Archdiocese amends school policy
The Boston Herald reports the Roman Catholic Boston Archdiocese, which came under fire last year when a priest said a lesbian couple’s child could not attend a parish school, has issued a new admissions policy that does not “discriminate against or exclude any categories of students. ”
The policy distributed Jan. 12 to pastors, parishes and school administrators by e-mail also says parents of all students must understand that schools will adhere to Catholic teachings.
The policy was developed by a panel of clergy and lay administrators established by Cardinal Sean O’Malley.
The archdiocese was criticized last May when St. Paul School in Hingham rescinded an admissions offer to an 8-year-old boy whose parents were both women.
California LGBT caucus selects chair
Yahoo News reports second-term state Sen. Christine Kehoe of San Diego has been elected chair of the California legislature’s LGBT caucus.
Kehoe was selected Jan. 13 by the other six caucus members.
“I’m honored to serve as chair and am eager to work with our largest LGBT caucus ever — growing from four members last session to the current seven members,” Kehoe said.
The caucus, formed in 2002, was the first LGBT legislative caucus in the nation.
Kehoe was first elected to the senate in 2004 and reelected in 2008. She served in the state assembly from 2000-04.
Minn. board passes anti-bullying measure
Advocate.com reports outgoing members of the Minneapolis school board voted unanimously Jan. 11 to strengthen the LGBT curriculum and anti-bullying efforts.
The board passed a resolution that directs the Minneapolis school district to enhance its tracing of bullying incidents and inclusion of LGBT themes in the curriculum.
The resolution directs the district to include educational materials about the safety of LGBT students and to offer yearly trainings for all district staff from administrators to bus drivers. It will mean that sexual-health curriculum will include LGBT issues and an elective course will be created that centers on LGBT history.
The resolution also provides for the funding of these programs with either outside fundraising or district funds, and requires that the costs and effectiveness of the new programs be tracked.
Carla Bates, the treasurer and first LGBT person elected to the school board, said the measure would not add to the budget.
— Larry Nichols