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The following are emails from Joe Quigley
(Posted 8-26-03)

(8-26-03) I think a week of waiting for the answer to the question of discrimination directed toward GLBT Students and after the look of deer in the headlights that virtually beamed from the Board on August 18, I sent the following letter to the Board President.
Joe


Mr. Cliff Hudson
President: Board of Education
Oklahoma City Public Schools
   

Dear Mr. Hudson,
On August 18, 2003, I asked a very simple and straightforward question:
     "Is it permissible to discriminate against Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual or Transgendered
      Students in the Oklahoma City Public Schools?"
The response, a deafening silence, would seem to imply that it is permissible.
     It is not that this question was asked in a vacuum, blindsided the Board, or was one asked six and a half years ago only to be repeated now after so many years of silence, but it has been ongoing and continually addressed over the years by requests to address the topic, letters to and from various administrators and district personnel, documented instances of the need to clarify the policy, and some very public illustrations that there is a problem in the attitude of the district, its administrators and other personnel.
    Invitations to review the documentation collected over six and a half years so the district would be aware of the history of this and also be aware of the position the district might be in if a student or head of a household entered into litigation with the district for some action or negligence on its part, have been repeatedly ignored implying a total lack of concern for these students and itself.
     Obviously the welfare of these students is of no concern to the district as it is clear that not only did it not seriously consider clarifying the policy on discrimination for six and a half years in such a way that all concerned would at last be placated, but the district never bothered to even develop a CYA approach.
     It simply ignored the question as if it would simply go away; as if these students just did not warrant the attention of the district
     The most disturbing thing about the lack of an answer to the question is just that. After six and one half years, the district needs more time to consider whether or not it allows
discrimination against some of its students. It simply cannot answer the question, or is doing everything possible now to find a way to justify this discrimination.
       These students are in our schools. They deserve the opportunity for an education and a school experience as equally positive as that of their peers. The district needs to examine if the statement that we educate all students according to their needs is a commitment or a pious platitude.
     And when the question was asked the response should have been instant and student supportive, "NO! of course it is not permissible!"


Sincerely

Joseph Quigley
NWClassen HS
620 NW 19
OKC OK 73103
521-0215

(Because of the nature of this matter, and to insure documentation both of its existence and its being sent, I forward copies of all emails related to this topic to various others for the record.)

 

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