PFLAG gave the first of over 240 copies of Courting Equality slated to go to Massachusetts Gay Straight Alliances (GSAs)to the GSA at Lexington High School.

Carla Yengo-Kahn, a sophomore, a Lexington High School accepted on behalf of her school’s GSA. In accepting the book Carla said, “It seems appropriate that we should get the first book going to GSAs. We are from Lexington, the birthplace of the American Revolution that was fought for the very principles of freedom central to our democracy, and appropriately, our educational system.”

She added that the Lexington curriculum includes, all people, all who should be part of “we the people.”

Mass Resistance continues to threaten open, safe, and welcoming school communities that respect all families by including them in the curriculum–especially when they include anything relating to the lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender community. With the David Parker case centering around his and Brian Camenker’s objection to the use of King and King, Lexington has become another battleground.

Chuck Colbert writes this week on the PFLAG meeting and the presentation of Courting Equality and the challenges to democratic education.

At PFLAG’s Annual Meeting, President Stan Griffith presented a copy of Courting Equality to Carla Yengo-Kahn for the Lexington High School Gay Straight Alliance. Author Pat Gozemba (left) noted that the donation of a copy of the book would be made to each of the 241 GSAs in Massachusetts thanks to a generous donation to PFLAG by Chip McLaughlin and Keith Maynard.

McLaughlin and Maynard will also offer through PFLAG a copy of the book to each of the public high school libraries in schools that do not have GSAs. This means that shortly there will be a copy of the book in each public high school in MA.

“Greater Boston PFLAG beleieves that we can create safe and welcoming schools, communities, and places of work through education and dialogue. Distribution of Courting Equality is one way that we can educate and promote dialogue,” said Griffith.

Yengo-Kahn, a sophomore at Lexington High said, “We are from Lexington, the birthplace of the American Revolution that fought for the very principles of freedom central to our democracy, and appropriately, our educational system. A curriculum that includes all people, all who should be part of ‘we the people,’ is what we have in Lexington and we’re proud of it. I also want to mention that I am one of hundreds of citizens in our town who have been part of demonstrations to support diverse education in Lexington.”

Members of Mass Resistance, including Brian Camenker, who have been focused on dismantling GSAs attempted to crash the annual meeting but were asked to leave.