LGBT Plan for K-5 Schools Draws Packed House
Andy Nelson
Is it time to start teaching young students about the realities of same-sex parenting?
A plan to teach kindergarteners about homosexuality is creating a firestorm of controversy in the East Bay.
An overflow crowd packed Tuesday night's Alameda Unified School Board meeting to voice their opinion on proposed LGBT curriculum for K-5 students.
The district says teachers asked for the curriculum to help prevent bullying. Supporters say it's time to end hate speech.
Opponents say the district is teaching homosexuality and want to be able to opt their kids out of the lessons. But they worry that will make thier kids targets.
"If I opt out my child, what's going to happen is other kids will pick up on this she will be called a fanatic and a gay basher," George Chow said.
But same-sex parents say their kids are the one being targeted because of the lack of education about the subject.
"They said, 'oh your mom's a lesbian, lesbian.'" Karie Frash told the hundreds of people attending the meeting, "She said, 'I didn't know what they meant' and I felt sad."
The proposed curriculum includes the book "Who's In a Family" and vocabulary that includes gay, lesbian, and LGBT.
Since so many people attended the meeting the school board decided to continue the hearing next week.
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