Incredibly, not one of Kanawha County's five school board members had courage enough to say that gay students shouldn't be beaten, bullied, taunted or tormented.
Incredibly, not one of Kanawha County's five school board members had courage enough to say that gay students shouldn't be beaten, bullied, taunted or tormented.
After previously supporting a rule change to protect homosexuals from cruel prejudice, the board unanimously retreated Thursday night in the face of fundamentalist pressure. It was an embarrassing spectacle.
The board's no-bullying policy protects blacks, Jews, the poor, Catholics, the disabled, Hispanics and other minorities. But the five members -- Bill Raglin, Pete Thaw, Jim Crawford, Becky Jordon and Robin Rector -- backed away from adding the words "sexual orientation" to the shield. Therefore, the policy says that blacks, Jews, the poor, Catholics, the disabled, Hispanics, etc., deserve respect and equality, but gays conspicuously are omitted.
Weaseling before a mob of fundamentalists, Raglin offered an amendment extending the safeguard to "any other status protected by federal, state or local law." Presumably, he assumed that no such laws cover gays. Informed that Charleston's human rights laws include homosexuals, Raglin quickly said he didn't mean to apply the city rules.
Policy A04, the school system's guideline for "Cultural Diversity and Human Relations," says Kanawha is pledged to "the elimination of racism and the removal of cultural barriers wherever they may exist." It "recognizes cultural diversity as an essential ingredient to the success of a democratic society." It promotes "awareness and understanding of the achievements, problems and aspirations of all people," and guarantees an "inclusive, bias-free ... welcoming climate for all." It says discrimination is "deplorable, reprehensible and unacceptable in society ... . There will be zero tolerance."
After Thursday night's change, the policy mandates: "Respect for the individual regardless of economic status, intellectual ability, race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, marital status, disability or any other status protected by federal, state or local law."
Congress seems poised to add gays to America's human rights laws. We hope it happens soon, which would supersede minor regulations such as the Kanawha school policy. Still, it's a shame that the local board members were too timid to say flat-out that cruelty to gays is wrong.
It's also a shame that the general public, which is growing more tolerant of homosexuality, doesn't attend school board meetings to voice acceptance. That leaves the door open for dominance by the hostility of puritanical extremists.
Most "straight" people cannot understand gays. The condition seems baffling. Therefore, heterosexuals simply should leave homosexuals alone, letting them pursue their own lives as best they can. Hateful bigotry toward them has no place in a decent, humane society.
Incredibly, not one of Kanawha County's five school board members had courage enough to say that gay students shouldn't be beaten, bullied, taunted or tormented.
After previously supporting a rule change to protect homosexuals from cruel prejudice, the board unanimously retreated Thursday night in the face of fundamentalist pressure. It was an embarrassing spectacle.
The board's no-bullying policy protects blacks, Jews, the poor, Catholics, the disabled, Hispanics and other minorities. But the five members -- Bill Raglin, Pete Thaw, Jim Crawford, Becky Jordon and Robin Rector -- backed away from adding the words "sexual orientation" to the shield. Therefore, the policy says that blacks, Jews, the poor, Catholics, the disabled, Hispanics, etc., deserve respect and equality, but gays conspicuously are omitted.
Weaseling before a mob of fundamentalists, Raglin offered an amendment extending the safeguard to "any other status protected by federal, state or local law." Presumably, he assumed that no such laws cover gays. Informed that Charleston's human rights laws include homosexuals, Raglin quickly said he didn't mean to apply the city rules.
Policy A04, the school system's guideline for "Cultural Diversity and Human Relations," says Kanawha is pledged to "the elimination of racism and the removal of cultural barriers wherever they may exist." It "recognizes cultural diversity as an essential ingredient to the success of a democratic society." It promotes "awareness and understanding of the achievements, problems and aspirations of all people," and guarantees an "inclusive, bias-free ... welcoming climate for all." It says discrimination is "deplorable, reprehensible and unacceptable in society ... . There will be zero tolerance."
After Thursday night's change, the policy mandates: "Respect for the individual regardless of economic status, intellectual ability, race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, marital status, disability or any other status protected by federal, state or local law."
Congress seems poised to add gays to America's human rights laws. We hope it happens soon, which would supersede minor regulations such as the Kanawha school policy. Still, it's a shame that the local board members were too timid to say flat-out that cruelty to gays is wrong.
It's also a shame that the general public, which is growing more tolerant of homosexuality, doesn't attend school board meetings to voice acceptance. That leaves the door open for dominance by the hostility of puritanical extremists.
Most "straight" people cannot understand gays. The condition seems baffling. Therefore, heterosexuals simply should leave homosexuals alone, letting them pursue their own lives as best they can. Hateful bigotry toward them has no place in a decent, humane society.
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Haven't you people every attended Jr. High? I was mercilessly taunted for being a lesbian, even though in 6th grade I'll tell you I didn't care romantically for anyone. Now I'll admit to being straight -- but that didn't mean I didn't want to die every day at school.
Let's get over ourselves and protect our children. Teens who identify as gay are 30 times more likely to commit suicide. Now, who is in favor of that?