Firestorm in Wake of Salt Lake City Vote Continues To Grow

By Jeff Archer

The formation last week of a support and advocacy group for homosexual teachers in Utah capped a series of protests over the Salt Lake City school board's ban on extracurricular clubs.

Hundreds of students walked out of classes Feb. 23 and marched to the state Capitol to protest the board's decision to ban all such clubs rather than allow a support group for gay and lesbian students. Federal law prohibits districts from banning some clubs while allowing others based on their political, religious, or other such character.

Meanwhile, the state legislature last week passed a measure prohibiting school personnel from engaging in or condoning "illegal conduct," which some gay-rights supporters attacked as a direct assault on...