www.drthrockmorton.com/article.asp?id=85
Warren Throckmorton, PhD
July 19, 2004
Who is Diane Lenning? Mrs. Lenning is a public school teacher from California who was until recently the Chair of the Republican Educators Caucus, an interest group within the National Education Association. According to a series of stories by George Archibald of the Washington Times, Mrs. Lenning recently was challenged and nearly ousted from her position in part because she formally protested an award the NEA presented the week of its annual convention in early July. What award? The NEA gives human rights awards yearly and this year one of them, the Virginia Uribe Human Rights Award was given to Kevin Jennings, the Executive Director of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Educators Caucus (GLSEN).
If you have children in public schools, the Lenning - Jennings story is one you should know.
Kevin Jennings is the founder and executive director of the group that seeks to bring discussion of homosexuality related issues to our nation’s public schools from the elementary grades to college. GLSEN has been remarkably successful in popularizing the concept of gay-straight support clubs in schools, of which there are now more than 2000 nationwide. However, Mrs. Lenning and the other teachers were not protesting his award based on his political objectives.