HUNTINGTON BEACH : On-Campus-Meeting Policy to be Discussed

A policy allowing a gay-support group to meet on campus, which caused an eruption of parent and student protest last month, will be discussed at tonight’s school board meeting.

The Huntington Beach Union High School District’s equal-access policy allows religious and other groups, including the gay-support group, to meet before and after school and during lunch and to use a classroom for their gatherings. These groups are not recognized as official school clubs because they are not related to the school curriculum.

On Nov. 22, students and parents demonstrated in front of Fountain Valley High School because a gay-rights group was holding meetings on campus.

That group, the Fountain Valley High School Student Alliance, was formed to bring more awareness, tolerance and acceptance to gays and lesbians.

School board President Jerry Sullivan said that if the district abolishes the policy of allowing groups to meet, it will affect all groups.

“If we cut out one group, we’d have to cut all the groups. It has to be all or nothing,” Sullivan said. “Personally, I think we should leave it in place. I see no reason to change.”

Senior Robert Dodge, 17, a member of the newly formed Future Good Boys of America, which opposes the gay organization on campus, said the policy should be eliminated entirely.

“If they want to meet under a tree, that’s their constitutional right,” Dodge added. “It’s the school giving their blessing that they can meet that is wrong.”

Others are planning to attend who favor the existing policy.

“We want the students to be allowed to meet. We believe it’s an equal-access issue,” said Barry Barnhill, 30, a member of the Orange County Federation, a coalition of leaders from more than 25 gay and lesbian business, social and political organizations in Orange County.

“Beyond that, equal access is a good policy. These students need to learn to get along and have tolerance toward each other.”

Supt. David J. Hagen said trustees requested that discussion of the policy, which went into effect four years ago, be placed on tonight’s agenda.

Hagen said the district has received letters and telephone calls from people with views on both sides of the issue, and a large crowd is expected tonight. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. at the district office, 10251 Yorktown Ave.