Ed board tackles
NEA’s gay resolution

The proposal calls for recognition,
tolerance and support for students
with sexual orientation issues

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By Crystal Kua
ckua@starbulletin.com

Board of Education members argued yesterday over a controversial resolution concerning gay and lesbian students that will be voted on at a national conference next week.

The resolution, before the National Education Association, recognizes the "complex and diverse needs" of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and questioning students. These students and their families "require the development of programs that promote a safe and inclusive environment," the resolution says.

The debate yesterday centered on whether the Hawaii board should take a stand on the resolution.

Some of the actions the resolution calls for include:

>> Development of lessons, instructional materials and programs that are designed to meet those needs.

>> Involvement of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered educators in developing classroom material.

>> Dissemination of programs that support gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and questioning students.

>> Recognition of the importance of gay people as role models.

>> Accurate portrayals of gay people's roles and contributions.

>> Coordination with support organizations and concerned agencies.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association and the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly are sending dozens of delegates to the convention, which begins Sunday in Los Angeles.

School board member Carol Gabbard, whose husband was active in the battle against same-sex marriages in Hawaii, suggested to the Regular Education Committee that it "urge the delegates to the convention to vote no on this resolution."

But other board members instead said no to Gabbard's idea.

"I think we should stay out of this one," board member Shannon Ajifu said.

Committee Chairwoman Denise Matsumoto said that individuals could still lobby individual delegates. "I do think that if you know who the members are that are going there that they could be reminded of various board policies that are affected. ... Our abstinence policy is affected by it," she said.

That remark prompted Ajifu to respond: "Our abstinence policy has nothing to do with it. We're not talking about sex itself."

Matsumoto said that the board also has a policy that says that any controversial program should provide both sides to that controversy.

Gabbard said that school boards across the nation are taking a position on it.

Board member Donna Ikeda said that while she has no problems with individuals taking a stand, the board is a different matter.

"I don't think that it's proper for this committee or any other board committee or the board as a whole to tell another organization what to do," Ikeda said. "This is something taken up by a specific association, and even though teachers belong to that association and some of those teachers work for us, we have no say in what they develop and in what they discuss."

HSTA President Karen Ginoza said she also believes that the board should stay out of the fray. "I don't feel that the board would be an appropriate body."

The Hawaii delegates will join 9,000-plus NEA members in debating what will probably end up being the most controversial resolution taken up by the convention, she said.

"We don't have a position on (the resolution)," Ginoza said by telephone from Los Angeles.

The Hawaii delegates will debate the resolution in caucus, and each member will vote individually on the resolution when the measure is taken up on the convention floor.

Procedurally, the board members said the committee could not vote on Gabbard's suggestion because it was not on the agenda.