This was in the Attleboro (MA) Sun-Chronicle.
-T.

Tina M. Wood	ac245@osfn.org
http://twood.tripod.com/	ac245@osfn.rhilinet.gov

October 10, 2000

Senate candidate:Ban school gay groups

BY JIM HAND / SUN CHRONICLE STAFF

State Senate candidate Earl Henry Sholley proposed Monday that all Gay-Straight Alliance organizations be removed from public schools.

Sholley, a North Attleboro Republican, said schools should not be promoting homosexuality, and the state should not be funding the alliances.

The alliances ``have nothing to do with academics, and they are disruptive, deceitful and divisive,'' he said.

He said many people consider homosexuality ``a deviant and unhealthy behavior.''

Sholley's election opponent, state Sen. Cheryl Jacques, D-Needham, is a strong supporter of the alliances.

She helped fight off an attempt to cut funding for the alliances by one-third.

In defending funding for the alliances last spring, she acknowledged that she is gay.

Jacques could not be reached for comment Monday. However, in the past she said the alliances help foster an understanding of gay students.

She said gay teens have an alarming rate of attempted suicide because of the harassment they experience in schools. One study found that 33 percent of gay teens either attempt or contemplate suicide.

Sholley said the 33 percent rate ``is just another attempt by the incumbent to distort the truth.''

He said most people contemplate suicide at some point in their life.

Sholley said his proposal would be to teach respect in schools.

``That would help in reducing verbal and physical attacks on all students as well as helping to reduce the overall violence in our society,'' he said.

JIM HAND can be reached at 508-236-0399 or via e-mail at jhand@thesunchronicle.com.