The right wing wackos on the State Board of Ed just keep getting worse. Below is my most recent letter (which I invite you to copy and send to sboesupport@tea.state.tx.us), which describes the new anti-gay agenda some members are trying to achieve by manipulating our health text books:
Ms. Thorton and Fellow Members of the State Board of Education,Posted by sarah at November 5, 2004 10:59 AM | TrackBackOn the front page of the Austin paper today, there is an article (http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/metro/williamson/5textbooks.html) about Terri Leo, a member of the State Board of Education from Houston, who wants to change the wording of the proposed textbooks. Among changes she is proposing:
Current teacher's edition for 6-8 grades: 'If you discuss the issue of homosexuality in class, discuss it respectfully. Be aware that someone in your class may be homsexual or related to someone who is homosexual, or have a friend who is homosexual.'
Leo's Proposed changes: 'If you discuss homosexuality in class, be aware that Texas law rejects homosexual "marriage." Students can therefore maintain that homosexuality and heterosexuality are not moral equivalents, without being charged with "hate speech."'
Another teacher's edition: '...surveys indicate that 3 to 10 percent of the population is gay. No one knows for sure why some people are straight, some are bisexual and others are gay.'
Leo's proposed changes: 'Opinions vary on why homosexuals, lesbians and bisexuals as a group are more prone to self-destructive behaviors like depression, illegal drug use and suicide.'
This is absolutely unacceptable. Ms. Leo's proposed changes blur the boundaries between church and state by treating conservative Christian stances on homosexuality as moral absolutes. They are not. I do not agree with Ms. Leo's bigoted judgments regarding homosexual nor do thousands of other Texans. Furthermore, if there are higher rates of depression among gay youth, they are driven by the prejudiced attitudes of people like Ms. Leo, not by one's sexual preferences. To insinuate otherwise is fundamentally ignorant and does a disservice to the thousands of young Texans who are gay.
Please understand that the outpouring of opposition to ideologically driven censorship of our health text books is indicative of the fact that Texans are no longer willing to put up with a State Board of Education comprised of individuals who are more interested in propagating their world views than ensuring that our children receive a quality education. If the SBOE fails to approve text books that provide the information our children need to make healthy decisions, there will most certainly be consequences in the next election cycle. As our representative, I hope that you will speak out against your ideologically motivated colleagues and represent that mainstream, moderate values of the people living in your district.
I look forward to your response on this issue. I wish you all well as you struggle through what I know is a difficult task.