Female Students Say They Fear Lesbians' Harassment - School Holds Meeting On Alleged Threats

NBC10.COM ^

[Sub-Driver]

Female Students Say They Fear Lesbians' Harassment School Holds Meeting On Alleged Threats

POSTED: 6:49 pm EST February 18, 2004 UPDATED: 8:25 pm EST February 18, 2004

PHILADELPHIA -- Gang concerns brought parents and students together Wednesday at a west Philadelphia middle school. But the kind of gang may surprise you.

Girls at the Turner Middle School allege that 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 (pictured, left), 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.

[Sub-Driver]

our public schools....

[TomServo]

Party "A" taunts party "B" so that when party "B" retaliates, party "A" may lay claim to "victims of gay bashing".

They got quite a gig going - I'll say that.

[Sub-Driver]

send in the lawyers..........

[radiohead]

"Don't nobody wanna be gay. Don't nobody wanna be harassed. Don't nobody wanna be scared to come to school,"

Don't nobody wanna learn English. (though she has a point)

[Antoninus]

Lesbians in middle school? I don't think so. A little investigation would probably turn up a lot of child sex abuse going on in those girls homes.

If I were one of the parents of a girl harassed by these degenerates, I'd be down there with my lawyer....

[motzman]

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.

Don't nobody goin' no English class.

[vavavah]

Philadelphia schools have a zero tolerance policy regarding harassment and bullying.

Yeah right, will see ...not when it comes to queers.....and other "socially challenged".

[martin_fierro]

It's like a bad movie.

[Sub-Driver]

too much Britney, Madonna & Janet injected into their brains...

[Fee]

In NJ there is a town call Ocean Grove. It was a Methodist Camp town until the 1970's when the NJ Supreme Court declared that a church cannot own a town and operate a municipal government. The town was forced to become part of Neptune Township and give up many of her religious safeguards. The last ten years, gay couples brought and rented summer homes in the town. The gay men are very discreet and refrain from demonstrating their affections because they are mindful that the resort town also caters to families. Otherwise they can ruin the economy of the resort town. The lesbians on the otherhand do not show any restraint. Tonguing and kissing in public, and wearing provocative leather and stud costumes. They do not seem to possess the discretion of their male counterparts. Thus this article does not surprise me. Any freepers have the same observations?

[cmsgop]

It's those Damm Indigo Girls.........

[Conservateacher]

"Lesbians in middle school? I don't think so."


Believe it. I've seen it.

[af_vet_1981]

"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.

Try them as adults. Give them a fair trial and a fast hanging.

[F16Fighter]

Isn't it funny how the benficiaries of bogus "hate crimes" legislation and "special rights" status wind up with carte blanche to intimidate and harass others with impunity?

[jocon307]

lol, you right!

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Why am I not surprised about this?

[af_vet_1981]

I'd be down there with my lawyer....

Lawyers are the problem. We need justice.

[azhenfud]

"Don't nobody goin' no English class."

Wot dat is?

[vavavah]

Stand By......only the beginning