GLSEN Grades the School Year

As the 2000/2001 school year draws to a close, the nation's largest gay and lesbian education group celebrates a year of progress in creating safer schools.

The following is an excerpt from an article printed in the Chicago Free Press. Any opinions either stated or suggested are not necessarily those of GLSEN or its members.

By Lisa Neff

Staff Writer

As the 2000/2001 school year draws to a close, the nation's largest gay and lesbian education group celebrates a year of progress in creating safer schools.

"The amount of activity this year signals the premiere position this issue has assumed on the national landscape," said Kevin Jennings, executive director of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network in New York. "From policymakers to parents, an increasing number of people are realizing the urgent need for LGBT students to receive equal treatment in our public schools. And more and more of them are willing to advocate for this cause."

GLSEN in the past nine months tracked an increase in the establishment of gay-straight student alliances to a record 815 groups in 47 states.

GLSEN also followed GLBT-related education bills in 14 states, including anti-discrimination measures in Texas, New York, Washington, West Virginia, Colorado, Florida and Oregon. Several of the bills advanced, but none, as of May 25, had been enacted. Still, GLSEN noted that for the first time, pro-GLBT bills outnumbered anti-GLBT bills in the legislatures.

GLSEN also documented a backlash against the Boy Scouts of America and such Christian right organizations as the Eagle Forum and the Traditional Values Coalition.

The religious right built its power base in the last decade with grassroots campaigns in school districts- running conservative candidates for school boards and promoting anti-GLBT policies. But in the last year, the Christian right lost more battles in schools than it won. Meanwhile, GLSEN's network of chapters expanded to 90, the head of the National Education Association addressed gay educators and the Parent Teacher Association endorsed the gay-themed "Teaching Respect For All" educational video in classrooms.

Also, 359 school districts operating about 4,400 schools cut sponsorships with the Boy Scouts of America following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding the organization's ban against gay members and troop leaders.

The school year, Jennings said, yielded progress "of a remarkable degree. But that only underscores how much work there is left to do. We must remember that the majority of American schools still haven't made the grade when it comes to equally serving all students."

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