School Board Member Horton Says He Is Gay

Los Angeles school board member Jeff Horton, who took office six months ago, has decided to publicly announce that he is gay.

“I think the more people who are gay and lesbian who make that known as widely as possible, the better off we are and the more everybody else will see that gay and lesbian people are found in all walks of life,” Horton said.

Horton said he will make his announcement at a news conference today on “National Coming Out Day” because he thinks the impact will be greatest. “National Coming Out Day” is an occasion when gays and lesbians around the country acknowledge their sexual preference.

He said several Los Angeles-area teachers and school employees will attend the news conference at the Los Angeles Unified School District’s headquarters to divulge their homosexuality and discuss their reasons for going public.

“I really wanted to do it because of this day,” said Horton, 43. “It’s a whole national effort on the part of our community.”

While Horton said he has many educational concerns that do not deal with homosexuality, he said he plans to be an advocate for the rights of gay and lesbian students, teachers and other school employees. He said he hopes to form a commission of community leaders to address school issues of concern to homosexuals.

He also said he favors starting a counseling program at all high schools that would be similar to one at Fairfax High School, where a teacher specializes in counseling gay teen-agers. “Every (high) school needs someone there who gay and lesbian people can come to,” Horton said.

School board President Warren Furutani lauded Horton’s courage but expressed concern that his announcement may limit his effectiveness if the public perceives him as primarily interested in issues affecting gay students.

“I have no doubt of his sincerity and he’s been an excellent board member already in the short time he’s been in office,” Furutani said. “I just hope he doesn’t get labeled ‘the gay board member’ as if that’s where all of his interests lie, because that’s certainly not true.”

Horton is believed to be the first acknowledged homosexual to serve on the board.

Although Horton said he decided several months ago to make his homosexuality public, Gov. Pete Wilson’s veto of a bill outlawing job discrimination against homosexuals reaffirmed his decision.

“I’ve had a personal commitment to do this for a long time,” Horton said. “Gov. Wilson’s veto of the AB 101 gay rights bill only makes me doubly glad because I’m going to take this opportunity to condemn his action and his cowardice in taking that position and applaud the vehement action that has come on the streets.”

Horton criticized Wilson for “sending a message to young gays and lesbians that ‘you are worthless.’ ” Horton said his actions are an attempt to “counter that message.”

“My message is: ‘You are not worthless and you can do anything,’ ” said the former Crenshaw High School English teacher. “I happen to be an elected official on the school board and I’m gay, so at least there is someone who will speak up on your behalf and not allow abuse and this type of discrimination.”

Horton had worked for the district for 15 years but had to quit when he was elected to the board. He teaches part time for the Montebello Unified School District.

He said his decision to make a statement has been a gradual process. “My family knew and I had a circle of friends who knew.”

Eventually, Horton said, he got tired of pretending to be ‘straight’ in certain group settings.

“People would ask: ‘Are you married?’ and I’d say: ‘No, I’m not married.’ So then they think you’re a bachelor,” Horton said. “But I’m not a bachelor. I have a companion of eight years and we own a home.”

After deciding several years ago to stop going out of his way to hide his homosexuality, Horton has made no secret of that sexual preference.

At his swearing-in ceremony, Horton thanked his “roommate and best friend” for his support, while other board members were lauding their spouses and children. During the same speech, he said he was committed to helping gay and lesbian youths.

Horton said he has never personally encountered discrimination in the school district but said he knows of other gays and lesbians who have.

He expects his announcement to draw some criticism.

“I’m not politically ambitious, so I’m not worried about this killing any kind of budding political career or anything,” Horton said. “But there probably will be a reaction. With most people, the reaction will be unspoken. Some who have very prejudicial attitudes may condemn me.”

Times education writer Sandy Banks contributed to this story.