An elementary school principal banned a report on gay leader Harvey Milk from the classroom, saying it was “sensitive” and came under the school’s controversial issue policy. The ACLU says the act was one of blatant censorship and threatened a lawsuit. -DB
San Diego 6 (XETV-TV)
May 20, 2009
By Elex Michaelson
“I’m Harvey Milk, and I’m here to recruit you!”
That line was Harvey Milk’s signature at the beginning of every speech. When 6th grade student Natalie Jones heard it, she was inspired to join Milk’s movement–even though the gay rights activist has been dead for more than thirty years.
“I was really blown away by what he did and what he stood for, and how he stood for all minorities” she said.
Jones’ class at Mount Woodson Elementary School was supposed to do a written and oral presentation on any topic of their choice. Jones said other students focused on baseball players, Amelia Earhart, or platypuses.
But Jones wanted to tell the story of Milk.
She created a Power Point presentation describing Milk’s accomplishments including being the first ever openly gay man elected to office in America.
Nowhere in her presentation did she endorse Milk’s views or explain details of homosexuality.
Jones said in her written report she scored a 49/50. She was ready to present for the class like everyone else, when the principal called her to her office. Natalie was told because the subject manner was so “sensitive”, parental permission slips would be sent home.
Natalie would give her presentation at lunch, not during class, and only for students whose parents agreed.
Jones said six of 12 students got parental permission for her presentation.
Still, the fact that she couldn’t speak to everyone was a bit troubling to comprehend.
“It was kind of said because I was so looking forward to it” she said.
Her mother, Bonnie Jones, was stunned. “I didn’t have an answer for that.”
The San Diego ACLU sent a letter to the school, and warned of a lawsuit if the issue is not resolved.
“The school district illegally discriminated against Natalie Jones based off the content of her speech” said ACLU San Diego Legal Director David Blair-Loy.
“The school district didn’t single out anyone else for that treatment. Our position is discrimination against speech is no better than outright censorship” he continued.
The district claims that incorporating the Milk presentation is equivalent to “sex education” so parents should be notified. But the ACLU disagrees.
“If you do a class on Shakespeare, that’s not sex education, even though those two characters are in a heterosexual relationship,” Blair-Loy said.
The debate continued on the streets of Ramona.
Kristen Diaz said “this is a controversial issue, so the parents should know about it, they should have a say so.”
Many other parents agreed with this position but wouldn’t comment on the record for fear of retribution from their neighbors.
Maria Dolores Salazar said she would like to be a “first informer” of her kids, but on issues like gay rights, “they’re going to hear about it in schools anyways.”
The district would not return multiple calls for comment. Blair-Loy said they contacted him and expressed interest in working out a compromise with Jones.
Copyright 2009 Bay City Television