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		Northwest Classen update - Fri, Oct 5xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx

The following is an e-mail from Joe Quigley, sent Friday, October 5
(Posted 10-7-01)

    I think we as a community should take our cue from the NWClassen
principal. Throughout this whole circus from Oct. 1999 to the present his
overriding motivation for denying any positice GLBT information, and to
denying any recognition of Gay and Lesbian History Month is the fear of
complaints- complaints from ministers and certain parents.
WHAT ABOUT COMPLAINTS FROM US THAT HE IS CENSORING GAY AND LESBIAN HISTORY
MONTH, thereby denying affirming information to GLBT Students, while at the
same time not educating their peers about the truth which could reduce hatred
and potential violence?
   We should not sit idly by while the Lou Sheldons, Pat Robertsons and the
descendents of the Klan have his ear. WE SHOULD CALL HIM STARTING MONDAY AND
REGISTER OUR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS CENSORSHIP
   Weldon Davis 405-942-5551. That is the school number.
Today we had the meeting about Davis's spy's report. I suggested that as he
called the meeting, he tell me what was reported to him. The student claimed
that his simple request for the removal of the Gay History Month notation on
the chalk board was met with such anger on my part that he had to leave the
room.
   This story is negated by the fact that he did not leave the room, and by
the fact that not only did he finish the rough draft of his writing
assignment, but he handed in a final draft with the rest of the students at
the end of class. I have both these papers in my classroom file.
    I am sure we are all used to the general approach of lying about Gay and
Lesbian people in order to demonize us. More related, in 1999 when his father
and sister appeared on Fox-25 News they both stated that while I was
"teaching" homosexuality,
students were not allowed to bring Bibles to school.
     My students at the time found fault with this falsehood as some of them
had their Bibles in their backpacks, and mine was on the bookshelf by my desk.
     Since they cannot argue against us with truth, you may have noticed
lying is always relied on.
      Davis claimed the meeting was only to get an idea what had happened in
case he received any complaint from the family, the possibility of which, as
I reminded him, could have been avoided had he done what he should have at
the beginning of the year. But, then again, if he had done that he could not
have his guaranteed situation.
     He also mentioned the possibility of having the student write some type
of formal complaint if he so choose.
Perhaps he could facilitate things by dictating to the student what he should
say.
    Also, to cover himself in the event there was a complaint, he asked ,
other than what was on the chalk board, was there anything else Gay in the
room.
I couldn't resist and answered, "ME."
     We will see how this goes.

On the MAPS For KIDS front.
    Today, at the "library" while enjoying a cool one, a person heavy into
the MAPS for KIDS thing asked if I had, indeed, written a letter in the Gayly
against the vote, and, if so, why.
   I explained that:
    since March of 1997 I have endeavored to get the district to do right by
the GLBT kids and have met with quite a few roadblocks and false actions to
make it appear that something was being done.
   When the district had a chance to add "sexual Orientation" to its
nondiscrimination notification and had the built in excuse that they had to
do it because of the US Dept. Of Education, they told me they would stick
strictly to the wording of the agreement which avoided addressing its spirit,
rather than doing what they knew was the right thing to do.
    Inspite of receiving all the e-mails about NWClassen, not once, to my
knowledge, has any administrator told the principal to cease his bigotry
based actions, and if they had, they fail to address his insubordination as
he continues his progom.
    in spite of NWClassen being the biggest school in the district and the
most diverse, GLBT kids get NOTHING, and that any positive information is
routinely taken down, or its presence denied while Gay and Lesbian History
Month's existence is totally blacked out.
     I went on to explain in detail the history of my dealings with the
district and the foolishness of NWClassen, all of which you have been
informed of through e-mails and GAYOKC.COM.
    There has been no indication from the actions of those connected with
this vote that GLBT students will have a full share in the results, but by
the actions of the district and its tacit approval of the bigotry at NWC,
just the opposite.
     I also mentioned that inspite of the superintendents', both City and
State, the Public Schools Foundation's, and other administrators' being fully
informed of the bigotry, only ONCE did I get an acknowledgement from the
superintendent of OCPS that he had received the e-mails, while hearing
nothing from the rest.
     How dismissive.
   I would reverse my reservation on the vote if the District were able and
willing to supply assurances beyond the usual
we-want-your-vote-so-we-will-tell-you-what-you-want-to-hear pre-election
poromises that somehow evaporate when the vote goes their way. We get that fr
om too many politicians, and the time to play THAT game is over.
    If they are waiting for a student to die, or be killed before they are
willing to do something, I, in good conscience, cannot be party to that.
     For FOUR YEARS, I worked patiently for change, I put up with reluctance,
and where I am now I have tried the high road and accepted with as much grace
as possible the crap I have.
    I am tired, and I want to see reaults not hope for them. And it is time
for hardball.
   DO RIGHT BY THE GLBT STUDENTS, AND THE VOTE WILL BE ENCOURAGED.
I did not accept the usual panacea that first we vote the funds and then we
talk. We've fallen for that one before also.
    If the vote fails the district could fail as well. Students would lose
out. But, as I told this man, the district had already failed the GLBT
Students, their parents and
their peers. Is the failure so feared only so because the straight kids would
lose out? What do the GLBT kids really face losing?
    I listed some famous openly Gay and Lesbian people to this man, some of
whom are included in his curriculum, or at least that of any high school, and
in spite of his wide knowledge, he did not know that these people were Gay.
He got the point of that exercise. GLBT Kids are routinely denied positive
role-models, and even as they can hear themselves condemned by those who have
a vested interest, often monetary, in this, a teacher willing to supply
positive info and models is censored.
And, I pointed out that district wide, the computer internet screening
prevents GLBT Kids from accessing such sights as GLAAD, GLSEN, or Student
Pride, while it is still possible to get Fellowship of Christian Athletes and
various other pages that favor the straight, christian conservative, anti-gay
sources
   I am hoping that in light of his desire to have a yes vote, and now
knowing fully the whole story, he can exercise some of his influence and get
the necessary assurances which will have to meet the approval of OUR
community.
   He is aware that since the Gayly came out, the district has had two months
to do what needed to be done.
Hopefully, they will do it.
Joe Q

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