http://www.nbc10.com/print/2857417/detail.html?use=print
NBC10.com
Students Fear 'Lesbian Gang' At School
School Holds Meeting On Alleged Threats
POSTED: 6:49 PM EST February 18, 2004
UPDATED: 8:16 AM EST February 19, 2004
PHILADELPHIA -- Gang concerns brought parents and students together Wednesday at a West Philadelphia middle school. But the kind of gang may surprise you.
The gang is allegedly called DTO (for Dykes Taking Over) and made up of self-styled lesbian students.
Girls Fear Lesbian Gangs
Girls at the Turner Middle School allege that the lesbian students are harassing them with gay remarks. The straight students say lesbians are bullying, groping and harassing them in gym and in the girl's bathrooms.
Parents of the students say the harrassment must stop before it becomes violent.
"I told them, 'No.' And they kept bothering us. (They) kept coming to us asking us to become gay," said Felicia Anderson , a straight student.
Anderson, 14, said she doesn't like it and it makes her cry.
Wednesday morning, Felicia and her mother joined around 24 other parents and students to meet with school officials behind closed doors for two hours at Turner Middle School.
"(I am) very angry. Now my daughter is afraid to come to school," said Tonya Grandy, a parent of a student who said she was harrassed.
Other parents said they were also fed up with the sexual harassment from as many as a dozen 8th-graders at Turner.
"She called me last week screaming and hollering and crying because they had her in the gym cornered off, telling her what they were gonna make her do," said Renee Alexander.
"Don't nobody wanna be gay. Don't nobody wanna be harassed. Don't nobody wanna be scared to come to school," said Kendra Branch, a student.
State Rep. Ron Waters, who attended the meeting, said all students were reminded about the school's code of conduct. It includes policies against bullying and sexual harassment with consequences.
"(You don't have to) accept it as part of growing up. They're violating your right," Waters explained.
Perhaps the most productive moment came when one mother, Barbara Crawford, whose daughter has been accused of harassment asked for help.
"Accusations, fighting and all that. Maybe my daughter is causing trouble. Maybe not. I know it's a change and I need help. I'm going to do something about it if I have to walk her to school and pick her up -- or even transfer her to another school," Crawford said.
Crawford said she is pleased with how the school is handling this situation. Philadelphia schools have a zero tolerance policy regarding harassment and bullying. Officials at Turner Middle School declined comment on Wednesday's meeting.
Girls at the Turner Middle School allege that the lesbian students are harassing them with gay remarks. The straight students say lesbians are bullying, groping and harassing them in gym and in the girl's bathrooms.
And you won't hear a word about it from "Mr. Safe Schools" Kevin Jennings of GLSEN. GLSEN claims that violence, bias and harassment against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students is endemic in America’s schools - we are now starting to see an increasing number of articles documenting the fact that it is these so called 'LGBT' students who are actually doing the harassing and bullying, and using homosexual slurs.
However, you will hear about GLSEN's and Jenning's rage in the rare instance that a "homosexual student" has been harassed or assaulted:
An excerpt from "GLSEN Expresses Outrage Over Assault of Female Student At Rural Iowa High School"
"The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, or GLSEN, today expressed outrage over the alleged assault of a female student at a Council Bluffs, IA, high school because she is a lesbian...
“Unfortunately, this attack at Thomas Jefferson High School is but another horrifying, yet all too familiar story where unchecked name-calling and harassment leads to senseless school violence,” said GLSEN Executive Director Kevin Jennings. “While it is commendable that local officials are taking steps to address the situation, this is a wake-up call to school administrators across the country that violence, bias and harassment against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students is endemic in America’s schools and must be addressed in order to ensure safe and effective schools for all students...”
Hey Kevin - when are you going to express outrage at the increasing number of 'homosexual students' who are bullying and harassing normal kids, and using homosexual slurs? How many of those 'homosexual students' who answer your surveys are actually the ones who use the "gay remarks" that are heard in school?