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

SUPPORT.......NYS Legislation..The Dignity for All Students Act of 2001
New York State Assembly - Bill A02634 (S01628) Text
NYS Dignity for All Students Week....March 5-11, 2001 (Do a little something, i.e. Letter to the Editor)

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Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, February 13, 2001
P. O. Box 688, Dubuque, Ia., 52001
(Fax:319-588-5745 ) (EMAIL:thonline@wcinet.com )
( http://www.thonline.com )

SEXUAL ORIENTATION ADDED TO POLICY
Dubuque Community School Board adds sexual orientation to its nondiscrimination and anti-harassment policies.

by DIANE HELDT

The Dubuque Community School Board added sexual orientation and physical attributes to its nondiscrimination and anti-harassment policy by a 6-1 vote Monday night.

Many in the audience of about 70 people applauded after the vote.

The revised policy states that the district will not discriminate or tolerate harassment for any reason. It goes on to list several examples, such as color, gender and age; that list will now include sexual orientation and physical attributes.

"We're not going to change the world because we set a policy," board member Donna Bauerly said. "What we can do is set the climate and atmosphere."

Board member Doug Horstmann cast the dissenting vote. He said after the meeting that there were a variety of reasons for his decision, but he declined to comment further.

The addition of sexual orientation to the nondiscrimination policy is something the Dubuque City Council failed to approve in a controversial 1999 vote. Of the 17 people who made comments about the issue to the school board on Monday night, 13 were in favor of adding sexual orientation and physical attributes to the policy.

Speakers in favor included Dubuque high school students and community members. Many of the supporters were parents of gay children. Bill Ross said his gay son was afraid to come out because he did not feel accepted in Dubuque -- one of the reasons he left after high school graduation for a larger city.

"There are families out here with gay children, and most of (the children) have left Dubuque. Dubuque is missing out on something," Ross said. "Think if you had gay children or grandchildren or relatives. What would you want for them?"

Gina Selchert, 15, is a sophomore at Hempstead High School. Selchert said she and her friends are harassed regularly because she is bisexual.

"I have been tortured and terrorized my whole life," she said. "We shouldn't have to be afraid to go to school."

Glen Larsen, the pastor at Immanuel Congregational United Church of Christ, said the addition of sexual orientation to the policy recognizes that gay students have value as people.

"You don't have to be in favor of homosexuality to say yes to this," he said. "You have to be in favor of justice and personhood."

Sister Jordan Dahm, president of the Dubuque Area Congregations United, said the community wants the school board to show leadership with the policy change.

"You are saying to our citizens that there is no place for fear or violence or hate in our schools," she said. "I believe you have this kind of support in the community."

Others voiced opposition to the change.

George Beaves, a former school board member, said adding sexual orientation to the policy leads the district down a "slippery slope" toward teaching those behaviors as "normal or natural."

Sheila Everts said the revised policy sends a dangerous message.

"It's just another small step which blurs the difference between right and wrong," she said. "It may in fact be harmful if it legitimizes homosexuality."

Board member Tonya Thul-Theis said the district is stating zero tolerance for harassment with the policy, not advocating a lifestyle.

"We're not telling you whether it's right or wrong," she said. "It's about the level of expectations or respect in our learning environments."

In other board news . . .
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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
LIGALY Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth
http://www.ligaly.com/
Unity Through Diversity
http://www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/Castro/3212/

"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

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