Responses of Robert Vinson Brannum to GLAA 2006 Questionnaire
for D.C. Board of Education Candidates
| Yes/No | Substance | Record | Championship | Total |
| 0.5 | -0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0.5 |
1. Do you recognize the right of our public school students to organize clubs to promote gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender civil rights, to combat homophobic and transphobic violence and prejudice, and to provide socializing opportunities for GLBT youth?
Every student has the right to a highly quality public education and to be treated with dignity and respect.
2. Do you recognize the right of students to bring dates of the same sex to school proms and other official public school social functions?
Yes, with parental involvement. Every student should have the opportunity to have an educationally and socially positive public school experience.
3. Will you oppose efforts to restrict or censor books or other materials in our public school libraries that discuss homosexuality in a positive and supportive manner?
I support the open exchange of ideas. All topics should be age and subject appropriate and where necessary have parental consent.
4. Do you support the right of non-profit groups to provide DCPS school libraries with gay-positive books which are openly displayed and freely available to all students?
I support the right of non-profit groups to provide DCPS Libraries with book references. However, the final decisions rest with DCPS officials, not the donating non-profit groups.
5. Do you support efforts by Metro DC PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) to work constructively with our local public schools to provide support groups and to help implement anti-harassment policies?
Yes. Effort by concerned community groups to support and protect young people from violence and abuse in all forms should be welcomed by DCPS.
6. Do you favor training programs for professional development of teachers, counselors, and other school system staff, such as those offered by the Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL), to help these professionals nurture positive identity formation for GLBT students and prevent harassment and bullying in the classroom?
Yes. All students should be able to attend school and extra-curricula public school activities without fear and intimidation.
7. From time to time, D.C. public school teachers have invited openly gay men and women to speak in their classes and to answer students’ questions about homosexuality. Do you support the right of our teachers to continue inviting such speakers?
Yes. DCPS teachers, with school administration involvement, should be able to invite speakers to enhance the education experience of students.
8. The recent report by the Appleseed Foundation detailed many shortcomings in the District’s condom distribution program, as only 125,000 condoms were distributed in 2005, far below the goal of 600,000. Will you support a reinvigoration of the DCPS condom availability program, operated by the Department of Health?
Yes. I feel the D.C. Department of Health should be the lead District agency working with DCPS and parents to protect our young people from sexually transmitted diseases.
9. Will you work to implement a comprehensive sex education program in the D.C. Public Schools that teaches that homosexuality is part of the normal range of human sexuality, consistent with existing DCPS policy?
Yes. DCPS, parents, and other community partners must work together to educate our young people. As an ANC Commissioner, I have supported efforts by young people for a community HIV/Aids education and awareness programs.
10. Will you oppose the use of either federal or District taxpayer funds to promote so-called “abstinence only until marriage” sex education that undermines safer-sex programs by discouraging the use of condoms and that effectively tells lesbian and gay male students that they must be celibate forever because they may not legally marry?
I believe public school sex education programs should include, but not be limited to an “abstinence only until marriage” message.
11. Do you support the full implementation of the DCPS Sexual Harassment and Harassment Policy, which protects public school students from physical and verbal abuse based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity (DCMR Title 5, Education: 2503.2.g-h)?
Yes. Irrational or rational fears should not be used as a cover or an excuse to inflict physical and verbal abuse to students. All DCPS regulations should be enforced to protect every student in school, coming to school, and leaving school.
12. Will you oppose both federally and locally funded voucher programs that fund students in religious schools that are beyond the protections of the D.C. Human Rights Act?
I believe every person regardless of “race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, …, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression familial status, …, political affiliation, genetic information, disability, …, and place of residence …” should be treated with respect and be protected under the D.C. Human Rights Act.
Record
Your record is part of your rating. Please list any actions that you have taken that may help illustrate your record on behalf of gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgenders.
As ANC Commissioner, I supported B16-0052, to amend the DC Code to grant domestic partners similar rights of married couples. I also introduced the following resolution [endorsing the D.C. Human Rights Act] which was approved by ANC5C and circulated to all members of the DC City Council.
