FROM A NEWS RELEASE
DELAWARE, OHIO -- School bullying of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students, a critically damaging problem across the country, has taken on a new severity in central Ohio. Recently, a Delaware K-12 school principal has become the bully -- "erasing" a former LGBT student from the alumni page of the school's website and refusing to acknowledge his history at the school.
While California makes a concerted effort to accept all lifestyles by legally requiring textbooks to include LGBT Americans, private religious institution Delaware Christian School (DCS) hopes to "erase" LGBT Americans one by one. In response to DCS's blatant discrimination, grassroots civil rights organization GetEQUAL Ohio is taking a stand for LGBT students across America by staging a "Teach OUT for Equality" rally outside the school tomorrow, Nov. 16.
Principal Gordon McDonald deleted former student David Emerson from the school's website this summer after spotting his gay identification on Facebook. When Emerson called the school to speak with McDonald about the possibility of reinstating him, McDonald simply said, "You are a gross and immoral representation of my school," according to Emerson.
Published in 2009, a Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN)'s report showed that one in four Ohio LGBT students have suffered physical assault and 61 percent reported being cyber-bullied because of their minority status. Read more data from the report here.
WHO: GetEQUAL Ohio — a grassroots civil rights organization fighting for LGBT equality — and David Emerson — a popular local radio DJ and, until Principal Gordon McDonald "erased" him from the school's history, a featured DCS alumnus
WHAT: GetEQUAL Ohio is coordinating a "Teach OUT for Equality" rally outside Delaware Christian School -- ensuring that students at DCS are taught that all people are created by and loved by God, not just the ones who have the principal's approval. Emerson will be in attendance to take a stand for himself and for all other DCS students -- current and former -- who identify as LGBT and to encourage educators to nurture their students and alumni instead of promoting a culture of harassment and bullying.
WHEN: Wednesday, Nov.16, from 2:45 — 6 p.m.
WHERE: Delaware Christian School, 45 Belle Avenue, Delaware, OH 43015
Founded in 2010, GetEQUAL is a national grassroots organization whose mission is to empower the lesbian, gay, bisexual ,transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community and our allies to take bold action to demand full legal and social equality, and to hold accountable those who stand in the way. For more information go to www.getequal.org . You can also follow GetEQUAL on Facebook at www.facebook.com/getequal or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/getequal.
GetEQUAL Ohio is a state-based chapter of GetEQUAL, based in Ohio and fighting for full equality for LGBT Ohioans. You can follow GetEQUAL Ohio on Facebook at www.facebook.com/getequaloh or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/getequalohlead.