Shortly after Chicago lost Arne Duncan to the Obama administration’s education team, Mayor Richard Daley appointed Ron Huberman to replace him. Huberman, days after his appointment as Chicago Public Schools CEO, came out of the closet.

Today a conservative Illinois journalist released an op-ed complaining about the homosexual effect on public education inevitable under Huberman’s watch. She quotes Laurie Higgins, the director of the Illinois Family Institute’s Division of School Advocacy:

Whereas in many professions one’s views on sexuality and one’s sexual conduct would be irrelevant, in the field of education it is highly relevant …First, Huberman will be called upon to superintend issues related to how homosexuality is addressed in Chicago public schools. Second, Huberman serves as a public role model. His open, unapologetic, unrepentant appropriation and affirmation of sexual deviance as morally defensible and central to his identity vitiates any legitimacy as premier educational leader in Chicago that his admirable qualities may have otherwise conferred on him.

Higgins, thankfully, does not represent the feeling of most parents in Chicago proper. However, I wish her fears were true.

If every gay representative truly pushed the gay agenda then voting based upon sexual orientation would be the best move for equality advocates. If being gay meant that Huberman would really be pushing to have more gay representation in teaching staff and in the curriculum, I would be thrilled with his appointment.

To be fair, Huberman has yet to do much of anything in his new role. But suggestions are that he will continue Duncan’s move towards charter schools (that take the most promising kids out of the broken public system and leave the system still… well… broken) and will use that move to weaken the teacher’s union (a controversial body, yes, but also one that has successfully fought for protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation, health insurance benefits for qualified domestic partners, and bereavement leave for same-sex couples).

It’s always fun to see the conservative community up in arms about a gay victory, but it remains to be seen if Huberman really is a victory for equality and education.