Date: Fri, 9 Aug 1996 07:10:55 -0700 (PDT) From: jessea@uclink4.berkeley.edu (Jessea NR Greenman) Subject: Time for Everyone to Step Up || BC bans Christian-trained teachers || NY ed equity info -- federal statute applied everywhere || TX update Time for Everyone to Step Up: Dear loyal P.E.R.S.O.N. Project readers, Our primary source of news articles regarding LGBT education issues, Bill Stosine of Iowa, has reached the difficult decision to DISCONTINUE producation of his daily news digests, which, frankly, were the ONLY LGBT national daily in the USA. His work was tiptop, and it made it so easy for us, and thus for all of us/you, to start to sit back and wait for the news to roll across our screens. Now the free ride is over and we all have to dig in and FIND the news for ourselves. People, please a) scour your area newspapers for related articles, summarize them, and type the summary with citation online and then send it to us for circulation to our list. if you wish acknowledgement for relaying the info, just say so. b) GET ON MAILING LISTS OF YOUR LOCAL, COUNTY, AND STATE EDUCATIONAL POLICY AGENCIES. Read the mailings, scrutinizing them for developments re LGBT equity, and post your findings to us for circulation to our list. c) as the adage has it, if you don't like the news you find, go make some of your own. if your state or local boards of education or superintendents are doing bad things or not doing good things, CHALLENGE them. TESTIFY at public hearings, let others know about upcoming opportunities for public involvement [let us know and we'll help you publicize them]. issue media releases. be proactive. we ARE winning, you know! This is your opportunity to let the nation know what is going on (or isn't going on and should be going on) regarding educational equity in your bailiwick. We've all benefitted to date from the information sharing that has transpired... now we all need to contribute more information to share. We sincerely hope you treat this invitation as a positive opportunity to step up to take a turn at bat. ----------------------- ----------------------- [THE BELOW REPOSTED TO P.E.R.S.O.N. LIST WITH PERMISSION FROM REX] From: Rex Wockner Date: Wed, 7 Aug 1996 11:28:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: WOCKNER/INT'L NEWS #117 ============================================= = INTERNATIONAL NEWS #117 - Jul 24, 1996 = = Rex Wockner = ============================================= - ---------------------------------------------------------------- Do not publish, broadcast, or cybertransport without permission. - ---------------------------------------------------------------- << B.C. BANS TEACHERS FROM CHRISTIAN COLLEGE >> * Teachers from British Columbia's fundamentalist-Christian Trinity Western University have been banned from teaching in B.C. public schools because the university bans "homosexual behaviour," reported Vancouver's Xtra! West. The B.C. College of Teachers, which certifies the province's public-school teachers, voted 17-1 to deny recognition to TWU's graduates. "We would be very concerned about a [teacher's] worldview that may not be able to support a student of a different background," said BCCT spokeswoman Maria Kerchum. "[TWU] follows discriminatory practices which are contrary to public interest and public policy ... as expressed in the Teaching Profession Act," she said. The university also bans pre-marital sex, adultery, abortion, pornography, involvement in the occult, immodesty and profane language. ----------------------- ----------------------- Subj: Re: Title IX and the NYS case Date: 96-08-08 03:07:36 EDT From: SARATOGANY@aol.com I recently had a lengthy telecon with Michael Moon, Director, Division of Civil Rights and Intercultural Relations, NYS Education Dept. (518) 474-5923. ***Mr. Moon stated to me that gay students are covered by Title IX, US Education ***Amendments, 1972. He explicitly mentioned that the Title covers gender and ***GENDER RELATED issues. [P.E.R.S.O.N. notes: TITLE IX is a FEDERAL law, so this applies to ALL STATES. For more information, see our Web Site at Resources, Legal; and the Bibliography (gender equity section) and National Resources Appendices and the introduction of the Organizing Handbook]. He subsequently sent me a packet that included Title IX together with SEXUAL HARASSMENT GUIDE IN THE SCHOOLS, A GUIDEBOOK. [ P.E.R.S.O.N. notes: all NYS LGBT education equity activists should CALL Mike Moon to request a copy of this guidebook. His phone number is shown above and below.] This guidebook was funded by a sexual equity grant,Vates Grant #8020-94-0031, New York State Education Department. On the cover page at the bottom and boxed with bold print the following is stated: "THE NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF AGE, COLOR, RELIGION, CREED, DISABILITY, MARITAL STATUS, VETERAN STATUS, NATIONAL ORIGIN, RACE, GENDER, OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION in educational programs and activities which it operates. Inquiries concerning this policy and affirmative action should be referred to the Department's Affirmative Action Officer, NYS Education Dept. 89 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12234." Most notably in the above official statement are the words SEXUAL ORIENTATION. However, after reading throught the Guidebook, I did not find the words SEXUAL ORIENTATION. I did find info about sexual harassment in the LOCKER ROOMS. And under another statement UNWELCOME BEHAVIOR of a SEXUAL NATURE, I found this statement, "Such conduct creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or educational environment." Hostile Environment is then defined more deeply. Mr. Moon has a large resource of materials available, state, federal and private. fyi, Mike Moon, Sex Equity Specialist, NY State Dept of Ed, 518-474-5923 John Myers ----------------------- ----------------------- Lesbian Gay Rights Lobby (LGRL) of Texas' 1996-1997 Legislative Agenda includes: "Non-discrimination in Education: Protect Texans from discrimination that is based on sexual orientation in public schools, colleges and universities." Also, LGRL will sponsor a meeting of its Non-discrimination in Education Project September 28th, 12 pm to 3 pm at Austin's new LG community center, which is called the Cornerstone, located at 12th and Red River in Austin. LGRL, POB 2340, Austin TX 78768, 512-474-5475. *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ 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. "Americans spend 9 times as much on home video games ($1.5 billion) as they do on school library materials for their children." [bulletin of the Oakland (CA) public library]