Equality group calls for LGBTQ pledge from FUSD superintendent finalist

Equality California said Friday it has sent a letter to Fresno Unified School District trustees urging them to get a pledge from interim Superintendent Bob Nelson, the finalist in the district’s search for a new district leader, that he will protect LGBTQ students.

The trustees could choose the new superintendent at a scheduled board meeting Wednesday evening.

Equality California wants Nelson to commit to participation in its Safe and Supportive Schools Index. The organization said the index will track whether districts have fully implemented the new History-Social Science Framework that mandates inclusion of LGBTQ people and social movements, whether groups supporting LGBTQ students are accessible on campus and whether gender-neutral bathrooms are available for transgender students.

The LGBTQ civil rights organization based in Los Angeles said its pledge request comes after statements made by Fresno Unified board President Brooke Ashjian about teaching sex education that includes lesson on LGBT relationships were published in The Fresno Bee on Aug. 4. Ashjian said his “biggest fear in teaching this – which we’re going to do it because it’s the law – but you have kids who are extremely moldable at this stage, and if you start telling them that LGBT is OK and that it’s a way of life, well maybe you just swayed the kid to go that way,” he told The Bee. “It’s so important for parents to teach these Judeo-Christian philosophies.”

Ashjian’s comments “underscore the need for a tool like our Safe and Supportive Schools Index to measure how well districts are meeting their responsibility to protect all students,” said Rick Zbur, executive director of Equality California.

The organization said the Safe and Supportive Schools Index is being developed with the help of a law firm, two advisory committees, California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, school district officials and teachers unions from across the state.

This story was originally published August 18, 2017 at 4:31 PM with the headline "Equality group calls for LGBTQ pledge from FUSD superintendent finalist."