GOVERNORS at Hacknev's Kingsmead School continue to back 'Romeo and Juliet' case headteacher Jane Brown.
She is still threatened with dismissal by Hackney Council in a determined attack on lesbian and gay rights, union rights and equal opportunities.
The Labour council, which is receiving rare enthusiastic support from the gutter press, even threatened legal action against the governors in a desperate attempt to scare them into line.
The school governors' investigation into the allegations against Jane Brown is expected to issue a report next week. Although details of the case are supposed to remain confidential, the Council regularly discusses them with the press.
In further attacks on Jane Brown's rights, the Council has denied her right to union representation, has released her name to the press, and has banned her from speaking to the press herself.
Hundreds
The Kingsmead Support Group has organised two lobbies of Hackney Council, attended by several hundred people.
The group, established by friends and supporters of Jane Brown to organise support and solidarity for Jane and the school against the vicious and homophobic attacks by the press and to oppose the unfair and partial treatment by Hackney Council, has opposed all attacks on equal opportunities.
LESBIAN Nevertheless, the group has itself been the subject of attacks and rumours of racism in its attitude to Hackney Director of Education Gus John.
Supporters
The group points out in a letter refuting these allegations that supporters of the campaign include members of Hackney CRE, Hackney North MP Diane Abbott, Linda Bellos and the London Collective of Black Governors.
The Voice, Capital Gay, the Pink Paper and the Hackney Gazette have all failed to print this letter.
In its letter the group writes: Gus John has an understanding of the historical oppression of class, race and gender. Why is this not extended to the oppression of those who are lesbian and gay?
in a recent article in the Voice, Gus is quoted as saying OUR BOI OUTRAGE!
Outflanked by right wing Hackney council: Education Secretary Patten *Equal opportunities are about equality, not about special treatment for lesbians or anyone else' Surely the core of the argument is that because of the historic oppression of sections of society, and the resulting widely held stereotypes and prejudices against them, people do not come from equal starting points, and equal opportunities is all about addressing the resulting 'needs' which are not the same for evervone' The Kingsmead Support Group is campaigning against the ripping-up of Hackney council's Equal Opportunities Policy.
The council's attempt to divide the borouah's minorities must not be allowed to succeed. • Messages of support and donations can be sent to Kingsmead Support Group, c/o Hackney NUT, 219 Mare Street, London E8 3QH.
BIGOTRY ¡EQUALITY OR NOTHING AND GAY EQUALITY NOVI ament on larch 14