Portsmouth school asked to stop censoring lesbian symbol

The Virginian Pilot, ever slow on the uptake, is today reporting on the story about the I. C. Norcom High School student who has been punished for wearing a lesbian pride t-shirt (http://hamptonroads.com/2007/12/portsmouth-school-asked-stop-censoring-lesbian-symbol#comment-580092). What really pisses me off is the stupid comment by the principal's executive assistant which I have set out below. This comment is typical of this backward area where the cretins in positions of influence are utterly ignorant of what the LGBT community is really like. As surprising as it may be to them, gays and lesbians are represented throughout the business world and many are very successful business owners. Moreover, the majority of the Fortune 500 companies have non-discrimination policies that protect LGBT employees from treatment such as Ms. Laccone has experienced. Locally organizations like HRBOR and nationally like the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce represent hundreds, if not thousands of gay owned and gay supportive businesses. Not everywhere is as backwards as Hampton Roads.

If I.C. Norcom wants to prepare students for the business world, it had best teach them that not all regions of the country and not all businesses are as backward and prejudiced as the wingnut I.C. Norcom teacher who took issue with Bethany Laccone's t-shirt. Enough of the sermon - here are story highlights that add to the 365gay.com article cited yesterday:

School officials have until Jan. 11 to respond. A possible action by the ACLU could include a lawsuit if the demands aren't met, said Rebecca Glenberg, legal director of the ACLU of Virginia. Attempts to reach Norcom officials and the division superintendent were unsuccessful Thursday. However, Joseph L. Wiggins, the superintendent's executive assistant, said he had not seen the letter and could only speculate about why the student was reportedly asked not to wear the T-shirt. "The concern could be that we are training students to go out into the business world," he said, "But again, I don't know."

The ACLU contends that in early December, a teacher and an assistant principal at Norcom told 17-year-old Bethany Laccone to conceal a T-shirt that depicts a "well-known and historic signifier of lesbian pride and female solidarity." According to the ACLU letter, Bethany was threatened with suspension if she did not respond.

Bethany told her dad, Michael Laccone, about the day's happenings. He encouraged his daughter to contact the ACLU if she wanted to push the issue. A few days later, Laccone said he met with the assistant principal who his daughter claims had spoken to her. "I didn't think it was right to make her cover up a shirt when they allow other students to express themselves while wearing T-shirts," Laccone said Thursday. Laccone said that the administrator told him the shirt had upset Bethany's teacher to the point that it interfered with her ability to teach. Laccone said that sounds like a problem the school needs to resolve with the teacher, not with his daughter.

I. C. Norcom High School

1801 London Boulevard

Portsmouth, VA 23704

Phone: (757) 393-5442

Fax: (757) 393-5449

Principal: Lynn F. Briley - Lynn.Briley@pps.k12.va.us