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[a little background refresher for readers: the religious political extremists are trying to revise the Des Moines school board's nondiscrimination policy. first they wanted to remove "sexual orientation" as a protected category. now they are trying to add language stipulating that pedophiles,
etc. are not protected, with their logical next step being to argue that LGBT are pedophiles. here's language from a related news article:

"A lawyer for the district sent a letter to board President John Phoenix about the policies.

“In my judgment, sexual orientation is not a permissible criteria upon which to base personnel decision, and the district could be challenged legally if the district did discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation,” lawyer Peter Pashler wrote.

Pashler added that he did not believe the policies’ current language requires “the employment or retention of individuals whose behavior represents a threat to children.”

The district’s employment policies prohibit discrimination based on 10 factors, including sexual orientation, race and marital status.

Some community members have said protection for sexual orientation would include people with a range of sexual interests, including attraction to children. Others say that is a smokescreen for people who don’t want to protect gays and lesbians from discrimination.

Pashler suggested that the district’s policies could be clarified by excluding the same conditions as the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Some conditions not covered by the act include transvestitism, transsexualism, pedophilia, exhibitionism, voyeurism, gender identity disorders not resulting from physical impairments, other sexual behavior disorders, kleptomania and pyromania.

Phoenix said he asked for the lawyer’s opinion.

“It does not change the policy at all; it only clarifies issues,” he said. “There are people out there who are thinking we are allowing ourselves to hire pedophiles. We don’t. The question is, we haven’t gotten it in writing in our policy.”

Phoenix said he would feel “a lot more comfortable with the policy” if the board approved the lawyer’s suggestions. If it did, he said he would support leaving in protection for sexual orientation."

We thank Randy Kottwitz of NH
for obtaining the below update from Linda Powers in IA.]

Forwarded message:
From: (Linda Powers)
Date: 96-06-10 08:46:03 EDT
Subject: Update on Des Moines

Nothing was decided last Tuesday at the school board meeting. A couple of members danced around perhaps voting on the addition of the ADA language to "clarify" the policy. But people hedged and the decision was prolonged and agonizing.

No action was taken and that decision came because the non-discrimination policy item came to the board agenda as a discussion item rather than an action item.

So, we go through this again on June 18. Send an alert to have people call, fax or phone the same board members before June 18 on the same issue. The only new twist is that Sandahl wants a statement that the children are safe in the schools. I am trying to get the public out to show strength.

Linda

[Action alert info: to contact the Des Moines board about its nondiscrimination policy:
The Des Moines Board of Education as of 4/96 consisted of:
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 (He is the very unsupportive member who was elected by religious political extremists)
Liz Goodwin (H) 515-279-0703
Suzette Jensen (H) 515-266-7908
Laura Sands (H) 515-279-3424 (she's the only sb member who is openly supportive of LGBT individuals)

Letters to should be sent to:
Board of Education, Central Campus, 1800 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA 50309. The Des Moines School Board's fax number is 515-242-7579. ]

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