Saugus Town Meeting member takes controversial stance

SAUGUS – A Saugus Town Meeting member has taken issue with the school district?s anti-discrimination policy, specifically the section that states the schools do not discriminate based on sexual orientation.?The sexual orientation, non-discrimination statement has no more to do with discrimination than homosexual marriage has to do with marriage or than the recent media ‘bully? circus has to do with bullying,” said Precinct 8 Town Meeting member Peter Vadala in a statement to the Daily Item on Thursday.According to the policy: “The Saugus Public School System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, or disability in admission to, access to, employment in, or treatment in its programs and activities.”Vadala went on to say that the policy “is a part of a malicious effort by homosexual activists to pervert the minds of the youth of Massachusetts,” and he cited two controversial cases along with what he called “hundreds of other aggressive campaigns to falsely shame and scare those who very civilly and respectfully disagree.”?I try to love sinners because God loves this sinner,” said Vadala. “It?s because of that love that the Spiral of Silence stops in Saugus Precinct 8.”Vadala said his statement “only pertains to the sexual orientation part” of the school?s non-discrimination policy. He declined to answer any further questions about his statement, including whether or not he thinks it?s OK to discriminate based on sexual orientation.Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian said he has tried to speak to Vadala in the past about Town Meeting being “nonpartisan.”?We?re not a theocracy,” said Manoogian. “I respect his viewpoint and his right to hold his viewpoint, but Town Meeting is not there to impose our views on other people. I have to be frank, several of us have tried to talk to him about this, to try to get him to realize that. He?ll either find out on his own or the people of Precinct 8 will let him know at the ballot box. I would hope that at some point he would realize his views on religion and national politics or sexual persuasion have no bearing on the business of Town Meeting.”Vadala first made his views public at last Monday?s Town Meeting when he spoke to the packed Town Hall auditorium about cutting $100,000 from the school budget. While holding a letter from the school in his hand, Vadala said he didn?t want to read a “footnote” in the letter “because it?s not appropriate to read in front of children.”?With all the children here I don?t feel comfortable reading this,” said Vadala. “But I?ve spoken to some of the school officials about it and I encourage you to read it. To not open a can of worms, time is limited. I would encourage you all to read it because there is something particularly disturbing in here. My vote is more a vote against a vote of non-confidence in Saugus Public Schools than anything else. It?s a tough decision but this kind of drove me over the edge.”While he didn?t read the footnote, Town Meeting Member Patricia Johnson took the letter from him and read it aloud at the podium. The footnote turned out to be the school?s non-discrimination policy.On Friday, Johnson said Vadala should have made the public aware of what he was objecting to instead of making them guess what was in the letter.?That?s why I got up and read it ?” said Johnson, a teacher at the Belmonte Middle School. “That?s a standard statement that?s on every document. That?s just stating the school department accepts everybody the way that they are – I don?t know why he would have a problem with that. It?s just ludicrous that he got up the way that he did and tried to bash the school department. That?s what he was doing in my eyes and I don?t appreciate it.”Town Meeting member Ellen Faiella said her “jaw dropped” when Vadala spoke Monday and called his Thursday statement “inappropriate,” noting she doesn?t believe in discrimination.?I think to take that kind of a stand