Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 20:51:35 -0700 (PDT) From: jessea@uclink4.berkeley.edu (Jessea NR Greenman) Subject: Denver CO PFLAG conference || GLSTN Back-to-School Campaign Update [week 2] || || Correction re PA contact for LOVE MAKES A FAMILY On September 21, the Denver chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) will host a conference at the Denver Hilton South to address homophobia and its detrimental effects on the whole community. The training is for professionals in the fields of education, religion, business and mental health who strive to achieve diversity and acceptance. The next day, the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Teachers Network (GLSTN) will hold "Changing Hearts, Changing Minds," a one-day seminar for educators seeking to bring greater inclusion of lesbian and gay issues into schools. For more information contact Tracy Phariss (GLSTN) at (303) 232-3789. ------------------ ------------------ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Back-to-School Campaign Update [week 2] Week of Sept. 13 Note: The Back-to-School Campaign is a national letter-writing and advocacy campaign in which GLSTN urges lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults and their friends to contact their former schools and school officials to demand action to end anti-gay bias in education. Staged each September, it is in its second year. Weekly updates will be made available throughout the month of September. GLSTN Launches Public Awareness Ad Campaign as Part of Back-to-School Campaign Media Sponsors Running Ads in Major Cities from Coast-to-Coast The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Teachers Network (GLSTN) announced today the launch of a public awareness advertising effort as part of its Second Annual "Back-to-School" Campaign. The ads, developed by the New York-based Rabid Design Group, feature school photos of lesbian and gay high school students whose faces have been obscured by quotes form students who have experienced anti-gay harassment. Ad text references the facts that 28% of lesbian/gay youth drop out of school (nearly three times the national average) and that nearly half experience harassment during their school years. The Back-to-School Campaign works to get lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults and their supporters to write to their old schools demanding action to end homophobia, and the ads are designed to increase community involvement in the Campaign. "We wanted to come up with an image that would convey what homophobia does to young people," said Doug Livingston of the Rabid Design Group. "We felt that what homophobia does is erase people's identity, and that doing so with a homophobic epithet across a person's face in the ads would drive that point home." Livingston, a native of South Dakota, became involved in GLSTN's work after attending a fund-raiser in May in New York. "I'm not a teacher, but I saw immediately how important what this Campaign was trying to do," he said. "I wanted to use my skills to help get the message across that homophobia in schools is just wrong." "We're thrilled with the support the community is giving us," said Deidre Cuffee-Gray, Media Coordinator for the Campaign. To date, lesbian/gay publications in ten major cities have become official media sponsors, including Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco), Bay Windows (Boston), Et Cetera (Atlanta), Frontiers (Los Angeles), the Houston Voice, HX (New York), Metroline (Hartford), Query (Nashville) Philadelphia Gay News, the Washington Blade, and Curve magazine. "The support of these sponsors is allowing us to get the word out to folks who otherwise are not involved in schools day-to-day" added Cuffee-Gray, "and their involvement is critical to getting our schools to realize that they have got to take concrete steps to change the climate that exists now." Gray added that the ads were also available in poster form, and that thousands have been distributed to GLSTN chapters around the country for posting in schools, community settings, and public areas. "We're getting the word out in every way we can that bigotry in our schools is wrong," she concluded. GLSTN/Austin Packs 'Em In On Sunday, September 8, GLSTN/Austin hosted the Texas premiere of "It's Elementary," the new documentary on gay and lesbian issues in elementary schools directed by Academy Award-winner Debra Chasnoff and Helen Cohen, at the Austin Gay/Lesbian International Film Festival. Nearly two hundred people attended this sold-out event, and many more waited hoping to get in. This was the largest event ever for this one year old chapter. "The film was a moving experience that charged everyone to get active in our schools," said Steve Siefert, GLSTN/Austin Co-Chair. In addition the group raised over $500 through a silent auction and door prize drawing at the premiere's reception. More importantly the event received excellent coverage in the mainstream and alternative press. "More than ever before, people in Austin know about GLSTN and the work we do," said Siefert, "Now we want to make sure we keep up the momentum throughout the school year." GLSTN/San Joaquin Makes the Front Page Ryan Monroe from GLSTN/San Joaquin reports: "At our PFLAG/GLSTN Back-to-School kick-off meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 9, we had about 30 participants to help generate and share letters. When everyone finished, several people read their letters. This was very emotional. We got front page coverage in the Stockton Record including two color pictures for the event, in addition to a more general article on the Campaign two weeks prior. I think our chapter is off to a good start!" With over forty chapters, and a membership of over three thousand teachers, parents, and concerned citizens, 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 info visit our web site at http://www.glstn.org/respect or call us at 212-727-0135. GLSTN 122 West 26th St. Suite 1100 New York, NY 10001 Tel: 212.727.0135 Fax: 212.727.0254 Email: GLSTN@glstn.org Web: http://www.glstn.org/respect/ GLSTNAlert is a GLSTN news bulletin service of the The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Teachers Network (GLSTN). To Subscribe to GLSTNAlert simply send an email to GLSTNAlert@aol.com with the words "Subscribe GLSTNAlert" in the subject line (no quotes and note the lack of space in GLSTNAlert). Also: please write your name in the message portion of your email. ------------------ ------------------ Correction re PA contact for LOVE MAKES A FAMILY Dear Jessea, I am Janice Pinto, the contact person for the Pennsylvania tour of Love Makes a Family. I am glad you posted the info except my phone number is posted incorrctly. My phone is 610 489-3473. It was listed as 610 489-34735. Thanks for all you are doing, Janice Pinto ------------------ ------------------ *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ 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. "I have the great privilege to gather inspiration and pass it on to others." Maxine Hong Kingston