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Joe Quigley - Call to action update


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The following is an email from Joe Quigley
(Posted 11-20-02)

(11-20-02) I delivered my memo to the principal and at lunch I found it and the YGLA flier placed back in my mailbox with a notation to see  him. I admit I was not optimistic, and entered his office loaded for bear. After asking what my concern was, and being told by me that I thought the flier's being placed in my mailbox was the sign for me to post it and its removal concerned me, he told me he had noticed it was gone yesterday afternoon and that the bulletin board doors were hanging open. He and I went to the bulletin board with a YGLA flier and ditsed around with the lock and the tabs until we were able to secure it, and then stapled the YGLA flier onto the newly relockable bulletin board.
Although I thought the principal had acted correctly, I still am not happy that someone felt it would be acceptable to remove the flier in the first place.
   To my way of thinking an atmosphere has been created over the last few years  that makes actions like this assumed acceptable.
After all, anything Gay and Lesbian has been removed in the past by administrators, and not always discretely, and sometimes violenty and loudly as with the biography of Bayard Rustin, and the usual response to a request to post such matrials is denial of permission.
It is this attitude that the District needs to address. GLBT Students have rights on the district's campuses, but the district seems intent on keeping that a secret from students and staff.
   Recently in accordance with its agreement with the Office Of Civil Rights, the district released its policy on sexual harassment and the procedure to report it, but, in spite of having the chance to include GLBT students in an unmistakable way, and Lord knows they are aware they should have, they chose to opt for the broadest of wording.
  I believe the flier incident along with all the others, whether student, teacher or administrator committed is yet more evidence that the district needs to grow up and do what it knows it should in regard to GLBT students.
  They have backed down and made excuses at every possible opportunity, and I am convinced they will not act until they see this is an important matter.
  A room full of people gave them pause when it came to the future location of John Marshall High School. Individuals did not bring about a reconsideration, but a large and visble presence did. No one speech was that impressive, but the large number made an impression.
See you all on the 26
Joe 

 

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