The bullying-riddled Anoka-Hennepin School District in Minnesota might finally replace its don’t-say-gay “neutrality” policy with one that actually respects and protects its LGBT students. Replacing a problematic alternative that would have treated homosexuality as a “controversial topic” that teachers could not discuss, the newest proposal calls for age-appropriate discussions that “affirm the dignity and self-worth of all students,” regardless of their sexual orientation or gender. Four of the six school board members have already indicated their support for the new alternative, the Respectful Learning Environment Curriculum Policy:

The Board is committed to providing a safe and respectful learning environment and to providing an education that respects all students and families.

It is the professional responsibility of the teacher to follow the Board-adopted curriculum, which is designed to meet Minnesota state standards.

Political, religious, social, or economic issues may become contentious in a learning environment in which conflicting views are held by a broad segment of people in our schools, our community, and the nation.

It is not the District’s role to take positions on these issues. Teachers and educational support staff shall not attempt in the course of their professional duties to persuade students to adopt or reject any particular viewpoint with respect to these issues.

Curricular discussions of such issues shall be appropriate to the maturity and developmental level of students; be of significance to course content; and be presented in an impartial, balanced and objective manner, allowing respectful exchange of varying points of view. Lessons shall be designed to help students think critically and develop decision-making skills and techniques for examining and understanding differing opinions.

In the course of discussions of such issues, district staff shall affirm the dignity and self-worth of all students, regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex/gender, marital status, disability, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, age, family care leave status or veteran status.

This policy is definitely a big step forward for the district, but it may not yet be perfect. Requiring an “impartial, balanced, and objective” presentation on sexual orientation could open the door to the kind of harmful and unscientific views that a conservative group of parents support. The fringe group, the Parents Action League, favors maintaining the troublesome “neutrality” policy, but also seeks to promote harmful ex-gay therapy and teach that homosexuality is “unhealthy behavior.” Even if the new policy has gaps, calling for all students to be affirmed makes a lot more sense than pretending that some of them simply don’t exist.

The board will vote on February 13.

In an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network this afternoon, Newt Gingrich picked up Rick Perry’s torch in the so-called “war on religion,” promising that he would fight back against judges who are “trying to drive God out of life.” The thrice-married Speaker then defended his personal marital history, claiming his multiple affairs “make me more normal than somebody who wanders around seeming perfect” because he can understand “the human condition and challenges of life for normal people.” Watch it (the video has some gaps):

Gingrich has previously attributed his infidelities to fervent patriotism, telling CBN, “There’s no question at times of my life, partially driven by how passionately I felt about this country, that I worked far too hard and things happened in my life that were not appropriate. “

On the stump, Gingrich strongly defends “traditional marriage,” referring to marriage equality as one of the biggest threats in the “war on religion.” The National Organization for Marriage applauded Gingrich’s South Carolina win this week, praising his commitment to “preserving marriage as the union of one man and one woman.”

Starbucks has joined other Washington-based companies like Microsoft and Nike in endorsing marriage equality. The company’s statement affirms its commitment to supporting its LGBT employees and working with organizations like the Pride Alliance Partner Network:

Starbucks is proud to join other leading Northwest employers in support of Washington State legislation recognizing marriage equality for same-sex couples. Starbucks strives to create a company culture that puts our partners first, and our company has a lengthy history of leading and supporting policies that promote equality and inclusion. [...]

We are deeply dedicated to embracing diversity and treating one another with respect and dignity, and remain committed to providing an inclusive, supportive and safe work environment for all of our partners.

We look forward to seeing this legislation enacted into law.

Since Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) announced her support for marriage equality earlier this month, the Washington Senate has quickly found the 25 votes necessary to pass the bill. Opponents have vowed to challenge the measure with a referendum.

This is not the first time Starbucks has stood up for marriage equality. Last November, it joined dozens of other companies in an amicus brief opposing the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act.

Elizabeth Warren — who is challenging Scott Brown’s (R-MA) Senate seat in Massachusetts — has reiterated her support for LGBT equality in a new “It Gets Better” video and interview with Bay Windows. Interestingly, the former Harvard law professor argued that her “background in finance and economics” has informed her of the cost of discriminatory laws like the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA):

EW: I first wrestled with DOMA in my bankruptcy work. As you may know, a married couple is entitled to certain jointly held benefits if they file for bankruptcy but that is denied a same-sex couple married here in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. That’s where I first started talking about this issue and the impact DOMA has on people in very tangible ways. Working in an economic field for so long makes me comfortable making the strong economic defense for economic equality and treatment.

Indeed, since DOMA defines marriage as between a man and a woman, same-sex couples who marry in one of the six states that have legalized marriage equality must file separate federal tax returns and are not eligible for Social Security spousal or survivor benefits or the tax deduction “their spouse’s health insurance benefits — a cost that opposite-sex married couples don’t have to pay.” Businesses also note that the discrepancy between state and federal law requires them “to maintain two sets of books” and increase costs for “human resources, payroll, and benefits administration.”

Brown, however, opposes marriage equality, the right of gays and lesbians to adopt children, federal protections for LGBT people in the workplace, and has even refused to participate in an “It Gets Better” video with the rest of the Massachusetts congressional delegation.

Rick Santorum railed against the LGBT community at a campaign stop at Community Christian Academy in Stuart, Florida on Tuesday, telling a woman that her gay son engages in unhealthy activity that the government should not “promote“:

“Everybody in America should have the same rights, and I would agree with that,” Santorum said. “Everyone in America should have rights that are endowed to them by the Creator, those are unalienable rights. And your son, just like everyone else here, has those unalienable rights.”

But, Santorum said, “There are certain things that government does that gives people privileges in order to promote activity that are healthy for society and are best for society. And those things we promote would give people advantages or benefits, government benefits because we think that is healthy activity. Mothers and fathers coming together, forming healthy marriages, having children and raising those children. Every American child has the right, and the government should support the right to have and know their mother and father and be raised by their mother and father.”

In excluding gay people from his definition of “healthy marriages” and families, the former Pennsylvania senator is ignoring the 2 million children who are currently living with LGBT parents, and is instead relying on the preposterous gay-people-are-a-public-health-risk arguments that are perpetuated by some of the nation’s most ardent anti-gay organizations (and Santorum supporters). The stigma this kind of rhetoric perpetuates undermines the many gay and lesbian people who are eager to enter into marriages, raise children, and receive all of the legal rights and responsibilities that opposite-sex couples enjoy.