Quote:They should not, for that, as defined above, is segregation and unconstitutional.
We've been through this. It's wholly constitutional. As you say...
Quote:You claim that anyone can attend this gay school. That's their loophole apparently.
"Loophole" is your word. But, yes, the fact that anyone can attend this school ensures its constitutionally.
I should say here that you are distorting the historically important meaning of the word "segregation."
I'll grant that you could offer, as one definition of "segregation:" "the state of people living part."
But the historical reality was this: whites, who dominate(d) the power structure, *imposed* segregation on blacks, in part through force of law. It was this historical reality that courts attacked through Brown v. Board of Education and other decisions.
If segregation, as you define it, were truly unconstitutional, the simple act of a white family moving from a black neighborhood to a whiter one could be construed as unconstitutional. Think of the remedy!
Courts have never gone nearly this far.
Quote:I see that as wrong too. They can SAY that, but their school and their curriculum is based on homosexuality and the gay lifestyle,
I think this statement distorts the reality.
The New York Times editorial I posted above describes the intended curriculum as "traditional." Much of it would have to be; the New York State Board of Regents has laid out in quite a bit of detail what is expected of boys and girls to receive a high school diploma. If these kids can't pass the state proficiency tests, they won't be getting diplomas.
I'll grant that school psychologists may be hired with an eye toward their ability to help gay and lesbian teens. Sex education class could differ. I'd even suggest a segment of history class ought to be devoted to gay history. It is certainly little studied or understood. And I'll bet this school has the best organized gay and lesbian after school club in the country.
But even if all of these were true about the Harvey Milk High School -- and I'm really just speculating -- none of this would approach your characterization of Milk as a"school and ... curriculum ... based on homosexuality and the gay lifestyle."
Quote:so any heterosexual is going to feel out of place and leave.
This strikes me as wholly irrelevant, and possibly untrue. (Would siblings choose to attend high school with a gay or lesbian sibling? It strikes me as very possible).
I'll stipulate that most straight people will not attend this school because they are straight and most (if not all) Milk students will not be.
Most whites don't attend historically black universities, either. And, let's face it: A big reason is that most whites do not want to put themselves in an environment where they are a small, very obvious minority.
This fact about historically black universities is constitutionally irrelevant.
This isn't the only analogy I'd draw. School system open schools designed to cater to different segments of their students all the time. By opening a School of the Arts, is a school district segregating aspiring artists?
I believe the Detroit schools went even further with the Marcus Garvey Academy. I wish I could find a link to a story about the school, but I can't. My understanding is that this middle school was designed specifically with the needs of young males in mind. (And, when most people talked about it, they talked about the crisis of "black males.")
It carries, I'm told, somewhat of a military academy atmosphere.
Quote:When taxpayer dollars are spent to fund a school that supports a lifestyle most Americans disagree with, that's a problem.
But most New Yorkers aren't nearly so troubled about this "lifestyle," as you call it.
(I don't care for your wording; it implies a choice is involved in being gay or not being gay. You'll never convince me people choose to be gay.)
I thought some of your analysis in the other gay-thread-that-won't-end was very, very good. Marriage is both a religious and a civil institution. Catholics call it a "sacrament." Courts treat it as a "contract."
But you also argued that the issue of civil marriage should be left to the states. I'm inclined to agree. I don't believe the federal government should get involved.
Why shouldn't this principle apply to the Milk High School?
It isn't as if the New York City school system is trying to open this school in Montgomery, Ala.
