Date: Mon, 30 Oct 1995 06:08:02 -0800 From: jessea@uclink2.berkeley.edu (Jessea NR Greenman) Subject: CA Action Alert! AB 1001(Dignity for All Students Lobby) Day [The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project note: we are delighted to pass along this action item on behalf of the LIFE Lobby and Assemblymember Sheila Kuehl's office. For further information, contact Ellen McCormick or Jennifer Richard, as shown below. We need to organize NOW for this to be effective.] AB 1001 _ Dignity for All Students Lobby Day at California's State Capitol to support Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgendered/Questioning Youth January 3, 1996 In 1995, The LIFE Lobby sponsored AB 1001, by Assemblymember Sheila Kuehl, to ensure nondiscrimination in California's public schools based on sexual orientation. AB 1001, known as the "Dignity for All Students Act" passed the Assembly Committee on Higher Education and later failed the Assembly Committee on Education (K-12). This failure was quite a disappointment as Assemblymember Kuehl and the LIFE Lobby worked extensively to present a wide range of testimony from gay and non-gay students and educators. In the end, the Assembly Committee on Education failed to pass the bill due to a party line vote of eight Democrats vs. eight Republicans. Moreover, the Assembly Committee on Education was blatantly rude to our witnesses, for example: Assemblymember James Rogan (R-Glendale) walked out of the hearing while a young gay man gave testimony about attempting suicide. Opposition to the bill, however, was listened to intently. Beverly Sheldon (wife of the religious right advocate: Reverend Lou Sheldon) and others gave scathingly homophobic and gay-bashing remarks as our students looked on. As California's Lobby for lesbian/gay and AIDS-affected communities, we are horrified at our legislature's reaction to the needs of our youth. In response to this hearing we will be holding a lobby day for lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgendered/questioning youth, tentatively scheduled for January 4, 1996. AB 1001 will be voted on again in the Assembly Committee on Education in January of 1996, but testimony will probably not be allowed. We feel the legislature does not realize the magnitude of the problem our youth face, nor do they realize the support and size of the community we represent. In place of a hearing, we are planning this lobby day to present a visible and remarkable presence of, by, and for our youth. We implore any interested parties who believe our children deserve positive role models, a positive learning atmosphere, positive representation, and most importantly, protection from discrimination, to contact the LIFE Lobby or Assemblymember Kuehl and be a part of this exciting day. We will support our youth!_ prepared by: Ellen McCormick Legislative Advocate, LIFE Lobby (916) 444-0424 FAX (916) 444-3059 Jennifer Richard Legislative Aide to Assemblymember Sheila Kuehl (916) 445-4956 FAX (916) 324-4454 AB 1001 _ Dignity for All Students LIFE: California's Lesbian/Gay and AIDS Lobby and Institute 926 J Street, Suite 522 _ Sacramento, CA 95814 _ (916) 444-0424 _ FAX 444-3059 Lobby Day at California's State Capitol to support Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgendered/Questioning Youth January 3, 1996 Tentative Agenda: 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Check in at Capitol Steps (or Espresso Metro?) 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Introduction/Information Session on Lobbying 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Break 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Set up for Rally 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Rally at Capitol Steps 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Lunch Break 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Lobbying Visits: can be scheduled in advance or drop-in 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Reception, Capitol Basement Rotunda AB 1001 _ Dignity for All Students LIFE: California's Lesbian/Gay and AIDS Lobby and Institute 926 J Street, Suite 522 _ Sacramento, CA 95814 _ (916) 444-0424 _ FAX 444-3059 Lobby Day at California's State Capitol to support Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgendered/Questioning Youth January 3, 1996 Ideas for Regional organizing: a.) Identify L/G/B/T/Q youth (24 years and under) and youth organizations in regions. b.) Share information on "Dignity" and get feedback from youth. Does this measure address problems they face? What are their experiences with discrimination? What else could be done to address problems they face? Do our youth have an understanding of the effect they could have on the legislative process? c.) Identify youth who would be interested in traveling to Sacramento for the Lobby Day. These youth will be involved in group activities such as lobbying info. sessions and the noon rally, they will also have the opportunity to use those lobbying skills in actual lobbying appointments in the afternoon. The day will culminate in a Capitol reception. d.) Determine roughly how much money will be needed to fund youth and others to travel to Sacramento for the day and for other expenses. Consider: $150 for air fare, $10 for shuttle service to downtown, and $10 for lunch (all of these are approximations). e.) Work with youth and regional organizations to plan fundraiser(s), to look for donors, or other type of scholarship for the trip. Fundraising for this event should focus on two major points: 1.) The presence of our youth in Sacramento will make an important difference to legislators, and 2.) Events such as this make the legislative process accessible to our youth, we want and need more queers in Public Policy - this kind of learning will make that a reality. f.) Identify other interested organizations and share information about "Dignity," act as a contact person and encourage them to send delegations to the Lobby Day in January. g.) LIFE will send you lists of appropriate legislators to visit. Make appointments in advance to visit these legislators if possible. Drop in appointments are always possible, but some legislators prefer appointments. Encourage youth and regional organizations to do the same. h.) Organize and get here for this great day! i.) Questions, problems, anything - call Ellen McCormick at LIFE Lobby: (916) 444-0424. AB 1001 _ Dignity for All Students LIFE: California's Lesbian/Gay and AIDS Lobby and Institute 926 J Street, Suite 522 _ Sacramento, CA 95814 _ (916) 444-0424 _ FAX 444-3059 Lobby Day at California's State Capitol to support Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgendered/Questioning Youth January 3, 1996 Ideas for a "visible and remarkable" presence: a.) Critical mass! b.) Pink and black triangle stickers that read: "youth". c.) Pink and black helium balloons: hundreds! Besides creating a good atmosphere, these can also be dropped off at the offices of legislators who aren't able to see us that day. d.) Commit and organize! We can provide every attendee with the tools to speak with legislators, we can provide great speakers and inspiration, we can even provide a cool reception at the end of the day - what we need is you! We need as many people as possible to commit early to being in Sacramento on this day. The California State Legislature simply does not understand what it is to grow up queer. Our state legislators need to know that queer youth issues are an emergency. We must have numbers to get our point across - if you care about this issue - get here! *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ YOU MAY RE-POST. Jessea Greenman The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project*; ph/fax: 510-601-8883, 586 62nd St. Oakland, CA 94609-1245 Gopher to "gopher.outright.com" Action Alerts and Organizing Manual: http://www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/ http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/glb/person.html/ (Children's Animated Television) Organizing Manual: http://www.pride.net/pridenet/person The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project is *always* looking for volunteer organizers. Please cc us (for our files) on correspondence you send or receive re our action alerts. *P.E.R.S.O.N. stands for Public Education Regarding Sexual Orientation Nationally.