Stay Informed
Sign up with your e-mail address now to keep informed about LGBT issues in South Dakota.
Become a Member Today
Join Equality South Dakota and Stay Connected to the LGBT Issues in Our State
Become a member today!
Content
Rapid City School Board Chooses Equality
Friday, 08 January 2010 00:50
A great victory this evening... a big victory for the people of Rapid City and their families.
The sharply divided vote was 4-3. It became clear through the evening that those four votes look very solid, so the policy is very likely to be adopted at the next school board meeting when it gets its final reading.
Equality South Dakota was proud to have helped get the word out which brought a large majority to the meeting who spoke eloquently from personal experience about the need to defend LGBT employees and families. Factual information was delivered by EqSD and community citizens in favor of this policy. Supporters outnumbered opponents 25 to 9!
(more below the fold)
The Rapid City Journal has the report posted tonight:
School policy would protect sexual orientation
A single term in Rapid City Area Schools' proposed discrimination policy polarized conversation Thursday night during a board meeting that drew an unprecedented number of community members.
Almost 100 people crowded into the board meeting to hear the second reading of a policy that has drawn criticism and accolades because it includes sexual orientation. Speakers from all walks of life -- high school students and elderly, pastors and teachers, legislators, parents and a former city council member who has undergone gender reassignment -- cajoled, encouraged, and pleaded with board members to do one of two things: keep the classification "sexual orientation" in the policy or strip the 16 categories to include only the six [sic (five)] required by the Federal Office of Civil Rights.
The article included a reminder that EqSD has much work ahead. Elections matter. We need South Dakotans that believe in fairness to continue to join with us and help this state move forward!
A final vote of 4-3 approved the second reading of the proposed policy. Board members Doug Kinniburgh, Leah Lutheran and Sheryl Kirkeby voted no, and Wes Storm, Daphne Richards Cook, Suzan Nolan and Bret Swanson voted yes....
When her name was called to cast her vote, before she said "no," Lutheran mentioned upcoming elections could change things. Kirkeby, when called to vote, said she agreed with Lutheran.
