Protection for sexual orientation (in Little Rock, Ark. public schools)

[Thom Little]

By Jennifer Barnett Reed
Arkansas Times
Thursday, Dec. 1, 2005


The Little Rock School Board may wish it wasn’t news, but by virtue of its apparent rarity, the board’s recent vote to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity is definitely news.

Not that it made news in the conventional sense. Although board members publicly discussed the policy change in regular board meetings in October and November, the only public comment, according to meeting minutes, came at the October meeting from elementary school teacher Mary Ann Hansen, who commended the board for considering changing the policy to include sexual orientation, and asked them to consider adding gender identity as well. They did, and unanimously approved the revised policy, with no discussion, at a meeting Nov. 17. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s next-day stories about the meeting didn’t mention it.

Board member Tony Rose proposed the change as part of a systematic review of district policies for updates and clarifications. The non-discrimination policy, he said, needed both updating — changing the word “sex” to “gender” — and expanding.

“I also thought in the dawning days of the 21st century we needed to make sure it’s enshrined in policy that we’re not going to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity,” he said. “I’m a very strong advocate of civil rights for all, and that includes making sure no one is deprived of any rights based on who they sleep with or are interested in sleeping with.”


http://www.arktimes.com/Articles/ArticleViewer.aspx?ArticleID=04fa6fbc-e134-4485-ab08-e93146c00deb

[sui generis]

1. in Little Rock! groovy.

Kudos to the board -- you are each to be commended and supported if there is fallout.

[dbt]

2. This is the REAL Arkansas. Take note.

It doesn't show up near as often as its neck counterpart, alas.

[WindRavenX]

3. good to hear!

Here in Boston, several catholic schools (including one I attend) will be forced to address this issue soon.

[sinkingfeeling]

4. Wow, wonder how long that will last. (I'm in Arkansas). About 10

years ago, Fayetteville was going to pass an ordinance for equal rights for all and the churches waged a campaign to defeat it. Forced it into a vote which failed.

[joeybee12]

5. Hooray for Little Rock!