Gay-Straight Alliance President Tries Unique Recruiting Method

I recently attended the open house at my daughter's high school and noted as we walked the campus numerous flyers for the school's Gay-Straight Alliance Club. It's amazing just how far we've sunk since my high school days. A club like that would have been unthinkable back then, and any student suggesting to start one would have spent some quality time with a school district psychologist.

But things have changed and we are now all required to be "tolerant" of whatever sexual deviancy in which our students wish to be involved. The president of the local chapter of the Gay-Straight Alliance at a high school in Mill Valley, CA apparently felt her organization wasn't getting the attention it deserved, so she decided to drum up a few hate crimes to raise her visibility:

Alleged gay-bashing at Marin high school a hoax, police said
Sunday May 08, 2005

MILL VALLEY, Calif. (AP) A 17-year-old top wrestler (HolyCoast - a female wrestler heads up the Gay-Straight Alliance...imagine my surprise) at an area high school here faked a series of gay-bashing incidents that prompted a police investigation, authorities said.

The rash of gay-bashing incidents at Tamalpais High School was the work of a student gay leader who claimed she was the victim of hate crimes, according to Mill Valley Police Capt. James Wickham.

The teen, who heads the school's Gay-Straight Alliance, admitted to authorities that she was the perpetrator of the incidents, which included vandalizing her own car with derogatory graffiti, police said.

Other incidents involved teachers who received threatening telephone messages.

``It has been determined that all the incidents have been committed by a single individual,'' Wickham said.

The student was not identified by police.

The girl has been suspended and could face expulsion, said Bob Ferguson, district school superintendent.

``She confessed to everything,'' Ferguson said. ``She did admit to police that it was basically for attention.''

The student was not arrested, but police said the case would be referred to the Marin County District Attorney's Office for review.

In a series of incidents dating back to November, the student claimed she was the target of hateful language, with anti-gay epithets scrawled on her car and on her school locker. She told police she was pelted with eggs outside her home by an unknown assailant.

Tam High students ``kept wondering how this could happen at their school, but unfortunately they were let down by one of their classmates,'' Ferguson said.

Ferguson added that girl's recent title as the high school's athlete of the year was withdrawn by the district late last week.

High school principal Chris Holleran said students will have the opportunity to receive counseling about the matter.

Paula Pilecki, executive director of San Anselmo's Spectrum, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy group, said she was surprised that police released a statement about the girl's admission.

``The next few weeks will no doubt be difficult for everyone involved, and I hope the community reacts with compassion,'' she said.

Maybe now she'll get to satisfy her community service requirement.