Responses of Victor Reinoso to GLAA 2004 Questionnaire
for D.C. Board of Education Candidates
| Yes/No (+/- 2) |
Substance (+/- 4) |
Record (+/- 3) |
Championship (+/- 1) |
Total (+/- 10) |
| 2 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | +3.5 |
1. Do you recognize the right of our public school students to organize clubs to promote lesbian and gay civil rights, to combat homophobic violence and prejudice, and to provide socializing opportunities for lesbian and gay youth?
Absolutely. Having spent a number of years as a professional civil rights activist in the District of Columbia, I think it's critical that students be given the opportunity to promote civil rights for lesbian and gay individuals, as well as others who have been discriminated against. There should be no tolerance for homophobic violence and prejudice. As all youth, gay and lesbian youth should be given opportunities to socialize. Community organizations like Youth Pride, GLAA, SMYAL, P-FLAG, GLSEN, GLOV, and others should be our partners in addressing these and other issues of concern.
2. Do you recognize the right of students to bring dates of the same sex to school proms and other official public school social functions?
Yes. Students have the right and should feel comfortable bringing dates of the same sex to school proms and other social functions.
3. Will you oppose efforts to restrict or censor books or other materials in our public school libraries that discuss homosexuality in a positive and supportive manner?
Absolutely. Libraries are an important avenue for students to learn more about countless topics. There should not be censorship or restrictions on materials that discuss homosexuality in a positive, supportive and age-appropriate manner.
4. Do you support the efforts of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) to provide gay positive books to DCPS school libraries?
Yes. The efforts of PFLAG to provide age appropriate materials to school libraries and should be encouraged. Principals and teachers should also receive materials from PFLAG and others to better prepare them to address issues of concern among gay and lesbian students thoughtfully.
5. Do you favor training programs for professional development of teachers, counselors, and other school system staff, such as those offered by the Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL), to help these professionals to nurture positive identity formation for lesbian and gay students?
Absolutely. Principals, teachers, counselors and other staff should all receive training that helps them nurture positive identity formation for lesbian and gay students. Gay and lesbian issues should be addressed as a critical component of diversity training.
6. From time to time, D.C. public school teachers have invited openly gay men and women to speak in their classes and to answer students' questions about homosexuality. Do you support the right of our teachers to continue inviting such speakers?
Yes, I do support the right of teachers to invite openly gay men and women to speak to students about homosexuality as long as it is done in an age-appropriate manner and relates to the subject matter of the class. I also support the invitation of openly gay men and women to address school assemblies or other school or student gatherings as long as it is done in an age-appropriate manner.
7. Do you support the condom availability program established in 1992, and operated by the Department of Health, in our public schools?
Yes, I support the condom availability program, operated by the Department of Health in our schools
8. Will you work to implement a comprehensive sex education program in the D.C. Public Schools that teaches that homosexuality is part of the normal range of human sexuality, consistent with existing DCPS policy?
DC Board of Education Rules (Title 5, Section 2305) provide for a comprehensive sex education program and I will certainly support the inclusion of homosexuality in the program.
9. Will you oppose the use of either federal or District taxpayer funds to promote so-called "abstinence-only-until-marriage" sex education that undermines safer-sex programs by discouraging the use of condoms and that tells gay and lesbian students that they must be celibate forever because they may not legally marry?
I support a comprehensive sex education program and believe that such a program must include a thoughtful discussion of the full-range of choices informed adults can make, including disciplined use of condoms or abstinence. These choices must be presented fully and no effort should be made to discourage the use of condoms or tell gay and lesbian students that they must be celibate forever.
10. The D.C. Human Rights Act prohibits the District from conferring any "benefit" or "advantage" to any group not fully in compliance with the D.C. Human Rights Act. Currently DCPS provides recruiting opportunities, school programs, and direct sponsorship of scout troops despite the finding of the D.C. Human Rights Commission that the Boy Scouts' discriminatory policy against gay people is illegal. Will you work to end the special benefits that the Boy Scouts receive and require that they be treated as any other outside group?
The Boy Scouts should be treated as any other outside group, in compliance with the DC Human Rights Act. To the extent that they receive special benefits, I will work to ensure the practice is ended.
11. Recent federal court rulings and D.C. law recognize that harassment against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students is illegal with the school system liable if harassment continues. Do you support the DCPS policy designed to stop harassment and sexual harassment?
Absolutely. GLBT advocates are to be commended for their persistent efforts to ensure protections for GLBT were included in this policy.
12. Will you oppose both federally and locally funded voucher programs that place students in religious schools and outside the protections of the D.C. Human Rights Act?
I do not support either federally and locally funded voucher programs that place students in religious schools and outside the protections of the D.C. Human Rights Act. Our responsibility as a community is to make sure that every child has equal access to the best education possible. Vouchers don't help us meet this obligation.
Record
Your record is part of your rating. Please list any actions that you have taken that may help illustrate your record on behalf of gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgenders.
I have always been supportive of the civil rights of the GLBT community. I have been a proud participant at the commitment ceremonies of gay friends. I am also a supporter of gay and lesbian adoption. On a personal level, my son's godfather is an openly gay man.