Contra Costa school board considers resolution to fight harassment of gays on campuses
(Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service)
RICHMOND, Calif. -- A Pinole Valley High student, who describes himself
as "stereotypically gay" but in the closet, is called on by a teacher
to answer a question. When he rises to speak, half the kids in the
class yell "faggot!"
The teacher says, "Hey, we don't use that name in the classroom.
"But it sure fits."
The anecdote, recounted by another student, was one of about 20 testimonials
at Wednesday's West Contra Costa school board meeting in support of
a resolution to fight harassment of gays on school campuses.
Supporters hope the resolution, which the board unanimously approved,
will put some bite into enforcing a state law that prohibits discrimination
in public schools on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
The law, which took effect Jan. 1, 2000, gives gay, lesbian, bisexual
and transgender students the same civil rights protections as those
extended on the basis of ethnicity, religion, sex or disability.
The resolution, the first of its kind in Contra Costa County, goes
further in that it mandates school officials take concrete steps to
fight homophobia on campus, including setting up a task force of students,
teachers and other staff and community members to develop a plan.
"What has changed is a commitment from the district to make this bill
a reality," said Myriam Rahman, coordinator of the Queer Youth Action
Team, part of the Pleasant Hill-based Center for Human Development'
s Empowerment Project. "And that commitment is now in writing."
Rahman and other supporters praised board member Patricia Player for
introducing an amendment that "directs" rather than "asks" the district'
s safety committee to develop plans to address students' concerns.
Board members promised to include QYAT members on the task force.
Among QYAT's recommendations are encouraging the formation of gay
student support groups on campus; providing forums for discussing
sexual orientation and gender identity issues; including those issues
in the curriculum and designating certain teachers to be available
to discuss them; and sensitivity training for all teachers.
QYAT also recommends setting up a complaint procedure, a harassment
prevention program and a counseling-based discipline system for harassers.
Several students told the board victims often have no one to turn
to.
"I've witnessed people getting teased, mocked, getting stuff written
on their desk, and teachers just watching," said Nykki Bickerstaff,
a Pinole Valley junior.
A QYAT survey of West County students at a youth forum last year found
that all heard derogatory comments about gays on a daily basis, while
64 percent heard them from teachers or school staff members. Ninety-
three percent said they did not know where or how to report harassment
at their school.
Another survey by El Cerrito High School students found 53 percent
of students thought school was not a safe place to be openly gay,
while 41 percent thought it was not safe for straight people to be
openly supportive of gays.
Wednesday's speakers, which included students, teachers, ministers,
parents and political activists, told of students being called names,
getting lockers blocked and objects thrown at them.
El Cerrito High teacher Jennifer Rader told of students afraid to
show affection to same-sex siblings for fear of being labeled gay.
Some of the students, like El Cerrito High sophomore Bailey Nichols,
told of incidents of outright physical violence; when she was in
eighth grade at Portola Middle School, she was surrounded by a yelling
crowd, pushed and punched after putting an arm around a female friend.
After winning the West Contra Costa board's support, students said
the battle for their rights was far from over.
"This (school district) is only our first one," said Martina Jeans,
a senior at Alhambra High in Martinez. "We're planning to present
this (resolution) to all of the districts in the county."
The group also has created an anti-harassment poster that they are
working to hang in every public high school in the county.
Tom Lochner, Contra Costa school
board considers resolution to fight harassment of gays on campuses. , Knight-Ridder/Tribune
News Service, 02-09-2001.