Date: Mon, 18 Nov 1996 06:04:54 -0800 (PST) From: jessea@uclink4.berkeley.edu (Jessea NR Greenman) Subject: Safe Schools Report-Final Draft || Educational AIDS Comics for Schools || Southwest Allen County Schools (IN) modifies harassment policy to include sexual orientation || national satellite video conference "HIV/AIDS Prevention for Teens" --NEED MORE INFO Greetings Everyone! Following is the Executive Summary of the Third Annual Report issued by The Safe Schools Anti-Violence Documentation Project. I realize this is long, and understand should you feel the need to edit for distribution (edit as you feel appropriate for your audience.) Many thanks, -Julia [The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project was invited to redistribute this and we gladly do so, without cutting a word ################################## PRESS RELEASE November 14, 1996 For immediate release Contact: Beth Reis 206-296-4755 Arlis Stewart 206-632-0500, x112 Safe Schools Website http://members.tripod.com/~claytoly/safe ANTI-GAY HARASSMENT IN SCHOOLS DOCUMENTED. COALITION CALLS FOR EARLY INTERVENTION GROUNDBREAKING STUDENT SURVEY finds that 8% of all students and 34% of gay/lesbian/bisexual students have suffered anti-gay harassment at school. 3RD ANNUAL SAFE SCHOOLS COALITION ANTI-VIOLENCE REPORT documents suicide, drug use and school performance impacts of anti-gay school violence on heterosexual and homosexual students. STUDENT SURVEY finds that 9% of high school students consider themselves gay, lesbian, bisexual or not sure of their sexual orientation. For every gay, lesbian or bisexual youth who reported being the target of anti-gay school harassment, 4 heterosexual youth reported harassment or violence for being perceived as gay or lesbian. 1995-96 show significant increase in parents reporting harassment of their children, and Safe Schools Coalition calls for anti-violence education at the elementary level. SAFE SCHOOLS ANTI-VIOLENCE DOCUMENTATION PROJECT THIRD ANNUAL REPORT The Safe Schools Coalition, a statewide coalition of youth and education organizations released its third report of ongoing statewide research examining anti-gay sexual harassment and violence in Washington schools this morning. Coalition members spoke of the devastating effect this harassment has on students in elementary, middle and high schools, and called for prevention and education starting as early as elementary school. Beth Reis, educator consultant with the Seattle/King County Department of Public Health and principal investigator with the Safe Schools Anti-Violence Project, described the nature of this school harassment, based on in-depth interviews the Project has conducted with targeted students, school employees and parents regarding a total of 77 incidents. Reis said, These are a small fraction of all the incidents in Washington State schools, but they give us an accurate portrait of the nature of the problem. Incidents have been reported from 54 schools and have come from 25 different districts in seven different counties. Reis cited that among the 77 cases reported have been seven gang rape incidents in which a total of nine children and teens were raped. In only one case were school authorities and police informed of the rape, but in many cases school personnel were aware of the harassment that preceded the rape. There were fifteen other physical assaults with four of the assaulted children and teens treated in emergency rooms and one hospitalized. In twelve other physical and sexual assaults, students were spit at, things were thrown at them and, in some cases their clothing was pulled down or off. Thirty other cases of on-going verbal harassment has involved repeated public humiliation, vandalism, graffiti or the issuing of death threats. Reis said that one incident was reported by a concerned mother who attended a pep rally at her childs school. The entertainment included a slapstick re-enactment of a gay-bashing. Many teachers, along with students, laughed and applauded. Reis said, However, we are encouraged that the parent who reported this incident is among a growing number of adults calling the Safe Schools Project to express their concern about the safety of children and teens. This year the Safe Schools Project is also reporting on a large scale quantitative study conducted for the Reis said, This comprehensive survey administered to over 8,400 high school students confirmed what we have been finding in the Safe Schools Project reports. One of the 99 items asked students their sexual preference/orientation. Five percent described themselves as Gay, Lesbian or Bisexual. About another four percent said they were not sure of their sexual orientation. The other ninety-one percent called themselves heterosexual. 34% of the students describing themselves as Gay, Lesbian or Bisexual reported being harassed based on their sexual orientation. These students were 3 times as likely than their heterosexual peers to have been injured in a fight requiring medical attention, they were twice as likely as heterosexual youth to report having seriously considered suicide, and 75% more likely to report feeling unsafe at school. 6% of heterosexual students report experiencing anti-gay harassment at school, and they also show significantly higher risk for assault, suicidal thoughts, and diminished school performance than heterosexual youth who have not been harassed. Accoring to Reis, because there are so many more straight youth to begin with, this amounts to about four heterosexual youth bullied in this way for every gay youth. Reis said, These are both landmark studies. We have never before had this level of evidence or depth of understanding about the problem of anti-gay sexual harassment and violence in schools. Now we know that harassment and assault is widespread, that it not just urban, that it starts in elementary school, that everybody is vulnerable . . . We know that those who are sexual minorities, or who are attacked because someone thinks they are sexual minorities, are at dramatically increased risk of missing school out of fear, of abusing alcohol or other drugs, and of considering or attempting suicide. Tawney Collins-Feay, co-president of the Seattle chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), and the mother of a gay son, said the harassment and violence reported today is the truth of too many childrens stories. The bright, hopeful, innocent faces that they start out with become clouded with anxiety and fear as they start to realize that the names, the jokes, the mocking, might apply to them. She said, The