Sixth-Grader's Milk Project Blocked

on May 27, 2009 at 11:33 AM

A sixth-grader in San Diego was prohibited from presenting her report on gay rights leader Harvey Milk until her classmates got their parents' permission to hear it. (Harvey Milk was one of the first gay men elected to political office in the United States in 1977 when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. The Oscar-nominated movie Milk with Sean Penn chronicled his life.) According to the school district, parental permission was required because the topic dealt with "sex."

Now, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is threatening to sue the school, saying that it violated the student's right to free speech. According to an article in the San Francisco Chronicle, the ACLU maintains that a biographical report on a gay elected official does not qualify as a lesson dealing with "sex" or "sex education":

"It's not about sex, it's not about sex education. It's a presentation about a historical figure who happened to be gay," David Blair-Loy [legal director of the ACLU of San Diego Count] said.

The ACLU is demanding that the school apologize to the student, allow her to present her report in class, and clarify its sex education policy.

This comes on the heels of a recently passed California bill that would establish Milk's May 22 birthday as an "annual day of significance" in the state. Supporters of the bill hope that this will encourage schools to discuss his career and legacy.

It sounds to me like there is a lot of confusion around what schools do or do not consider to be "sex education."

What do you think? What is your school's policy on sex education? Has your child's reports ever required parental permission?

About the author Kim Conte

has shoes that make people stop her on the street and ask "Where did you get those?" but it doesn't work for taxi cabs as she was hit by one ... and lived to tell the tale. She has more freckles than Lohan but way less attitude. And she's a fierce cook with tons of recipes to share -- and wishes she could share some with Bourdain.

Filed Under: discipline, education, homework, middle school, sex & dating

Comments (29)

BaisMom

on May 27, 2009 at 11:55 AM

The ACLU was correct. The speech was NOT about sex, AT ALL.

I hope the family takes action and battles it out.

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RhondaVeggie

on May 27, 2009 at 12:25 PM

That is just so totally ridiculous. It really disturbs me that so many schools are so terrified of even mentioning anyone gay.

aurorabunny

on May 27, 2009 at 1:21 PM

This makes me want to puke. Harvey Milk's story has nothing to do with sex. If I was that girls mom I would raise hell.

PennyMom

on May 27, 2009 at 1:32 PM

I'm ok with it. I as a parent would want the heads up to be able to talk with my child about this issue before and after the presentation. Possibly even pull them from the class if I felt it nessasary.If it has nothing to do with sex then his sexual orientation should not be brought up at all. I in fact would be mad if I wasn't informed about this before hand.

guitarlove

on May 27, 2009 at 1:52 PM

Messed up. If a kid wanted to do a report on Tchaikovsky, Frida Khalo, Alexander the Great, Truman Capote, Allen Ginsberg, Leonardo da Vinci, would these be blocked as sex ed, too? They were all gay or bisexual. I call bullsh*t.

on May 27, 2009 at 3:55 PM

If it has nothing to do with sex than his sexual orientation should not be brought up???

So if someone mentions that you are straight and married to a man, then the conversation is suddenly about sex? Because Pennymom that's essentially what you just said, and it makes no sense.

RanaAurora

on May 27, 2009 at 4:22 PM

*eyeroll* Yes, because we all know HETEROSEXUAL relationships are just solely about sex too, right? ARGH!
So, before we talk about ANYONE, we better get permission slips!

That's idiotic. I'd be pissed off too.

aurorabunny, that's exactly what I thought as well.
If MENTIONING that he's gay is talking about sex, then MENTIONING that someone is straight is too.

on May 27, 2009 at 4:41 PM

Well according to some you don't even have to mention it, a gay couple leaving their home together is them "flaunting their sexuality in my face!" So since any coupling is obviously just about sex, straight or gay, I would just advise no one to be seen within 50 feet of their spouse or significant other again. It would obviously make the world a more wholesome place to live.

madamekatekate

on May 27, 2009 at 7:25 PM

Man, people have got to learn.

I've got this sneaking little suspicion the girl did not go into detail about his love life. Of course you have to mention he's gay. That's pretty much the significance. But it was a project on was about the man and his accomplishments. Not the man and his gayness altogether.

If any parents couldn't take the fact that their middle school aged children heard the word "gay" or "homosexual" then maybe the parents needed to hear that girl's report.