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GSA at NWC?


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August 27, 2003
Dear Mr. Quigley,
Please know that this district does not discriminate against any student. That includes gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students.
Sincerely,
Bob Moore,
Superintendent,
Oklahoma City Public Schools

Oklahoma City Public Schools

Oklahoma State Department of Education

ACLU of Oklahoma

ACLU: American Civil Liberties Union

PFLAG: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays

GLSEN: Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network

Lambda Legal

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The following is an email from Joe Quigley
(Posted 9-17-03)

(9-17-03) Perhaps I am finally paranoid.

Dr. Miller came to my room today to talk. She wanted to assure me that she is a fair evaluator with a good reputation who will not let differences in philosophy, lifestyle or politics enter the process ("Jury, disregard what you just heard". "Dr.Miller, ignore my putting you into the middle of something so the heat's off me".). I told her that we should have been allowed to talk before Mr. Davis decided to include her in the "feud". That was not right.
She assured me that her interest was the students, as was mine as I pointed out.
She explained that she would not allow the YGLA flier to be posted in the building as she could not in conscience send students to meetings in an "adult entertainment district".
And this does beggar the question that if the administrators can censor, redirect, ignore or thwart policies, practices and the needs of students on the basis of their conscience, how can I be denied the privilege of making positive info available to GLBT students especially in light of the research I have done that shows, hands down, that there is a need for this information. Would I be punished for following my conscience just as an administrator does?
OOPS! That's right. I HAVE!
I know in my conscience that the information I have offered, have made available and want the right to display could save a life. But I am, alas, not an administrator,so I have to follow policy. My conscience does not count.
Seems to be a lot of decisions are made around here on people's personal beliefs.
The principal has stated in response to my pointing out in our earlier get togethers that there was no information in the school library related to them, that GLBT kids could find it in other places like The Center. So that is where our GLBT students are expected by their principal to get necessary information. But another administrator will not allow the flier that would let GLBT students know about YGLA that has hung in the Community Bulletin Board since the gift was received by Mr. Davis based on her personal belief. Maybe it would be good to find out the history of things.
Whose policy prevails in this case?
I guess that cancels the principal out.
I feel kind of slighted. I cannot ignore any policy the principal dreams up for whatever reason, but administrators and other teachers can.
This morning the following announcement was made over the PA:
ATTENTION STUDENTS: THERE WILL BE AN ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF THE NORTHWEST CLASSEN STUDENT GAY AND LESBIAN CLUB IN ROOM 195, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 AT 2:30 PM. DR. MILLER WILL BE THE TEMPORARY SPONSOR.
I was told a student went to Dr.Miller to correct the name, and later today, Dr.Miller ran off fliers using the name Gay/Straight Alliance.
In my conversation with her I asked her to make sure she followed the Equal Access Act so that any club would not be disallowed on that technicality.
Students are supposed to mention their desire to form a GSA after they have gotten a positive response from the teacher who agrees to be the sponsor. It could complicate if not cancel out such a club if the sponsor calls for the kids. Last year the GSA announcement merely offered information to those who wanted it, and they would then decide if they wished to pursue it. But we did not call a meeting run by a teacher or administrator. Someone objecting to the GSA could stop it if it were pointed out it was not formed the way others are. I complained last year about the outsider recruiting for the "christian" club, and the EA has been insisted upon to guarrantee that a GSA was treated equally from the beginning. This is a red flag to me.
I am also concerned that whereas other clubs meet before school or during lunch this club's formation meeting is going to start 20 minutes after school has been dismissed. I explained to her that because of past practices, I do not accept anything from the administration related to things GLBT on faith. There has always been a loophole, a way to not follow through while giving the appearance that they were so supportive, but other factors came into play. (no club, for example because no kids came to an oddly scheduled meeting for students,or had they only followed the EA they could have had the club I so wanted them to have.)
I was also informed that as far as the Gay History Month display,a place for it has already been chosen.
A place?
Does this mean that there is only one place in the building to acknowledge Gay History Month and nowhere else. Will this also carry over to Black History Month, Native-American History Month etc. Will teachers be told they can not have displays for those months in their rooms, or does that only apply to Gay History Month because, OBVIOUSLY, it does not follow people's personal beliefs. I am sure just as they insist that the Gay teacher cannot have a display in his room, they will inform all the other groups that they cannot have any in theirs. I am sure it is goingto be an easy thing to tell a Black techer they cannothave adisplay in their room because there is onesomewhere else.
Andfinally:
I was informed by someone on staff that a teacher professing to be Gay friendly and supportive has been telling people (in spite of the reality) that GLBT students are afraid to talk to me because I am seen by them to be too militant. They are afraid of the ramifications if they are seen with me (DOESN'T THAT SPEAK TO THE FEAR THESE KIDS EXPERIENCE IN SCHOOL IF THE PRESENCE OF AN OPENLY GAY TEACHER IS A THREAT?).It has been communicated to me that GLBT people would get more if we were quieter and did not make people (read, "bigots") so uncomfortable by demanding our constitutional rights. Shame on us, first for being so demanding and then our forgetting how much better off we were in the closet.
I overstepped my bounds.
Joe quigley

 

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