bet this will be huge battle

briannell · Post by **briannell** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:14 am

Lawsuit challenges use of gay-themed storybook

Friday, April 28, 2006; Posted: 10:17 a.m. EDT (14:17 GMT)

Manage Alerts | What Is This? BOSTON, Massachusetts (AP) -- Two couples who say a suburban school district undermined their parental rights by giving out and reading storybooks with gay themes without telling them first have filed a federal lawsuit against school officials.

The couples claim the officials broke state law, violated their civil rights, and were trying to teach their children about a lifestyle they consider immoral.

Lexington school superintendent Paul Ash said the schools have no agenda and have done nothing illegal.

Last month, Joseph and Robin Wirthlin objected when a teacher read a storybook about two princes who fall in love to their son's second grade class without notifying them.

David Parker was jailed last year after he refused to leave a school when officials declined to exclude his 6-year-old son from discussions of gay parents. Parker initially complained after his son brought home a "diversity book bag" with a book that depicted a gay family.

Their attorney, Jeffrey Denner, said Lexington violated the rights of privacy and freedom of religion of his clients -- all identified as devout Christians in the lawsuit -- by unilaterally deciding how and when lessons about gay marriage will be taught.

"Parents need to be the ones to determine when it is introduced and how it is introduced," said Parker.

Denner said the school is ignoring a state requirement to notify parents when such topics are discussed so they can remove their children from class if they want.

The school has argued that the state's "opt-out" law requires schools only to inform parents about class content when sex education or human sexuality is the primary focus.

Ash said it would be impossible to notify parents every time such issues come up, because in some cases, it isn't planned.

"In Massachusetts, gays have equal rights," Ash said. "We have gay marriage. Our kids see it, it's part of our overall curriculum. We talk about what kids see in today's world."

The lawsuit, filed by David and Tonia Parker and the Wirthlins, names Ash, the town, school committee members, and other school officials. It seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Hell's Bells · Post by **Hell's Bells** » Wed May 10, 2006 1:27 pm

/bump

Post by **SonomaCat** » Wed May 10, 2006 1:34 pm

Why the bump?

Hell's Bells · Post by **Hell's Bells** » Wed May 10, 2006 1:35 pm

Bay Area Cat wrote:Why the bump?

nobody was posting on this topic

Post by **SonomaCat** » Wed May 10, 2006 1:37 pm

That's sort of the capitalistic nature of this board. If nobody wants to comment on it, it drops down the list. Feel free to comment on it, but I guess I was just confused why a post with zero responses would be bumped by someone who didn't comment on it themselves either.

briannell · Post by **briannell** » Wed May 10, 2006 3:42 pm

i think hell's just likes me!

actually brad, surprised you didn't comment, as i'm sure that CA will have some hot debates over this issue.

Post by **SonomaCat** » Wed May 10, 2006 4:08 pm

I'm just looking forward to the day when people quit caring one way or another about topics like this ... or even suggesting that there is a "there" there.