Date: Tue, 24 Sep 1996 06:24:51 -0700 (PDT) From: jessea@uclink4.berkeley.edu (Jessea NR Greenman) Subject: Web site for VT stories on cross-dressing boy || GLSTN Back to School Campaign Update - Week 3 [from a reader comes word on how to access more info on the vermont boy who wore dresses to school and was given a hard time by the administration...] Hi, if anyone is interested, the web site for Vermont's only glbt newspaper may be found at: http://members.aol.com/oitm/ this site has followed the story on Matt Stickney Kathie ---------------------GLSTN News--------------------- BACK-TO-SCHOOL CAMPAIGN UPDATE #3 WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 20, 1996 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. CONTENTS: * Press Release: GLSTN Releases New Video On Homophobia In Schools To Support Back-To-School Campaign * GLSTN Kalamazoo Starts Up * GLSTN In The News * GLSTN Back to School Ads In More and More Publications GLSTN RELEASES NEW VIDEO ON HOMOPHOBIA IN SCHOOLS TO SUPPORT BACK-TO-SCHOOL CAMPAIGN PREMIERE SET FOR PHILADELPHIA SEPT. 28 New York, NY The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Teachers Network (GLSTN) announced today the release of its new video Teaching Respect for All as part of its Second Annual "Back-to-School" Campaign. Based on the staff training program GLSTN developed for the state of Massachusetts (the first-ever such program in the U.S.), the 50 minute video helps teachers, parents, and community members understand why schools need to address anti-gay bias if they are to achieve their mission of educating all students to the best of their ability. Staged each September, 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, Kevin Jennings, GLSTN's Executive Director, said of the video, "With over 7,000 people having already sent Back-to-School letters, we wanted to provide a concrete resource for schools that are being motivated to take action. Teaching Respect for All gives them a tool they can use to increase the awareness of the community and the skills of school staff." Jennings, who conducted the training filmed in Teaching Respect for All before a live audience in Philadelphia in July, added, "We're trying to help people understand that homophobia in schools stops kids from learning and, once they understand that, most schools will do the right thing." Teaching Respect for All will be premiered in its birthplace, Philadelphia, on Saturday, Sept. 28. at 1:00 p.m. at the Arch Street Meeting House. "People loved being part of the filming process," said Megan Spears, GLSTN/Philadelphia Co-Chair, "and are very eager to see the final product." Other GLSTN chapters will stage premieres in their communities in coming months, and the tape will also be available (along with an accompanying training manual) for mail order purchase. "We've been watching the Radical Right put out all kinds of videos about how we're 'after kids' for years," said Jennings "and we're glad to finally have something that will help teachers and parents understand the truth -- that schools simply aren't good schools when they allow anti-gay bigotry to flourish." For further information: More information on the Philadelphia premiere can is available at 215-546-7030. Copies of Teaching Respect for All and its accompanying training manual are $59.95 plus $3.00 for shipping and handling and may be ordered with either Mastercard or Visa by calling 212-727-0135 or by sending a check to GLSTN at 122 W. 26 St. Suite 1100 New York, NY 10001. GLSTN KALAMAZOO STARTS UP The first meeting of GLSTN's newest chapter in Kalamazoo, Michigan took place on September 18, and was attended by over thirty people. "We're flying" said Bob Higgins, chapter co-chair. "We were thrilled at how many people came and how eager they ere to get involved." The Kalamazoo area has been an area of some controversy, with intense media attention resulting from the "coming out" and subsequent resignation under pressure of Byron Center music teacher Gerry Crane, who attended the meeting. "This is an area where people have really been harassed," said John Spear, GLSTN National Director of Field Services, "and I am glad to see people's resolve has been strengthened rather than broken." Said Jeannie Byrne, Kalamazoo Co-Chair "I think people are really ready to take action." GLSTN IN THE NEWS The Back to School Campaign Has Been Featured in The Following Newspapers and Publications (partial list): * Bay Windows (Boston) * Focus Point (Minneapolis) * Frontiers (Los Angeles) * Guardian (San Francisco) * Houston Voice * In Newsweekly (New England) * Philadelphia Daily News * Philadelphia Gay News * Seattle Gay News * Southern Voice (Atlanta) * Weekly News (Miami) * Windy City Times (Chicago) GLSTN BACK TO SCHOOL ADS IN MORE AND MORE PUBLICATIONS The Back to School Campaign's Public Service Advertisements Has Been Featured in The Following Newspapers and Publications: * Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco) * Bay Windows (Boston) * Curve magazine (National) * Et Cetera (Atlanta) * Frontiers (Los Angeles) * Houston Voice * HX (New York) * Metroline (Hartford) * National Council for the Social Studies (National Journal for Social Studies Teachers) * Philadelphia Gay News, * Planet Weekly (National) * Query (Nashville) * Sojourner (Boston) * Tulsa Family News * Washington Blade (National) --30-- 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 Street 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. ======================================================== *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ 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. 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