Mecklenburg School Board to Vote on Pro-Homosexual Policy

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Mecklenburg School Board to Vote on Pro-Homosexual Policy

Special Report - March 6, 2008
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board is poised to vote next Tuesday, March 11 on a pro-homosexual anti-bullying policy that includes the categories of “sexual orientation” and “gender identity or expression.” According to local reports, the Board plans to hear from the public before it votes on the proposed policy.

“Concerned parents and others in Mecklenburg County and across the state should contact members of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board in opposition to this proposal,” said Bill Brooks, president of the North Carolina Family Policy Council. “Bullying for any reason is abhorrent behavior, particularly at school, but the bullying issue should not be hijacked by special interest groups intent on promoting their pro-homosexual agenda in our public schools,” Brooks continued. “Charlotte-Mecklenburg is the state’s largest school system and many of North Carolina’s children would be impacted by this radical policy.”

The proposed CMS policy states in part: “It is the policy of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education to maintain learning environments that are free from harassment or bullying. This freedom includes, but is not limited to, freedom from harassment or bullying based on an individual’s real or perceived race, color, sex, religion, creed, political belief, age, national origin, linguistic or language differences, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, socioeconomic status, height, weight, physical characteristics, marital status, parental status, or physical, mental or sensory disability.” (Emphasis added.) The policy does not define bullying and harassment, but instead leaves it open for broad interpretation. In addition, the policy would require the superintendent of schools to publicize the policy, train staff members and students on how to implement the policy, and create trainings and other programs to “foster an environment of understanding and respect for all individuals.”

The North Carolina Family Policy Council addressed this issue last year when a similar proposal was filed in the North Carolina General Assembly. The Council’s vice president and director of government relations John Rustin commented, “While a school policy against bullying may sound like a good idea, this proposal represents a serious threat to parental rights, student expression and religious freedom in Mecklenburg County. It is part of a national initiative by homosexual activists to convince educators to add the terms ‘sexual orientation’ and ‘gender identity or expression’ to school anti-bullying and nondiscrimination policies. Including these terms in a list of protected categories in state law or local policy would open the door for the promotion of homosexuality, bisexuality and transgenderism in the classroom through teacher training and student awareness efforts.” Rustin added, “Pro-homosexual anti-bullying policies increase the possibility that students and parents with deeply held religious beliefs about homosexuality could be silenced in the name of promoting safety and tolerance for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students.” The legislation proposed in the General Assembly, HB 1366—School Violence Prevention Act, failed to pass last year and is still pending in the legislature.

Additionally, the State Board of Education passed a general anti-bullying directive in 2004 that required all local school systems to adopt anti-bullying policies by January 2005. When the State Board policy was originally proposed, it listed special protections for 16 specific characteristics, including “sexual orientation” and “gender identity/expression.” But after parents from across the state voiced their concerns, the Board removed the characteristics and approved a more general policy that prohibits “bullying, harassment, and discrimination of any kind to any child in any school environment.”

Concerned citizens in Mecklenburg County have created a web site that details the impact the proposed anti-bullying policy could have and offers suggested action steps for parents and citizens at http://www.cmspolicywatch.com/. The site also includes a list of CMS board members with contact information.