Carolyn N. Graham responds to GLAA 2006 questionnaire

Responses of Carolyn N. Graham to GLAA 2006 Questionnaire
for D.C. Board of Education Candidates

GLAA 2006 Rating for Carolyn N. Graham (Possible range: +/- 10 points total)
Yes/No Substance Record Championship Total
1.5 0.5 1.5 0 3.5

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?

I do recognize the right of public school students to organize clubs and support groups to promote the civil and human rights of gay and lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth, which ultimately aim at combating homophobic and transphobic violence and prejudice. The Board of Education passed a resolution that I introduced in early 2006 as a result of my work with Metro Teen AIDS and other groups involved with teens in our school, which requires that support groups be established in all junior high and high schools for young people who are working through developmental and sexual identification issues.

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.

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 do not support censoring of any form, particularly when it comes to materials that support positive representations of people and preferences.

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 believe that because our children live in a pluralistic world, they must have broad exposure to all people and all lifestyles. Such exposure will teach them tolerance and acceptance of the rights of people to live freely and openly regardless of race, preferences, lifestyles, gender, etc.

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, parental engagement is one of the cornerstones of my platform. If elected President of the Board of Education, I look forward to working with DC PFLAG and other strong, supportive parent groups in our schools.

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, I support SMYAL’s training programs, and have met with SMYAL on a number of occasions and provided input on ways to access the DC Public School system as well as other organizations for the purpose of training staff who must work with gay, lesbian, and transgender youths.

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?

The nature of the class where such a discussion would be held is, of course, important. If the context of the class were human sexuality, I would support an intelligent, well informed discussion that would cover the spectrum of human sexuality, including homosexuality.

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?

I remain very concerned about the health and well-being of all of our children in the city, particularly those who attend public school. We must take all measures to reduce teen pregnancy, and the spread of HIV and other sexually related diseases. I will support a vigorous condom distribution program if elected President of the Board of Education of the District. Please note the resolution that I passed early this year, which aimed at supporting the health of the District’s children and youth in our schools.

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.

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?

Yes.

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.

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?

Yes.

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.

My entire adult life has been devoted to advancing the right of all people to live full productive lives that contribute to making this world a caring place for all of life. As a member of the Board of Education, I have sought to understand the plight of children in special education, and have engaged and worked with organizations that work in our schools to advance policies that support healthy attitudes and ways of being about human sexuality and teen health. This past year, the Board of Education passed a resolution, introduced by me, aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles for gay, lesbian, and transgender youths. As the Deputy Mayor for Children, Youth, Families and Elders, I often spoke before the Mayor’s Commission on Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender individuals, and worked on several homeless projects focused on transgender individuals with the former head of that office, Ms. Wanda Austin [sic; should be Alston], and I annually represented the Mayor during Gay Pride Day. As president of the Board of Education, I pledge to continue my work with these organizations, and will maintain my commitment to our children and youth, and their healthy development. I pledge to especially work with community-based organizations that touch and support our young people in constructing healthy and meaningful lifestyles.

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