State Sen. Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) sues New York city over gay Harvey Milk HS

DAILY NEWS ^ | 08/14/03 | JOE WILLIAMS

[bedolido]

Spending public money to give gay and lesbian teens their own school is illegal segregation and a violation of the city's education rules, said a lawsuit filed yesterday challenging the Harvey Milk High School. "Public funds should not be used to segregate city schools," state Sen. Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) said after filing the suit in Manhattan state Supreme Court with conservative legal group Liberty Counsel.

The Milk program has existed for 19 years, but the city is spending $3.2 million to renovate 2 Astor Place to expand it into a full-fledged high school for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and "questioning" students in the fall.

It is expected to teach about 170 students. Advocates say a waiting list for enrollment shows many students feel picked on in regular schools because of their sexual orientation.

The lawsuit charges that the school violates the Education Department's own rules against educating students based on their sexual orientation. It also alleges a gay school robs money from other schools and earmarks it for a special class of students, amounting to an illegal form of segregation.

Paul Rose, a spokesman for Chancellor Joel Klein, called the suit a frivolous attack on "a program that has helped children for many years."

Originally published on August 14, 2003

[mabelkitty]

Pre-emption. He's terrified the Catholics will come for cash under equal protection.

[eyespysomething]

Sen. Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx)

A Democrat, huh? Works for me.

[Phantom Lord]

HOMOPHOBE! BIGOT!

I can only imagine the headlines and articles if a GOPer filed this suit.

[evolved_rage]

but the city is spending $3.2 million to renovate 2 Astor Place to expand it into a full-fledged high school for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and "questioning" students in the fall.

So do they need 5 bathrooms or just one????

[lilylangtree]

A RAT?????? Heck, I'm still wondering how the New York taxpayers pay for this queer school named after a San Franciscan.

[BostonianRightist]

A democrat? ummm...

ummm...

are you sure?

can't be... unless he's a southern Democrat - oh, no he's from New York

signed,

Confused in the Liberal Heartland

[Zevonismymuse]

Advocates say a waiting list for enrollment shows many students feel picked on in regular schools because of their sexual orientation.

Or maybe the waiting list shows that many perverted students want to hook-up.

[Roughneck]

Just like a bunch of liberal-socialists dems: Darned if ya do - darned if ya dont!

Wouldn't Marie Antoinette have fit in with the dems Perfectly????

[Buck W.]

"So do they need 5 bathrooms or just one????"

Sounds like the whole school will be one big toilet.

[cake_crumb]

He's absolutely right. After all the preaching about tolorance, gays are deliberately developing a segregated, seperate society outside the society they have demanded and received special privilege from for years. They are also destroying all the gains made since Rosa Parks took the first step toward desegregation.

[Howlin]

I was just wondering the same thing........are there no gays in NY????

[Buck W.]

"He's absolutely right. After all the preaching about tolorance, gays are deliberately developing a segregated, seperate society outside the society they have demanded and received special privilege from for years. They are also destroying all the gains made since Rosa Parks took the first step toward desegregation."

Precisely, which raises a question I've had since I first learned of this school: Are the faculty and staff also gay, bi, etc.? If so, the target-rich environment is a gay teacher's dream.

[cake_crumb]

'The Milk program has existed for 19 years, but the city is spending $3.2 million to renovate 2 Astor Place to expand it into a full-fledged high school for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and "questioning" students in the fall'

The city is spending this money? With all financial problems in New York City right now, THIS is what Bloomie is spending taxpayers' money on? SEGREGATION??? Are the fines collected from wrong-colr license plate holders and criminal cigarrette smokers that high that the CITY can afford this frivilous crap??

[GSWarrior]

At some point these kids are going to have to enter the real world. I feel sorry for them.

[Rik0Shay]

This concept is about the same as the alternative education schools.

We take some not so bad Students and put them with real bad Students so the not so bad Students can learn how to become real bad Students.

[cake_crumb]

"If so, the target-rich environment is a gay teacher's dream."

I wonder if NAMBLA plans on donating?

[talleyman]

'bout time somebody did something about this crock.

[Alberta's Child]

At some point these kids are going to have to enter the real world.

No, they won't.

After Harvey Milk HS comes NYU, then NYU Law School, then a position on Bloomberg's staff (no pun intended), then a campaign for Congress representing Jabba the Hut's district.