Feb 23, 2007  |  By: ELIZABETH A. PERRY  | COMMENTS     

A bill requiring school districts to give parents control over which after-school clubs their middle and high school-aged children can join was defeated in the Virginia Senate.

Its demise has gay rights advocates breathing a sigh of relief.

“Considering this bill was introduced by the same delegate as last year shows it concerns more than just parental involvement,” said Dyana Mason, executive director of Equality Virginia. “It was a thinly veiled attack on gay-straight alliances.”

The bill, known officially as HB1727, was introduced by Del. Matthew Lohr, (R-Harrisonburg) Jan. 10 and was eventually passed by the House of Representatives Jan. 30 by a vote of 82-15. It was introduced in the Senate Jan. 30 and defeated in the Senate Education & Health Committee Feb. 15.

Critics have said the “permission slips” bill would force gay students in public schools to come out to their parents in order to participate in a GSA, even if they were not ready or willing to do so.

“A lot of young people are not comfortable coming out to parents and wouldn’t ask them to sign,” Mason said. “[GSAs] can be a lifesaver for gay kids, who have higher rates of intimidation, harassment and dropping out of school.”

The version that passed in the House was the third version of the bill.

Gay Del. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) opposed the bill from the start calling it “unnecessary” and difficult to enforce.

“In schools with a large number of clubs and students, this legislation will require a lot of paperwork being transmitted and tracked,” he said. “This is not a valid substitute for parents communicating directly with their children. I oppose forcing school districts to impose one of two ‘solutions’ to a non-existent problem. Right now any opt-out or opt-in decision is up to locally elected school boards and that is where it should remain.”

A number of GSA clubs have waged successful battles against school boards that do not want gay clubs on their campuses. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, courts in Georgia, Utah, California, Indiana, Kentucky and Minnesota have all ruled in favor of GSAs under the Equal Access Act, which states that schools allowing one extra-curricular club to meet on campus must allow all such clubs to meet.

Hospital visitation measure passes

A bill authored by Del. David Englin (D-Alexandria) that would allow hospital patients to receive any visitors they desire sailed through the Senate by a vote of 40-0 on Tuesday. The bill, known as HB2730, passed through the House Feb. 5 by a vote of 97-0. Englin said he worked hard to get the bill passed, reaching out to committee chairs and courting moderates.

“It wasn’t a slam dunk,” he said. “It had to go through two subcommittee hearings and there were concerns about the language of the bill. I’ve seen how legislation that is helpful to gays and lesbians makes it so far in the process until anti-gay forces kill it. If you’re gay and in the hospital, this legislation can make a huge difference for you.”

Englin also praised Equality Virginia activists who lobbied legislators and groups such as AARP and the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, which both supported the bill. Supporters expect Gov. Tim Kaine to sign it and it would take effect July 1.

Another bill, SB1242, introduced by Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple (D-District 31) was struck down last week by the House Compensation & Retirement Subcommittee. It would have allowed local governments to extend health care coverage to anyone mutually agreed upon by local government entities and covered employees and retirees. It could have benefited gays because domestic partners could have been named.

It was introduced Jan. 10 and passed through the Senate by a vote of 36-4. It also passed through the House Committee on Counties, Cities & Towns Feb. 9 by a vote of 11-10. In a procedural move, it was re-referred to the House Appropriations Committee, where it was defeated by a vote of 4-1.