difference for our gay children is that this is an officially sanctioned cruelty. Not from every classroom, but from too many: not on every playground, but on too many; not from every pulpit, but from too many -- we see the hopeful innocence fade into a self-hatred that is as fatal as it is inevitable. She asked that learning in an atmosphere of dignity and safety be the birthright for all children. Tom Page, co-chair of the Safe Schools research team and a member of the King County Children and Family Commission, introduced film clips from Its Elementary, a film made by Academy Award-winner Deborah Chasnoff. According to Chasnoff, Most adults probably dont see why school should teach young children about gay people, and they cant imagine how teachers could possible present this subject in an age-appropriate way. We made this film to explore what does happen when experienced teachers talk about lesbians and gay men with their students. In past years, the Safe Schools Coalition has recommended policy changes, staff training, and equitable discipline of offenders as ways to prevent anti-gay harassment in schools. This year their recommendations go further. Page said, In light of these research findings, we are now asking schools to teach about prejudice, to dispel stereotypes and to provide accurate information about gay and lesbian people. Its Elementary shows this can be done. The children need our help. The Safe Schools Coalition works to make Washington schools safe for families, educators and children of all gender identifies and sexual orientations. ============================== SAFE SCHOOLS COALITION 814 N.E. 40th Seattle, WA 98105 http://members.tripod.com/~claytoly.safe FOR MORE INFORMATION: Frieda Takamura 206-946-4695 Beth Reis 206-296-4755 TO GET ON OUR MAILING LIST: Arlis Stewart 206-632-0500, ext. 112 TO RECEIVE OUR ANNUAL REPORT: Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment 206-233-9136, or SAFE SCHOOLS WEBSITE http://members.tripod.com/~claytoly.safe The Safe Schools Coalition works to make Washington schools safe for families, educators and children of all gender identities and sexual orientations. ### -- ***************************************** Julia P. Graham Final Draft, Custom Layout & Design Shadow@eor.com "A Time Comes When Silence is Betrayal." -Martin Luther King, Jr. ***************************************** ================ ================ [courtesy of Tina Wood...] ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Educational Comics Subject: Re: AIDS educational comic >Dear Educator, > > Since 1987 we have produced a 16-page educational comic, "What You >Know About AIDS Can Save Your Life," with printings of several million >copies. Our comic is regularly updated, and has been read and approved for >accuracy by both the U.S. Surgeon General's Office and CDC. (All >suggestions for changes, along with updated statistics, are always >followed.) It has been used by school systems, health facilities, and >correctional institutions in every U.S. state and territory, and comes with >a 4-page teacher's guide for classroom use. **>We will be happy to mail you a >copy of our comic and teacher's guide for you to look over for content and >educational accuracy, and hope that you will then decide to post >information about it on your network. ***Just e-mail us at and >send us your snail mailing address >Thanks! > >Malcolm Ater >p.s. Last week we shipped 25,000 copies of our comic to the >Washington, D.C. Public School System. This is the fifth year in a row that >they have ordered at least 25,000 comics for distribution to their >students. Obviously they are very pleased with its success. ============ ============ FORT WAYNE (IN) NEWS-SENTINEL November 15, 1996 600 West Main St.,Fort Wayne,IN,46802 (Fax 219-461-8649, print run 60,441) Letter to the Editor: EQUITY FOR GAY TEENS I am encouraged by a recent Southwest Allen County Schools action that modified its harassment policy to include sexual orientation. East Allen County Schools desperately needs to do the same in order to protect its students from such harassment that past board action discreetly promotes. No student can receive a proper education when the student is subjected to physical or mental abuse in the school. How many students at Leo Jr.-Sr. High School have had to sit through a particular teacher's thoughtless stereotypical, limp-wristed exhibition as he recited poetry written by a gay poet? How many gay students have had to laugh along with the teacher and the rest of the class so they would not be found out? The teacher's action breeds continuance of this bigotry for one more generation. Leo Jr.-Sr. High School administration has had to take special action to protect its gay students from undue harassment. This should surprise no one, since the ignorance of the EACS board and its resolutions passively advocate rejection of the gay students. IYG, a support group for gay, lesbian and bisexual youths (422-7597), has consistently had a disproportionately high number of EACS students attending its meetings. It is no wonder. I am grateful to IYG and encourage us in the majority to make sure IYG's phone number is made openly available via student bulletin boards in all of EACS middle and high schools. Remember, when the majority speaks for the minority, the minority has a voice. Mark V. Lese =========== =========== anyone got more info on the below? i.e. national viewing/participation schedule? contact numbers for CDC and MA Corp. for Educational Communication. Satellite forum to teach teens HIV prevention IN LINCOLN NEBRASKA, The national satellite video conference "HIV/AIDS Prevention for Teens" will be held Dec. 12 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Veterans Affairs Medical Center at 600 S. 70th St. Topics will include an overview of the AIDS epidemic, strategies for dealing with the disease, basic prevention and education. The event will be sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Massachusetts Corp. for Educational Communication. Admission is free. Interested parties should contact Sally Frohn at (402) 489-3802 for information. *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ OK TO RE-POST. Jessea NR Greenman, The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project (Public Education Regarding Sexual Orientation Nationally) The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project is an all-volunteer effort CHECK OUT OUR FREE INFO-LOADED WEB PAGE AT http://www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/ "The struggle will never end so enjoy it!" Maudelle Shirek