Some good news from Virginia....

[livinginphotographs]

Just got this from Equality Virginia.

On Thursday, February 17, 2005, the Senate Education and Health Committee voted 9-6 against a bill, HB 2868, that would have allowed discrimination against Gay Straight Alliances in Virginia Schools.

The measure, patroned by Del. Glenn Weatherholtz (R-Harrisonburg), was originially written to prohibit these groups statewide by making the incorrect assumption that GSAs promoted sexual behavior. The bill was amended in the House of Delegates to say, "local school boards in their discretion may prohibit school facilities from being used by any student club or other student group that encourages or promotes sexual activity by unmarried minor students."

While the bill as written would not have technically affected Gay Straight Alliances, it could have encouraged some districts to discriminate against these groups based on misinformation and prejudice.

Equality Virginia testified against this bill in both houses along side several partners, including GLSEN Richmond (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network), Richmond PFLAG and two local GSA leaders at Richmond high schools. Committee members also received letters of support statewide from organizations working with gay youth, mental health professionals and other supporters who supported giving gay youth a safe haven in their schools.

This, and the anti-gay adoption bill which failed, give me a bit of hope for my state.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. If passed, it wouldn't have survived a constitutional challenge.

In the 1980s when the Supreme Court ruled that student Christian groups had the right to meet on school premises before, during, and after school hours, it did so the on basis of discrimination. Schools can't discriminate against ANY student group that wants to meet on campus especially on the basis of the group's interest and its agenda. For example, if a school won't allow a Christian group to meet, then ALL student groups are all banned in order not to discriminate against the student Christian group.

Then, following this rule and rationale, Virginian schools would risk banning all groups from meeting in public schools, including sports (big deal down South) if they banned student gay-lesbian groups.

By extension, Satanists, the Klan, Hitler Youth, Atheists, (name a group likely to inflame anyone), can get their classroom, knowing schools aren't likely to give up afterschool programs.

[einheit 13]

2. Not all can get equal treatment

The goof balls from the world church of the creator couldn't get a room,even though some of the members were students. The school system said that they would be recruiting rather than gather for meetings. On the flip side, separation between church and state ......when will someone make up their minds.