A Fairfax County, Va., school board member has been chastised by his colleagues for sending a letter on homosexuality to principals.
In his Jan. 30 letter, written on personal letterhead but signed as a member of the school board, Stephen Hunt recommended that principals make time for students to hear the views of people who believe homosexuality is a “destructive lifestyle.” Specifically, Mr. Hunt wrote to encourage schools to invite speakers with an “ex-gay perspective.”
The 12-member board issued a statement on Feb. 3 reprimanding Mr. Hunt and expressing its continued support for the 166,000-student district’s family-life curriculum, which says that there is a range of viewpoints in society related to sexual orientation and that all people should be treated with respect.
The statement said Mr. Hunt had violated school board policy in sending the letter and noted that board members “have no official or legal authority outside of board meetings, except as the board has delegated to them.”
Mr. Hunt apologized to the principals and the board.
