Anti-Gay Bullying besets a Southern California High School

Some friends at the conference just told me about this. In Paloma Valley High School, gay students are getting bullied from all sides, even by teachers.

In one instance, a Paloma Valley High School student alleged a teacher wrote an "S" on her hand and called her "a sinner." In another, a student group says it was barred from doing an activity for gay and lesbian history month, though an ethnic student group could. An openly gay senior says he was unfairly disciplined after a dispute with a classmate who he says harassed him. 

Teachers and students took their concerns to Paloma Valley administrators, the school board and the ACLU. District officials say they are addressing the complaints. 

"We take them very, very seriously," said Leslie Ventuleth, spokeswoman for the Perris Union High School District and its chief human resources officer. 

District officials have taken several steps to improve the climate at Paloma Valley, Ventuleth said. The school now has a Peer Leadership Uniting Students program, which encourages students to intervene if they see harassment or bullying. The school also held recent anti-bullying assemblies. 

District officials are considering more anti-bullying training for students and staff and working to expand programs to other district high schools, Ventuleth said. 

The "S" marking part is really bothering me. I hope that alleged incident is being addressed and dealt with immediately! If teachers are a part of this mess, they need to be fired!

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