| For
the most recent developments on gay issues see Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Issues in School Talk.
The
Primer is supported by the following coalition organizations:
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
American Association of School
Administrators (AASA)
American Counseling Association
(ACA)
American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
American Psychological
Association (APA)
American School Health Association
(ASHA)
National Association of School
Psychologists (NASP)
National Association of Social Workers
(NASW)
National Education Association (NEA)
The Interfaith Alliance Foundation (TIAF)
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Thursday,
December 2, 1999
Primer
Urges Gay Student Tolerance
BY
KATHERINE KAPOS
THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE
Only a few Utah superintendents have seen a national
publication designed to help educators improve tolerance of gays and
lesbians in public schools, and that is just as well, says Doug Bates,
attorney for the State Office of
Education.
The 12-page primer, titled Just the Facts about
Sexual Orientation & Youth, provides little information that legally
could be used in classroom discussions in Utah, Bates said.
"We are not going to get involved if districts
want to distribute the pamphlet, but it doesn't provide anything that is
going to assist schools," he said.
The booklet, developed by a coalition of 10
education, medical and mental-health organizations, urges educators and
school administrators to better understand sexual-orientation
development and youth. The groups involved include the American Academy
of Pediatrics, American Association of School Administrators, American
Counseling Association, the American Psychological Association and
others. It was mailed last week to 15,000 school superintendents
nationwide.
While the booklet has raised eyebrows, its contents
are not intended to be presented to students. And in Utah, the teaching
of any kind of sexual relations outside of marriage -- heterosexual or
homosexual -- is prohibited in public school.
As it happens, gay and lesbian students already have
been trying to get more information about homosexuality into teachers'
hands. Earlier this year, West High School's Gay-Straight
Alliance sent a letter to faculty members saying that "anti-gay
feelings permeate the school environment" and teachers needed to
help improve the situation.
"It is very difficult to do anything about this
hatred when discussion of it is forbidden. This essentially guarantees
that it will continue," wrote the students, who offered suggestions
on what teachers could do to reduce the hatred and harassment of
homosexual students -- including having teachers educate themselves
about homosexuality.
"There is an enormous amount of misinformation
and prejudice about this topic in our community," students wrote.
They also asked that teachers have zero tolerance for
harassment inside and outside their classrooms. "The students just
felt that children should not be allowed to call each other faggots and
dykes. And I think most teachers agree," said Richard Teerlink, the
West GSA adviser.
The booklet's authors also said the publication was
prompted by concern that school personnel were receiving inaccurate
information about methods such as "reparative therapy," and
"transformational ministries," which purportedly can help a
person change sexual orientation.
Reparative therapy is pushed by those who believe
homosexuality is a mental disorder and can be "cured" through
psychotherapy. The practice has been rejected by all the major health
and mental health professions.
Transformational ministries operates under the belief
that a person can be free of homosexuality through religious repentance
and faith in Jesus Christ.
Bates said schools aren't in the business of
psychotherapy or religion and districts are already well aware of state
and federal laws.
The booklet also provides teachers an overview of the
legal principles for discrimination and two pages of resources that can
be accessed for more information.
But Bates said "the legal issues are something
we have clarified many times over the years. You can't discriminate
against a person based on their status, whether that's religion, gender
or sexual orientation."
Still, said Utah Education Association President
Phyllis Sorensen, the booklet would be a good resource for teachers.
UEA's parent organization, the National Education Association, was a
member of the coalition that produced it.
"Teachers have all this training for students
who need English as a Second Language and what our responsibilities are
for students with disabilities. Well, gay and lesbian students have the
same right under the law as any student," she said.
Besides, Sorensen said, gay and lesbian students are
at such a high risk for suicide and dropping out that more information
should be provided to teachers so they can better meet the needs of
students.
"It's sad we can't look at the bigger
picture," she said.
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