Read Online The Fight by Elizabeth Karre - Free Book Online Page A

language. Or maybe getting rid of it! I’m going—does anyone else want to come?”
    â€œIt’s a
school
board meeting,” said Zoe, looking at Lopez. “We should definitely be able to go as a GSA, not just on our own. And put it on the morning announcements so other people can come with us. It’s
educational
.”
    We all held our breath. Lopez looked defeated. She shrugged and said “OK.”

T
    he meeting was packed. Nessa sat up front with the lawyers and the Mendozas and Luke’s parents.
    Everyone was impatient as the school board moved through all the boring stuff in the beginning. Then, “the school board proposes new language for the curriculum policy addressing sexual orientation. The board proposes that the policy now read: ‘Teachers and staff shall not share their personal opinions about inflammatory topics in the course of their school-related duties.’ Now we have a very short time for discussion.”
    Mrs. Walton was the first to talk. “Making any changes to this policy at all is just giving in to the gay activists in our schools. It encourages them to continue to try to recruit our children using these homosexual clubs,” she said.
    I wondered what reality she was living in. Did she even know what a GSA was?
    Then one of the lawyers for our side spoke next. “Obviously ‘inflammatory topics’ means anything having to do with GLBT people. This policy discourages any classroom discussion about history, literature, science, current events, or any other relevant lessons involving GLBT people. The policy tells all students that GLBT people are too disgusting to be talked about inside the school walls. How do you think that affects GLBT students? Unfortunately, we’ve already seen the results,” he said, gesturing to the Mendozas and Lydia’s parents.
    It was quiet for a moment, and then someone began to slowly clap.
    â€œDiscussion closed,” the secretary snapped into the microphone. “Fifteen-minute recess for the board to discuss.”
    The school board all got up and went out another door. The room buzzed. Then they were back.
    â€œSlightly different language is suggested,” said the secretary. She read, “Teachers will not try to convince students to agree or disagree with any particular opinion with respect to these issues. When discussing these issues, district staff will uphold the dignity and self-worth of all students, regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex/gender, disability, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, or age.”
    Was that better? I wondered. It sounded a little better.
    â€œFurther decisions about the policy will be announced at a future meeting,” another school board member said. And then it was over.

“H
    ow was it?” my mom asked when I got home. “Sorry I wasn’t able to go.”
    I filled her in.
    â€œYou seem sad,” she said. “But look how far things have come. It may take a while with a lawsuit dragging out, but something’s definitely going to happen.”
    I shrugged. “I know…. It’s just that it doesn’t feel like we made anything change. It’s all the lawyers threatening them. The school board blew us off the first time. And our GSA kind of sucks because of Ms. Lopez.”
    â€œYes, but without all of you speaking up, Luke’s parents might not have known that this was happening everywhere to other kids. You set something in motion. I’m proud of you,” Mom said.
    My eyes filled with tears. I still wasn’t sure how my parents felt about all this. Sometimes I didn’t know how I felt either.
    â€œWould you guys … I mean, I know you love me no matter what, but what if I were gay or something?” I asked.
    My mom looked at me over her reading glasses and elbowed my dad who was sitting next to her on the couch. “Kiko, our