Gay-straight
student alliances seen as bill's target

The exact role of gay-straight student groups in Virginia schools depends on whom you ask. According to Arlington delegate Adam Ebbin, the after-school groups offer a safe space where gay youths can seek comfort. But Harrisonburg delegate Matthew Lohr argues that too many of these groups are just promoting sexual activity. They faced off Monday as the house of delegates debated a bill that would empower local school boards to disband groups seen as encouraging teen promiscuity. Lohr's House Bill 1308 would authorize school boards to prohibit the use of school facilities by any student club that promotes sexual activity among unmarried students. It would essentially dissolve the gay-straight alliances, which typically meet on school grounds, said Dyana Mason, head of Equality Virginia. On a voice vote after lengthy debate, the bill advanced to a final vote Tuesday in the house. An identical bill last year passed the house 95-0 only to die on a 9-6 vote in the senate education and health committee. Monday, lawmakers appeared split over the bill, some arguing that it unfairly singled out gay groups while others countered that the legislation targeted no one. "This bill is not aimed at one particular group," Lohr told house members. "The intent is to give local school boards more control over the types of groups which use the buildings." But when pressed by Democratic delegate James Scott about which groups could be interpreted as addressing sexual issues, Lohr referred to a situation involving a Chesterfield County gay-straight student alliance last year. In that case, Lohr said, school officials canceled a planned book signing by a gay author after learning the author would be including a steamy novel about gay fraternity sex. Lohr argued that school officials should have been able to quash the group entirely. "Whether it be homosexual or heterosexual, school is just not the place to be talking about sexual activity," said Lohr, adding that he would encourage schools to disband heterosexually oriented groups that promote teen sex. But gay-straight alliances are focused on helping teens sort out their sexuality, not telling them how to act on it, argued Ebbin, the state's first openly gay house member. "What troubles me is the targeting of student groups because they [acknowledge] the idea that gay people exist," he said. Family Foundation director Victoria Cobb lauded the legislation, saying it would drive home school boards' duty to protect kids. "Our public schools should not sponsor groups that are nothing more than taxpayer-subsidized dating services," Cobb said. House members also gave preliminary approval Monday to a bill requiring that family life education programs encourage abstinence as the only guarantee against unwanted pregnancy. (AP)