Hate Crimes right down the street from the Capital of California

In the words of the Richard.  One of the fathers:

"A week after the firebombing of our car, our home was toilet papered and egged.  We have since found out that the toilet papering and egging were related to homophobia our son has faced at his school.  The police have stated that the firebombing and the egging are unrelated, but the two incidents have terrorized our family. 

Over the past year he has been subject to a litany of derogatory statements from students at his school.  These statements transformed into physical bullying at school, and now have reached our doorstep. 

We have attempted to address this issue with the principal and the school district administration: the reception has been cold and lackluster.  The principal has attempted to justify the victimization of our son by stating that, "the student consensus is that your son is annoying, that he talks too much."  The principal gave suspensions to two children involved in the egging and five other children received detentions.  Unfortunately, there were fourteen students, at least, that have been involved in the taunting of our son.  The Friday following the weekend egging, we attempted to put our son back into school, with reassurances of safety.   He was harassed on that Friday and on the following Monday.  The students involved did not receive punishment for that Friday or Monday series of incidents.  During a meeting on Tuesday, the principal suggested that we put our son in another school, or perhaps consider independent study, isolating the victim further.  The principal further stated that he didn’t care if we brought out protesters, that he didn’t care if we complained to the district—he’s doing his job, and if they didn’t like it, they could fire him.  With the help of another individual, we were able to persuade him to take action: but the statements of the principal during a PA announcement and an address to the school did not go far enough to explicitly state that there was a ZERO TOLERANCE policy regarding homophobia, a policy that is already included in the disciplinary matrix of Davis Joint Unified School District.  Students felt the message was weak.  When meeting with the district, they attempted to put the issue back onto the victims, including my partner and myself.  We would like your help to push the school district and the schools to address this issue with the necessary gravity to prevent further injustice in the schools, and to assure a safe place for all students." 

A letter from a close friend:
"In the early morning hours of Saturday, October 14, Richard and Guy's car burned in their driveway.  Mechanical reasons for the fire have been ruled out and arson is being investigated.  At this point there is no suspect for starting the fire.  The entire inside of the car was gutted by fire, something that is unlikely without an accelerant.

Needless to say, Richard and Guy and their 13 year old son are pretty traumatized by this.  They don't know why they have been targeted or what will happen next.

In the early morning hours of last Saturday their house was egged and TPed.  This made them all feel even more vulnerable.  Later on Saturday their son told his dads that he has been subjected to anti-gay name calling for the past two years.  He is in a hostile school environment.  He is called faggot frequently, even in class when teachers are there.  Other kids have teased him about having sex with his father or his fathers.  It turns out that the egging was done by some of these bullies at the school.  It now becomes apparent why their son, who is a very bright and likable boy, has had behavioral, academic and social problems that he had not had previously.  When Guy went to the school to discuss his son’s safety there, the principal investigated and found that his son has psychological defensive behaviors that make him unpopular with other students.  So the victim of the bullying and vandalism was blamed for what has happened.

I have asked Guy not to let their son return to school until the school can assure him that their son will be safe there.  I have also given him information and forms for formal complaint to the state department of education.

These guys all need a lot of support now.  These events have been frightening and the stress has caused a disruption in their relationships and work.  Guy is afraid that if it becomes publicly known that he is gay that his new business of accounting will fail."

Here's what you can do:

If the school or the police are not forthcoming with satisfactory responses, we can respond as a group to demand satisfaction.  This might include large groups of us going to the school or to the city council or the police.
Come out.  If you are not out of the closet, come out.  Expect, nay, demand that you be treated with respect and equality.  Respond collectively and forcefully if you are not treated with equality and respect.
Become resource for the schools, the city, the university or any other entity that needs diversity training.
As Benjamin Franklin said, "We must all hang together or surely we will all hang separately." "

This Thursday, we are meeting with the school board.  The meeting is being held at 23 Russell Boulevard in Davis, California, in the Davis Community Chambers at 7:00 PM.  Please join us. Let us come together to support our collective fundamental rights to life and liberty. 

However many signatures that can be collected in this short time would be amazing--it would show them that they are not alone in this--that there are people who care and will not allow intolerance, hatred, and violence to be placed under a blanket of passive ignorance or denial.  That our character as a people is not going to be defined by those who choose to do nothing, but instead it will be a loud voice stating, No, we do NOT accept these actions.  We are a nation founded on the ideals of tolerance, acceptance, and brotherhood--how can we back these words with conviction if in our own CHILDREN'S Schools, they do not teach this and stand by it?  Please help us and stand with us.  We are putting the school, the principal, the Davis Joint Unified School District on notice.  They must comply with AB 537.  They must comply with protections set forth in the California Penal Code, the California Educational Code, and in the policies of the district and school.  The school must enforce policies safeguarding the rights of protected groups, clearly providing consistent direction and consistent consequences.  We must protect our children.  Your individual signatures and support may seem a small step, but every step forward by every person is a collective move in the right direction.