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PRESS RELEASE -- People For the American Way Foundation
http://www.pfaw.org/news/
FOR RELEASE: November 18, 1999
CONTACT: Nancy Coleman or Margot Friedman at 202-467-4999
Kendra Huard at 310-478-6657
______________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF GAY-STRAIGHT ALLIANCE
AT EL MODENA HIGH SCHOOL
"Good evening. I am Kendra Huard, Acting
California Director of People For the American Way Foundation. Attorneys
with People For the American Way Foundation have been retained as legal counsel
for two of the student founders of the Gay-Straight Alliance and their mothers.
"We stand with the students in demanding an end to the
violation of their legal rights by this school district. The law is clear:
the Orange Unified School Board cannot discriminate among non-curricular clubs
and it must permit the Gay-Straight Alliance to meet. Just as the other
non-curricular clubs at El Modena High School have the right to meet --
the Gentleman's Club, the Juggling Club, the Cinema/Music Appreciation Bunch,
and the Equestrian Club. If the school board does not permit the
Gay-Straight Alliance to meet and be treated like all other non-curricular
clubs, they will leave the students with no real choice but to pursue litigation
to vindicate their legal rights. In the interest of everyone in this
school district, we urge the board not to go down that path.
"We also call on the board to begin healing the wounds
they have created in the community by their handling of this matter. Heal
the wounds by explaining to the community that every student in this school
district has the right to be treated with respect and dignity. Heal the
wounds by explaining that every high school non-curricular club has the legal
right to meet, whatever some members of the community may think about a
particular club. And heal the wounds by setting an example of tolerance
and mutual respect for others to follow.
"The courageous students who have formed the
Gay-Straight Alliance have been let down by some of the very people whose job it
is to protect them, the officials of this school district. The board must
stand up for the students tonight.
"Thank you."
______________________________________________________________________
People For the American Way Foundation is a 300,000 member nonpartisan
organization which defends constitutional principles and core democratic values.
Earlier this month, PFAW Foundation released "Hostile Climate 1999," a
chronicle of anti-gay discrimination nationwide.
http://www.HostileClimate.org
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People For the American Way Foundation
202 467 4999 phone
2000 M Street, NW, Suite 400
202 293 2672 fax
Washington DC 20036
pfaw@pfaw.org
http://www.pfaw.org