This book helps the reader to understand and mediate the debates that arise when gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, intersex, and queer/questioning (GLBTIQ) students and their families ask for equal treatment from the schools and are opposed by conservative parents. Sexual Orientation and School Policy is a case study of one school districts' attempt to adopt and implement policies that include sexual orientation. This book describes the work of the Safe Schools Coalition who advocate and educate for equal rights for GLBTIQ students. Concerned Citizens, a group of conservative parents, opposed the inclusion of sexual orientation in the policies. The author highlights the factors that either facilitated or impeded the implementation of the policies as well as the strategies employed by the Safe Schools Coalition in educating opponents.

Ian K. Macgillivray is assistant professor of curriculum and foundations of education at James Madison University. To visit his website, go to: www.sexualorientationschoolpolicy.com

Chapter 1 Foreword
Chapter 2 Foreword
Chapter 3 I: Implementing School Nondiscrimination Policy that Includes Sexual Orientation: A Case Study in School and Community Politics
Chapter 4 1 In the Beginning
Chapter 5 2 A History of the Two Policies
Chapter 6 3 Strategies Employed by the High Plains Safe Schools Coalition to Build Community and District Support
Chapter 7 4 Lessons from the Case of High Plains
Chapter 8 5 Suggestions for Other School Districts and Safe Schools Coalitions
Chapter 9 II: Understanding Moral Conservative Opposition to School Policies that Include Sexual Orientation
Chapter 10 6 Opposition to Educational Change
Chapter 11 7 How the Various Sides in the Debate Make Meaning of the Policies
Chapter 12 8 Why the Various Sides Support or Oppose the Inclusion of Sexual Orientation in the Policies
Chapter 13 9 Conclusions: How to Evaluate the Competing Claims of Violations of Rights
Chapter 14 Epilogue: My reflections on Doing this Research
Chapter 15 Appendix A: On the Making ofSexual Orientation and School Policy
Chapter 16 Appendix B: Methods of Data Analysis
Chapter 17 Appendix C: Validity and Reliability
Chapter 18 Appendix D: HPSD's Nondiscrimination Policy
Chapter 19 Appendix E: Diversity Goal Statement with Beliefs from Strategic Plan
Chapter 20 Appendix F: Associated Regulations that Support the Nondiscrimination Policy
Chapter 21 Bibliography
Chapter 22 About the Author