It seems a damn shame that the elected officials in Texas think it is more important to promote Bigotry and Hatred instead of taking care of the School Children. The State Board of Education has decided they would rather stop working with the National groups than help promote tolerance in the schools.
Equality Texas – Press Release
Austin, TX – Ignoring Texas taxpayers’ values and their official responsibilities, the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) voted Thursday to withdraw from the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) in order to pursue an out-of-step radical agenda.
The NASBE is the only national group that helps strengthen state board leadership in education policymaking. The SBOE voted to give up Texas’ seat in America’s boardroom for education because they could not get along.
Putting the board’s opinion before Texas school children, SBOE member Terri Leo stated, “They’re (NASBE) taking policy decisions that I believe the majority of our board members here don’t agree with.” Leo was referring to a NASBE seminar on bullying and violence prevention that included a presentation about students being bullied because of their sexual orientation.
In another act of failed leadership, the Texas SBOE followed the example of Governor Perry and Speaker Tom Craddick and just quit on Texas children because they cannot get along or find an easy solution.
“Making our schools safe environments for learning should be the goal of all school boards, all school districts, and all school administrators”, said Chuck Smith, Equality Texas Deputy Director. “Making our schools safe environments for learning is everyone’s agenda”, Smith said.
“It is a reality that students are harassed and bullied based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. It is also a reality that students are harassed and bullied based on other characteristics, such as physical appearance, weight and socioeconomic status. If we truly care about making our schools a safe learning environment, then any and all characteristics that are the source of harassment and bullying should be included in safe schools policy.”
“Responsible leaders know how to find consensus and solutions when our children are at stake,” Smith said.
In Surrey, B.C., which is a suburb of Vancouver and the second largest school district in B.C., the School Board, in 1997, banned three books depicting families with same-sex parents, aimed at primary school children, from use in any school in the district.
The Board’s stated reason for the ban was that mention of homosexuality in the classroom would offend some parents, due to their religious beliefs.
G.A.L.E., the Gay and Lesbian Educators of B.C., pursued the case in court all the way to Canada’s Supreme Court, which in December 2002 ruled against the ban.
The Supreme Court directed the Surrey School Board to reconsider the use of the books, according to “the broad principles of tolerance and non-sectarianism underlying the [B.C.] School Act.”
The Board went through the motions of reconsidering, and rejected the books again, claiming that this time, the rejection had nothing to do with the fact that they depicted same-sex parents. No, the books were badly written, used poor grammar. One of the books, One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dads, Blue Dads, was rejected because, according to one trustee, in its very title it discriminated against white dads. (!)
Ignorant and hateful are not nearly strong enough terms for these bigots. We had municipal elections throughout B.C. today, the first since the Supreme Court decision and its aftermath, and I fervently hope that the people of Surrey throw these hatemongers out on their collective asses.
So sorry to hear of your troubles in Texas. Homophobia is hard enough take in any context, but when it’s directed at schoolchildren, by the very people who have been entrusted by the public with those children’s educational well-being, it’s heartbreaking.
On the bright side, here in Canada, the Supreme Court decision on the Surrey book-banning stands, and it’s an important statement that our public school education must be secular. We’ll take the victories we can get.
One of the books, One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dads, Blue Dads, was rejected because, according to one trustee, in its very title it discriminated against white dads. (!)
You know, if there’s anything that pisses me off even more than being oppressed, it’s one of those straight white Christian guys whining and crying about how he’s oppressed whenever he’s not allowed to oppress other people. WTF is wrong with these people? Scratch that, I already know. What I don’t know is why anyone who doesn’t share their twisted belief system takes them seriously even for a nanosecond. This stuff is so clearly not about religious freedom; it’s so clearly about oppressing groups of people who aren’t white, or straight, or male, or Christian. Are the folks who keep enabling it just too damn stupid to see it for what it is, is that the problem? GAH.
I know. It’s the “lying or stupid” question again, really. I like to think that if that trustee had been locked in a room without food, and told she (it was a she, unfortunately, but definitely white and Christian) wouldn’t be allowed out until she could write a short essay, say 500 words, on why her comment was rubbish, that she wouldn’t have starved to death. But maybe she would — maybe that’s genuinely the way these people see the world.
I’m not sure which is scarier — that they know exactly what they’re doing, or that they don’t.
They don’t care. They enjoyt using us as a wedge issue and teaching hate and bigotry to their children. My late lover was from Texas and his parents threw him out with the clothes on his back at the age of 16 when they found out he was gay.
I am thrilled that Canada has the balls to be a Land of the Free while Texas and America sink into the bigotry of the 50’s and 60’s. We will continue the fight and someday things will get better here also.
You know, this might sound like Job’s comfort, but I think the fact that these fights are so highly visible, and happening everywhere, means that we are making progress, even when we lose. We’re not invisible any more, at any rate. Far from it.
I have so much admiration for folks like you, refinish, who keep fighting the good fight on such hostile terrain. Hugs to you, brother. Keep the faith.