North Carolina School Board Official Attack Plan To Stop Gay-Bashing -- THE VENT BOARD

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Subject: North Carolina School Board Official Attack Plan To Stop Gay-Bashing

Author:
Lance

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Date Posted: Friday, February 14 2003, 7:48:08 GMT ( - 8 )
In reply to: Lance 's message, "Hi fellow bitchers HAHA!" on Friday, February 14 2003, 7:45:21 GMT ( - 8 )

North Carolina School Board Official Attack Plan To Stop Gay-Bashing
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
February 14, 2003
12:01 a.m. ET/+5GMT/-3PT

(Winston-Salem, North Carolina) The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school board has voted to remove questions about anti-gay bullying from a systemwide survey of students.
The meeting was dominated by conservative board members who said the questions gave homosexuality what one member called "an air of respectability."

The two questions at the center of the fury ask: "How often have you heard students put down or make negative comments directed toward homosexuals at school this year?" and "How many teachers or staff members have you heard make negative comments directed toward homosexuals at school this year?"

Board member Buddy Collins, objected in part because it gave the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, which helped develop the questions, too much credibility.
Members Donny Lambeth and Jill Tackabery said a general question about bullying was enough. But, Jeannie Metcalf said homosexuality is a sin and should not be encouraged.
Metcalf was quoted last week in the Winston-Salem Journal as saying she thought that homosexuality is a sin and she didn't care if gay students were teased.

The paper has also uncovered an email in which Metcalf reiterates her belief that homosexuality is a sin: "And believe me, I know we all sin but what other sin can you think of that has been so whitewashed?"

Metcalf wrote: "Let's have murder-pride marches, rape-pride marches, etc. I'm sorry if that offends you, but that's what I believe."

Only two of the seven member board voted to keep the questions. Geneva Brown and Lynn Thrower said slurs against gays and lesbians may be more of a problem than school officials realize.

Metcalf said that a distinction exists between teaching tolerance for a person and teaching tolerance for a sin.

"We shouldn't be teaching tolerance for sin," Metcalf said. "But that doesn't mean anyone should be harassed. I don't think anybody should be harassed for lying or stealing, we shouldn't be harassing anybody."

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