As a former Newport Beach resident and someone who still spends lots of time there, a press release I just got from the ACLU really has me steamed. And as a gay man who has been reading about young kids committing suicide because of anti-gay taunts, it makes me sick.

The ACLU states that following Corona Del Mar High School officials‟ initial decision to cancel the musical production of Rent: School Edition earlier this year, they have subsequently failed to address a growing atmosphere of intolerance at the school.

This has created a breeding ground for homophobic attitudes and has paved the way for a planned protest by a virulently anti-gay group tomorrow.

“Despite numerous opportunities to address an atmosphere openly hostile to female, lesbian,bisexual, gay and transgender students, the district has done nothing that we are aware of to curb intolerance,” said ACLU/SC Staff Attorney Lori Rifkin.

“There has not been a single word condemning bullying or homophobic behavior. No school assembly has been held to address harassment. School officials released a public statement about the play recently that offers nominal support for the drama department and student cast members, but distances district and school administrators from the production and emphasizes that it is „not a school sanctioned event‟ and that it contains adult content.‟

“This tepid and inaccurate statement, on the eve of a protest by Fred Phelps‟ vitriolic hate group
that could eclipse the musical production and leave cast members feeling vulnerable and scared
on stage, is simply inadequate and unacceptable,” Rifkin added.

Phelps‟ extremist Westboro Baptist Church prominently features the language “God Hates Fags” on its Web site.

Rifkin added that the protest – along with school officials‟ nonaction in the face of controversy — will likely mar memories of the event in many students‟ minds for years to come.
“High school plays are often fondly remembered because they embody creativity, cooperation
and values fostered by school administrators — not, as here, bigotry and intolerance. But school
personnel and district officials could prevent this poisonous atmosphere from spreading further,”
Rifkin said. “Now is the perfect time to stand up for students, condemn intolerance and address
the disturbing atmosphere of homophobia that has flourished at Corona Del Mar High School.”

The ACLU/SC sued Newport-Mesa Unified School District and officials of Corona del Mar High
School on March 18 for allowing a hostile environment to develop toward gay and female
students that led to death threats against one student. In the lawsuit, the ACLU/SC specifically
cites the high school‟s initial cancellation of Rent: School Edition, a version of the gay-themed
musical that ran on Broadway for more than a decade.

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