Questions remain in cancellation of gay author's appearance

Courier Weekend
Friday, Oct. 17, 2008

ST. STEPHEN – While there has been much made in the provincial and national media of the cancellation of the scheduled talks by gay author Alex Sanchez in two high schools, no one from some of the groups sponsoring or hosting his visit is offering any opinion on what has happened or why.
Jamie Waycott, principal of St. Stephen High School, where one of the talks was scheduled to take place next week, said he has been directed by School District 10 superintendent Keith Pierce to forward all media calls through his office.
However, Pierce was unavailable for phone calls Tuesday, Oct. 14, and will be unavailable until next Monday.
Jay Remer, a member of the Charlotte County Rainbow Support Group, which booked Sanchez, said the school district was helping sponsor Sanchez’s trip here from his home in Florida. Sanchez was also to speak at Fundy High School. Sanchez writes novels aimed at gay teens based on his own experiences growing up gay.
Remer said Sanchez will speak on Monday, Oct. 20 at the Wesley United Church in St. Andrews at 7 p.m.
Remer described the school district as initially enthusiastic about Sanchez speaking to the students at the two high schools, but said that after receiving some complaints from parents, the district decided to cancel the speaking engagements.
Other reports indicate there may have been some scheduling difficulty after the two days off this week for teacher professional development.
Meanwhile, the students at SSHS are in the midst of planning a day (Oct. 24) when all students will be encouraged to wear pink as a sign of support for tolerance, equality and acceptance.
Hundreds of comments have been lodged on the CBC website. One comment noted how St. Stephen was getting a bad reputation because of the action the school district took, for whatever reason.
St. Stephen Mayor Jed Purcell said he didn’t understand the school district’s decision.
“I don’t know where they are coming from,” said the mayor. “I’m surprised they cancelled.”
“You can’t give kids too much information.”

School district cancels gay author's school appearances

Saint Croix Courier
Tuesday, Oct. 14

ST. STEPHEN – Students at St. Stephen High School and at Fundy High School in St. George will have to travel to St. Andrews on Oct. 20 if they want to hear what gay author Alex Sanchez has to say.
Sanchez, who writes novels aimed at gay teens dealing with issues they have growing up, was scheduled to speak at both high schools but because of a protest voiced by a small number of parents who were strongly opposed to his appearances, District 10 decided to cancel his speaking engagements at the schools.
Jay Remer, a member of the Charlotte County Rainbow Support Group who booked Sanchez, said that while he was initially mad when he learned of the school board’s decision and the reason for it, that anger turned to disappointment. He said he and his group respect the school board’s decision.
Remer described the school board as initially very enthusiastic about Sanchez speaking to the students at the two high schools, The board was helping sponsor Sanchez’s trip here from his home in Florida
“But word got out in the community,” said Remer.
He said some parents telephoned the schools and strongly voiced their disapproval. He said he was told the schools felt they did not want there to be a negative impact on the progress they have made “teaching and promoting tolerance of all people”, so they cancelled Sanchez’s talks.
In a strange coincidence, the students at SSHS are in the midst of plans to stage a day, Oct. 24, when they will encourage their classmates to wear pink in a show of support for tolerance, equality and acceptance.
Remer said the schools should be commended for work they have done on tolerance and bullying and said he’s sure their decision to cancel Sanchez’s visits did not come easily.
“The schools, in all fairness, thought about this long and hard. We respected the decision we couldn’t hold events at schools,” he said.
Remer said a talk by Sanchez is now scheduled for Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Wesley United Church in St. Andrews. Sanchez is also scheduled to speak the next evening, Oct. 21, at the Mary Oland Theatre at the New Brunswick Museum in Saint John at 7 p.m.
“We were going to be able to reach so many students,” said Remer of the cancelled appearances at the school. But he added that his organization didn’t want to be forcing anything on people.
“The principals have made a lot of effort in teaching tolerance. It’s really a matter of continuing an educational process that’s been going on for ages,” he said.
“Within another generation, sexual orientation, as far as a measure of a man, will have no power at all,” Remer said.
Remer, who is gay, said he wasn’t surprised there were those who opposed the school talks by Sanchez.
“I’m 57 years old, and I’m quite used to hearing a lot of negative input. I’m hoping the people who are going to be lucky enough to listen to him will be blown away. He’s going to give a great talk. It’s a privilege to listen to him,” he said.