Schools ban hiring bias against gays

[shugah]

Schools ban hiring bias against gays

The policy was called "amoral" and the district was accused of pushing a sexual agenda, but sexual orientation is now officially an area protected from discrimination in Howell Public Schools' hiring policy.

The Howell Public Schools Board of Education added both sexual orientation and age to its anti-discrimination policy for employment in a split 4-1 vote Monday night. The move added the items to a list that already included race, religion, national origin, sex and handicap, but it didn't come without protests from members of the public, some of which caused school board Treasurer Mike Hall to vote against the approval of the policies after his suggestion to table the item until the legal ramifications of the sexual orientation addition could be investigated.

~snip~

Parrish also said adding sexual orientation to district policy falls in line with the district's diversity resolution. She added that she hadn't spoken to district lawyers on the policy issue, but said that district attorneys are aware of the diversity resolution as well as the negotiations of labor agreements.

Furthermore, Parrish said the issue wouldn't instigate lawsuits from gay or lesbian employees seeking insurance coverage for their partners because partnerships aren't included in employee contracts and the district's insurance carriers don't recognize coverage outside a legal marriage.

Most board members were satisfied that the change in the policy was solid. Board member Sue Swartz said it was " a good business practice" and board member Ted Parsons said it was consistent with actions the district has already taken.

Not all audience members were upset with the board's approval of the policy. Board candidate Valerie Webster said she supported the change.

http://www.livingstondaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060314/NEWS01/603140306/1002

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Watch for it

there will be a publicity campaign saying that homosexuals are sexual predators, and love to prey on kids. Where this notion that all gays are pedophiles came from I have no clue, but I've heard of it most of my life.

[Strathos]

2. Well, it's a crazy idea

Simply because most people found molesting children are heterosexual males. However, you don't see warnings about them being sexual predators preying on children. It's all about the spin, I guess.

[Ian David]

3. They're so much safer in the care of priests. n/t

[megatherium]

4. This claim is regularly repeated in evangelical Christian anti-gay

propaganda. It is based on the spurious "research" of the discredited psychologist Paul Cameron.

[AllegroRondo]

5. This came up in California in the 1970's

they were actually putting a proposition to the voters to ban homosexuals from being public school teachers. And the surprizing thing is who stopped it - the current governor, Ronald Reagan.

[primavera]

6. Wow, some good news for a change!

I've almost forgotten what it looks like, it's been so long, but, let's see... someone taking a stand against discrimination?! That's all but unheard of here in the Fourth Reich! Damn, that just made my day!

[MountainLaurel]

7. How will this play out in reality, though?

I have a gay friend who teaches in a country with a similar anti-discrimination policy, yet who is afraid to even go to dinner with his partner within five miles of his school lest some of his parents see him in an unguarded moment.

[shugah]

8. i don't know

howell is an interesting town. 98% white, 70-75% republican, churches galore, the only place i heard of that actually had a 'counter-protest' during a cindy sheehan candlelight vigil ... okay, that it not the interesting part ;-) . what is interesting is that there really is a push for tolerance of gays and lesbians.

the origin seems to be the high school. the students created a diversity club, fought the school administration to be allowed to display a rainbow flag in the hallway (and won), and apparently have several openly gay and lesbian students. yet during the 2004 election the high school polled well over 80% for bush. :shrug:

there is still plenty of intolerance around tho - if you read the whole article you'll see the exact type of parent your friend is afraid of running into well represented.

[MountainLaurel]

9. Thank you for that on-the-ground report

Interesting that there's such proactive support of gay rights in a school that polls that high for Bush. Reminds me of something a friend once said about our city in WV, an incredibly active collegiate gay-bisexual group in a place with 10 charismatic churches: "If this place had 5 million people, it would be weirder than New York."