Date: Sat, 16 Mar 1996 07:35:20 -0800 (PST) From: jessea@uclink4.berkeley.edu (Jessea NR Greenman) Subject: 2 new resources, 2 news briefs, and one student action model "Being Different: Lambda Youths Speak Out" is a new book by Larry Dane Brimner. A former teacher (at elementary, junior and senior high school levels), Brimner "explores teenage homosexuality by interviewing gay, lesbian, and bisexual youths." "Being Different" is a title in "The Lesbian and Gay Experience" series published by Franklin Watts= , Inc. Contact: Franklin Watts/Grolier Publishing, Sherman Turnpike, Danbury= , CT 06816, tel. 1-800-621-1115; Larry Brimner, c/o Author Talks, 3175 Lincoln Avenue, San Diego, CA 92104-3032, tel./fax 619-283-8412. ----- "A Safe Place For Questions" is a new video and resource guide developed by Support Services for Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual Youth, a program of the San Francisco Unified School District. The package i= s designed for "educators who are interested in creating a safe school environment for sexual minority youth." The resource guide is comprehensive in scope, covering everything from counseling issues to curriculum development. The video, suitable for classroom use, features students who describe the program's benefits. For more information, contact: Support Services for GLB Youth, School Health Programs Dept. - SFUSD, 1512 Golden Gate Avenue, San =46rancisco, CA 94115, tel. 415-749-3400, fax 415-749-3420. ------ according to news reports Friday March 15 1996, Rhode Island's schools would have to let parents review AIDS and sex education textbooks and classroom materials if a bill under consideration in the Rhode Island House of Representatives becomes law. ----- also according to news reports from Thursday March 14, 1996 parents in Chappaqua New York have raised objections to the classroom use of Magic Johnson's 1992 book about AIDS prevention. Despite the fact that for the preceding four years, students taking health classes at Horace Greeley High School have read the book, which is entitled ``What You Can Do to Avoid AIDS,'' as part of the AIDS education curriculum, suddenly earlier this year, a group of parents complained. Their beef? That the basketball player's written depictions of oral and anal sex were inappropriate for 14- and 15-year-olds. The district has since stopped using the book. Chappaqua is a wealthy community formerly known for its progressive views. In 1995, the school board adopted a policy protecting the rights of LGB students with almost no community objection. It would appear now that the religious political extremists have been to influence even this previously progressive town. ----- =46rom an adviser to a Gay Straight Student Alliance in Massachusetts comes the following example of the kind of involvement such student groups can have in responding to education issues nationwide. The faculty adviser and many individual members of the group subscribe to The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project list to stay informed on the issue before developing their own responses: "In answer to your question about what the students are doing with the info. On the Utah situation they wrote the following to be read aloud to advisor group. This means that our entire school heard this. Hopefully we will get lots of signatures. Maybe other groups can consider this type of thing? 'Many of you may be aware of the situation in Utah which has involved bannin= g all non-academic clubs by Utah's State Board of Education as a way of preventing Gay-Straight Alliances from forming within schools. Lincoln-Sudbury's Gay-Straight Alliance has been following the situation very closely. Here i= s what we know so far... It began when a few students at Salt Lake City's East High School wanted to form a Gay-Straight Alliance at their school. The school refused to allow them to form such a group. When the point was argued that not allowing the group to form or meet was discrimination, the school board said that they would continue to do anything to keep the GSA out of the school. The case went to the State Board of Education, who decided that in order to avoid controversy over discriminatin they would ban all non-academic clubs from meeting in Utah public schools. This means Key Clubs, SADD, DYAD and Color groups would not be able to meet. Lincoln-Sudbury is known as being what is called a "safe" school. We have worked very hard over the years to fight homophobia and create a community that supports diverse clubs and organizations. This is what makes Lincoln-Sudbury great and at this time the Gay-Straight Alliance is seeking your support. We are asking for everyone who is in opposition of this ban to sign a letter to the Utah State Board of Education. This letter will be posted outside of the MLK office beginning Wednesday. Please take a moment to make a difference in saving student access to non-academic activities. Thank-you' Sent from Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School. Quantum BBS/E-Mail (508)443-4644 The views expressed in this posting are those of the individual. " ------- *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ YOU MAY 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. "We have a power that comes from the justice of our cause." C=E9sar Chavez