Film on Teaching Kids Gay Issues to Be Shown

A newly formed Orange County group that seeks to end homophobia in schools plans a screening of a film Friday at UC Irvine called “It’s Elementary: Talking About Gay Issues in School.” The 7 p.m. event in the Monarch Bay rooms of the UCI Student Center is sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network of Orange County, which was launched in July.

“ ‘It’s Elementary’ makes a compelling case that children need to be taught respect for all and that this kind of education needs to start in elementary school,” a flier for the event said. Organizers are seeking donations of $10 a person.

Discussion of gay issues in the context of public schools is sometimes controversial in Orange County. Last month, some candidates for the school board in Orange denounced what they described as an attempt by “homosexual activists” to push an agenda on schools.