Date: Sat, 23 Mar 1996 08:10:57 -0800 (PST) From: jessea@uclink4.berkeley.edu (Jessea NR Greenman) Subject: Pennsylvania Expose - March 22, 1996 (Alert) -- The "Parental Rights" bill in Pennsylvania; All My Children Star Comes Out For GLSTN; correction re CA class needs CA info [excerpted from Pennsylvania Expose - March 22, 1996...] B. HB 2105--The "Parental Rights" bill in Pennsylvania Compiled from alerts from the Pennsylvania State Education Association's Committee for the Preservations of Public Education and The Fight the Right Network's Research Working Group This contradictory piece of legislation voids existing decisions and usurps local control. The title, "Local Control Restoration Act" misrepresents its intent. HB 2105 is sponsored by Rohrer, Gamble, Pitts and others and contains the Parental Rights Amendment favored by the hard right. Control is shifted not to the local community but to individual parents. The nationwide movement is promoted in the March 20 issue of the faxletter from the Focus on the Family. The faxletter, "Family Issues Alert" pushes the U.S. HR 1947 "Parental Rights and Responsibilities Act" which now has 140 sponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Pennsylvania Family Institute has launched a new publication, "Families and Schools." The lead article in Vol.1. No.1. is by Rep. Samuel E. Rohrer (R, 128, the lead sponsor of PA HB 2105. Rohrer writes, "Outcome-based education (OBE), Goals 2000, and just about every other initiative of official departments of education strike at the heart of traditional education. The one common element of all these `new' educational approaches is the embracing of secular humanism, which is the exalting of man's philosophy of life and the trampling of the Christian view of life. . . . This bill is the first in the nation and focuses strictly on the issue of control." =============================================================== Pennsylvania Expose - March 22, 1996 Pennsylvania Expose (X-Poz) is a project of the Fight the Right Network Communications Working Group and People for the American Way. It is available within Pennsylvania as a Fax-letter. It is posted to pa-expose@critpath.org, ftr-pa@critpath.org, and ftr-l@aquilapub.com. It is also available through pa-explv (low volume) a one-way list dedicated to the distribution of X-Poz. Pennsylvania Expose is published three times a month. It is based on postings to the pa-expose@critpath.org Internet mailing list and available as an e-letter or fax-letter. mail to: pa-expose-request@critpath.org in the body: info pa-expose Send news, and inquiries about faxletter distribution, to: ---FTRN Communications Working Group --- 215.389.1400 http://www.critpath.org/ftrn/ ---People for the American Way --- 800-326-7329 http://www.pfaw.org/ ==================== Permission to Repost ======================== [The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project adds: Those interested in contacting Pennsylvania officials in opposition to this bill may wish to utilize the following information: The regular state legislative session starts Jan-09; the legislature meets throughout the year and is unicameral, with the Senate being the only legislative body. The State Senate's Home Page (lists members and committees, etc): http://www.pasen.gov/senate.html Democratic Leadership in the State Legislature (1996) includes: Thomas Caltagirone- D 127th-Berks County -Minority Chairman- Represents Zips: 19610, 19611, 19604, 19602, 19061 Phone:717-787-3525 610.376.1529 Address: 127 South Tenth Street, Reading, PA 19602 Bill DeWeese- D- 50th- Greene, Washington, Fayette - Minority Leader - Represents Zips: 15307 , 15352, 15417, 15474, 15461, 16404, 18709 Phone: 717.783.3797 412.627.8683 Address: Fort Jackson Hotel, Waynesburg, PA 15307 Ivan Itkin (Minority Whip) 23rd -Allegheny Represents Zips:15217, 15206 (Squirrell Hill, Greenfield, Point Breeze sections of Pittsburgh) Phone: 717.787.3651; 412.421.7330 Address: 1148 Greenfield Ave., Pittsburg, PA 15217 Governor Tom Ridge can be reached at 225 Main Capitol, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120, Telephone: (717) 787-2500, email= ------------------------------- ______________________________________________ *GLSTN NEWS*GLSTN NEWS*GLSTN NEWS*GLSTN NEWS* ______________________________________________ NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release March 22, 1996 The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Teachers Network Contact: Kevin Jennings, Executive Director T: 212-727-0135 F: 212-727-0254 Email: GLSTN@glstn.org Web: http://www.glstn.org/freedom/ _____________________________________________ NATALIE ROSS, ALL MY CHILDREN'S ARCH-ENEMYOF GAY TEACHERS, TO 'COME OUT' AS ADVOCATE FOR EQUALITY IN OUR SCHOOLS AT APRIL 11 GLSTN BENEFIT (New York, NY - March 22, 1996) -- The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Teachers Network announced today a special event to be held on April 11 in New York featuring actress Natalie Ross of soap opera "All My Children". Ross plays Enid , the character who has been the nemesis of gay teacher Michael Delaney (played by actor Chris Bruno) in an ongoing "All My Children" story line based on the real-life story of GLSTN/St. Louis Co-Chair Rodney Wilson. Following the Delaney character's "coming out" as part of a history lesson, Ross's character has mounted a vitriolic public campaign which has led to a shooting and a lawsuit, among other nefarious activities, and has embroiled the entire "All My Children" community of Pine Valley in an uproar. The story line has won "All My Children" numerous awards, including an achievement award from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. Ross first contacted GLSTN in December when the role she was being called upon to play caused her to realize how widespread the issue of homophobia is in America's schools. "I was horrified by the type of character I was being asked to play, and even more horrified when I learned that the story line was not fiction but actually a basically true story," Ross said. "I wanted to do something to both make the situation better and also to let people know that Enid isn't the real me!" Ross, a fifteen-year veteran of "All My Children", added, "I've often played evil characters, but this role touched me in a special way. I began to rally think about the problems that gay kids in school must face and the damage that homophobia can do to them. I wanted to speak out against that. I think both gay and straight people need to unite to make our schools safe and supportive places for all people. I'm glad to be able to make a contribution to that fight." Ross concluded, "I want people to know that I'm not a real homophobe -- I just play one on TV!" GLSTN National Board memberAnne Gable, who will co-host the event along with long-time GLSTN supporter Ann Northrop, spoke highly of Ross's commitment. "It's great when actors make the connection between what they portray on-screen and what's happening in the real world. I hope Nathalie's example will inspire more actors to get involved in the struggle to create safe schools for all students." The benefit will be at the home of Ann Northrop on April 11 at 7:00 p.m. A $50 donation is suggested. For more information about the benefit call Anne Gable at (718) 857-4847. Note: Publicity stills of Natalie Ross are available by calling GLSTN at 212-727-0135. With over thirty chapters, and a membership of over three thousand teachers, parents, and concerned citizens, The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Teachers Network (GLSTN) is the largest national organization working to insure that schools are places where all people are respected and valued, regardless of sexual orientation. For more information about GLSTN, please visit our web site, THE GLSTN TOOLBOX, at http://www.glstn.org/freedom/ -30- ---------------------------------------- From: Eric Eiben Subject: Re: Class needs CA info I am one of the students mentioned in the listed message. My name is Eric and I am actually looking for a contact in Conejo Valley Unified School District and not Long's Valley USD as stated. Please make a note. We really appreciate your help. Take Care, Eric *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ YOU MAY RE-POST. Jessea Greenman The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project (Public Education Regarding Sexual Orientation Nationally) CHECK THIS OUT FOR TONS OF INFO - - http://www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/ Please cc us (for our files) on correspondence you send or receive re our action alerts.