THE EDGERINE PROJECT: GETTING THE SCHOOL BOARD OF OKLAHOMA CITY TO PROTECT ITS GAY STUDENTS

by Joe Quigley

Because of a student's death and the concern of one of her teachers a simple request was made the Oklahoma City Public Schools District's administration to add the words "sexual orientation" to the published policies on nondiscrimination, bullying, and harassment. What seemed to be a simple request began a 12 year battle with various administrators doing what they could to prevent this for their own personal, political, and religious reasons, and because they hoped that their opposition would earn them promotion within a school district in the Buckle of the Bible Belt. In spite of opposition, attitudes changed and the words were eventually included, but at a price.

421 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 27, 2015

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some may find this very repetitive. But I've been reading my friend Joe Quigley's blogs (on many subjects) for years, and understand that putting this whole narrative together to tell this fascinating story means piecing together blogs that also needed to stand on their own. The most repetitive parts of this are the obstacles and ridiculous machinations that the administrators came up with, just to persecute Joe for trying to protect gay students that they refused to believe even existed. What a saga of perseverance for this pioneer, openly "Gay Teacher" in the Oklahoma City school district, who just always wanted to be an exceptional teacher. This past year, students in OKC graduated after spending their entire time in school under the protections from bullying, harassment and discrimination for which he fought so hard.
At this point I was going to acknowledge my own bias, and make my "full disclosure" that I've known Joe and enjoyed his friendship since 1968, but I realized we reconnected right in the middle of this story after about a 20 year gap. I'm still learning who he is and, in this book, just some of what he's been through.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, a disclaimer, Joe Quigley is a friend. We both taught (I still teach) in the Oklahoma City Public School District. Joe worked for several years to give GLBT students in the school district a measure of protection from bullying and harassment by adding the words "sexual orientation" to the Student Code of Conduct.

This cost him personally and professionally as he faced intimidation and challenges from school officials and administrators. He finally faced the possibility of dismissal that went all the way to district court.

The memoir is very honest. I witnessed many of the events in the book. Others were confirmed for me by those who knew and/or taught with Joe, including my wife who taught at Northwest Classen High School when he was there.

There is a lot of good humor in the book, especially in the absurd length some school administrators went to in order to silence him.

Joe is one of those who have worked to bend the moral arc of the universe towards justice for all. GLBT students in the OKCPS district have much for which to thank him.