I don't know why I let it shock me. The Rowan-Salisbury School District in North Carolina has forbidden a Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) to form in the district. The school board says they don't allow clubs based on sex. I guess the Orgy Club and the We Do It In Leather Club aren't going to be able to meet as well. What in the world are these folks thinking?
"The Board of Education voted unanimously to bar what it called sex-based clubs at the school and to declare the Alliance fit that criterion.
The move followed a April decision by the board to block the club pending an examination of the issue by the board's attorney. The recommendation to amend the policy and define the GSA as a sex club was based on the school district's existing mandate for abstinence-only sex education." (365Gay.com)
GSA's are formed to create a safe learning environment for all students, and to be an educational group discussing sexual orientation. Sexual orientation is understanding and knowing the gender of the person you can form a loving bond with. It may be with someone of the same gender, or someone of the opposite gender. A GSA provides a place for students to find common ground. This is not a "How to have sex club."
Being a person with a same gender orientation is not easy in our society. It is not illegal for a person to be gay or lesbian; however there are many people who would wish it so. The only way our children will be able to understand each other in this diverse society is through knowledge. Hiding things "In the closet" won't help anyone. A public school shouldn't choose ignorance as a means of educating on difficult issues.
It seems the school board decided to skip over the rules of decision making concerning policy.
"This week the board members voted to forgo the usual two readings of a policy change before taking a final vote to have the new policy in place for the fall term."(365Gay.com)
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why they would forgo the two readings. I wonder if they thought they could just slide it in under the rug, so to speak? I bet they didn't really understand the ramifications of their decision. I hope the board and the lawyer who gave the advice is ready to deal with what comes next.
The Article from 365Gay.com can be found at http://www.365gay.com/...
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