Put Ambridge on the list of places you don't want to raise your children.
School Board member William Scherfel described the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) at Ambridge Area High School as a "sex club" and then refused to apologize, referring ot the members as fags.
The Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) has been involved in the dispute, noting concern about the disturbing shift in attitudes toward GSA's across the state.
Good grief ... he called GSA members fags. What the hell is wrong with him? He's elected to a position of trust and authority over students and he blatantly violates every iota of both.
As of Wednesday night, Scherfel allegedly apologized. Here's an excerpt from WPXI's report
Channel 11 News reporter Gordon Loesch spoke with Scherfel. Scherfel said he's not even sure he said the word.
Loesch asked, ?You're not even admitting that you said it? You don't know if you said it?? William Scherfel said, ?No, no. It would not be beyond me to use that word. It?s a word I heard growing up. I might have used the word."
Student Adam Smith said, ?It wasn't heartfelt at all.? Loesch asked, ?So you don't believe he's really sorry for saying it?? Smith said, ?No, and I'm sure if he had the chance he'd say it again."
Scherfel said he will take full responsibility for his comments.
So he admits he has the capacity to refer to students as fags, but isn't sure that he actually did it. Oh it gets better. Scherfel claims the furor is politically motivated by those who don't appreciate his outspokenness. The school superintendent has opted not to get involved b/c he has no jurisdiction --- apparently he has been robbed of his ability to critique the school board. And the school board itself? Here's their position:
Board president Bernard Logan defended Scherfel, saying no one is perfect, and at least one board member, Kevin Blanarik admitted he heard the remark but didn't think it should have become an issue.
"I didn't appreciate the comment because I don't speak like that, but he didn't say it as if he was trying to be mean," Blanarik said.
Mean? Is Logan out of his friggin' mind? These are students, kids we are talking about and Scherfel is a grown man. Would he be excused for using a racial slur and have it written off as not meant to be mean? How about referring to female students as cunts? Or disabled students as crippleds or gimps? Would that be okay?
It is a great day for Pennsylvania when local politicians sexualize students, use a slur to describe those students, claim they don't remember using it, and get off scott free b/c they weren't trying to be mean.
Two Republican apologist gay men will soon be on the job market. Amen! Santorum spokesnman Robert Traynham and Hart's Lee Cohen -- good luck in the private sector where you can join the millions of other heartless bastards who sell their principles for a quick buck. I'm sure your wealth and privilege will shield you from the any fallout from the homophobic cultures you helped foster.
Statement from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Inc.
?We are thrilled, ecstatic and overjoyed that Rick Santorum has been thrashed at the polls. His extreme and gratuitous homophobia will no longer pollute the Senate. Good riddance.? ? Matt Foreman, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Inc.
While its a good day for us down here at Lesbian Central -- Casey, Altmire, Wagner, control of the House, Speaker Pelosi, etc ... there are some sobering facts to keep in mind for the LGBT community.
First, Altmire and Wagner are self-described "conversative" or "moderate" Democrats. Anti-choice, traditional marriage, etc. So things may be better on the healthcare front, but we have to watch our backs -- strengthening families *has* to include our families, too. If health insurance coverage is contingent upon marriage, we are very much not included. Both are anti-choice as well. I'm not saying it isn't a step forward, but we have to remember that the social conservatives still have their say.
Second, it appears that 7 out of 8 states voted to amend their constitutions to define marriage as strictly heterosexual. (Advocate.com). The good news on this front is that Arizona voters rejected this amendment. Pam has an analysis. Keep in mind that 80%Tennessee voters who turned out approved this amendment. Less than 25% of Tennessee residents voted. And Virigina .... they've pretty much outlawed anyone who isn't legally married.
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force takes a look at the voter percentages, determining that the support for these amendments is not as widespread as it was two or four years ago.
Tony Lacenere, Managing Director of iNetworks, took the time to write in to the Post-Gazette and share his thoughts about the the value of inclusivity and diversity. Its especially heartening on a day like today -- filled with political predictions and electoral scents -- to remember some of the core issues we are voting about after all.
Additionally, like major growth regions such as the Silicon Valley and Boston, Pittsburgh and the commonwealth should accept the new reality that embracing those with diverse backgrounds is not only the right thing to do, but also stimulates economic growth and development.
National gratitude should be extended to New Jersey and its leaders for recognizing that gay and lesbian citizens, as well as all people, deserve to be embraced and given normal rights ("N.J. Allows Gay Marriage or Civil Unions," Oct. 26).
Pittsburgh could be a big winner if we continue to tackle the tough challenges diversity throws our way. Is gay marriage on the Pennsylvania agenda? Not anytime soon. Remember this is the land where our Democratic State Senators voted *for* a watered down marriage discrimination amendment so they could vote *against* a tougher version of it. Simply voting against discrimination period wasn't an option. Except for those in the Pennsylvania House (like Dan Frankel and Mike Divin) who did. But I'm supposed to shut up and be thankful we narrowly avoided a gay marriage amendment, not criticize our shadow allies.
And here I go again ...Mr. Lacerne uses the phrase "embracing people of color and ethnicity and those with alternative lifestyles." The latter typically describes members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer communities. It is our identity, Tony, not our lifestyle that is in question. My lifestyle pretty much mirrors the heterosexual normative lifestyle -- two working adults, two cars, home, yard, laundry, nightly news with Katie Couric, trips to Giant Eagle, most often in bed by 11 PM ...it ain't that alternative. The only alternative to being gay is living a lie.
I know you mean well, Tony. But your letter sounds somewhat pompous and condescending. People of ethnicity? Like white people? We have ethnicities. It is not an exotic provence of people of color to have ethnicity.
