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Gay
Students Lobby Lawmakers
For Safe
Schools
by Mark
Worrall, 365Gay.com March 7, 2006
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Sacramento, California --
Hundreds of gay and lesbian students from across the state converged on the
California capitol Monday to lobby for a bill that would force schools to
provide a safe environment.
Two bills to improve conditions for California gay students have been introduced
in the Assembly: The Safe Place to Learn Act and the Bias-Free Curriculum
Act.
The lobby effort was organized by Equality California (EQCA) and the
Gay-Straight Alliance Network.
The Safe Place to Learn Act, introduced by Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys) requires
school districts and the Department of Education to enforce California's
anti-discrimination and anti-harassment laws.
It provides clarification and guidance to school districts and the Department
regarding what steps should be taken to ensure compliance with current law that
protects students against discrimination and harassment on the basis of actual
or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
The bill passed on a 45-32 vote on the floor of the Assembly and is now awaiting
passage in the Senate.
“AB 606 will not only ensure that our schools are safe for LGBT students but it
will also promote a better learning environment for all students because they
know that their schools stand for equality,” said Geoffrey Kors, Executive
Director of EQCA.
“The Senate should pass AB 606 and protect our young people so they can receive
the education they deserve without fear of either discrimination or violence.”
The Bias-Free Curriculum Act authored by Senator Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica)
would amend the Education Code to prohibit discrimination based on sexual
orientation and gender identity in text books, classroom instruction, and
school-sponsored activities.
"The hundreds of LGBT and straight ally youth from every region of California
who are mobilizing in Sacramento are sending a clear message that all students
deserve to be safe and accepted at school," said Carolyn Laub, Executive
Director of the GSA Network.
"The opportunity to speak to lawmakers and take action to create political
change is an empowering experience for youth who too often face harassment and
discrimination that silences their voices at school."
The students attending today's rally and lobbying represent diverse school and
legislative districts across the state. Many said they had a personal
reason for becoming involved.
"As someone who grew up poor as well as being a Pacific Islander and Puerto
Rican and bisexual, I know what it's like to be held down and therefore I am
more committed to helping others," said Stevie Merino, a 17 year-old senior at
Lakewood High School in Long Beach.
Merino and other students called on Gov. Schwarzenegger to sign the measures
into law if they pass in the legislature.
About 200 members of several anti-gay groups from across the state demonstrated
against the school measures, calling them unnecessary.
Briefly the two groups came face to face. Police quickly moved in to
separate the two sides. There was no violence but considerable angry
shouting.
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