Georgia School Board Drops Plan To Force
Gay Students To Come Out To Parents
Before Joining LGBT Clubs
by 365Gay.com from the Web, April 15, 2005
Atlanta, GA, April 14 -- The Georgia State Board of Education has rejected a proposal that would have required parental permission for students to participate in any extracurricular activity.
The proposal did not name specifically LGBT clubs, but its intent was clear.
It was proposed last month by Schools Superintendent Kathy Cox after being requested by lawmakers who have tried for several years to squelch gay student support groups in Georgia high schools.
If approved, the measure would have required any student who wants to take part in any school-related club or after-school activity to get written permission from parents.
Opponents, including Georgia Equality and the Human Rights Campaign, said that the proposal would force gay students who need the support of other LGBT students but who are not out at home to tell their parents about their sexuality.
Wednesday the board heard public deputations on the plan.
Sadie Fields, chair of the Georgia Christian Coalition, said the rule would "uphold the parents' rights to guide their own children's destiny, according to their values and beliefs."
But, students and parents who support Gay-Straight Alliance clubs argued would hurt gay students who have unsupportive families.
The gay support clubs are in more than a dozen public and private schools in Georgia.
"Not all parents are good, as much as we want to believe that," said Patti Ellis, a Fayette County mother who said her gay son was bullied by other students through high school.
"Students depend on teachers to be their advocates."
The board voted 11 - 1 against the plan.
"Thanks to the School Board the door is still open for students to attend clubs vital to their well-being," said HRC President Joe Salmons said Thursday.
"The motives behind this amendment were clear -- to deny GLBT students what they need to have a safe and constructive dialogue with their peers about bias and harassment in schools.
"These clubs also give students the tools they need to talk to their parents openly and honestly.
With GLBT teens disproportionately at risk for suicide, state legislators should know better than to put up roadblocks that threaten their safety."
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