Concerns being expressed over the Obama- appointed Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools director, Kevin Jennings, are based on homophobia-- this according to  Media Matters. Media Matters also claims that allegations that Jennings is a "radical" "gay activist" are completely distorted.

But when Rush Limbaugh  and others act on their so-called homophobic tendencies and voice outrage that Jennings is serving as "safe schools czar"-- are they simply creating controversy or are their concerns legitimate and substantiated?

Recent news headlines involving Jennings' past speeches and writings refer to Jennings counseling a distraught 15 year old, who admitted to having been involved in a homosexual encounter to his teacher, Kevin Jennings. The conversation between Jennings and a student, referred to as Brewster, goes as follows:

"I said, 'What were you doing in Boston on a school night, Brewster?'” “He got very quiet, and he finally looked at me and said, 'Well I met someone in the bus station bathroom and I went home with him,'" Jennings recounted. "High school sophomore, 15 years old … I looked at Brewster and said, 'You know, I hope you knew to use a condom.’ He said to me something I will never forget, He said ‘Why should I, my life isn’t worth saving anyway.’'"

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Yet, this is where things get kind of fuzzy. While Jennings has repeatedly referred to this student as being a 15 year old, the student in question has recently said that he was 16 and that he'd had no sexual contact with anybody at the time. In addition, a letter filed by Jennings’ lawyer in 2004, states that the student was 16 at the time. The lawyer’s letter also stated, that there is no "factual basis" to claim that Jennings "engaged in any unethical practices, or that he was aware of any sexual victimization of any student.”

In a statement issued last week, Jennings said, "Twenty one years later I can see how I should have handled this situation differently," he wrote. "I should have asked for more information and consulted legal or medical authorities."

Locally, it was only 10 years ago (not 21) when South Florida School Principals and Guidance Counselors attended a mandatory "Homophobia" training where GLSEN founder, Kevin Jennings, recounted the same anecdote with his 15 year-old student advisee. Jennings tells of how when the boy had been missing school, Jennings had gone to visit him and how the student then confided that he had gone home with a guy he had met in a bus station bathroom. At that time, Jennings emphasized to Palm Beach county administrators that "the kid is fifteen, a high school sophomore." Jennings admitted that he tried to think what is the best thing to say here, but all he could think to say was that he hoped the boy was using a condom. Jennings said to the audience that this was "probably not the best response." But he explained that this was a valid point since "1 in 5 people who have AIDS in this country contract it between the ages of 13 ands 19".

Non-homophobic rationalizations: 1) Jennings knew deep down, but didn't want to let on, that the boy really was sixteen.   2) Since the former student has now publicly defended Jennings actions, that makes everything okay. And 3) as everyone person with a conscience knows-- 20 years ago is ancient history.