from the Orange County Register, March 9, 2004:
"Board members Judy Ahrens, Blossie Marquez-Woodcock and Helena Rutkowski have voted to reject state-mandated revisions of the district's anti-discrimination policy that redefine "gender" as a person's actual or perceived sex.
Westminster is the only district in California that has opposed the adoption of the new definition, which became law in 2000, state officials said.
Ahrens, Marquez-Woodcock and Rutkowski said changing the district's policy, which currently defines "gender" only as a person's biological sex, would be immoral because it might encourage transsexual behavior in schools.
Adopting the new definition of "gender" will help further erode family values, which have already been attacked this year with the flood of same-sex marriages and even the Janet Jackson breast- bearing incident at the Super Bowl, Rutkowski and Ahrens said.
"It's time to say enough is enough," Ahrens said. "This lethal 'perceived sex' wording could further jeopardize families in Westminster."
With this new definition, "we create protected groups that will shove their lifestyle down our throats," Rutkowski said. "A person can be anything that they wish to be, but I don't need to accept their behavior. I will do everything to protect the students from this mindset."" (emphasis added)
Westminster is the only district in California that has opposed the adoption of the new definition, which became law in 2000, state officials said.
Ahrens, Marquez-Woodcock and Rutkowski said changing the district's policy, which currently defines "gender" only as a person's biological sex, would be immoral because it might encourage transsexual behavior in schools.
Adopting the new definition of "gender" will help further erode family values, which have already been attacked this year with the flood of same-sex marriages and even the Janet Jackson breast- bearing incident at the Super Bowl, Rutkowski and Ahrens said.
"It's time to say enough is enough," Ahrens said. "This lethal 'perceived sex' wording could further jeopardize families in Westminster."
With this new definition, "we create protected groups that will shove their lifestyle down our throats," Rutkowski said. "A person can be anything that they wish to be, but I don't need to accept their behavior. I will do everything to protect the students from this mindset."" (emphasis added)
how can we ever thank you, Helena, Blossie and Judy, for your meritorious service as our moral gatekeepers? I stand in awe of your fortitude and courage in foregoing over $9 million in funding in the midst of school budget crises statewide in order to stand firm against the agenda of the immoral!
gosh, your keen eye and steel-trap mind found that language (as you described it, Judy, language that was "tricky" and "embedded") that would have allowed a boy to go into the girls' restroom because of his "perceived gender" on that particular day. bravo! nice catch!
like you said, Judy, you in the Board majority have done something "we can all be proud of." perhaps other local governments will follow suit, as will other states. and, just maybe, we'll get that Constitutional amendment that dubya's been working so hard for.
we, along with the 10,113 students enrolled in Westminster, can only dream.
in the interest of full disclosure, S is a teacher in the Westminster School District.
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