Comments on: 11th of 21

By: Lesbian Dad

Lesbian Dad — Sat, 23 May 2009 22:10:08 +0000

Here’s a very illuminating piece of information about the process, sent to me by the man whom I perhaps indecorously describe above as “lathered up.” Which he was. We may have different emotional styles, but he had some good reason to be lathered. Read his letter to the local press about that night:

Alameda Journal 5/22/2009

Democratic process missing at meeting

Alameda school board president Mike McMahon demonstrated his ineptitude in running a fair and democratic process at Monday evening’s public hearing. I showed up on May 12 to address the board about the Safe Schools curriculum. I could not get into the meeting because of the overflow but, like most people who supported the Safe Schools curriculum, I could not get a speaker’s slip because those opposed to the Safe Schools curriculum had taken handfuls of slips and passed it out to their supporters.

When the public hearing reconvened on May 18, we were told that no new people could sign up to speak and only those who signed up on the previous Tuesday could speak. Yet, one of the district employees admitted that she gave out large stacks of slips to some people, not one per person. It soon became apparent that there were five anti-curriculum speakers for every pro speaker. When one speaker actually admitted that she had not been present for the first meeting, McMahon simply allowed her to continue speaking. I stood up and said this was neither fair nor democratic because I was at the first meeting and could not speak, yet the speaker, who admitted she was not at the first meeting, was allowed to speak. I stated that the process had been corrupted because some had take handfuls of speakers slips. Rather than addressing the unfair and undemocratic process, McMahon had me ejected from the meeting. That is not a democratic leader but someone unsuited for public office.

Leland Traiman

By: Lesbian Dad

Lesbian Dad — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:14:41 +0000

I am the king of the long-winded. I invented wind. The long kind. I am a veritable turbine. Thomas Dolby's song "Windpower" was written about me. And thank you, angelina, for the glimmer of optimism. After nights like last night, I could use a double dose of it.

By: angelina...in oakland

angelina...in oakland — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:08:39 +0000

We tried to get there in time…we didn’t make it. I’m sorry we weren’t there to lend a modicum of support.
We’ve known that the struggle, this very basic struggle, was not going to be easy, and we’re seeing (on what seems to be a daily basis!!) that other states are moving faster and further than our supposed gay mecca. The important thing is that there is forward motion. I see reasons for hope all the time- the next generation – those just-barely and soon-to-be adults are with us; for the most part, they won’t tolerate intolerance. They see gay couples in their schools, have friends with gay parents, know transgendered kids; even in the poorer and usually less forward-thinking areas of our cities. My beloved works at the Walgreens on Foothill Blvd @Fruitvale in east Oakland. Hotbed of progressive thought, right? She sees lesbian couples in droves, some families, and a couple of days ago helped the mother of a lesbian teen with her daughter’s prom pics (she in tux, date in dress). It’s coming. Our little ones have those teens and young adults to pave the way for them. The hatred makes my stomach churn, and the idea of children being subjected to it (which we know they are) is appalling, but I really believe the tide is turning, albeit slowly.
Sorry to be so long-winded, it’s a weakness of mine. Thank you so very much for this post.

By: Lesbian Dad

Lesbian Dad — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:18:58 +0000

Not that I’d want to stroll directly into the symbolism of the snake in Christian mythology. But it does suggest the relative dimension of the lump I’m working on along with you.

By: annz

annz — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:01:17 +0000

Thanks for writing about this so soon. (I checked first thing this morning!) The image of your little cherub in his jammies was a much needed antidote!

What really stayed with me after last night was the repeated desire on the part of the opponents that “the government” shouldn’t prevent them from teaching their kids to be as prejudiced as they are. Besides everything else that’s wrong with that, it displays an astounding misunderstanding of the role and value of the PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM in civic life.

That, and these statements: “I’m not prejudiced, BUT,” and “I’m all for tolerance, BUT” and “I’m being bullied by being called a bigot.”

I look forward to further analysis from you – that experience was a singular one for me, and I’m not quite sure how to digest it. It’s just sitting like a lump in my gut now.

By: lizk

lizk — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:35:53 +0000

I so hope the school board has the courage and common sense to support the curriculum. They should not have to weather this storm of irrational reaction, but I just hope and pray they can hold fast to putting the well-being of all children first.