Sexual Orientation and School Policy: A Practical Guide for Teachers, Administrators, and Community ActivistsThis book helps the reader to understand and mediate the debates that arise when gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, intersex, and queer/questioning students and their families ask for equal treatment from the schools and are opposed by conservative parents. Sexual Orientation and School Policy is a case study of one school districts' attempt to adopt and implement policies that include sexual orientation. This book describes the work of the Safe Schools Coalition who advocate and educate for equal rights for gay lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, intersex, and queer/questioning (GLBTIQ) students. Concerned Citizens, a group of conservative parents, opposed the inclusion of sexual orientation in the policies. Factors that either facilitated or impeded the implementation of the policies are highlighted, as are the strategies employed by the Safe Schools Coalition in educating opponents. |
Contents
A History of the Two Policies | 27 |
Strategies Employed by the High Plains Safe Schools Coalition | 49 |
Suggestions for Other School Districts and Safe | 77 |
Opposition to Educational Change | 83 |
How the Various Sides in This Debate Make Meaning | 91 |
Why the Various Sides Support or Oppose the Inclusion of Sexual | 111 |
How to Evaluate the Competing Claims | 143 |
My Reflections on This Research | 167 |
On the Making of Sexual Orientation | 175 |
Methods of Data Analysis | 187 |
Validity and Reliability | 193 |
Diversity Goal Statement with Beliefs from | 199 |
| 211 | |
| 217 | |
About the Author 223 | |
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administrators advocates antigay abuse antigay beliefs antigay harassment behavior bigots bisexual Boy George classroom Concerned Citizens CUAR curricular inclusion curriculum debate dents discrimination discussion district staff district's policies Diversity Goal Dorothy enforce equal rights explains express feel gay rights gay-straight alliances gender identity GLBTIQ students GLBTIQ youth GLSEN heterosexual High Plains Safe High Plains School high school HPSD implementation include sexual orientation inclusion of sexual individuals intersex interviewed kids legitimate and promote lesbian LGBT Matt Shepard members of HPSSC morally conservative parents neutral nondiscrimination policy okay opponents PFLAG Plains Safe Schools Plains School District political promote homosexuality protected classes public schools religion religious Safe Schools Coalition safety same-sex marriage Schensul school board meetings school board member school policies sending the message slogans social issues stopping antigay talk teach teachers tion transgendered Trisha U.S. Supreme Court understand violation worldviews