Not all happy with revised gay school plan

CHICAGO, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- Gay activists say they'll oppose a plan to open up a proposed Chicago high school reserved for homosexual students to other "disenfranchised" kids.

The Chicago Tribune said Tuesday the organizers of the project had decided to broaden the enrollment of the planned Social Justice Solidarity High School, but critics in the homosexual community said the move "watered down" the original idea.

"I think it's frankly a caving in, and I think it's unfortunate," said Andy Thayer a co-founder of the Gay Liberation Front.

Social Justice had been originally planned as the Windy City's first public high school catering to gay students, but critics contended it would segregate students.

The school district said the wider enrollment would allow in other students who might not be gay but are ostracized for other reasons.

"They wanted to try and make sure that the scope was broadened so that kids who are isolated for other issues, whether that be religion, obesity or other things that kids get teased about … have a spot at that school too," said spokesman Michael Vaughn.

The Tribune said the revised plan goes before the school board Wednesday.