Date: Tue, 25 Jun 1996 06:42:43 -0700 (PDT) From: jessea@uclink4.berkeley.edu (Jessea NR Greenman) Subject: CA high school action alert || New Book: The Last Closet--Real Lives of LG Teachers || another Holocaust reference book || Web site by students for students || PG&E TO FUND GAY AND LESBIAN YOUTH AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS || [APOLOGIES TO THOSE WHO'VE ASKED RECENTLY TO UNSUB... PLEASE RESEND YOUR REQUEST...in defragmenting the hard drive without having backed it up -- !!##%@!!-- I lost the most current version of our emailing list and am using the back-up from two weeks ago. jessea] * From chartsf@hooked.net (Carl) - In Monday June 24's "Gay in America" series in the San Francisco Examiner, there is a discussion about James McCormick, an 11th grader at Argus High School in Ceres, California (outside of Modesto). The article describes his treatment at school, both by fellow students and by teachers and administrators: '"Every time my history teacher brings up AIDS, he looks at me!" he said. "My counselor said the Bible said I was going to hell. I got jumped on Wednesday by four guys. They didn't know my name, I didn't know theirs. They just knew one thing about me." McCormick and his tormentors were suspended for a week, standard operating procedure when it comes to fighting, said Principal Janet Knoeppel. McCormick brought it on himself by being out at school, and "the kids chose to react," she said. "Wearing a T-shirt that advertises your sexual preference -- to me that is no different than a gang member who wears a shirt that says I'm a Norteno or Sureno," she said. "It's inflammatory, and I wouldn't allow it." Knoeppel said, "This is a very conservative community. Tolerance is preached in class -- but sexual orientation isn't mentioned by name." She turned down McCormick's request to bring in a speaker on gay issues.' Ms. Knoeppel's needs to be corrected on her outrageous points of view. Phone her directly at Argus High School (209) 538-0171, or fax her a letter at (209) 538-1027. Better yet, write a letter expressing yourself to the superintendent of the Ceres Unified School District, Dr. Bruce C. Newlin, phone: (209) 538-0141, fax at (209) 541-1428. ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------begin included message------- Subject: Resource for your list From: KISSEN@MAINE.MAINE.EDU To: jessea@uclink2.berkeley.edu Date: Fri, 21 Jun 96 17:46:02 EDT Dear Jessea, I'd like to let you know that my book, The Last Closet: The Real Lives of Lesbian and Gay Teachers, published by Heineimann, is now available. Based on over 100 interviews with lesbian, gay and bisexual teachers, counselors, librarians and administrators around the country, The Last Closet explores the issues faced by lesbian and gay educators as they struggle for authenticity in the face of homophobia. Publisher's Weekly called the book "a unique resource" (5/13/96), and The New York Times News Syndicate has purchased serial rights. The Last Closet is the first book by a heterosexual educator to document the lives of gay and lesbian teachers, as they face harassment, firing or physical threats. It includes one chapter based on interviews with teachers in Colorado and Oregon (post- Amendment 2, Measure 9 and Measure 13, but pre-Supreme Court Decision), along with some inspiring coming out stories. Jessea, I'd really appreciate it if you could put some or all of this on your e-mail network. The book should be on the shelves right now--if it's not, I hope people will ask their local bookstores or library for it! I am planning to be in the Bay Area for the BANGLE conference in Oct. Would appreciate any leads you might have for interviews, speaking engagements, signings, etc. [...] Thanks! --Rita Kissen 171 Brackett Ave. Peaks Island, ME 04108 (207) 766-5158 ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- From: JMBG@aol.com Date: Sun, 23 Jun 1996 22:15:18 -0400 To: jessea@uclink4.berkeley.edu cc: JMBG@aol.com Subject: Holocaust information... Hi Jessea: Thank you for your excellent posts, which are so-o-o helpful to all of us...If you could include the following, when convenient, I believe many people would be interested... As a follow-up to your Holocaust post of 6/10, (from a librarian), I have just recently found an important reference entitled, Hidden Holocaust? Gay and Lesbian Persecution in Germany 1993-45, edited by Gunter Grau, and translated by Patrick Camiller. The original German edition was published in 1993, and the English translation in 1995. Included are previously unpublished papers, from East German archives that were closed until 1990. Jean MB Genasci, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Board of Directors; Vice President for Affiliate Development; Regional Directors' Council Chair PFLAG, POB 55, South Hadley MA 01075-0055 413/532-4883 aka JMBG@aol.com [also a retired