Promoting tolerance
Andrew Wainer
Members of the Student Alliance Group at Fountain Valley High School say
they have won wide acceptance from students and administrators.
This is a different picture than that painted by the Gay-Straight
Alliance Club at El Modena High School, which is suing the Orange Unified
School District for preventing them from meeting on campus.
“We have not had any problems surrounding the group,” said Michael Poff,
Student Alliance Group faculty advisor at Fountain Valley. “It is very
quiet here.”
Although the group created controversy when it formed six years ago, they
now meet on campus on a weekly basis without incident, Poff said.
Student Alliance Group President Kaeti Humphrey said the group’s purpose
is to provide students a safe haven to discuss issues surrounding
sexuality, without the fear of harassment.
Humphrey said the group has a core membership of 15-20 students, at least
half of whom are straight.
“Many of our members are interested in the group because they have a
friend or family member who is dealing with sexuality issues,” Humphrey
said.
The group meets for about an hour each week.
Although Humphrey said there is little animosity toward the group at
Fountain Valley High, she did say friends at other Orange County schools
are often forced to deal with harassment and aggression.
El Modena High has become the most recent local flash point for
controversy, due to allegations that the district has stalled the club’s
approval on campus.
Humphrey said she supports the efforts of the students who are fighting
to get the club established. “I think they are very brave and facing a
lot of opposition they should not have to deal with.”
Humphrey said the club is a good vehicle for promoting tolerance and is a
benefit to the entire school community, not just gay students.
Question: How do you feel about clubs, such as the Student Alliance
Group, meeting at schools?
Leave us your thoughts on our Readers Hotline at 965-7175, fax us at
965-7174 or e-mail us at hbindy@latimes.com. Please include your name and
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