From MONA-SHAW@uiowa.edu
of the Iowa Coalition for Human Rights...

"Calling all individuals interested in civil equality for LGBT individuals (and that would mean everybody, correct?).

Concerned Parents of Des Moines has offered a petition to the Des Moines school board requesting that the board rescind the employment non-discrimination policy which covers LGB individuals. This is the same group which spear-headed the effort to vote Jonathan Wilson out of his position on the school board. This group, using scare tactics common to religious political extremists, has suggested that the sexual orientation policy covers pedophiles and child molesters.

An immediate response to their actions is required by all concerned individuals. Those who live within the Des Moines public school district should call school board members requesting they reaffirm the current policy.
John Phoenix, President (H) 515-288-0759
Jacquie Easley (W) 515-245-2194
Jane Hein (H) 515-287-2700
Harold Sandahl (H) 515-277-3357
Liz Goodwin (H) 515-279-0703
Suzette Jensen (H) 515-266-7908
Laura Sands (H) 515-279-3424

Letters to school board members can come from all over the state & should be sent to: Board of Education, Central Campus, 1800 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA 50309."

**** Peg of the IA Project adds: "The Des Moines school board fax number is
**** 515-242-7579. It would be great if we could totally tie up their fax machine tomorrow (Tuesday the 26th). That is the day we are presenting signatures on *OUR* petition. It would be a great news story if we tied up the fax machine all day."

THE DES MOINES REGISTER
Box 957,Des Moines,Ia.,50304
FAX 515-286-2511, E-MAIL: letters@desmoine.gannett.com

Monday, April 22, 1996

EDITORIAL

Des Moines School Board members should quit waffling on whether they support school-district policies that protect gays and lesbians from job discrimination. Either they do, or they don't, and as elected officials they should say.

The question arose with a 1,000-signature petition from Concerned Parents of Des Moines April 2 asking the board to strike "sexual orientation" from anti-discrimination language in hiring policies. An informal poll of all seven School Board members at that time found that only one said she was "not particularly in favor of changing . . ." That was Laura Sands.

Harold Sandahl, elected last September with the backing of Concerned Parents, raised the possibility that the language might protect the sexual orientation of a teacher involved in sexual abuse.

Other board members were unclear about their positions. Board president John Phoenix and members Jacqueline Easley, Jane Hein and Elizabeth Goodwin had little or no comment. Goodwin, the board's vice president, for example, said, "I don't lean one way or the other. I'm just sorry we have to consider it at all." Member Suzette Jensen said she had "mixed feelings . . . There are some who say it would include cross dressers. . . ."

Since then, students have collected 1,000 signatures supporting the policies. The Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, a non-partisan ecumenical political group, also has collected signatures for the policies. Both groups plan to deliver the petitions to the School Board on Tuesday. Yet when asked about the matter last week, Jensen and Phoenix said they don't know what they'll do.

None of the present School Board members held office when the board adopted the original policies in 1990, although Easley, Jensen and Phoenix expressed support when they sought office in 1993. The three will face voters again this fall if they run for re-election.

So they and their challengers can't avoid the question of where they stand. The principle behind the policies -- that of treating all people fairly -- is at stake. On matters of principle, all School Board members should take clear stands.

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