California Schools Under Fire for LGBT-Inclusive Diversity and Anti-Bullying Materials

Lest you think Prop 8 was the only controversial LGBT issue in California:

First, the Alameda School District became the target of irate right-wing parents who learned that school officials were creating elementary school lesson plans that “talked about teasing and explained the different definitions of family.” The lessons included And Tango Makes Three, a book that dares to tell the (true!) story of two male penguins who hatch an egg and raise a chick together. The school district says “parents would not be allowed to keep their children from taking the courses because the lessons don’t include health or sexual education.”

Next, the Castro Valley School District is facing a lawsuit by dozens of parents who want more information about a recent school talk by Pastor Arlene Nehring of the Eden Church of Hayward. Pastor Nehring, who is a lesbian, spoke at Castro Valley High during its annual Days of Diversity program.

The AP (via SFgate) reports, “Some parents became upset after an anonymous e-mail was sent, claiming that Nehring gave step-by-step instructions on how to become gay and transsexual.” (Really? Where were these instructions when I was coming out? They would have made things a lot easier.) The parents have hired ultra-conservative law firm Pacific Justice Institute to represent them.

Polly at Lesbian Dad has covered this in detail because Castro Valley High is her alma mater (and incidentally, also that of Rachel Maddow). She also discusses matters in nearby Alameda.

The Alameda School Board has scheduled a special school board meeting to hear public comments, tomorrow (Monday) at 6:30 p.m. PT, Kofman Auditorium, 2200 Central Ave., Alameda.

A court hearing of the suit against the Castro Valley school district has been tentatively scheduled for June 16.

How can you help? The Our Family Coalition has sent around this information about Alameda e-mail; I expect they’ll follow up with more details about Castro Valley:

1. Write an email letter of support to the Board of Education. For a list of email addresses go to www.alameda.k12.ca.us
2. Join the C.A.R.E community. A website in support of the curriculum called Alameda Community Alliance Resource for Education (CARE) www.alamedacare.org
3. Attend Monday May 18th 5:00pm a peaceful vigil in front of Kofman Auditorium 2200 Central Ave at Oak Street in Alameda. Wear bright tee shirts, pick a color of the rainbow and wear your rainbow ribbons! Bring your signs with positive messages!
4. Attend Monday May 18th 6:30 pm the Board of Education public hearing held in Kofman Auditorium. The PRESENCE of supporters in large numbers is critical.

Finally, not that most of you need any more convincing: The Bay Area Reporter covered the Alameda case along with new state legislation introduced last week to help prevent bullying and harassment, plus examples of why it is needed. (They also mention HRC’s new Welcoming Schools Guide, which I wrote about myself a few weeks ago.) And here’s a nice piece from the San Jose Mercury News by a straight ally—an Alameda parent who is also an elementary educator. She has used the LGBT SAFE Schools curriculum in the San Leandro Unified School District, and writes about why it should be implemented in Alameda as well.

Prop 8 and marriage equality is only the most visible representation of a deeper problem of misunderstanding and intolerance. Even if Prop 8 is struck down (and I’m not holding my breath), the struggle is far from over.

(This also serves as my post for the International Day Against Homophobia. The date of the event was chosen to commemorate May 17, 1990, when the World Health Organization adopted a resolution to remove homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses. We’ve come so far, and yet have so far to go. . . .)