School Board treats mother of hate crime victim with hostility

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 26, 2009

Contact:
Carolyn Wagner
479-227-0727
carolynwagner@fuah.org

MOTHER OF HATE CRIME VICTIM TREATED WITH HOSTILITY BY FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL BOARD IN MEETING

REPEATED CASES OF ANTI-GAY SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND VIOLENCE AGAINST STUDENTS AND FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS RESOLUTION TO TITLE 1X COMPLAINTS PROMPTS PARENT TO ORGANIZE PROTEST

(Fayetteville, AR, January 22, 2009)-When Fayetteville, AR public school district became the first in the nation to enter into an agreement with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in 1998, students and their families in Fayetteville and nationwide expected a safer learning environment for all students. Recent incidents perpetrated against Billy Wolfe have demonstrated otherwise and parents are again taking action.

Carolyn Wagner, mother of William Wagner whose title IX complaint resulted in the inclusion of protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students and the institution of a commitment to resolve from the Fayetteville school district to the OCR, is once again compelled to confront the Fayetteville school board. Mrs. Wagner, on behalf of Families United Against Hate, a group she founded with other parents and families of hate crime victims, has extended support to Penny Wolfe, the mother of Billy Wolfe. Billy is a former student of the Fayetteville district who endured bullying, sexual harassment and violence based upon the perception he is gay. Bill Wolfe has stated publicly that although he is not gay, the harassment and violence he experience was based on the perception that he was gay and was ignored and in some cases encouraged by school officials.

At the January 22, 2009 meeting of the Fayetteville School Board, Mrs. Wagner attempted to inform the board members of the legal implications if they refuse to develop and enforce policies which forbid bulling, sexual harassment, threats of violence and acts of violence based upon the real or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity as well as race, gender, religion, economic status and other categories.

Mrs. Wagner provided each board member with a packet containing resources, including recommendations from Families United Against Hate and the National School Board Association. School Board President Susan Heil, interrupted Mrs. Wagner twice as she attempted to make her statement and then began to talk over her while another person turned the microphone off. A man behind her said he was calling the "officers." Mrs. Wagner offered her assistance and that of others to help this district to ensure all students have a safe learning environment and at no cost to the district. Instead of offer of free help, she was treated with hostility, just as the students who are different are treated by this district on a daily basis.

Mrs Wagner states, "bullying, sexual harassment, violence is wrong for any reason and the situation Billy Wolfe and his family have endured first hand is a lesson for everyone. No one is safe from the maltreatment based upon sexual orientation or gender identity due to the perception that one might be lgbt. When there is an atmosphere of social acceptance which justifies discrimination toward any group of people, none are safe."

Families United Against Hate has provided support and advocated for justice with many families and or survivors newly impacted by bias-motivated violence. Several of these families and or survivors were targeted based upon the perception that the victim was a member of a specific minority.

Billy Wolfe is a prime example of what happens when another makes an assumption of sexual orientation and he is not the only student who has been targeted in this fashion. The typical response by those we hold to be responsible to halt such maltreatment is to blame the victim, to portray the victim as the perpetrator. Children who are bullied will use words to defend and or deflect the bullying, they feel they have no other option when the adults fail to intervene at the first instance of bullying and this will always escalate to threats of or actual violence. The Fayetteville school district acted in the same manner toward William Wagner.

Families United Against Hate has been hearing from other students attending Fayetteville schools who are currently facing bullying and sexual harassment due to their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Many of these students now want to file title lX complaints to address the sexual harassment problem.

The Arkansas legislature passed an Anti-Bullying act in 2003 which forbids bullying for any reason. This act as well as title lX requires public schools to not only have policies which forbids bullying but requires the enforcement of such policies. These do not exclude our lgbt children.

FAMILIES UNITED AGAINST HATE (FUAH) provides support, guidance and assistance to families* and individuals dealing with incidents based on bias; and to the people, organizations and agencies who serve and support them.
FUAH is a nonprofit grassroots organization created by and for families and survivors of hate motivated violence, in collaboration with other individuals and organizations.

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