Fighting the Good Fight

I recently received a copy of a letter and was asked to pass it on and sign a petition, encouraging its sentiments:

THE MAGNUS HIRSCHFELD CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
109 NORTH FULLERTON AVENUE
MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY 07042
(862) 823-1767 HUMANRIGHTS@POST.COM


WILLIAM A. COURSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

August 4, 2007

Julia Davidow, Principal
Ocean Township High School
550 West Park Avenue
Oakhurst, New Jersey 07755

RE: The Laramie Project

Dear Ms. Davidow:
I am writing to you in connection with my deep concern about your decision to prohibit the play "The Laramie Project" from being produced at Ocean Township High School this coming fall.

If ever there was a piece of theater that has educated its viewers about the need for tolerance of diversity and mutual respect, The Laramie Project is surely it. High schools all over the United States and the world, even in the most conservative and reactionary places imaginable, have produced more than 5,000 performances of the play.

People of every walk of life, race, religion, geography and ideology understand that the play has a universal message not only about combating anti-gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered hate, but all forms of xenophobia: the hatred of all who may be different.

It seems hard to believe that in this day and age anyone would be afraid to show The Laramie Project at a school here in New Jersey. I join my sentiments to those of Judy Shepherd, Matthew's mother, who has written to you in this regard. Ms. Shepherd deeply supports the efforts of your theatre director, Bob Angelini, to show The Laramie Project at West Side High School:

According to press reports, you have stated that you “do not want to draw a line between those who think homosexuality is right and those who think it is wrong.”
This play is not only about being gay: it is about being hurt for being different, whatever that difference may be. Mr. Angelini shows great courage to mount a production that raises so many emotional and personal issues.
If the foregoing quote is in fact correct, Ms. Davidow, I must ask if you are aware that in New Jersey a prohibition of discrimination on account of sexual orientation exists, and has been a part of our state’s law for well close to two decades?
Would you similarly wish to avoid drawing a line between those who think racial oppression is wrong and those racists who think it is not? Do you feel the need to be sensitive to the moral sense of racists, or anti-Semites?
The underlying sentiment appears to be identical.
Such a posture threatens not only your standing as a professional educator, but that of your institution and of your entire community. BY holding to such a line, you nourish the roots of intolerance.
I deeply hope that you and your school board will embrace a theatrical production that will initiate a discussion in your school and broader community. I also ask that you use this opportunity to facilitate discussions in your classes on intolerance and hate."

The favor of your promptest possible reply is respectfully requested. I hope that your response evinces a reconsideration of the stand you have unfortunately taken: otherwise, I and many of my colleagues will see you in person to discuss this issue at the next Ocean Township Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, August 28th.

Thank you so much for your attention.
Sincerely,


William A. Courson

cc:
The Hon. Jon Corzine, Governor
Executive Office of the Governor
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625

Lucille E. Davey, Commissioner
New Jersey Commissioner of Education
100 River View Plaza
P.O. Box 500
Trenton, NJ 08625
Urgent Via Facsimile: (609) 777-4099

GLSEN-Gay, Lesbian & Straight Educators Network
Central New Jersey Chapter
PO Box 261
Hightstown, New Jersey 08520


I forwarded on this letter as well as the link to the petition:

http://eqfed.org/campaign/laramie_project

My friend Michael responded:

Rock on! This one really hits home doesn't it? I was very happy to add my two cents. Let me know if you hear whether this principal reverses her decision. I'm going to forward this to a few hundred of my closest friends.

xo

I responded to him:

Thank you! Yes, it really hit me when I read her quote too; I started shaking!!! The play is so NOT JUST about whether you think homosexuality is wrong or not (ALTHOUGH I CANNOT BELIEVE PEOPLE IN THIS DAY AND AGE STILL GIVE IT A SECOND THOUGHT!!!) it’s about whether you think MURDER is wrong or not. And someone said, "Well high school kids are a little young to deal with these issues" to which I replied, "BUT MATTHEW SHEPHERD WAS PRACTICALLY THAT YOUNG WHEN HE DIED AND SO WERE THE ONES WHO KILLED HIM!"

It is a sad state of affairs, and in my home state of NJ! I hope we that are fighting the good fight prevail… in this and all battles against hate.