Conatct information to support the supportive superintendent mentioned in the article:
Gene Amberg, Superintendent
Urbana School District
http://www.cmi.k12.il.us/Urbana/
205 North Race Street
PO Box 3039
Urbana, Illinois 61803-3039
phone: 217-384-3600 | fax: 217-337-4973

Champaign News-Gazette, January 21, 2000
Box 677, Champaign, IL, 61824-0677
(Fax 217-351-5374 ) (E-MAIL: letters@news-gazette.com )

Policies to keep gays safe urged

By DOROTHY PUCH

CHAMPAIGN ­ When school administrators think school safety, they should be thinking about policies to keep gay and lesbian students safe from harassment.

If they don't, they could face legal troubles.

At an organizational meeting for the Central Illinois chapter of GLSEN ­ the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network ­ panelists said area students are experiencing harassment because of their sexual orientation.

The Thursday night meeting at Parkland College started off with a letter from a Champaign County student who said he dropped out of high school after he was taunted, spit on and beaten because he is gay. The student said he was not only harassed by his peers, but he also had heard teachers making jokes about him.

There are steps students can take to stop the harassment, panelists said Thursday. In addition, there are guidelines school districts should follow to help students ­ and keep the districts out of court.

The Supreme Court ruled last May that schools can be sued when officials fail to stop students from sexually harassing each other.

The court ruled that Congress meant to outlaw student-on-student harassment when it enacted an anti-bias federal law known as Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

Heather Sawyer, an attorney for Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, the country's premier legal advocate for the civils rights of lesbians and gay men, said Title IX also offers protection for gay students.

In addition, she said, the U.S. Constitution guarantees all students equal protection under the law. That means schools must protect all students from abuse.

Lambda Legal Defense helped win a verdict against Ashland, Wis., school officials who failed to take action when former student Jamie Nabozny was harassed and beaten. Nabozny received a nearly $1 million settlement.

"Maybe someday students in the schools won't have to go through these experiences, whether they are gay or are perceived to be gay," Sawyer said.

Gene Amberg, superintendent of the Urbana school district, said school officials need to be aware they can be held liable for failing to protect their students.

Amberg, who was in the audience for Thursday's meeting, hosted a gay awareness seminar for school officials early last year with Champaign Superintendent Mike Cain and the Champaign-Ford Regional Office of Education. Amberg said he's concerned about keeping all students safe, regardless of their sexual orientation.

Under Title IX, Sawyer said, schools must have a grievance procedure for students who are being harassed.

Sometimes, though, students are afraid to report abuse even when there are policies in place. Sawyer said many students feel that if they complain they will only confirm for their classmates that they are gay.

Local teachers and social workers from Urbana and Champaign high schools said they would like to start support groups for gay students, but they aren't getting much response because students don't want to be labeled as gay.

Sawyer said that, in some schools, friends of gay students have started support groups that are open to all students ­ gay or straight. She suggested educators set up "safe zones" for students where all individuals are treated with respect.

Robert Dunn, a senior at Urbana High School, said he thinks a local chapter of GLSEN will help unite students from many high schools who are having similar experiences. He's been wanting to see such a network created, he said Thursday.

GLSEN is the largest nonprofit organization that brings together gay and straight teachers, parents, students and concerned citizens to end anti-gay bias in schools. Founded in Boston in 1990, it led the fight that resulted in Massachusetts banning anti-gay discrimination in its public schools in 1993.

Sandra Sexton, acting chairwoman of the Central Illinois chapter of GLSEN, said a second meeting will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 16 to set up a board of directors for the group. The meeting will be held at the OUTpost Community Center, 123 W. Church St., C. For more information, call 239-4688.

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