I mentioned before that there was a rally yesterday for the Morris Area High School Gay Straight Alliance. This organization has been in limbo for about 3 years as school officials resisted acknowledging the existence of gay students…and also ignored the bullying that goes on.
As is common in small towns, this has been a hot topic in letters to the editor in our local paper. There have been strong letters in favor, and weasely legalistic letters urging caution. I haven’t seen any anti-gay letters, which is a real sign of progress, but just whining stuff as opponents try to find a way to avoid approval, despite the fact that it is required that they allow it.
So they rallied last night, the school board met, and the school board voted to approve the Morris Area High School Gay Straight Alliance at last. There were only two votes against, although the school board chair did try to sour the whole thing by reading out a statement that they’re only approving it because federal law requires them to do so — a kind of graceless confession that they’ve been in the wrong, and that they’re not happy about having to do what is right.
But still…it’s a victory for goodness and justice and equality. I’ll have to check out the Morris paper this weekend to learn how other members of the community react.
Yay for the kids who have fought for so long! Congratulations, and I hope you help to drag all those holding back into the 21st century.
Is there a little bit of optimism coming back, PZ?
Every time I see that phrase (or close to it) I hear it in Futurama’s Professor Farnsworth voice, as a harbinger of doom. Glad that this turned out well. The school board FINALLY did the right thing.
Hah, I thought the exact same thing and feared for the worst. This time, however, it appears good has prevailed. Well done, Morris.
Congratulations to the Morris community, and shame on the arseholes that felt it necesary to make it clear that they are still bigots that would happily impose their bigotry if only it wasn’t illegal for them to do so.
#5,
My sentiments exactly!
Does the School Board have to approve every club?
My guess is that most decisions are made by the principal. I wouldn’t be surprised if the principal said no, due to the “controversial” nature of the club. So the decision was appealed to the board. Where at least somebody got legal advise which said they had no choice in the matter–unless they wanted to pay legal fees to both sides in an open/shut case they would lose.
It’s “Good news, everyONE”.
*happy dance*
Congratulations to the students for persevering. Hopefully the school administrators will come to realize that the GSA is beneficial to the entire student body.
Also, I can’t help but notice that the front page of the Morris Sun-Tribune is very sports-oriented.