City Times

Issue date: 11/10/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Joe Leonard San Diego High student walks out of school on Oct. 16 and finds himself being cheered on by gay rights supporters and members of the GLBT Center in Hillcrest. On the other side of the street on Park Blvd. the Westboro Church members protest the alleged high schools policy on gay students. [Click to enlarge]

On Oct. 16, just outside of San Diego High School, six Westboro Baptist Church members protested against the high school's open acceptance of gay and lesbian students. But it seems that Westboro was misinformed.
The Westboro Baptist Church's website pinpointed the local high school as one of its protest locations, stating, "Quit (T)elling (K)ids (I)t's (OK) to be (F)ags." However, it seems that the WBC was misinformed about what the school's policies. According to Joe Austin, principal of the school of business at San Diego High, there isn't really such a policy.

"I am not aware of any policy (site-specific or district) of an 'acceptance of gay or lesbian relationships on campus'-- I think it's more of an anti-discrimination issue," Austin said. "But I'd hope that students can count on a lack of discrimination, regardless of where they are enrolled."

There are five small schools that create San Diego High: School of Arts, School of Business, School of Communications, School of LEADS, School of International Studies and the School of Science and Technology.

Anisha Dalal, principal of the school of communications, Kirk Ankeney, principal of the school of international studies and Dianne Cordero, principal of the school of science and technology could not be reached for comment.

Nevertheless, it is determined that there were about 500 gay rights supporters present at the protest.

Continued...

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