1. 31 March 2011 · 07:26 PM ·
    Lawmaker wants to ban gay student group from Tiverton, RI High School

    civillyunioned:

    SHAMEFUL!!!

    RI State Representative Dan Gordon is calling for the Gay-Straight Alliance at Tiverton High School to be prohibited from meeting on the school’s campus. The group was started by a student as a senior project and is the first of its kind at Tiverton High School. Gordon calls it an inappropriate use of students’ time and taxpayer-owned property.

    “Students have enough to worry about with their education,” said Gordon, who has also characterized the group as a “sexual meet-up group” and a place were students “get sexed-up” in comments on a local blog.

    “I don’t think we should be promoting anything whatsoever that has to do with sexuality,” Gordon said. “Especially in a school that receives public funding.”

    Students involved in the club say their intent is to address issues like bullying, which is a common problem among gay students. Gordon believes clubs like the Gay-Straight Alliance are part of the problem.

    “I don’t think there would be much of a problem with bullying if students weren’t flaunting their sexuality in school,” Gordon said, adding that he would have no problem with the group meeting in a private home.

    Tiverton High School Principal Steven Fezette defends the club, which was approved unanimously by the local school committee.

    “I have yet to see true failure when one promotes acceptance and tolerance of diversity,” Fezette wrote.