Corona Del Mar HS "Rent" director placed on leave

OCEC is deeply concerned about the news that Ron Martin has been put on administrative leave. We will continue to look into this situation and keep everyone updated.

Here are links to two stories in local newspapers on the situation


Daily Pilot Story Here:
http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2009/10/22/education/dpt-martin102209.txt

Orange County Register Story Here:
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/martin-school-district-2618089-principal-rent?

SETTLEMENT REACHED WITH NEWPORT MESA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT IN CASE OF THREATENED VIOLENCE AGAINST YOUNG FEMALE

Mandatory Training and Monitoring Components Included

ORANGE COUNTY, CA - The Orange County Equality Coalition ("OCEC") announced that a settlement agreement has been entered in the lawsuit that was brought in March against the Newport Mesa Unified School District and others in connection with events at Corona del Mar High School. The lawsuit was filed after four male students at the school threatened a female student, Hail Ketchum, with rape and murder in a videotaped statement that also included homophobic slurs. The complaint charged that CdM had allowed an atmosphere of sexism and homophobia to flourish at the school and had failed to protect students. The settlement includes mandatory faculty and administration training about discrimination and harassment with an ongoing monitoring component. OCEC was a named plaintiff in the lawsuit along with Ms. Ketchum and her parents. The settlement requires the school district to apologize to Ms. Ketchum.

ACLU attorney Hector Villagra noted that this settlement will serve as a model for other high schools where there are similar issues taking place and as a warning to other school districts that ignore acts of violence against women and LGBT students.

The lawsuit arose during a charged atmosphere at CdM in which a planned production of the Pulitzer Prize winning musical RENT was initially cancelled, drawing widespread media attention. Under the direction of Ron Martin, the musical was performed in April to sold-out audiences, with Ms. Ketchum playing the role of Mimi Marquez. RENT portrays both gay and straight couples in loving relationships, and Martin chose the play in part to address what he saw as a rise in homophobia on campus. The Proposition 8 campaign appeared to embolden some at the school inclined to engage in homophobic speech.

OCEC, which formed in the wake of the passage of Proposition 8, includes several parents in the school district deeply concerned that CdM administrators were not doing enough to address sexism and homophobia at the high school. OCEC joined the lawsuit to press for increased training at the school and supported the production of RENT. OCEC also marshaled its membership in April when members of the Westboro Baptist Church arrived near campus to protest the RENT production. The Kansas-based hate group was outnumbered 400 to 1 in a protest and counter-protest attended by students at CdM and community supporters. BJ Davis, chair of OCEC, said that the controversy surrounding RENT had energized its membership.

"OCEC is dedicated to rooting out discrimination in Orange County," she said. "It is particularly important that LGBT students know that they are supported by their community." At a press conference held Wednesday, drama director Ron Martin thanked OCEC for its support of RENT and LGBT students.

OCEC legal chair, Katherine Darmer, stated that she was "thrilled" by the terms of the settlement in the lawsuit. Darmer is a professor of law at Chapman University and a board member of OCEC. "This case served as a wake-up call to the district," she said. "The law protects female and LGBT students from harassment in the school environment, and it is the school district's job to protect all students." Darmer expressed deep appreciation to the ACLU for filing the lawsuit and negotiating the terms of the settlement. Hector Villagra and Lori Rifkin of the ACLU Southern California were lead counsel on the case. "OCEC is immensely grateful to Hector and Lori," Darmer stated. "It is critical to our community that we have an ACLU office physically
present in Orange County." Darmer expressed hope that OCEC and the ACLU would continue to work together in matters affecting the LGBT community.

OCEC board member Tom Peterson noted that he has lived in the community for 25 years, within walking distance of CdM High School. He was "appalled" to learn of the threats to Ms. Ketchum and of a climate of tolerating homophobia. Such conduct "is not reflective of this community, which believes in acceptance of and dignity for everyone," he emphasized. "Bullying is as bad for the bully as it is for the person being bullied." He vowed that OCEC would continue to monitor the situation at CdMto ensure a safe environment for all students.

Federal Prop 8 Trial Date set for January 2010

Judge Vaughn R. Walker
Judge Vaughn R. Walker has approved bringing the Prop 8 Federal Lawsuit to trial starting on January 11th, 2010. You can read the full story on this and follow the latest on the federal challenge to Prop 8 at anytime by visiting our Legal News Section from the tabs above and clicking on the Federal Prop 8 Case link.
UPDATE: Raw video added from Press Conference that was held after announcement of trial date. Attorneys from both sides of the case speak and the videos are somewhat long but there is a lot of good information in them so worth a watch.
Plaintiff attorneys:
http://cbs5.com/video/?id=54269@kpix.dayport.com

Opposing Yes on 8 attorney:
http://cbs5.com/video/?id=54271@kpix.dayport.com

Obama Administration says marriage law unfair

But still defending it anyway!

Aug. 17th, 2009
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration filed court papers Monday claiming a federal marriage law discriminates against gays, even as government lawyers continue to defend the law.

Justice Department lawyers are seeking to dismiss a suit brought by a gay California couple challenging the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act. The administration's response to the case has angered gay activists who see it as backtracking on campaign promises made by Barack Obama.
In the court papers, the administration urges the repeal of the law but says in the meantime, government lawyers will continue to defend it as a law on the books.

Read full story here

UPDATE: Obama has released a follow-up statement:

"Today, the Department of Justice has filed a response to a legal challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act, as it traditionally does when acts of Congress are challenged. This brief makes clear, however, that my Administration believes that the Act is discriminatory and should be repealed by Congress. I have long held that DOMA prevents LGBT couples from being granted equal rights and benefits. While we work with Congress to repeal DOMA, my Administration will continue to examine and implement measures that will help extend rights and benefits to LGBT couples under existing law."

OC PRIDE and KISS IN

Saturday Aug. 15th

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO CAME OUT TO CELEBRATE PRIDE!!!

It was wonderful!!!