Approximately 200,000 District calendars were sent home to Philadelphia School District families, agencies and other supporters in September. Included on the calendar for the first time was "Gay and Lesbian History Month". Philadelphia School District designates each month during the school year to raising awareness about a particular ethnic or cultural group that has historically been discriminated against. This practice is in keeping with their policy requiring equity for all races and minority groups.
Of the 200,000 calendars distributed, Philadelphia School District received 120 complaints. While this is the largest backlash the District has seen in response to its calendar, .0006% isn't bad, and it certainly isn't enough to sway the District.
Of the 120 complaints, only one parent, Senita Watson, is threatening to keep her 7-year-old daughter from attending school for the entire month of October while Gay and Lesbian History Month is being observed. It could be inferred that maintaining an environment of intolerance where fear and hatred most assuredly are bred is more important than aquiring an education ... at least for one Philadelphia School District family this appears to be the case.
One report by the Baptist Press, a daily national news service of Southern Baptists since 1946, quotes Peter LaBarbera, president of the conservative group, Americans for Truth - "Are they going to teach the role that homosexual behavior had in the onset of HIV and AIDS? Is that going to be part of the history?" It might behoove Mr. LaBarbera to take a look at that history. HIV was likely to have originated from West African chimpanzees, which were often kept as pets and also used for food. There is some controversy as to the link between HIV and AIDS leaving some researchers unconvinced that AIDS is a result of HIV infection. In fact, in Africa, there is a strong link between malnutrition and the onset of AIDS, further calling into question the direct link between HIV and AIDS.
So it seems, "homosexual behavior" is not a contributor to the "onset" of HIV and AIDS. That is more likely attributable to monkeys and malnutrition.
Philadelphia School District has not prepared a curriculum or any special events for Gay and Lesbian History Month in October. What is taught and/or recognized is being left to individual teachers and schools.
We applaud Philadelphia School District for recognizing Gay and Lesbian History Month and the LGBT community, even if it took them 11 years since Gay and Lesbian History month was first recognized to get on board.
Read the full article published in the Philadelphia Inquirer on September 28, 2006.
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3 comments:
"So it seems, "homosexual behavior" is not a contributor to the "onset" of HIV and AIDS."
Stupefying! I can only conclude that you are either joking, insane, or a complete moron.
Obviously you can't read, but that's not surprising. They're taking issue with the statement "onset". Maybe you need some english comprehension lessons?
BTW, thanks, MMH (1st "anonymous" above) for posting your ignorance on homosexuality. We really appreciate your name-calling and bullying tactics. Your views are precisely the reason awareness is such an important factor for LGBT Equality.
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