Former California state Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica, sponsored legislation – vetoed Sept. 6, 2006, by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger – that would have prohibited in public schools teaching or instructional materials that discriminate against people based on sexual orientation.

Valerie Larabee directs youth programs at the Utah Pride Center, based in Salt Lake City.

Gayle Ruzicka is president of Utah Eagle Forum, which supports state legislation to necessitate parental permission for student participation in school clubs.

Toby Jenkins is the executive director of Oklahomans for Equality, based in Tulsa, Okla. The organization seeks equal rights for the LGBT community.

Phil Burress is president of Citizens for Community Values, which has offices in Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio. Read the CCV report “The Legal Liability Associated with Homosexuality Education in Public Schools.”

Nate Monson is executive director of the GLBT Youth in Iowa Schools Task Force, based in Des Moines.

Ryan Roemerman is founder and director of the Iowa Pride Network, based in Des Moines, which works with and on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning college and public school students.

Lisa Beavers, a licensed professional counselor in Nashville, is forming a safe haven program to meet youths’ concerns about gender or sexual identity formation.

Kent Ostrander is executive director of the Family Foundation of Kentucky, a non-profit educational organization that focuses on public policy issues that affect the family.