Now that the Florida Family Council is involved, a proposed addition of sexual identity and gender expression to the Orange County School Board’s non-discrimination policy has gone from touchy to downright contentious.
In September, the Board elected to move forward with an inclusive nondiscrimination policy that adds protections for both sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.
On Dec. 11 at 5:30 p.m., the Board will kick off a public hearing, followed by a vote on the new policy. In the past couple of weeks, conservative group Florida Family Council (FFC) got wind of the proposed changes and launched an attack. In an action alert, the FFC called the changes a “dangerous and outrageous proposal creating special rights for homosexuals, transsexuals” and urged their supporters to contact school board members asking them to vote against the inclusive policy. They’re also asking them to attend the meeting and wear blue.
In the meantime, LGBTs and allies are also encouraging supporters of the inclusive policy to contact board members and request they vote in favor of the inclusive policy, plus attend the meeting and wear red as a show of solidarity.
Conservative media outlet Fox 35 characterized the issue within the framework of cross-dressing teachers. State representative Joe Saunders faced off against John Stemberger with the Florida Family Policy Council:
WKMG Local 6 also covered the issue from within the FFC’s “cross-dressing teachers” framework, including an interview with Watermark publisher Tom Dyer.
So how did the whole issue get started?
Clinton McCracken, an art teacher at Howard Middle School said he got this ball rolling two years ago. On Sept. 20, he urged the Board to include gender identity, as they initially were just going to include sexual orientation. Board member Daryl Flynn made the motion to include both protections, and board member Nancy Robbinson seconded the motion.
Here is the contact information to call or email the Orange County School Board members:
Bill Sublette (Chairman) – 407-426-8551 William.Sublette@ocps.net
District 1 Joie Cadle – cell 407-376-0191 joie.cadle@ocps.net
District 2 Daryl Flynn - 407-317-3236 daryl.flynn@ocps.net
District 3 Rick Roach – 407-317-3236 rick.roach@ocps.net
District 4 Pam Gould – 407-317-3236 pamela.gould@ocps.net
District 5 Kathleen Gordon – 407-716-6861 kathleen.gordon@ocps.net
District 6 Nancy Robbinson – cell 407-310-9194 nancy.robbinson@ocps.net
District 7 Christine Moore – 407-317-3236 christine.moore1@ocps.net
Note: Moore has publicly expressed her opposition to the inclusive non-discrimination policy.
Here is where you can find the name of your district’s Board member.
Additionally, supporters are asked to attend tonight’s meeting, wearing red, to speak up in support of the inclusive policy. This vote is scheduled for Tuesday, December 11th at 5:30 PM at the Orange County School Board building located at 445 W. Amelia Street (near to where the old Amway Arena was located).
