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Bucheri
Rivers, who is preparing for a sex-change
operation, sent a letter to co-workers in May
explaining why she would be returning to school
this fall as a woman.
“I want to be a whole person,” she wrote. “It
is not a lifestyle choice. It is not a fetish. I am
not hoping to make any kind of social or politi­
cal statement. It is the single most significant
aspect of who I am.”
The Pacific Justice Institute, a conservative
group urging that Rivers be fired, alleges that
Rivers then spoke with students about the sexu­
al abuse she had experienced as a child, gender
identity issues and her decision to become a
woman.
According to Rivers’ attorney, Margaret
Geddes, that account of events is inaccurate.
Brad Dacus, founder of the Pacific Justice
Institute, says his organization became involved
after several parents complained that the alleged
talk with students occurred without prior notice.
Dacus insists it is the talk with students, not
the sex change, that is behind the schools deci­
sion to place Rivers on leave. He believes Rivers
should have quietly transferred to another
school as a woman.
lesbians.
One bill, AB26, creates a new statewide
domestic partnership registry. To be eligible,
couples must be either gay or lesbian, or over 62
years of age. The law provides hospital visitation
rights to domestic partners. It also makes it pos­
sible for state and local government employees
to obtain health benefits for their partners.
The signing of AB1001 adds language con­
cerning sexu­
al orientation
to the state’s
Fair Employ­
ment and
Housing Act.
The Fair
Employment
and Housing
Department,
a key civil
rights agency,
will oversee
any cases that
arise.
Hate speech and discrimination against stu­
dents and teachers in public schools and on col­
lege campuses will no longer be tolerated.
AB537 was strongly opposed by the religious
right wing. Both sexual orientation and gender
identity are covered by the law.
The final bill increases the penalty for mur­
ders motivated by the victims gender, sexual
orientation or disability. The new law, which
takes effect Jan. 1, increases the maximum
"He could have kept it to himself. That
penalty to life in prison without parole.
would have been the easiest for the students,
with less stress and trauma,” Dacus says.
Students at Center High School in Antelope
avid Warfield struggled his whole life with held a rally in support of Rivers.
a deep secret. Although he lived his life as
“I think Ms. Rivers should do whatever she
a man, Warfield felt like a woman.
wants,” says junior Mary Muehe. “If anything,
The high school journalism teacher had she’ll only be a better teacher now because she
served in the Navy, taught white-water rafting won’t have to hide this.”
and worked as a political consultant before
becoming a teacher. None of that changed how
COLORADO
he felt.
-or the past five years, the Abundant Life
After beginning hormone therapy in April,
Christian Center has staged Hell House as
Warfield informed Center High School princi­ an alternative to secular Halloween haunted
pal Steve Wehr that, in the fall, he would be houses. The controversial event is the brain­
returning to school as a woman with a new child of Keenan Roberts, associate pastor of the
name, Dana Lee Rivers.
congregation in Arvada, a Denver suburb.
Now Rivers, who has officially changed her
According to Roberts, Hell House is meant
name, finds herself in jeopardy of losing her to show young people that they can go to hell
teaching job, reports a Sept. 28 Associated Press for abortion, adultery, homosexuality, drinking
story. In a complaint filed with the state labor and other acts unless they repent and end the
commissioner, Rivers claims she was notified behavior.
three days before the beginning of the school
This year’s Hell House will feature a gay
year that she had been placed on administrative “wedding,” various media sources report. The
leave and would not be allowed on campus.
wedding scenario will feature two people dressed
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