By CHELYEN DAVIS
RICHMOND--The Virginia House of Delegates approved legislation yesterday that opponents say would ban gay-straight alliance clubs in schools.
By a 70-29 vote, the House passed Del. Matt Lohr's bill, which would enable school boards to prohibit from using school facilities any student club or group "that encourages or promotes sexual activity by unmarried minor students."
The House debated the bill Monday. Lohr, R-Rockingham, said his bill is not aimed at any particular student organization, but was intended to give local school boards more control over who uses their buildings. He said that would apply to heterosexual groups if they promoted sexual activity.
"Whether it be homosexual or heterosexual, school is just not the place to be talking about sexual activity," Lohr was quoted as saying by The Associated Press.
But gay-straight alliance clubs don't promote sex, said Del. Adam Ebbin, the House's only openly gay delegate.
"This bill is really targeted at these gay-straight alliances," Ebbin said during Monday's debate, The Associated Press reported. "Gay-straight alliances are support groups for children with a high rate of potential suicide from being outcasts. And these clubs are not just for gay children but for all children who want to help their fellow students resist peer pressure."
Gay-straight alliance clubs are gaining popularity in schools, as a refuge for homosexual students or those questioning their sexuality.
Locally, James Monroe High School's student newspaper reported that a senior there wants to start a gay-straight alliance.
Principal Daryl Chesley said JM students have approached him about starting a gay-straight alliance, but he hasn't received a written proposal.
Students who want to start school-sponsored clubs must get a faculty adviser to help them write a proposal outlining the club's mission, by-laws, membership, dues, budget and any affiliation to state or national organizations, Chesley said. With the principal's preliminary approval, the proposal is forwarded to the superintendent and then to the School Board, which must give final authorization for any school-sponsored clubs or organizations.
Chesley said that until he sees a proposal, he can't say whether he'd recommend a gay-straight alliance on campus.
"I encourage all my students to find their passion and see how that might fit into making a stronger James Monroe," he said.
But students often get discouraged when they find out how lengthy and involved the process is to form a school-sponsored club.
"This is my second year, and I've had a grand total of zero proposals," Chesley said. "I've been approached by several groups, but I haven't heard back from them."
According to a 2004 story in The Washington Times, officials with the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network said there are at least 40 gay-straight clubs at schools in Virginia.
Information was not available yesterday on whether any gay-straight alliances exist in Stafford or Spotsylvania County schools.
Lohr's bill is similar to one proposed last year by his predecessor, former Del. Glenn Weatherholtz. The House passed Weatherholtz's version, but it died in a Senate committee.
Lohr's bill will now go to a Senate committee.
The House also approved a bill by Del. Scott Lingamfelter, R-Prince William, that would require public schools' family life education programs to emphasize abstinence.
The bill, which passed by a 68-31 vote, says that family life curricula "shall emphasize that abstinence is the accepted norm" and the only guaranteed way to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
The bill also would require family life curricula to emphasize "honor and respect for monogamous heterosexual marriage."
During a debate on the bill his bill is intended to teach children about "the serious consequences of premarital sex." He said a similar program in Fauquier County reduced pregnancy rates.
But Del. Kris Amundson, D-Mount Vernon, said Lingamfelter's statistics were counter to research showing that family life curricula which include teaching students about contraceptive options reduce teen pregnancy rates more than abstinence-only programs.
"This is not an abstinence-only bill. This is an expansion of the discussion of abstinence," Lingamfelter said.
He added that the bill reinforces Virginia law, under which sex between people who aren't married to each other is illegal.
"Having sex is supposed to be something in the context of matrimony," Lingamfelter said. "It's against the law, whether you like it or not, to have adultery."
His bill will now be considered by the state Senate.
Staff writer Ruth Finch contributed to this story.
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Email: cdavis@freelancestar.com