-The Southern Poverty Law Center adds five organizations to its list of anti-gay hate groups.
-Students and administrators at Del City High School dispute the claim that two lesbian students were expelled for being gay.
-The New Jersey legislature overwhelmingly passes an anti-bullying measure.
-The number of violent hate crimes based on sexual orientation increases even as the overall total decreases.
-The Salvation Army threatens to cease providing services in New York City if forced to begin providing benefits to the partners of gay employees.
-The Family Research Council unveils its latest anti-gay “study.”
-The National Organization for Marriage campaigns against civil unions in Illinois.
-The Orange County, Florida government approves an anti-discrimination law.
-The religious right groups added to SPLC’s list of hate groups protest their inclusion.
The comments in support of Del City High School are very interesting, especially from gay and lesbian students who feel they are totally accepted and supported there (in Oklahoma, no less!) I hope that the two expelled students are not using false allegations of homophobia to get attention or to discredit administrators when instead they were expelled for reasons that have nothing to do with their sexual preference.
We certainly don’t live in a completely accepting society, and I’m sure there is more than one homophobic or ignorant teacher at the high school — just as there probably is at even the most accepting, liberal school. However, using allegations of homophobia to cover for unrelated weaknesses and faults sets a bad precedent, and like accusations of racism and sexual harassment, they have the potential to stick with people’s reputations and careers forever, even if they are eventually proven false. Those are serious accusations.
I agree, Jay. Claiming discrimination where there is none devalues real cases. I’m glad that there has been such a vocal response from gay and gay-supportive students and faculty. It shows that justice can prevail, in many different circumstances.