During a Coeur d'Alene School District board meeting Monday at the Midtown Center, Susan Moss, a local attorney, makes a request of board members to add language to the current policy that would protect LGBT employees from discrimination. Coeur d'Alene Press story here. (Coeur d'Alene Press photo: Shawn Gust)

A citizen proposal to add protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students and employees in Coeur d’Alene public schools has sparked controversy even before the school board has said if it will take on the debate. Coeur d’Alene attorney Susan Moss, a parent in the district, asked the board Monday to look at nine policies that list the basis on which discrimination and harassment are prohibited – race, sex and religion, for example – and consider adding sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes. Moss said the district lacks uniform language in its policies. One policy on bullying does address sexual orientation, she noted, but teachers still can be fired for being gay/Scott Maben, SR. More here.

Thoughts?