

Student speakers asked that a committee be formed supporting sexual minority students, similar to one that has been established in Oakland Unified.

Oakland's committee head, Janine Saunders, also spoke Tuesday, pointing out that harassed gay students are four times more likely to commit suicide and five times more likely to miss school because they feel unsafe, according to statistics.

Discussion among trustees did not commence until well after midnight. Exhausted board members said they had been moved and enlightened by the students' testimonials and admitted that "something" should be done.

But the answer, they said, is not to adopt a resolution or form a committee that is specific to the needs of one particular group of students.

"I think having a safe, respectful tolerant environment has to be for all students, not just special interests," said board member Joan Buchanan.

The district already operates a Youth Safety and Development Committee, made up of district officials and parents, which monitors safety on campuses. That group was formed several years ago following a violent brawl that erupted among high school students after a football game.

But this week, trustees said they felt a separate committee was needed - one made up of both students and adults, that would address diversity issues, discourage bullying and promote respect for all types of students, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students.

"I firmly believe every student has the right to come to school and feel safe, regardless of whether he is gay or straight," board member Greg Marvel said.

Superintendent Rob Kessler said he was "saddened" by Tuesday's meeting.

"On the one hand, as an educator, I'm very proud to hear these students come to adults and articulate so well."

But Kessler said reports of bullying and just plain nastiness among students have long plagued the district.

"It concerns me that it's an objective for us every year to improve the ways that students treat each other."
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John Myers
Director of Operations and Programs
(518) 587-0176

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