Lawmaker Targets Vermont Schools

by Paul Olsen

Although Sheltra failed in her attempts to derail civil unions and impeach the Supreme Court, she has not given up her fight against what she labels the "gay agenda" in the state. photo courtesy of Vermont Secretary of State

     MONTPELIER — Vermont teachers may be greeted by more than just students when school reconvenes this year. Once school begins, parents may present school officials with a student “opt-out” form requiring parental notification if the school plans to discuss “homosexuality, bisexuality, lesbianism, transvestitism, transsexuality, sado-masochism, pedophilia, beastiality or other alternatives to monogamous heterosexual sex within marriage …that would convey the message …that such orientations/behaviors are immutable, unchangeable, natural, normal, or harmless.”
      The introduction of the new student opt-out form in Vermont is the brainchild of conservative state Rep. Nancy Sheltra (R-Derby), a long time opponent of gay rights who created a political action committee, dubbed STARS or Standing Together and Reclaiming the State, to defeat the state’s landmark civil union law and impeach the members of Vermont’s Supreme Court.
      Although Sheltra failed in her attempts to derail civil unions and impeach the Supreme Court, she has not given up her fight against what she labels the “gay agenda” in the state. “The need for the opt-out form comes from the fact that Outright Vermont has been allowed to go into the school system,” she said.
      “Many parents don’t know this information is being presented in the classroom,” Sheltra added. “One first grader in the state brought home (the book) Heather Has Two Mommies and her mother then decided to home school her child. We feel the student opt-out form is necessary. What we’re going to do now is start organizing throughout the state.”
      The form requires schools to give parents or legal guardians at least five days notice before human sexuality is discussed in the classroom or at school activities. The form applies to any “legitimization or normalization” of homosexuality, bisexuality, lesbianism, transvestitism, transsexuality, sado-masochism, pedophilia, or beastiality through AIDS education, diversity, gender studies, safe schools or multicultural programs. Under the form, parents are also permitted to review school course materials and lesson plans.
      B.J. Rogers, Executive Director of Outright Vermont, a gay youth support group, rejects Sheltra’s call for parental adoption of the opt-out form. “Nancy Sheltra’s introduction of the form is based on her opinion that what happens in sex education classes is a movement of the ‘homosexual agenda’ to recruit or introduce young people to the ‘homosexual lifestyle’,” he said. “The form is really just an opportunity for her to spread more lies about what happens in sex education classes and about the kind of work that Outright does.”
      The Vermont Department of Education has no official position on Sheltra’s opt-out form and says that local school boards should decide how to respond to it. “Curriculum decisions are made on a local level,” said Diane Derby, spokesperson for the department. “If schools want to take a look at Ms. Sheltra’s form we don’t hold a position on it. Schools have routinely responded to the concerns of individual parents and we have faith that they will continue to do so. Contrary to what Ms. Sheltra has suggested we don’t believe there is any promotion of a homosexual agenda in schools.”
      The mission of Sheltra’s STARS political action committee is to “engage in all aspects of the political process in defense of our moral Christian heritage which was the foundation of our country and state”.