Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996 06:49:47 -0700 (PDT) From: jessea@uclink4.berkeley.edu (Jessea NR Greenman) Subject: Repeat of CA high school action alert, WITH ED. CODE cites and email addresses || || Support PG&E LGBT Youth Education Grant || fyi re ref. book * 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. NEW INFO, courtesy of John Lindner : email addresses and names of school board members-- Those wanting to respond via e-mail may find the following information useful: bnewlin@stan-co.k12.ca.us (Dr. Bruce C. Newlin) jknoeppel@stan-co.k12.ca.us (Ms. Janet Knoeppel) http://www.stan-co.k12.ca.us/ceres/argus/argus.htm (Argus High School) http://www.stan-co.k12.ca.us/ceres/cusd.htm (Ceres Unified School District) Ceres Unifed School Board Members: Ronna Albonetti Dave Brown Pierce Butler Jerry Costa Corinne Jones Stan Sinclear John Wetenkamp Relevant passages from CA Education Code 1996 [IMPORTANT: CA folks, save these code sections for use in any and all future CA matters. Folks from OTHER states... look through your own education laws to locate similarly powerful and useful language. We have placed some starting points for you in your state's section of our organizing manual at our Web site (http://www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/ )] 45. (a) All pupils have the right to participate fully in the educational process, free from discrimination and harassment. (b) California's public schools have an affirmative obligation to combat racism, sexism, and other forms of bias, and a responsibility to provide equal educational opportunity. (c) Harassment on school grounds directed at an individual on the basis of personal characteristics or status creates a hostile environment and jeopardizes equal educational opportunity as guaranteed by the California Constitution and the United States Constitution. (d) There is an urgent need to prevent and respond to acts of hate violence and bias-related incidents that are occurring at an increasing rate in California's public schools. (e) There is an urgent need to teach and inform pupils in the public schools about their rights, as guaranteed by the federal and state constitutions, in order to increase pupils' awareness and understanding of their rights and the rights of others, with the intention of promoting tolerance and sensitivity in public schools and in society as a means of responding to potential harassment and hate violence. (f) It is the intent of the Legislature that each public school undertake educational activities to counter discriminatory incidents on school grounds and, within constitutional bounds, to minimize and eliminate a hostile environment on school grounds that impairs the access of pupils to equal educational opportunity. 200. It is the policy of the State of California to afford all persons, regardless of their sex, equal rights and opportunities in the educational institutions of the state. 212.6. (a) It is the policy of the State of California, pursuant to Section 200, that all persons, regardless of their sex, should enjoy freedom from discrimination of any kind in the educational institutions of the state. 48950. (a) School districts operating one or more high schools and private secondary schools shall not make or enforce any rule subjecting any high school pupil to disciplinary sanctions solely on the basis of conduct that is speech or other communication that, when engaged in outside of the campus, is protected from governmental restriction by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution or Section 2 of Article 1 of the California Constitution. 44806. Each teacher shall endeavor to impress upon the minds of the pupils the principles of morality, truth, justice, patriotism, and a true comprehension of the rights, duties, and dignity of American citizenship, and the meaning of equality and human dignity, including the promotion of harmonious relations, kindness toward domestic pets and the humane treatment of living creatures, to teach them to avoid idleness, profanity, and falsehood, and to instruct them in manners and morals and the principles of a free government. Each teacher is also encouraged to create and foster an environment that encourages pupils to realize their full potential and that is free from discriminatory attitudes, practices, events, or activities, in order to prevent acts of hate violence, as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 33032.5. 33032.5 (e) As used in this section, "hate violence" means any act punishable under Section 422.6, 422.7, or 422.75 of the Penal Code. from CA Penal Code 1996 422.6. (a) No person, whether or not acting under color of law, shall by force or threat of force, willfully injure, intimidate, interfere with, oppress, or threaten any other person in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him or her by the Constitution or laws of this state or by the Constitution or laws of the United States because of the other person's race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender, or sexual orientation, or because he or she perceives that the other person has one or more of those characteristics. --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Tue, 25 Jun 96 15:25:14 PDT From: DAVE_BOWLES@convene.com To: JIMDUG@sfsu.edu Subject: PG&E / HORIZONS FOUNDATION Message from AGOG: ***************************** Hello Everyone, A member of AGOG, PG&E, has come under fire for its commitment to help our youth. Below are the facts, I encourage you to contact PG&E at 415.972.5902 and voice your opinion. It only takes a few minutes, and it goes a long way. Your prompt attention to this matter is greatly appreciated. Best regards, Jose (CubbY!) Carranza President of AGOG =============Original Message==================== Hello Everyone: In conjunction with San Francisco LGBT Pride Week, the Horizons Foundation will launch a multi-media campaign to support gay and lesbian youth and education projects in the Bay Area. In a unique partnership to increase support for youth and education programs for gay and lesbian young people, the Foundation will also announce the creation of THE PG&E LESBIAN AND GAY YOUTH AND EDUCATION FUND, which will match contributions up to $20,000, creating a pool of $40,000 for such projects. WHY: The often turbulent years of adolescence are usually even more so for gay youth. They frequently experience extreme isolation and deep conflicts with family, community and peers, which put gay youth at risk for self destructive behavior. This fund will support organizations and programs that provide a positive environment for gay teens including leadership training, social activities and health education. [...] --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Candace Steele here: FYI: the book from the American Psychological Association. ("Lesbian and Gay Parenting: A Resource for Psychologists") I ordered it, and they just replied that it is out of print, but will send me one when it is reprinted. No indication of what the time frame will be, so I'll just be patient and wait. --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ 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