Protesters’ Assertions About Gays Challenged : Education: Activists defend a school board declaration encouraging understanding of homosexuals.

In the aftermath of a protest by parents who did not want their children to learn about homosexuality in Los Angeles schools, a group of activists Wednesday challenged assertions that being gay is sinful and against family values.

Either gay themselves or the parents of homosexual children, the group gathered at the Hollywood headquarters of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and defended a recent decision by the Los Angeles school board to recognize June of each year as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month.

They disagreed with charges that teaching about homosexuality switches the focus of schools from reading and writing to children’s sex lives. To the contrary, they said, such teachings would be lessons in understanding and tolerance--a critical part of education.

“I’ll be a lesbian for the rest of my life whether or not I ever have sex again,” said Carol Anderson, an attorney and member of GLAAD. “We’re not talking about sexual practice. We’re talking about respect for others.”

Wednesday’s gathering, attended by school board member Jeff Horton and other activists and educators, came two days after a demonstration staged at the Los Angeles Unified School District’s downtown headquarters.

About 130 parents, clergy and youths at the Monday demonstration denounced the board’s May 18 resolution, which calls on schools and teachers “to find appropriate ways” to fulfill a district policy encouraging multicultural education, including the history of gay and lesbian people in society.

Protesters argued that the resolution would encourage children toward homosexuality and undermine family values. But at Wednesday’s meeting, gay parents and heterosexuals who had raised gay children argued that a stable family and homosexuality are not exclusive of one another.

Laura Hale, acting director of the district’s Gay and Lesbian Education Commission, said that about 25 schools have requested an information packet on activities for Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. Assembled at no cost to the district, the packets list gay agencies and organizations, as well as ideas dealing with such issues as name-calling on the playground and in the classroom.

“Quite often kids are called ‘dyke’ and ‘faggot’ and no teacher corrects them,” said Hale. “Sometimes the administrator is the one who did it.”

The declaration of Gay and Lesbian Pride Month and the positive discussions it can foster can lift the self-esteem of gay youths, as well as educate other children, Hale and others said.