Gender identity, sexual orientation ignite school board debate
Rapid City Journal
by Kayla Gahagan
December 18, 2009
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/news/article_986eafe6-eb91-11de-a7bc-001cc4c03286.htmlA proposed change to add the words "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the policy drew a record number of community members and five legislators to the board's meeting Thursday night.
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A majority of the community speakers Thursday night asked board members to strike the words "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" and replace them with "other human differences."
"Our current policy must protect the rights of all students, not just special interest groups," said local pastor Dale Bartscher, who is affiliated with the South Dakota Family Policy Council. "That includes fat, thin, short, if they have blue hair, whatever."
(NB: the school board decided to include "sexual orientation", but drop "gender identity")
