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April 18, 2006

Speech by transgender author Kate Bornstein canceled at New York school

Speech by transgender author Kate Bornstein canceled at New York school

A suburban New York high school has censored a scheduled appearance by noted transgender author and activist Kate Bornstein after complaints from a local businessman. Bornstein was scheduled to speak to students next week at Fox Lane High School in the upscale suburb of Bedford, one of among 60 speakers approved by the board of education for the school's annual Wellness Day.

However, school officials canceled her appearance after a local businessman saw that her personal Web site contained sexually explicit material. He complained to the superintendent of schools that Bornstein's message would be inappropriate for teenagers.

Bornstein, who transitioned from male to female in the late 1970s, planned to talk to the students about alternatives to teen suicide, the subject of her new book. She says she is disappointed her talk was canceled, telling The Journal News newspaper, "I knew it was a big responsibility.... It was brave of them to bring in a freak like me."

This is the second speech by a prominent LGBT activist that's been called off in the past two weeks. Late last month, Kevin Jennings, founder of the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, canceled his speech at a nearby high school after objections from parents there. (Sirius OutQ News)

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