Sexual Orientation

State Assemblyman and former Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor is introducing a bill that would require schools to receive parental permission before teaching topics in classrooms that include sex, religion and sexual orientation, according to a press release issued late Tuesday afternoon by his office. Mansoor, who represents California's 68th Assembly District, is convening a 1:30 p.m. Wednesday joint news conference at his district office in Costa Mesa to discuss the bill, AB 1348, along with Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute, a parental rights group with offices in Sacramento, Santa Ana, San Diego and Oakland.

Russ Niewiarowski faults the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act for giving “special protection to powerful activist groups pushing for national acceptance of homosexuality” (“Obama renounces religion with bill,” Oct. 30). It presumably does so by “effectively barring all from speaking out against it, putting everyone’s freedom of speech in jeopardy.” Square that, if one can, with the law’s actual text. Section 4711 (5)

As part of a legal settlement with the American Civil Liberties Union, the Newport-Mesa Unified School District will provide a written apology to a former Corona del Mar High School student who claims school officials did little to stop four varsity athletes from harassing her with homophobic and sexist taunts, attorneys in the case announced Wednesday. The school district also has agreed to provide training on gender issues to students and staff at Corona del Mar High School and other school administrators as part of the settlement.

Not long ago, my 12-year-old daughter and I talked about discrimination and how it can often be as evil as physical violence. I told her I hoped that she would keep an open mind and not judge anyone based on the color of their skin, their religion or sexual identification. It was the sexual identity part that hit home when I read about the application for and subsequent holding of the "Orange County Dyke March" down Harbor Boulevard. I believe the march organizers had good intentions.

Fairview Community Church members struggled this week to drape the towering gold cross that stands in the front of the church’s sanctuary with rainbow-colored ribbons. A church member had to climb a wobbly ladder perched over the baptismal font to drape the roughly 10-foot cross with the multicolored fabric. The ribbons symbolize a subtle but deliberate change for the church, which officially will open its doors to openly gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people this weekend.

Lt. Dan Choi, an Orange County native and Iraq veteran, found out Wednesday that a board of Army officials is looking into dismissing him from service for violating its “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on homosexuality. News of the action led Laura Kanter to stay up most of the night planning a spur-of-the-moment protest on UCI’s Watson Bridge. Kanter is a board member of the fledgling Orange County Equality Coalition, a local activist group that sprung up after Proposition 8 eliminated same-sex marriage in California.

While discussing the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy regarding gays in the armed forces, Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace said homosexuality is "immoral" and equated it with adultery. Some political observers say when Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services committee, criticized the general for his remarks, it indicated that Congress may revisit the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Several Democratic presidential hopefuls favor a repeal of the policy, while at least a couple of leading GOP candidates want to maintain the status quo. Do you think it's time for Congress to reconsider the "don't ask, don't tell" policy?

Bulldog campaigning seems to suit congressional candidate Gerrie Schipske, who hasn't shied away from controversy when taking to task her Republican opponent on everything from the war on terrorism to prescription benefits for seniors. In a series of e-mail releases to voters and media outlets during her run for the newly aligned 46th District seat, Schipske, a Long Beach nurse, attorney and college teacher, has kept up a steady drum beat of criticism of incumbent Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher.

Amy R. Spurgeon Dina Mendez didn't need to be a victim of violence to realize that taking action to bring about awareness on the topic is crucial. The 22-year-old Anaheim Hills resident and OCC student is responsible for bringing the Clothesline Project 2000 to her campus for the first time. The project is a visual display of decorated T-shirts that bear witness to the violence against women and children. T-shirts have been on display since March 29 in the Student Center.

State Assemblyman and former Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor is introducing a bill that would require schools to receive parental permission before teaching topics in classrooms that include sex, religion and sexual orientation, according to a press release issued late Tuesday afternoon by his office. Mansoor, who represents California's 68th Assembly District, is convening a 1:30 p.m. Wednesday joint news conference at his district office in Costa Mesa to discuss the bill, AB 1348, along with Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute, a parental rights group with offices in Sacramento, Santa Ana, San Diego and Oakland.

Russ Niewiarowski faults the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act for giving “special protection to powerful activist groups pushing for national acceptance of homosexuality” (“Obama renounces religion with bill,” Oct. 30). It presumably does so by “effectively barring all from speaking out against it, putting everyone’s freedom of speech in jeopardy.” Square that, if one can, with the law’s actual text. Section 4711 (5)

As part of a legal settlement with the American Civil Liberties Union, the Newport-Mesa Unified School District will provide a written apology to a former Corona del Mar High School student who claims school officials did little to stop four varsity athletes from harassing her with homophobic and sexist taunts, attorneys in the case announced Wednesday. The school district also has agreed to provide training on gender issues to students and staff at Corona del Mar High School and other school administrators as part of the settlement.

I applaud this move because it indicates that the Episcopal Church and the nation is starting to grow up. Now all we have to do is help other religious institutions grow out of their adolescent nature and, once and for all, end this ridiculous discrimination against same-sex marriage. Contrary to the worn-out rhetoric and the barrage of fear-mongering ads, same-sex marriage poses no threat to our society or to the idea of family values. In fact, the only threat we have to observe is the radical political rancor that incites violence and hate.

Lt. Dan Choi, an Orange County native and Iraq veteran, found out Wednesday that a board of Army officials is looking into dismissing him from service for violating its “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on homosexuality. News of the action led Laura Kanter to stay up most of the night planning a spur-of-the-moment protest on UCI’s Watson Bridge. Kanter is a board member of the fledgling Orange County Equality Coalition, a local activist group that sprung up after Proposition 8 eliminated same-sex marriage in California.

Fairview Community Church members struggled this week to drape the towering gold cross that stands in the front of the church’s sanctuary with rainbow-colored ribbons. A church member had to climb a wobbly ladder perched over the baptismal font to drape the roughly 10-foot cross with the multicolored fabric. The ribbons symbolize a subtle but deliberate change for the church, which officially will open its doors to openly gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people this weekend.

While discussing the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy regarding gays in the armed forces, Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace said homosexuality is "immoral" and equated it with adultery. Some political observers say when Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services committee, criticized the general for his remarks, it indicated that Congress may revisit the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Several Democratic presidential hopefuls favor a repeal of the policy, while at least a couple of leading GOP candidates want to maintain the status quo. Do you think it's time for Congress to reconsider the "don't ask, don't tell" policy?

Bulldog campaigning seems to suit congressional candidate Gerrie Schipske, who hasn't shied away from controversy when taking to task her Republican opponent on everything from the war on terrorism to prescription benefits for seniors. In a series of e-mail releases to voters and media outlets during her run for the newly aligned 46th District seat, Schipske, a Long Beach nurse, attorney and college teacher, has kept up a steady drum beat of criticism of incumbent Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher.