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News :: Civil & Human Rights |
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Superintendent Vows to Keep Gay-Straight Alliance Clubs out of Schools |
Current rating: 1 |
by GP
Email: hello (nospam) gaypanhandle.com |
13 May 2004
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Escambia County Schools Superintendent Jim Paul lauds his record of keeping Gay-Straight Alliance clubs out of schools, vows to fight future GSAs if reelected. |
At his first campaign rally of the 2004 election year, Escambia County Superintendent of schools Jim Paul cited his record of fighting Gay-Straight Alliances as one reason to reelect him. The Superintendent was referring to his involvement in the infamous 2001 attempt to form a GSA at Escambia High School—a club that, if allowed to form, would have given a voice and desperately needed protection to gay and lesbian students at that school.
At the 2004 rally, Paul stated that gay students would be allowed to meet only after school hours, not during school hours—a segregation policy he acknowledged would not apply to other noncurricular clubs (such as the Chess Club or Fellowship of Christian Athletes).
When it was explained to the Superintendent that the federal Equal Access Act would prohibit such discrimination, Paul replied that he didn't believe the EAA was applicable, and that this ultimately was a matter for the courts to decide. He added that defending any lawsuits brought for violating the EAA wouldn't cost Escambia County any money, because he has a line of private funders willing to pay the cost. Paul declined to name these private funders. |
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