THE BOULDER DAILY CAMERA November 1, 1996
1048 Pearl Street,Boulder,CO,80306
(Fax 303-442-1508, print run 43,410) (newsr@bouldernews.infi.net)

Story on teen homosexuality stirs flap

Article in Springs school newspaper triggers flap

COLORADO SPRINGS -- A high school newspaper story about the angst of teenage homosexuality has set off a string of protests by school officials and local citizens.

Among the protesters is Will Perkins, chairman of Colorado for Family Values, the group that authored Colorado's anti-gay rights Amendment 2, which was struck down in May by the United States Supreme Court.

The article, titled "Finding True Love," was written by Mary Margaret Nussbaum, editor-in-chief of Palmer High School's monthly "The Lever."

In it, Nussbaum described the sometimes painful process teenagers endure in coming to terms with their homosexuality.

The story also cited studies showing gay teens are more likely to commit suicide than straight teens and included the telephone number of Inside/Out,
a county-sponsored youth group for gay teenagers.

Perkins said he and other parents plan to take their complaints to the school board at its next meeting on Wednesday.

We think it appropriate that the school district should have some policy to address sexual questions," said Perkins.

School Board President Ken Olivey had not read the article, but said he believes student newspapers should refect the "traditional Judeo-Christian, heterosexual standard of the community and not give credibility to other lifestyles." He said it was not a First Amendment issue.

But Colorado Press Association legislative liaison Marge Eastob said, "The beast in me says this is indeed a First Amendment issue -- God help us."

A state law passed in 1990 guarantees that high school students can publish stories on any subject as long as they are not obscene, libelous, slanderous, false or inflammatory. The law also encourages teachers and advisers to teach and enourage free expression, Easton said.

For her part, Nussbaum said she was suprised by the attention the article has received.

"This wasn't supposed to glamorize gay teenagers, and I don't think it did," she said. "We try to cover all the issues, and this is something we never addressed before. On last month's cover, we did a story on the football team."

[For those wishing to take action, here's some relevant info:

PALMER HIGH SCHOOL (Grades: 09-12 )

Principal: JAY ENGELN	Phone: (719) 520-2800
Address : 301 NORTH NEVADA AVENUE
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80903-1299
1995 Fall Enrollment : 1,844

SUPERINTENDENT: KENNETH S BURNLEY (school board can be reached also at address and phone/fax shown below)

Address : 1115 NORTH EL PASO STREET	Phone Number: (719) 520-2000
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80903-2599	Fax Number : (719) 577-4546

Major state-wide newspapers:
Denver Post,650 15th Street,Denver,CO,80202

-(Fax 303-820-1010, print run 252,600)

-(Fax 303-892-2568, email= letters@denver-rmn.com,print run 374,009)

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