LGBT advocates address school board during meeting

Twenty-two advocates of an LGBT inclusion policy for Brevard Public Schools, which would have added sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes in the school district's non-discrimination notice, said they were disappointed at the school board’s recent unanimous decision to table the policy.

Many of the LGBT policy advocates at Tuesday’s meeting said they were upset by the public comments made by policy opponents during the last school board meeting, and they argued that the strong opposition to the inclusion of LGBT identities in the district’s non-discrimination notice was evidence of why such inclusion was necessary. Several said they were glad about Superintendent Desmond Blackburn's recent official statement on LGBT issues, where he said that the conversation on these issues was not over.

In that recent statement, Superintendent Blackburn said, "Due to the volume of misinformation surrounding the policy, the Board elected to pause further action while we will continue to develop inclusionary practices as part of our strategic planning process. This will include a revision to our discipline plan to ensure the consistent application of our policies is adhered to by all students; creating an equitable and safe environment.  The conversation relating to this topic that began with the February 23rd school board meeting did not signify an ending to this conversation but simply the beginning."

Brevard superintendent promises to address LGBT issues

During the March 15 school board meeting, an LGBT policy opponent, Bob Llewellyn, told the school board he was sorry for the harsh words that some of his fellow policy opponents used during the public comment portion of the February school board meeting on LGBT issues.

Llewellyn said, “I want to apologize on behalf of other Christians.” He said that while religious people like himself often have disagreements with the gay community, he felt it was important to insist upon respect and civility in public discourse. Llewellyn emphasized that he did not condone the language that was used by some to describe gay people during the last school board meeting.

“I have differences of opinion, for sure,” Llewellyn said to the LGBT community advocates in the audience, “but what I want you to know is I care about everyone here.”

Brevard school board kills LGBT proposal

Daniel Wall-DeSousa, a Heritage High teacher who spearheaded the original campaign for an LGBT inclusion policy, said that the rhetoric used by LGBT policy opponents at the last school board meeting was divisive.

“I thought that the days of us versus them were over,” he said.

Denise Gore, a retired school administrator and educator from Merritt Island, spoke to the board about her experience with a gay student who attempted suicide after being bullied.

“Although we had addressed the bullies, it was not enough,” she said. “However, this has been imprinted in my mind forever, and left me with guilt.”

Gore said she was a strong supporter of the LGBT non-discrimination policy, because she thought the policy would help protect LGBT students and make them feel safe.

Groups fighting proposed LGBT school rule

Phil Stasik, president of the Space Coast Progressive Alliance, urged the school board to quickly add the words “gender identity” and “sexual orientation” to the school district’s non-discrimination policy.

“You know that this is the right thing to do ... Now is the time to do the right thing and add those four words to the non-discrimination notice,” Stasik said. “And remember, those four words don’t harm anyone.”

Superintendent Desmond Blackburn reminded the audience that the school board will be hosting a workshop on LGBT inclusion issues in April.

Jim Caple, president of the South Brevard Ministerial Association, said there was much that was said during the February school board meeting on LGBT issues that he and other religious Christians "wish wasn't said."

Caple said there were many in people in the local Christian community like himself who care deeply about bullying issues, and that they would like to contribute to the conversation on the school district's inclusion policies and anti-bullying efforts.

"We do want to be part of the solution," Caple said.

He offered the school board a list of contacts in Brevard's religious community of people who were concerned about school bullying and who would be willing to provide input on the school district's anti-bullying policies, and the board accepted that list of contacts.

Also during the school board meeting, the board confirmed the superintendent’s nominations for the chief financial officer and deputy superintendent of human resources positions, and discussed the school district’s anti-smoking policy.

Contact Kowarski at 321-242-3640 or ikowarski@floridatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter @IlanaKowarski.