Teacher Accused: When Homophobia Explodes in a Texas Town

Glen McLean, freshly transplanted from New York to Texas, revels in his new life. He's proud to be a teacher, proud to be on his own, and excited to build an authentic life true to his inner needs and feelings as a gay man.

His idealism is soon interrupted. The Texas Sodomy Statute has been overturned by "activist" judges and religious conservatives are paranoid about the "homosexual agenda" and its impact on their children's lives. An effeminate boy, Danny Anderson, is relentlessly bullied after his father forces him to admit his orientation to the church congregation.

Still, Glen's classroom lessons focus on respect and acceptance for all, including homosexuals. Glen's essay assignment ignites an explosion of homophobic hatred. Editorials appear in the local newspaper against a homosexual teacher promoting tolerance of homosexuality in his classroom. To his horror, Glen's accused of sodomizing Danny, the 15 year-old boy he has tried to protect.

But times have changed even in this small Bible-belt community near Dallas. Glen stands firm, refusing to live a life of lies...and the intolerance of the few collides with the compassion and respect of the many as they stand behind their beloved teacher.

Granowsky, former director of reading and language arts for the Greensboro, NC and Dallas, TX public schools, is a prominent spokesman for reading education and has written many story books and readers for children.