An Irresponsible Proposal Targets Vulnerable Teens : Glendale’s consent plan jeopardizes gay student group

A proposal by Glendale school officials to require that students obtain parental consent before joining a campus club has angered gays and lesbians and prompts us to question the school board’s intentions.

First some history: Like similar organizations in other school systems, Hoover High School’s Project 10 group is a mix of gay, lesbian and straight students who meet to discuss feelings about sexuality in a private, supportive setting. The 2-year-old group attracted no controversy until the start of this school year, when it applied for official club status. That’s when the talk of permission slips began.

School officials say the timing is coincidence, that their proposal is about parents’ rights and improved communication, not about targeting gays. Project 10 members and supporters say that’s nonsense.

We believe school officials are overreacting, maybe in fear, maybe from pressure from those who believe gay school groups undercut family values or even “recruit” young people into a homosexual life. Although we cannot know school officials’ intent, we will venture a guess at the outcome if they pass their proposal: The Project 10 group at Hoover will be effectively dead.

“Many of the kids in our group are still struggling with who they are,” said Javier Hernandez, a Hoover senior. “If they had to get a permission slip, this group would be finished. They would be alone.”

Clubs in public schools traditionally have been open to any student who meets grade requirements and chooses to belong. The L.A Unified School District, for example, has no overall advance approval policy. Certain activities--sports or trips--typically require permission, but blanket policies like Glendale’s proposal are not the norm.

The law protects gay and lesbian people from discrimination. Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, a nonprofit legal organization specializing in gay and lesbian issues, the American Civil Liberties Union and People for the American Way have threatened to file a civil rights suit if the Glendale board passes the proposal.

“We think the kids have important rights to associate with each other in school, and the policy discussed does not properly respect those rights,” said Jennifer Pizer, Lambda managing attorney. “It is very well-established that kids in high school have 1st Amendment rights, and neither the school nor parents can cut off those rights.”

Controversy over parents’ rights versus children’s rights is tricky at best and arises most predictably when the issues are sex and sexuality.

Public officials, although free to hold strong personal opinions on any subject, must not allow their views to produce public policy counter to society’s best interests or its laws.

The Hoover students deserve support, not a swipe at their civil rights, no matter how well-intentioned. The Glendale Board of Education must resist the urge to approve any measure that would restrict or compromise safe, private access to the counseling and support that have been hallmarks of Project 10 and similar groups. To do otherwise would be irresponsible. It would serve no one and harm the vulnerable.