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

FYI
TORRANCE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
2335 PLAZA DEL AMO
TORRANCE, CA 90501-3420
County Name:LOS ANGELES
Phone:(310)533-4200
Fax:(310) 533-4742 (North HS, Torrance)

CSS-NYS note below
===================================================================
Daily Breeze, October 24, 2001
5215 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, CA, 90503
(Fax:213-450-6272 ) (E-Mail: letters@dailybreeze.com )
( http://www.dailybreeze.com )
http://www.dailybreeze.com/content/bln/nmpad24.html

Kuwahara says he's target

By Renee Moilanen, Daily Breeze

A group claiming to represent concerned parents and taxpayers has blasted the Torrance school board for "pushing a homosexual agenda" in schools, a move that critics call a thinly veiled, pre-election attack on incumbent school board candidate Gary Kuwahara.

The Torrance-based PUSHES (Parents United to Stop Homosexual Education in Our Schools) ran a full-page advertisement in Tuesday's Daily Breeze decrying "pro-homosexual activists and propaganda on our school campuses," a reference to the national gay rights group that spoke last year at North High School.

The ad listed board members who voted in favor of letting Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays - PFLAG - speak to the high schoolers. The list included Kuwahara, noting that he voted for "homosexual advocacy and recruiting."

Kuwahara cast the deciding vote in allowing PFLAG to speak on campus and is the only incumbent running for re-election.

"He's one of those that definitely supported the measure, and obviously we'd like to see him replaced," said Dan Miller, a spokesman for PUSHES and father of a West High student. "We thought just by calling attention to those that did vote for it and those that voted against it, it would be a wake-up call."

Though the ad did not endorse or oppose candidates, Kuwahara said the text clearly targeted him.

"There's no other reason for this group to have a full page and pay top dollar unless they're specifically targeting me," he said.

Kuwahara said he does not regret his vote.

"As long as PFLAG comes in and continues the same program that they presented to us, I would always allow it," he said.

At issue is the annual Human Relations Convention held at North High. Last year, student organizers requested that PFLAG speak at the event. The board, which must approve outside speakers, initially voted 3-2 to reject the request. Later, after hearing PFLAG's presentation firsthand, Kuwahara switched his vote, thereby allowing the group to speak on campus.

District officials stressed that the Human Relations Convention is a one-day, voluntary event held on a nonschool day. Students need parental permission to attend, and once there, they can choose from among a dozen seminars.

Officials said the PUSHES ad was filled with inaccuracies.

The ad claims Torrance health classes "regularly publicize gay and lesbian centers as a place to call if a teen feels troubled." Susan Adams, the district health coordinator, called the statement a "gross exaggeration."

The curriculum does not include discussion of sexual orientation, she said, but teachers are trained to answer student questions, which may touch on homosexuality.

"When students ask value-laden questions, the teacher refers the students back to their parents," she said.

The ad also claims that state Assembly Bill 537 will force Torrance schools to infuse positive homosexual images into the curriculum and provide separate locker rooms, restrooms and dress codes for gay and transgendered students.

The bill, signed into law in 2000, prohibits discrimination against staff and students based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

A state task force has suggested including gay and lesbian historical figures in the curriculum when appropriate, training teachers to deal with discrimination against homosexual students and urging schools to examine ways of reducing gender segregation for transgendered students, which may involve discussions of restrooms, locker rooms and dress codes. These recommendations have not been adopted.

Superintendent Arnold Plank said the district has made no changes as yet.

"We don't see ourselves in any way as being on the cutting edge," he said. "We see ourselves as being responsible for complying with the requirements of the law, and it is a necessity that we honor the expansion into (sexual orientation) that the law intended."

PUSHES is circulating petitions that oppose curriculum changes and that ask the district to include speakers advocating heterosexual marriage.

"You have a seminar for tolerance and yet it becomes a homosexual recruiting session," Miller said. "People hear tolerance and think it's a great thing, and it is, but it became more than that."
--------------------------------

CSS-NYS Note:In many cases, elected school board members fear a backlash for taking a position that protects GLBT students and innocent children suffer. However, there are those who will stand up for what is the right thing to do and then bear the brunt of attacks by right wing bigots. I hope this board member gets the support he deserves and is re-elected.......John Myers
====================================================================
This message has been distributed as a free informational service for the expressed interest of non-profit research and educational purposes only.

PRIMER WEBSITES

GLSEN --- Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network
www.glsen.org
Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund
www.lambdalegal.org
Safe Schools Coalition of Washington
www.safeschools-wa.org
The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project Home Page
www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
www.pflag.org
Empire State (NY) Pride Agenda
www.prideagenda.org
GLAAD

Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
www.glaad.org
Unity Through Diversity (Long Island)
http://www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/Castro/3212/
LIGALY Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth
http://www.ligaly.com/

"The Real or Perceived Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgendered Student Protection Project"
("Being safe at school should not be a radical concept".. Jamie Nabozny)

A project of:
Coalition for Safer Schools of New York State

John Myers
Director of Operations and Programs
PO Box 2345
Malta, NY 12020
(518) 587-0176

Email:saratogany@aol.com

(To subscribe or unsubscribe (CSS-NYS Email List) send request to saratogany@aol.com)

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