At the 1996 Unitarian Universalist General Assembly, delegates voted overwhelmingly that because of "the inherent worth and dignity of every person" same-sex couples should have the same freedom to marry that other couples have.
Thank you for the correction. I will try not to say "no religions" in the future.
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Re. Mass. and the inability to opt out:
PARENTS OUTRAGED: Second-grade teacher (in David Parker's school!) reads "modern fairy tale" to class on homosexual romance and marriage!
Teacher tells parents that theme of day was "weddings" and that gay marriage is legal - "I want to present all points of view." NO notice given!
Principal tells parents (1) they cannot opt out (2) there will be no parental notification despite state law and (3) "I will not guarantee that something like this won't happen again".
Pro-gay Superintendent and School Board Chairman tell TV reporters they agree with decision.
Teacher attended GLSEN presentation promoting homosexuality in classroom. David Parker makes statement.
Click here to see pages from the book "King and King".
Take a look at this. Who would write a book like this for young children? What kind of person would read it to them? What kind of people are we employing in our schools??
LEXINGTON, MA - APRIL 19, 2006. Lexington public school officials have told Rob and Robin Wirthlin that since "gay marriage is legal" they may describe homosexual relationships to their son in second grade, without notice, and that parents may not opt their child out of such discussions. The Wirthlins were livid.
Yes, this is the same town -- and even the same school -- that embroiled itself in the David Parker incident last year, over pushing homosexuality onto young children without parental knowledge or consent. And now, the envelope's being pushed even further.
........
massresistance.org
What does the law say schools have to do?
By Paul Ash
Superintendent of Schools, Lexington, MA
Published in the Lexington Minuteman
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Over the summer, I have received a number of questions about implementation of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 71, Section 32A ("Section 32A"). These questions relate to the following provision:
Every city, town, regional school district or vocational school district implementing or maintaining curriculum which primarily involves human sexual education or human sexual issues shall adopt a policy ensuring parental/guardian notification. Such policy shall afford parents or guardians the flexibility to exempt their children from any portion of said curriculum through written notification to the school principal.
[Article 8 Note: The actual statute language says "human sexuality issues" not "human sexual issues."]
In Lexington, curriculum identified by the statute generally begins at the fifth-grade level. LPS [Lexington Public Schools] has, of course, adopted a policy implementing Section 32A, and school staff routinely provide parents with notice and the flexibility to "opt out" of this curriculum.
Recently, questions have been raised as to whether school staff also has an obligation to notify parents and allow "opt out" of other school-based activities, particularly in the elementary grades. For example, some parents have requested they be notified whenever their child has access to any material, conversation, or activity that acknowledges differences in sexual orientation, including any reference to families with same-gender parents.
Since elementary curriculum often elicits discussion of family experiences, such references certainly may occur. In addition, our schools routinely provide students with access to materials, activities, and discussions that recognize diversity. This access is designed to assist us in our goal of maintaining an appropriate and respectful educational environment for all students. As required by law and LPS policy, this environment must be free of discrimination based on race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin and disability.
The Massachusetts Department of Education, which is responsible for administering Section 32A, has explained that activities and materials designed to promote tolerance and respect for individuals, including recognition of differences in sexual orientation "without further instruction on the physical and sexual implications" do not trigger the notice and opt out provisions of Section 32A. Under this standard, staff has no obligation to notify parents of discussions, activities, or materials that simply reference same-gender parents or that otherwise recognize the existence of differences in sexual orientation. Accordingly, I expect teachers to continue to allow children access to such activities and materials to the extent appropriate to children's ages, to district goals of respecting diversity, and to the curriculum.
As this new school year begins, I look forward to working with the Lexington community to provide a positive educational environment for all students.
article8.org
I see some folks have filed a federal lawsuit and thats where things stand now. Interesting there is now a sequal to the King and King book which follows the two married kings on their honeymoon and ends with them adopting a daughter - hope the illustrations of the honeymoon weren't graphic (see wikipedia entry - scroll down to bottom):
In 2006 Joseph and Robin Wirthlin and David and Tonia Parker filed a federal lawsuit against the school district of Estabrook Elementary School their second grader attends in Lexington, Massachusetts. They claim that using the book in school constituted sexual education without parental notification, which would be a violation of their civil rights and state law. Robin Wirthlin appeared on CNN, saying "We felt like seven years old is not appropriate to introduce homosexual themes." and "My problem is that this issue of romantic attraction between two men is being presented to my seven-year-old as wonderful, and good and the way things should be."
en.wikipedia.org
I don't think gay issues are a topic for the elementary classroom, but if libraries have the books on these issues, I don't see a problem with it. After all we have some very high profile lesbians having kids- like Ms Cheney.
And Rosie. I agree this isn't an issue teahers s/b bringing up w/ elementary kids. |