I have to wonder, Tony, if its not so much about the right thing to do and more about the economic prosperity. Which is fine, because it gets you on the right side of the issue. But don't slap me with the alternative lifestyle label and expect me to sit quietly on the sidelines at the company diversity picnic with a stupid thankful grin on my face.
Thanks for writing, Tony. More people like you should seize that opportunity and get all these ideas out on the table. Kudos.
Peruse the Post-Gazettes Letters to the Editor page this morning, particularly the online edition which features more letters. After I found the requisite gay bash amidst thousands of angry words, it dawned on me how that was a *good* thing --- deflecting attention from real issues with the homosexual threat ain't working. People have written thoughtful letters about the war, Medicare, taxes, deficits, lobbyists, Social Security, safety nets and much more. In Pittsburgh, at least this morning, it appears that what happens in my personal life is not high on the list of issues concerning my neighbors.
Now for that gay bash. Our old friend Nancy Staible of Zelienople who had written in this past April (I have the link here) to defend marriage on the state level, takes a stab at it once again. Nancy is not happy with the New Jersey Supreme Court's social experimentation. She thinks Rick Santorum is the right man on this issue.
But here's the interesting part. Nancy makes repeated references to values. As in multiple values. But this is about one issue --- gay marriage. Rick Santorum believes marriage should between a man and a woman and that's his value. There's nothing more. Nany doesn't go on to elocute on other related values that influence her vote for Rick Santorum. So you have a traditional family -- then what? What about that family's health insurance coverage and access to health care? Or what about their safety net if Dad loses his job and Mom's been home with the kids? How about ensuring the kids can afford to go to college one day? Will programs be available to help them do well in elementary and high school - tutors, books, computers? Is someone going to help them take care of Grandma as she ages so the kids can grow up knowing her? And can we keep those kids in school and out of harm's way by avoiding unecessary wars?
No, here's what Nancy thinks is important:
"I support same-sex unions that would give gay couples all the rights, privileges and protections of marriage," stated Bob Casey Jr. (October 2005, The Philadelphia Jewish Voice).
U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, who has supported a federal and state amendment to protect marriage, believes in the sanctity of marriage and the sacred vows between one man and one woman.
Which candidate's values will you vote for?
Zelienople and Nancy -- bashing homos one letter at a time.
Woo Hoo, Pennsylvania! We may not have any known homosexual Republican Members of Congress BUT we do have two key staffers deeply embedded in the right wing effort to eradicate our community (or "cure us"). And its celebrated in a lovely You Tube video.
That would be Robert Traynham, Rick Santorum's Spokesfag and new best friend of John McIntire. And Lee Cohen, Spokesfag for Melissa Hart. I suspect Mr. Cohen might have a bit of an inferiority complex as Rob T. gets all the attention while Lee is in the background also doing his very best to keep an anti-gay Republican in power. But he doesn't get to make unannounced visits to the John McIntire show. Nosiree bob, instead he's got to spin situations with donuts and old people - how is that gonna get him any man on dog action? What's a spokesfag gotta do to get some credit for betraying his own community?
I just love this image ...
Traynhan and Cohen are building their careers at the expense of you and I, at the expense of our civil rights, our full and equal participation in society, our safety and the welfare of our families.
Five days left to make sure Traynham and Cohen seek work in the private sector where they can do less damage to our families. Traynham and Cohen both deserve to spend years toiling at low wage jobs with no domestic partner benefits and little gay tolerance, but that ain't gonna happen. They are self-loathing asses who put their personal advancement well ahead of any sense of loyalty to those of us in the community with less power, connection or access.
African-American civil rights activists and would be Presidential candidate Al Sharpton called out the Christian right for obsessing on gay rights and abortion to the peril of social justice issues including poverty, education and civil rights.
Tony Perkins, official spokeswhore for the wingnuts, disagrees. He believes that poverty and education issues are symptoms of a the breakdown of the family unit.
So if we criminalize abortion and homosexuality, we'll end poverty. Huh.
With all the Bush (Republican) bashing going on, here are the top 10 reasons to never vote Democrat:
10 -- Complete amnesty for illegals
9 -- Full Social Security for illegals
I hate the term "illegals" The Republicans have done an excellent job with that one -- it makes my skin crawl to hear fellow human beings dehumanized so succintly. I did, however, hear that the Democrats were going to give everyone who came to this country illegally a new car, a home in an affluent white suburb and admission for their kids to the preppy school of their choice. Howard Hanna is going to start printing signs in two languages!
8 -- Undo Bush's tax cuts
7 -- Tax increases
Well, gotta pay for all those new immigration perks somehow ....
6 -- Abortion on demand
There's talk of opening satellite Planned Parenthood clinics in all the public schools. To save time.
5 -- Equal rights for all, including murderers, rapists and pornographers
And poor people, people of color, women, homosexuals, persons with disabilities, formerly incarcerated persons, homeless persons, etc, etc, etc ...
4-- Remove all mention of God in public buildings
This rankis higher than illegals and rapists? Huh. Anyway, Democrats wil probably make Christianity illegal to keep it from interfering from the baby killing.
3 -- Promote gay/lesbian marriage
We're number 3! We're number 3! Gay marriage is higher up on the Democrat agenda than immigration, choice, God, even taxes!
2 -- Kinder treatment of terrorists
Care packages and extra socks?
1 -- Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House.
Oh, scariest of all .... women in power. Liberal women! Ohhhhhhhh ......
Art Olszewski Mt. Lebanon
Mr. Olszewski, only the fact that it is my mother's 64th birthday today keeps me from giving you a lesbian tongue lashing and not the good kind you fantasize about late at night when your stodgy Republican moralist facade comes off and you become the actual vulnerable human being. Or maybe you don't. Your little thrust and parry won't do a damn thing to convince a reasonable person to vote for Ricky, Missy or any of their ilk.
