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Pa. school district scraps controversial anti-gay policy

Pa. school district scraps controversial anti-gay policy

ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. — A central Pennsylvania school district has scrapped a controversial policy that said its curriculum would not “promote or encourage” same-sex relationships or orientation.

The Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era reported that the board of the Elizabethtown Area School District decided last week to delete the entire policy.

Originally approved in February 1997, the policy was a compromise that replaced a “pro-family” resolution the school board had adopted five months earlier. The resolution voiced support for traditional families defined as “one man married to one woman and their children through birth or adoption.”

Its passage included months of board meetings that drew up to 1,200 people, and led to a walkout of more than 200 students, resulting in more than 100 suspensions.

Board president Terry Seiders, who had just moved in to the school district when the policy was enacted, said it held no educational value.

“It was a controversial policy that was passed and from my point of view it didn’t play a role or belong in the school system,” said Seiders.

The main element of the policy said “the curriculum will not promote or encourage same-sex relationships or orientation.”

Board members say the policy came up last week as part of the board’s regular review of existing policies.

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