April 17, 2006
From the Los Altos Hates Homos files:
The Los Altos High School Gay-Straight Alliance has been learning a significant political lesson this year: Sometimes, you get more support from failing than succeeding.
The group, which butted heads with the Los Altos City Council over a Gay Pride Day proclamation, will receive an award this month from Outlet, a program operated by Mountain View’s Community Health Awareness Council to support teenagers who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning.
“This is a group of active kids who are spending their time trying to secure the rights of people who are discriminated against,” said Outlet program director Shannon Turk. “We should encourage that kind of participation from all high school students.”
The students will receive a youth leadership award at Outlet’s seventh annual fundraiser, “Out to Eat,” on April 27 in Palo Alto. To reserve a spot, call (650) 965-2020, extension 22, or go to www.projectoutlet.org.
Posted by: Sapphocrat
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Filed Under: California, Civil Rights, Education/Schools, Free Speech, Homophobia, LGBT Organizations, Youth
April 15, 2006
The continuing saga of my nasty little right-wing, anti-gay town, and the few sane people who still live here…
Oh, and Ron? I’ll be marching, too:
Even before the “Bigotville, USA” T-shirts went on sale this spring, a lot of the many pillars of the Los Altos community were mortified. Their city council’s recent refusal to even consider a Gay Pride Day proclamation had thrown the quiet town uncomfortably into the national limelight.
Now a prominent group of civic leaders has come to the rescue of their city’s reputation. The Los Altos Community Foundation board — not exactly the radical fringe — is championing efforts by the Los Altos High School Gay-Straight Alliance to hold a parade on Main Street in June, a clear challenge to Mayor Ron Packard and the council majority.
“All the kids wanted was something very simple,” said Judy Hannemann, a trustee with the Mountain View-Los Altos High School District who sits on the foundation board. “It didn’t even need a vote of the council. But making such a big deal of it was really hurtful.”
Hannemann is one of a dozen folks who gathered at the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce office one morning this week to plot strategy for getting a parade permit approved. The group, which calls itself the Los Altos Alliance for Youth, includes four former mayors — King Lear, Roy Lave, Bob Grimm and Jim Thurber — and the wife of a former mayor, Vicki Reeder. Ken Haukom, who runs the city’s annual Festival of Lights parade, is providing technical assistance.
The idea for a parade got rolling after the council voted in February to ban consideration of any proclamation relating to sexual orientation, ever. …
The foundation, a bunch of well-heeled folks from Los Altos and Los Altos Hills who raise money for local charities and throw great parties, represents a cross section of the local establishment. It has considerable weight to throw around. …
Mayor Packard says he’ll respect the kids’ free-speech rights and won’t go out of his way to nix the parade. But he’d prefer that the event remain low-key. He’s not wild about the idea of many out-of-towners and big-name politicians disrupting downtown life on a Sunday afternoon.
“I’m not gung-ho about it,” he said. “I’d be more comfortable if it’s more local and really supports the youth of our community. But if it’s a political statement, then that’s something different.”
Unfortunately for Packard, the political statement has been made. And he’s the one who made it. …
Posted by: Sapphocrat
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Filed Under: California, Civil Rights, Education/Schools, Events, Free Speech, Homophobia, LDS/Mormons, Radical Religious Right, Youth
