Responses of Lisa Raymond to GLAA 2006 Questionnaire
for D.C. Board of Education Candidates
| Yes/No | Substance | Record | Championship | Total |
| 2 | 1 | 2 | 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?
I recognize the right of students in DCPS 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.
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?
I recognize the right of students to bring dates of the same sex to school proms and other official public school functions.
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 will oppose efforts to restrict or censor books or other materials in our public school libraries that discuss homosexuality in a positive and supportive manner. These types of materials are a crucial method for teaching all students about homosexuality.
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 school libraries with gay-positive books which are openly displayed and freely available to all students, as long as they are age-appropriate.
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?
I support efforts by Metro DC PFLAG to work constructively with our local public schools to provide support groups and to help implement anti-harassment policies. It is not enough to have rules on the books—we must provide support to students by trained professionals and serve as watchdogs to ensure that policies are being implemented.
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?
I favor training programs for professional development of teachers, counselors, and other school system staff, such as those offered by SMYAL, to help these professionals nurture positive identity formation for GLBT students and prevent harassment and bullying in the classroom. Even teachers with the best intentions may need help to convey the messages that can be most helpful and supportive to GLBT students and teach all students to be tolerant.
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?
I support the right of teachers to invite speakers who are openly gay to speak to their classes and answer students’ questions about 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 will support a reinvigoration of the DCPS condom availability program, operated by the Department of Health. I believe that all condom distribution efforts should be paired with
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?
I will work to implement a comprehensive sex education program in the DC public schools that teaches that homosexuality is part of the normal range of human sexuality, consistent with existing DCPS policy.
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 will 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 cannot legally marry. Not only do these programs undermine GLBT students, but they are proven to be ineffective. I support “abstinence plus” programs that encourage young people to delay sexual activity and engage in healthy relationships but also provide crucial factual information about birth control and safer sex methods.
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)?
I 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.
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 will 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. In fact, I do not support vouchers in any form.
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.
I have been a member of the Human Rights Campaign since 2004 and am a current member of good standing of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club. As the leader of a DC public charter school, I have worked directly with students who have identified themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender; provided personal guidance and support to them; referred them to outside support organizations such as SMYAL: and have worked to ensure that the school created an environment that was accepting and supportive to students of all sexual orientations. One of the platform statements of my candidacy for the Board of Education reads as follows: I will fight discrimination and violence in schools by enforcing strict behavior standards and offer intervention and support programs to keep students in school and after school and provide training to sensitize staff to special challenges facing gay, lesbian, and bisexual children.