librarian :-) ] ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- From: WorknModel@aol.com Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 10:33:52 -0400 To: schools@mtcc.com We have developed a site for gay and lesbian teenagers, outgoing and forthcoming: http://www.workpages.com/workitdude (or, exactly the same site) http://members.aol.com/netpride. We hope other students will visit this site and *understand* the importance of unity and that not everyone is the same: in looks, gender, personality, sexuality, race, backgrounds: we are all special and different. I hope the Allen Park school board and school students get what they deserve: nothing. To me, the only one who deserves a pat on the back and comforting is Joshua. I know what he is going through, being a year older: I know what its like. My company, Workpages, is also dedicated to the gay and lesbian, straight communities, through sponsorship programs, dedicated teenage gay and lesbian employee programs and other things! We are proud to say that we employ a few gay and lesbian teenagers as well as straight that all get together, get along great, and work and make the Workpages team very productive. =) Good luck! Richard Alexander, Team Leader of WebBank Ryan R. Berdel, Employee Resources Manager Jessica Knapp, Customer Service Team Member Bart Morris, Assistant Team Leader Jared Brown, Design Team Member William Tingle, Design Support Team Leader Jack J. Libby, Administrative Team Christopher Pipich, Customer Service Assistant ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- BUSINESS WIRE June 24, 1996 PG&E TO FUND GAY AND LESBIAN YOUTH AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS SAN FRANCISCO---The Horizons Foundation, Pacific Gas and Electric and PG&E's Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Employees Association announced today a unique partnership to increase support for youth and education programs for gay and lesbian young people. The utility and LGBEA will establish the PG&E Lesbian and Gay Youth & Education Fund at Horizons. The fund will provide resources to programs like the Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center, an organization that provides social outlets for gay, lesbian and bisexual teens. PG&E will work with Horizons to help publicize the Foundation's fundraising campaign for the fund through bus shelter advertisements, public service announcements and media relations. The Foundation will unveil the campaign theme `Helping Gay and Lesbian Youth Reach New Horizons,` on bus shelters beginning June 24 to coincide with San Francisco's Gay Pride Week. In addition, PG&E will match all donations received by Sept. 15 up to $20,000, creating a potential pool of $40,000. PG&E's contribution represents the largest corporate gift the Foundation has received in its 16-year history. `The challenge for all of us in the Bay Area is to build a community in which we can participate free of discrimination and harassment,` said Denise Wells, president of Horizons board of directors. `By establishing and promoting this fund, PG&E demonstrates a valuable leadership that can motivate us all to contribute to the community.` Tom Evans, manager of PG&E's San Francisco division, said, `PG&E is an important participant in improving the quality of life of all Bay Area citizens. We are especially committed to a safe and healthy environment for youth. LGBEA plays an important role in helping PG&E extend that commitment to the regional gay and lesbian community.` `We are pleased to partner with the Horizons Foundation,` said Frank Romeo, president of LGBEA. `Horizons and PG&E recognize the need to support young people, who truly represent our society's future. In particular, gay and lesbian youth have traditionally been overlooked and this fund will help change that.` Horizons Foundation is the primary philanthropic organization for the Bay Area's lesbian and gay community. Horizons provided the starting grants to create organizations such as the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Project Open Hand, and the Community United Against Violence. Since 1981, Horizons has granted more than $600,000 to over 250 organizations and projects. PG&E is the nation's largest investor-owned utility and LGBEA advises and works with the corporation on philanthropic and policy issues affecting the lesbian and gay community. For more information on the PG&E Lesbian and Gay Youth & Education Fund, call 415/398-2333 or write to the Horizons Foundation, 870 Market Street, Suite 718, San Francisco, CA 94102. *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ OK TO 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. "An argument that states that one group does not deserve (or require) protection simply because another still faces violence has no rational basis and only serves to condone violence." John Lendvay