Gay History sparks controversy
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Gay History sparks controversy
| Tue, 06-07-2005 - 12:39pm |
http://www.click2houston.com/education/4578672/detail.html
Battle Brews Over Gay History Books In Oklahoma City Schools
Members Of OKC Gay Community Seek To Donate Books To High Schools
POSTED: 4:11 pm CDT June 6, 2005
UPDATED: 10:25 am CDT June 7, 2005
OKLAHOMA CITY -- A potential battle over books in Oklahoma City Public Schools was brewing Monday, and the theme was familiar to city residents.
Members of the Oklahoma City gay community prepared to offer two books at a scheduled school board meeting Monday night, but a planned public forum on the matter was canceled. The books are intended for high school libraries and focus on major events in American history.
"Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked The Gay Revolution" -- a book by David Carter -- focuses on a series of riots at a New York bar that are widely seen as pivotal events in the civil rights movement for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people.
The second book, "Lost Prophet: The Life And Times of Bayard Rustin" by John D'emilio, is a biography of a gay man who was an important leader in the black civil rights movement of the 1960s.
The proposal comes just weeks after a major controversy at the Oklahoma City Library Commission meeting, where hundreds recently debated the placement of homosexual-themed children's books in the city's libraries. In addition, a recent resolution passed by the Oklahoma House of Representatives asks state libraries to move the books to an adult section.
One of the books' supporters, Joe Quigley, said he doesn't think the focus should be on the sexual orientation of the subjects. Instead, he said, the books should be considered for their educational value.
"If somebody's in a relationship, whether it's a heterosexual or a homosexual relationship, it's mentioned -- but that's not what (the books) are about," Quigley said. "It's about the people who are involved in these historic events."
Members of Oklahoma City's gay community purchased the books on their own and bought enough to distribute to all Oklahoma City high school libraries. Board members were expected to consider the proposal with public input on Monday night, but the forum was postponed because a quorum was not reached.
Supporters of the books said they hope to gain approval at the board's June 20 meeting. They said they hope to get the books placed in libraries by summer so that students will have access to them in the fall.
Members of the Oklahoma City gay community prepared to offer two books at a scheduled school board meeting Monday night, but a planned public forum on the matter was canceled. The books are intended for high school libraries and focus on major events in American history.
"Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked The Gay Revolution" -- a book by David Carter -- focuses on a series of riots at a New York bar that are widely seen as pivotal events in the civil rights movement for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people.
The second book, "Lost Prophet: The Life And Times of Bayard Rustin" by John D'emilio, is a biography of a gay man who was an important leader in the black civil rights movement of the 1960s.
The proposal comes just weeks after a major controversy at the Oklahoma City Library Commission meeting, where hundreds recently debated the placement of homosexual-themed children's books in the city's libraries. In addition, a recent resolution passed by the Oklahoma House of Representatives asks state libraries to move the books to an adult section.
One of the books' supporters, Joe Quigley, said he doesn't think the focus should be on the sexual orientation of the subjects. Instead, he said, the books should be considered for their educational value.
"If somebody's in a relationship, whether it's a heterosexual or a homosexual relationship, it's mentioned -- but that's not what (the books) are about," Quigley said. "It's about the people who are involved in these historic events."
Members of Oklahoma City's gay community purchased the books on their own and bought enough to distribute to all Oklahoma City high school libraries. Board members were expected to consider the proposal with public input on Monday night, but the forum was postponed because a quorum was not reached.
Supporters of the books said they hope to gain approval at the board's June 20 meeting. They said they hope to get the books placed in libraries by summer so that students will have access to them in the fall.
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Bravo to the OK gay community!
It's great to see their courage and they feel safe enough to bring these books into the OK's general public focus. I think of it as another small step into dediscrimination of the straight world. Bravo! *clapping*
Hopefully they will succeed. But than again, once they get the ok to put the books in the libraries, what than? It's not like kids are reading these days either, unless it's class assignments.
What's wrong with this world.
They are not placing in a children's library (young children). it's high school. Don't they know most people already have it in their heads what the perfer. If I think back I knew in high school I liked ladies.
But this is history. Something that really happened. We should educated our youth about everything (I believe). Even if you have to get a parent to sign a permission slip to sign the books out. I would sign it if my son wanted to sign the books out.
Being gay is not a secert. We have plenty of wonderful people that are well known for being gay. Their making it seem like there's something bad about being gay. And they are wrong for that.
I know there are kids that are in those high schools being raised by gay parents. Boy people make me really mad sometimes.
Angel
I do hope they get these into the library. There are just so many people who are so ignorant, they think people become gay because they hear about it or see it. That say's something about them. They think we don't make good parents, our children might grow up gay. We grew up in heterosexual homes and we grew up gay anyway.
I hope someone will educate the educators.
Laurie
co-cl of Lesbian Life Message Board
Email- didoangst@comcast.net
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-bhlesbianlif/
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