Man who was arrested after dispute over pro-gay teachings pleads innocent

A Massachusetts father who wouldn't leave school property after officials refused his demand to remove his 6-year-old son from discussions about homosexuality pleaded innocent to a trespassing charge Thursday. David Parker, 42, of Lexington was released on $100 cash bail after his arraignment in Concord district court and ordered to stay off school grounds. After his release Parker said he wanted to teach his son about gays and lesbians himself, not leave it to a teacher. "Because of the same-sex [marriage] law, people are treating it as a mandate to teach the youngest children," he said. "It is not a mandate to teach the youngest of children, particularly if parents say, 'Hold on, I want to be the gatekeeper of the information."' Lexington school officials released a short statement dealing with the facts of the arrest and did not immediately return a request for comment. Parker first complained to officials at Joseph Estabrook School in January, after his son brought home a book titled Who's in a Family? which included pictures of same-sex households. He was arrested after a meeting Wednesday in which school officials refused to notify him whenever homosexuality was discussed and remove his son from class. Parker spent the night in a cell at the Lexington police station. (AP)