Tina Podlodowski

WAYS rwockner @ netcom.com 11/02/97 04:22:00 PM Record Type: Record To: Stuart D. Rosenstein, Richard Socarides CC: Subject: NC5283: Schools' books on gay families stir Seattle * Reprint rights for this copyrighted news article must be obtained * * > BY YOU <--- < from the originating news organization. * NEW YORK TIMES, November 2, 1997 229 W. 43rd Street, New York,NY, 10036 (Fax 212-556-3622, print run 1,209,225) (E-MAIL: [email protected]) (http://www.nytimes.com) SCHOOLS' BOOKS ON GAY FAMILIES STIR SEATTLE SEATTLE A city councilwoman's efforts to place books about gay families in the school libraries has run into strong opposition from some F conservatives in this city where most parents seem to have accepted the move. Earlier this year, the councilwoman Tina Podlodowski, and her partner, Chelle Mileur, vice president for business development for PlanetOut, a gay and lesbian on-line service, donated $6,000 to a local foundation to distribute children's books that portray gay families in a positive light. The Seattle Public Schools applied for the money and last spring received $60 to $70 per school to buy the books. The purchases were approved by most of the city's schools through school committees that included parents. But conservative critics argue that the books, which began arriving several weeks ago, are inappropriate for students and are in conflict with traditional religious values. They report that at least seven families have pulled their children out of the public schools because of the books, which include titles like Heather Has Two Mommies" and Daddy's Roommate." Several years ago, the same book titles were among those at the heart of a furor over the creation of a Rainbow Curriculum" in the New York City public school system, which led to the removal of Joseph A. Fernandez as chancellor. < This violates our religious beliefs and convictions, to affirm this sexual activity," said Linda Jordan, who withdrew one of her nieces from school over the issue. <