And now, some good gay news

[Rick Munroe]

A jury in San Diego just awarded $300,000 in damages to two former high school students who were harrassed for being gay. The money was awarded not because the school discriminated against them, but rather because they failed to protect these kids or even address the situation at all.

 

"During the trial, Ramelli testified that students repeatedly called him names, shoved him in the hallways, threw food at him and spit on him. He testified that he heard other students make disparaging remarks about gays and lesbians on a nearly daily basis." Does this situation sound familiar to anyone else? It does to me. I was harrassed, too, in the exact same ways, so I'm especially glad that these kids won their case. It sends a message to school administrators that they should think twice about ignoring the abuse.

 

Full story:

 

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20050609-9999-1mi9poway.html

[DelawareGuy]

Hooray! Finally, a responsible judgement award. I too, suffered physical attacks and verbal abuse in high school. The teachers just sorta looked the other way.

[+ Cock Eyed Optimist]

>The teachers just sorta looked the other way.

 

Sorry to say, it still happens. An organization called GLSEN (Gay,Lesbian,Straight Education Network) is hard at work to negate this sort of behavior. It is nationwide, and new chapters are forming all across the USA. They actively fight homophobia in schools and colleges. Check them out if interested at:

http://www.GLSEN.org

[Guest zipperzone]

I had posted a response to this last night but it seems to have vanished (or been taken down by a moderator}.

 

My comment was along the lines that the lawyers for the school were going to appeal and that in the future such appeals may have the original award overturned due to the homophobic judges Bush is trying to appoint to life-long positions.

 

I grant you that this might have been seen as a political comment and as such perhaps it should have not been posted in this forum - but how could I reply in the politics forum when the post I was commenting on was in the Lounge?

 

Anyhoo - don't the new rules promise us we will be given an explanation if a post is deleated? Hmmmmm so much for rules!

[BobbyB]

I doubt seriously that your post was deleted. It was probably, as Hooboy would have said, simply a BCC problem: Between Computer & Chair. I know I have obliterated my own posts by hitting the Preview button instead of the Post button. Regardless, your thoughts are here now for all to see, so "all's well that ends well."

 

- BobbyB

[Barry]

Hey Zip,

 

Your post didn't even come close to a reason for deletion and nothing was posted in the Mod forum about it.

 

Barry

[Guest zipperzone]

>Hey Zip,

>

>Your post didn't even come close to a reason for deletion and

>nothing was posted in the Mod forum about it.

>

>Barry

 

Whew - that's a relief - guess the cyber fairies are at it again and I'm reverting into my role as Polly Paranoia!