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Gay issue creates "firestorm"

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By Tony Bruscato

Staff Writer

tbruscato@oe.homecomm.net

"They've created a firestorm."

That's the reaction of West Middle School music teacher Mike Chiumento, one of two gay teachers forced by Plymouth-Canton Superintendent Ken Walcott to take down displays depicting Gay and Lesbian History Month.

And it may just be the beginning as groups, pro and con, line up to do battle on the issue.

The Plymouth-Canton Education Association's grievance committee decided Wednesday to take up the cause of Chiumento and Salem High School teacher Tom Salbenblatt, who also was forced to take down a bulletin board display in his room depicting gay and lesbian history.

A grievance is expected to be filed with the district's administration early this week.

"We're looking for a cessation to censorship and the reinstatement of the displays for gay awareness month ... not only for this year but coming years," said Joann Gustafson, co-chairman of the teacher's union grievance committee. "The district is in violation of academic freedom."

Gustafson cites the union contract, which states "teachers are free to teach broad areas of knowledge, including those areas considered controversial."

"One is a math teacher, the other is a music teacher, and that's what they should be teaching," said Walcott. "I don't think this is about free speech."

Walcott said the district has received several hundred telephone calls concerning his edict to take down the displays, which he says "are running 8-1 in support of the district's stand."

Chiumento has contacted the American Civil Liberties Union, whose lawyers will discuss the issue later this month to decide whether it will get involved.

"It's amazing to me that in the wake of a number of hate crimes occurring on a monthly basis that an effort to teach tolerance is met with government censorship," said Michael Steinberg, legal director of the ACLU Michigan from his Detroit office.

The ACLU office in New York, which successfully defended a lesbian teacher in Utah who was forced to resign as girls volleyball coach and ordered not to discuss her case, has also contact local union officials.

Meanwhile, the American Family Association of Michigan has offered to defend Plymouth-Canton Schools in any legal entanglements.

"We join parents in applauding Superintendent Walcott for acting in the best interests of children rather than submitting to homosexual activists' political agenda," said Gary Glenn, president AFA-Michigan. "It is wrong to use our public school classrooms - and the tax dollars to fund them - to promote homosexuality or any other behavior that puts our children at risk."

Glenn said lawyers for the AFA's Center for Law & Policy, headquartered in Tupelo, Miss., will offer legal support to the school district if union officials and homosexual activists attempt to overturn the district's decision.

Copyright 1998 Hometown Communications Network

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