A Hayward,
Calif., elementary school has come under fire by Proposition
8 supporters because a kindergarten teacher
there asked her students to sign cards pledging
not to use antigay slurs. The cards, provided by the
Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network as part of its
National Ally Week last week, became a flash point in
the debate over Prop 8., which would constitutionally
ban same-sex marriage in California, on Tuesday when
the ProtectMarriage.com coalition challenged the state's
schools superintendent to a debate, the Associated Press
reports. But the No on 8 campaign, which has used the
superintendent, Jack O'Connell, in television ads,
declined the opposition's offer.
The cards handed
out at the Faith Ringgold Elementary School stated, "I
am taking a stand for a safe and harassment-free school for
all students, regardless of sexual orientation or
gender identity/expression. As an ally, I pledge to
not use anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender) language or slurs."
The
ProtectMarriage.com campaign linked the pledge-card event to
the legalization of marriage equality. "Since the
words 'between a man and a woman' have been taken out
of the California laws, it has created a can opener
for gay activists to take this kind of curriculum into our
elementary schools -- not ninth grade, not 12th grade, but
kindergarten," campaign spokeswoman Sonya
Eddings Brown told the AP.
But the school
district stood behind the teacher. "The Faith
Ringgold teacher planned to teach students how to become an
ally and conflict mediation," read a statement issued
by the Hayward Unified School District. "We
apologize for any misunderstandings, however, we
support curriculum that teaches the diversity of our society
and complies with all state laws." (The
Advocate)
