SAN RAMON/CMNN - GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education network) allied with the East Bay Catholic Charities and other Gay groups have so far failed in an attempt to impose mandatory, K thru 12, pro-homosexual courses for teachers in the San Ramon School District.

They failed for now because the San Ramon community resisted the mandatory homosexual classes for teachers. Instead, the California Teachers Association presented a voluntary after-school workshop at a district high school on April 25.

In late January 2001, the controversy began when a still unnamed Danville Charlotte Wood Middle School 8th grader complained in strong language about homosexual indoctrination by a teacher on a personal web site.

The 14 year old according to a GLSEN website reprint of the March 8 Contra Costa Times said,“ ... that Leveque should stop giving students "these damn gay lectures" and if he has time, "feel free to jump of(f)[homosexual slur] the (Golden Gate Bridge).The youth ,later, apologized to the teacher Gary Leveque a homosexual who denied giving gay lectures.

After hearing of the Internet message on March 6, Leveque contacted GLSEN and other pro-homosexual groups including the East Bay Catholic Charities. The Times stated that ”Gary Leveque, an art and drama teacher at Charlotte Wood Middle School, met late Tuesday with several groups, including the San Francisco East Bay chapter of Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), Catholic Charities, United Way and school district representatives...” These activists then attempted to impose “homophobia” classes through the San Ramon School District Board.

Mary Arnold, a San Ramon citizen, said to the District Board,” When this little boy was silenced for objecting to Gay lectures he was receiving it amounts to religious persecution. Children in the schools who are Christian, Muslim, Jewish or whatever have the right to believe homosexuality is against God’s law. So, The Gay activists need to stay out of the schools.”

Due to the resistance of Arnold and many others in the San Ramon community, the Board - for the moment - did not force district teachers to attend pro-homosexual classes as GLSEN and it‘s Gay activist allies - including the East Bay Catholic Services - had wanted.

This is not the first time that Catholic Charities has worked with GLSEN - a militant homosexual group. The January 2001, Queer Youth News said, ”Peer Educators to offer classroom workshops in Contra Costa County public schools...Hosted by the Safe Schools Project of Catholic Charities of the East Bay, GLSEN SF-EB, the Center for Human Development, the Pacific Center...“

The Catholic Charities evangelization of the Gay agenda has, also, reached into Catholic Colleges. Jenny Betz - the President of the Gay and Lesbian Association at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga - in the April 2001 newsletter of GLSEN stated, ”I've been involved with the peer education program with GLSEN and Catholic Charities for the past few months.”

Along with Queer Youth, the Gay and Lesbian Association, and GLSEN, the East Bay Catholic Charities is, in addition, allied with the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA). The Bay Area Gay-Straight Alliance Network newsletter said, ”On February 21, the Bay Area GSA Network co-sponsored a GSA Leadership Training in Concord with GLSEN/SF-EB and Catholic Charities of the East Bay.” It appears they are heavily involved in militant homosexual alliances.

The Catholic Charities may be so closely tied to GLSEN and other Gay groups because Julie Lienert according to the GLSEN Advisory Board web site is with the ”GLSEN Board of Directors and Catholic Charities of the East Bay .”

Finally, efforts to impose punishment on the 14-year-old and his First Amendment rights, as well, failed. Kyra Kitlowski, Times Staff Writer wrote,” District officials said they cannot legally discipline the students involved because the Web site was created on a student's personal computer. The students' freedom of expression is also protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, officials said.”

SF Faith readers can prohibit homosexual indoctrination of their children in public schools by getting forms available at www.savecalifornia.com/opt_out/optout.html.