Date: Wed, 2 Oct 1996 05:36:48 -0700 (PDT) From: jessea@uclink4.berkeley.edu (Jessea NR Greenman) Subject: It's Elementary in NH Oct. 6 ------------- [edited from a news release by GLSTN/NH]... For more information and press kits, contact: Randal L Kottwitz (603) 883-8786 or Knox Turner (603) 463-5608 GLSTN INVITES OSCAR WINNERS FOR NH PREMIERE OCTOBER 6 State Played a Role in New Documentary on Diversity Concord, NH -- Academy Award winner Debra Chasnoff and Co-Producer Helen Cohen will be the featured guests at the New Hampshire Premiere of their new documentary film, "It's Elementary: Talking About Gay Issues In School." Presented by the New Hampshire Chapter of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Teachers Network (GLSTN New Hampshire), the screening will take place on Sunday, Oct. 6, 1996, at 3:00 PM in the Concord City Auditorium. Tickets are $20 for the screening and a follow-up discussion session with Chasnoff and Cohen. Premium tickets, $50 and up, also entitle admission to a VIP Reception to meet the filmmakers and other celebrities in person. For tickets, please call knox turner associates (kta) at (603) 463-5608 -- day, evenings or weekends. Rauh & Coleman to Appear Special guests for the GLSTN New Hampshire event will include John Rauh and Ken Coleman. Both will speak briefly before the film. John Rauh, who recently ran for the Democratic nomination for US Senate, has spoken frequently on human rights, civil rights, and social justice. Ken Coleman, Chairman of the Merrimack, NH School Board, and President of the New Hampshire Coalition for Education, was instrumental in the movement to repeal a homophobic policy passed by the previous School Board. Why Discuss Gay Issues In Elementary School? In researching the film, Chasnoff and Cohen found that, by Third Grade, most children have been exposed to information about gay people outside of the classroom. "Unfortunately, most of it is misinformation," according to Chasnoff. "The teachers, administrators, and parents involved in "It's Elementary" all have come to believe that if schools are serious about preparing students for the diversity in our communities, preventing violence, and fostering equality between girls and boys, then they have to address gay issues." How to Present Gay Issues to Children One of the difficulties many adults, even those supportive of public education around lesbian and gay issues, have had, is understanding what that education would look like. "It's Elementary" provides a clear picture of what those discussions could include and how teachers could conduct them. "This inspiring film demonstrates how teachers can talk about respect, tolerance, and understanding," observed Knox Turner, Co-Chair of GLSTN New Hampshire. "Many adults immediately assume that any discussion of gays and lesbians involves topics not appropriate for students in the primary grades. "It's Elementary" shows actual students and their teachers talking about accepting others and dealing with the diversity of our society in heartwarming ways." Equality, Fairness, and Acceptance After portraying the background of anti-gay sentiments in society as a whole, the film moves into real classrooms in elementary and middle schools across the country. You will see teachers leading age-appropriate classroom discussions on attitudes about lesbian and gay people. As the discussions develop, teachers bring their students to a sense of awareness about discrimination in general, helping students deal with pre-conceived attitudes, and developing tolerance and understanding toward others. "To watch teachers put these creative approaches into action," remarked Randal L Kottwitz, Co-Chair of GLSTN New Hampshire "is truly impressive. What is disturbing is to hear even the youngest children express the attitudes and misinformation they have been exposed to in their lives. Media input and social interactions clearly affect how children feel about other people who are different from themselves. What this film shows us over and over again is that hate and intolerance are not natural attitudes. We can not teach anyone to become gay or straight -- but we can teach our children not to hate," concluded Kottwitz. Overcoming a Hostile Climate Beginning with Sen. Bob Smith (R-NH) angrily addressing the US Senate about the need to withhold Federal funds from schools that "promote homosexuality," the film explores the hostile climate toward gays and lesbians in our country. The New Hampshire connection in the film involves Rev. Lou Sheldon, of the California-based Traditional Values Coalition, who developed the actual wording of the failed Smith-Helms amendment. Through Sheldon's personal lobbying during several trips to Merrimack, NH, the School Board enacted identical language as official school policy. The film shows brief excerpts from that stormy School Board meeting. After the town voted against the policy's supporters by a 68 percent supermajority in the next School Board election, the Sheldon-Ager (Smith-Helms) policy was repealed. "In the end," notes Turner, "Merrimack citizens chose 'principles' over reactionary values. They stepped back from hate, fear, and discrimination -- values to be sure, but values which have never served excellence in public education. This film puts a human face on what can happen when people seek understanding over fear." About GLSTN New Hampshire GLSTN New Hampshire is a partnership of Granite State educators and community members affirming that each member of every school community is to be respected, regardless of sexual orientation. It is one of 30 chapters nationwide which bring together teachers, parents and concerned citizens to work to create an environment for schools where respect for all is taught. GLSTN New Hampshire has a current membership in which slightly over half are non-gay. Almost half are in professions other than teaching. At this time, the New Hampshire chapter are men and women in equal number, representing 36 different towns. It welcomes as members any individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or occupation, who are committed to seeing its philosophy realized in K-12 education. -END- *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ 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. "Make it idiot proof and someone will make a better idiot." bumper sticker sagacity