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(Williston, Vermont) A Vermont LGBT civil rights group that was turned away from a Williston school moments before it was to give a speech on bullying has been invited to return, but new conditions may result in the group rejecting the offer.
Outright Vermont was told their bullying and harassment presentation was cancelled last month after parents complained about gay activists addressing a school assembly for grade 7 and 8 students.
Williston Central School had invited the group. Vermont lawmakers in 2004 passed a law calling on schools to institute anti-bullying programs. Gays and lesbians are among the groups given protection from harassment under Vermont law.
The issue of whether to extend a new invitation for Outright Vermont to address students divided the community. Earlier this week more than 200 people attended a special meeting called by the School Board.
Most people supported having the group speak but a handful of residents engaged in a heated debate.
In the end the board decided to invite the group back but allow parents to pull their students out of the assembly if they objected.
Outright Vermont spokesperson Kate Jerman said she wasn't sure her organization would participate if it was subject to different conditions than other presenters.
In Somers, New York last week, Kevin Jennings the executive director of the national Gay Lesbian & Straight Education Network pulled out of speaking engagement at a school because of past minute restrictions imposed by the principal when some parents objected to the address.
Jennings said principal Linda Horisk wanted to make attendance at the assembly optional, something Jennings felt would have sent a wrong message to students.
Horisk also wanted to make changes to the speech, which Jennings said would have "gutted" the speech and which he was not prepared to do.
Last month a Wisconsin school cancelled Diversity Day after an "ex-gay" group complained about a gay speaker.
©365Gay.com 2006
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