Florida Agenda

A Michigan woman has brought suit in federal court against her son’s school district along with the high school teacher she claims expelled the boy from class because his religious beliefs are inconsistent with accepting homosexuality.

Last week, the Thomas More Law Center filed the lawsuit on behalf of the mother, Sandra Glowacki, who charges the Howell, Michigan Public School District and an economics teacher, Johnson McDowell with violating her son’s constitutional rights, specifically his First Amendment right to free expression of his religion. Glowacki and her son, Daniel are Roman Catholic.

The suit says the teacher expelled Daniel Glowacki, 16, from class on October 20, 2010, while the students in the school district were observing anti-bullying commemorations and Spirit Day. On that day, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) encourages Americans to wear purple in support of LGBT youth who may feel bullied or threatened because of their sexual orientation.

The lawsuit states that the school district encouraged teachers to sell “Tyler’s Army” shirts in support of Tyler Clementi, the Rutgers University freshman who killed himself in 2010 after his roommate streamed an Internet video that showed Clementi kissing another male student. The teacher, McDowell, devoted his classes to promoting homosexuality, and wore one of the purple T-shirts around students all day, according to the suit. It further claims that McDowell told another student to take off a Confederate flag belt buckle that he found offensive.

The lawsuit claims that when Daniel Glowacki asked the teacher why he thought it was allowable to display a rainbow flag, McDowell asked the student if he supported gays. Glowacki told him that his Catholic religion wouldn’t permit him, at which time the suit says that Glowacki and another, similarly-minded student were told to leave class. Although officials suspended McDowell for one day without pay for violating school district policy, they later erased the penalties in order to settle a grievance he had filed.

The Ann Arbor-based Thomas More Law Center represents, mostly through litigation, issues which are most usually in line with modern American social conservative positions: they oppose same-sex marriage; support pro-life positions and initiatives; and oppose, among other things, the removal of the Ten Commandments and other religious monuments from municipal and school buildings.

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Los Angeles Lakers joined the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) in issuing a statement regarding Kobe Bryant’s use of the anti-gay slur “faggot” during a recent basketball game and are committing to address homophobic remarks in the sport.

“What happened in [the April 12th] game is not representative of what the Lakers stand for,” said Lakers spokesman John Black.

“We want to reaffirm our commitment to all our fans and our appreciation for the support we receive from all segments of society.  We also understand the importance of positive messages in helping us convey this.  We appreciate the input we’ve received from GLAAD the past two days and will look forward to working with them on ways to help educate ourselves and our fans, and to help keep language like this out of our game.”

“In light of this slur, there is a real opportunity to build support for our community and educate fans of Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the NBA about the use of such words,” said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. “The Los Angeles Lakers have taken a positive step and we look forward to working with them to create messages from players and coaches that combat bullying. We also suggested and will continue to advocate for zero tolerance policies for anti-gay slurs at home games, similar to what the New York Yankees adopted last year.”

Photo right: Chris Colfer, courtesy Associated Press

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, congratulated the LGBT winners and nominees of the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards.

“Gay and lesbian actors, characters and storylines are not only helping build support for full equality, but are also generating unprecedented box office success and critical acclaim,” said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. “Last night’s Golden Globe winners and nominees are a testament to the increased support for our community among everyday Americans and exemplify a new entertainment industry standard that is more inclusive than ever before. GLAAD congratulates yesterday’s LGBT nominees and winners.”

Among the LGBT and LGBT-inclusive Golden Globe winners:

• Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television, Chris Colfer (“Glee”)

• Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television, Jane Lynch (“Glee”)

• Best Television Series – Comedy Or Musical, “Glee”

• Best Motion Picture, “The Kids Are All Right”

• Best Original Song – Motion Picture, “Burlesque”

• Best Television Series – Drama, “Boardwalk Empire” Actress Annette Bening also won in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical category for her portrayal of lesbian mom Nic in “The Kids Are All Right.”

The LGBT-inclusive hit series “Glee” received the GLAAD Media Award in the Outstanding Comedy Series category in 2010.

Among the LGBT and LGBT-inclusive Golden Globe nominees:

• Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical, Julianne Moore (“The Kids Are All Right”) [Moore received the Excellence in Media Award at the 15th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in 2004.]

• Best Television Series – Drama, “The Good Wife”

• Best Television Series – Comedy Or Musical, “Modern Family”

• Best Original Song – Motion Picture, “Burlesque”

• Best Screenplay – Motion Picture, Stuart Blumberg, Lisa Cholodenko (“The Kids Are All Right”)

photo above: The Kids are Alright, courtesy filmpilgrim.com

An especially poignant moment came when openly gay actor Chris Colfer took a stand against anti-LGBT bullying while accepting his Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television. “Most importantly, to all the amazing kids that watch our show and the kids that our show celebrates, who are constantly told ‘no’ by the people in their environments, by bullies at school that they can’t be who they are or have what they want because of who they are. Well, screw that, kids,” Colfer said.

The Golden Globes come just days before nominees are announced for the 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards. The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and the issues that affect their lives. Those nominees are set to be announced Thursday, Jan. 20. A complete list of GLAAD Media Awards Nominees will be available at www.glaad.org/mediaawards.

About GLAAD

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) amplifies the voice of the LGBT community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality.

For more information, please visit www.glaad.org