The San Francisco school board voted Tuesday night to fund a substantial increase in instruction and services related to gay and lesbian issues.
The school district, facing layoffs and massive program cuts, unanimously agreed that the estimated $120,000 annual price tag was worth it to support for gay and lesbian students — children who are more likely to experience bullying and skip school because they were afraid.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports:
The resolution calls for adding a district position to manage “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning” youth issues. It also requires the district to keep tabs on harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation and distribute educational packets every year to parents encouraging them to discuss sexuality, gender identify and safety with their children.
The measure, sponsored by the city’s Youth Commission and its Human Rights Commission and the district’s Student Advisory Council, requires district staff to seek outside funding to cover the costs, but guarantees at least a half-time position and other services regardless.
A senior official of the Department of Education expressed regret Wednesday for an incident that happened when he was a young teacher in the late 1980s, saying he should have handled it differently, but that society could benefit from his error, 
The Anoka-Hennepin School District reported that two teachers who repeatedly mocked a student they believed was gay are on leave, a district official said Tuesday.
Minnesota’s largest school district, Anoka-Hennepin, has agreed to pay a family $25,000 after two teachers allegedly harassed a boy because of his perceived sexual orientation, according to the 
