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sexual orientation added to okc public schools’ non-discrimination policy

December 4, 2006 @ 12:13 am · Filed under Herland Voice, Lead stories

Fifteen months after Northwest Classen Asst. Principal Terri Miller sought the assistance of many organizations in a national letter writing campaign, Oklahoma City Public Schools has added sexual orientation to its non-discrimination policy (Sexual Harassment/Gender or Sexuality Discrimination Policy).  In addition to the many letters that were written, local ministers, teachers, parents, and others repeatedly spoke to the Oklahoma City Board of  Education also asking for sexual orientation to be included in district policies. 
With the publication of this year’s Student and Parent Handbook, sexual orientation now appears in the district’s non-discrimination policy.  This achievement is one more accomplishment of GLBT people who are making progress towards fairness and equality.  The new policy is on the district’s website, www.okcps.org. Look in Student category, then click on Handbook.  It is located at the bottom of page 10 of the pdf file.

Editor’s Note: Without explaination, the district removed from their website, www.okcps.org, the new Code of Conduct containing the words “sexual orientation”.  After inquiry by news people, a district spokesperson stated the language was not consistent with current policies approved by the board of education.  The new Code of Conduct then was put back on the district website within a couple of days, absent the words sexual orientation. 
To date, the district has failed to give a satisfactory answer as to who authorized the inclusion of the new language in the first place and then subsequently, who authorized its sudden removal.  More details to follow.

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