The following responds to response 6 from jharkins@acpub.duke.edu. There were two main stories that had to do with Mr. David Bruton and the high school in Chapel Hill, appropriately dated. These stories are from AP, through two queer rags. ----------------------------------------------------------- (note: insideOUT is an international queer youth magazine. If you have any stories regaring lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning youth, please send them our way: insideout@igc.apc.org Or, if there is a particular story (or resource) on queer youth news you would like to know [more] about, chances are are we have the story, or can find it. Thanks. =) -Rick Aguirre, publisher) - --------------------------------------------------------- 9 September 1993 story 1/2 Reprinted from Boston Bay Windows 215 words CHAPEL HILL, NC (AP)--A Chapel Hill junior can skip reading literature penned by gay writers but must stay in an English class that stresses the work of authors who hail from several other minority groups. Lindsay Little had urged the Chapel Hill School Board Sept. 20 to allow her to transfer from an American Literature class taught by David Bruton. The class curriculum stresses multiculturalism and includes writings by native Americans, African-Americans, Jewish Americans, and American gay men and lesbians. "My religion teaches that sex should only occur between a husband and a wife and that any other sexual relation is wrong," Little told the board. "I don't understand why you are allowing this project to occur." School officials said they could not grant Little's request for another teacher. Under state law, only the high school principal can assign a student to another teacher. But Principal Charles Patteson said the assignments are done by computer and he will not make an exception for Little. "What I really feel is the goal here is to have everyone feel accepted. That is ultimately the goal of the multicultural plan," said Mary Bushnell, school board chairman. "Nobody should be asked to change what they believe in their conscience. And there has to be respect for what other people believe in their conscience. - ------------------------------------------------------- 27 October 1993 story 2/2 reprinted from San Francisco Sentinel 181 words CHAPEL HILL, NC (AP)--A gay high school teacher said he didn't know books he recommended to students in a literature class contained graphic descriptions of gay sex. David Bruton said he had no objection to the books being removed from the reading list for a class that includes the study of books by gay and lesbian authors. "I think there are plenty of books to read that do not contain graphic sexual episodes," he said Oct. 19. The titles offended the parent of a former student, who took the issue to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board. As a result, the multicultural literature course section on gays and lesbians has been suspended while the books are reviewed. Bruton said he hasn't made public statements before now because of desire for privacy. But actions by critics angered him because it was clear "they were out to get me" because he is gay, Bruton said. Bruton said he has been the target of graffiti on school property since some students discovered he was gay. His sexual orientation wasn't something he talked about in class, the 45-year-old Bruton said. - END-- insideout@igc.apc.org