Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 15:27:29 -0800 From: richter@eecs.berkeley.edu (Jean Richter) Subject: 3/21/97 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. WA: Letters on anti-gay legislation (4 good, 1 bad) 2. PA: Editorials on anti-gay STRAIGHT group 3. More on NYAC Youth Summit ================================================================= THE SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, March 2, 1997 101 Elliot Avenue W,Seattle,WA,98119 (Fax 206-448-8184, print run 207,541) (E-MAIL: Editpage@seattle-pi.com) Letters: State senator could do with a careful reading of the Bible Now let me see if I have this right. State Sen. Val Stevens wants a state law (SB5167) that would make it illegal for any school teacher to say anything positive about any gay person. She is also supposed to represent Christian family values (an oxymoron if there ever was one). Now keep in mind that our dear Val has no problem with teachers who denigrate homosexuals --only those who would say anything good about them. And then there was this guy Jesus Christ, who as I recall never spoke ill of anyone. In fact, I seem to recollect he encouraged us to acecpt the differences in others --even prostitutes. My New Testament seems to have no reference to its founder saying anything at all in reference to homosexuality. Didn't he even say something about us not judging others? I would suggest that Stevens read the Bible and after she has removed the beam from her eye, I would be more than happy for her to remove the speck from mine. Mark R. Scott Seattle Bigotry, Censorship Alive and Thriving in Olympia It appears that bigotry and censorship have found a fertile breeding ground in the state legislature. Legislative leaders announced that they will try to put an anti-gay marriage initiative on the November ballot. State Sen. Val Stevens remarks, "The citizens of the state of Washington deserve to have the institution of marriage preserved and not polluted." Stevens might consult the history of Nazi Germany to see what can happen when certain people are characterized as "pollutants." Stevens' comments are sure to give confidence and encouragement to gaybashers across the state. Meanwhile, Senate Education Committee Chairman Harold Hochstatter, R-Moses Lake, cosponsor of a bill to ban "teaching of homosexuality in public schools as positive, normal or acceptable," contends that acknowledging the existence of gay people "is the kind of thing these children would be vulnerable to and needs to be resisted." In response to testimony from a woman whose gay son killed himself after being attacked on a playground, Hochstatter suggests that such atrocities could be prevented by promoting the "natural family of man and woman which guards against all the problems." Apparently, it is not enough for Hochstatter that 34 percent of gay and bisexual students in Seattle reported being harassed due to their sexual orientation in 1995, or that 21 percent of them attempted suicide. I don't feel safer knowing that the man charged with overseeing education bills uis not only determined to "protect" students from the concept of human rights, but is also utterly devoid of basic human compassion. We need to let dangerous small minded opportunists such as Hochstatter, Stevens and their cohorts know that scapegoating and censorship have no place in the state legislature or anywhere else. Jean S. Fallow Seattle Val Stevens' Bill Needed to Protect Our Children The homosexual community's relentless effort to redefine the family and define deviancy is no longer a matter of "tolerance" or "discrimination". In the public school context, it is outright child abuse and must be stopped before schools are destroyed. The insidious proselytization of our innocent children into an unhealthy and perverse lifestyle is an outrage. Tina Podlowski is typical of the well-to-do homosexuals who use their money and political power to force cataclysmic societal change. Disregarding history, they reject the concept of the traditional family, which has been the strength of nations for centuries. If we continue to accept their hedonistic lifestyle and their rejection of strong moral values, we will have only ourselves to blame when our country implodes. Val Stevens' SB 5167 is desperately needed protection for our children. Support it, publicize it, call your legislators. We can no longer afford the luxury of apathy. Margaret Jameson Seattle Schools' Priority is Student's, not State Politicians' Well-Being After all the shouting, the last paragraph of your Feb. 22 article, "Legislators, Seattle Schools Clash over Gay Books in Classes," contained the real matter of the issue: 34 percent of gay and bisexual students report being harassed; 21 percent attempt suicide. What is wrong with the environment of our schools and that it produces such hatred and violence and what can we do about it? Dispelling negative myths about gay people is the obvious starting point and the Seattle Public Schools should be congratulated for including in libraries books dealing with gay issues. A school district's duty is to the needs of its students, not to those of the politicians. Charles H. Bagley, Seattle Does Legislator Think People Can Change Their Sexuality? I'm appalled that Val Stevens could be elected to represent voters and make comments such as those quoted in Paul Shukovsky's Feb. 22 article. She doesn't want to "proselytize" children by acknowledging other life styles; she wants only to "proselytize" them for the kind of life style she prefers. It would be nice to think that those we choose to lead us use their powers of reasoning to make life better for all citizens, not just those who agree with them. It's apparent that Stevens hasn't a clue about what drives a person's sexuality. Her implication is that it's possible to persuade someone to change his or her sexuality, which implies that teaching black or Asian history to a Caucasian would allow him or her to change ethnic origin. Sexuality, like ethnic origin, skin color, hair color, eye color, net value of parents' estate and place of birth, is not one of those things about which a person has a choice. One of the things we all do have a choice about is whether we terminate our lives or not. Stevens wants to become an active participant in the decisions young gay people make to live or die when in hopelessness they feel so alone they take their own lives. W. Bruce LeFebvre ==================================================================== [while this isn't strictly k-12 related, the controversy over the anti-gay STRAIGHT group may have wider-ranging repercussions] THE CENTRE DAILY TIMES March 1, 1997 Box 89,State College,PA,16801 (Fax 814-238-1811, print run 26,320) (E-MAIL: pcarty@knightridder.geis.com)(http://www.centredaily.com) STRAIGHT SCOOP: SAME OLD STORY Editorials from around the nation -- The following editorials do not necessarily reflect the views of the CDT. Paul V. Carty Editorial Page Editor However he packages it, Darin Loccarini's student group, Straights Reinforcing Adherence In General Heterosexual Tradition, is really nothing new. Loccarini says he's anti-gay but not homophobic, he's opposed to homosexuality, but likes homosexual people. You know: It's not the sinner, it's the sin. Discrimination against gays and lesbians continues, and will continue, until it is socially unacceptable. Jim Crow laws and discrimination against blacks, for example, lasted for years, despite legislation and court rulings. Gay civil rights won't be achieved overnight, either. That said, the student court at Penn State did the gay and lesbian community a disservice by refusing to recognize the STRAIGHT group. Although its intentions were noble -- to shield sexual minorities at Penn State from offense and possible hate by the group -- the decision gave the STRAIGHT group more attention -- and grounds for a federal lawsuit. Ironically, this was the path a gay group pursued against the university 25 years ago when it was denied status. Loccarini fails to see the redundancy of a pro-heterosexual group. He's proud that he has the guts to proclaim his bigotry, and believes STRAIGHT can enable other Penn State students to come out as bigots, too. That arrogance could also serve the gay and lesbian community. Being aware of our enemies is always preferable to driving them underground. -- Philadelphia Gay News THE CENTRE DAILY TIMES March 2, 1997 MY VIEW HATRED IS ALWAYS HATRED Section: EDITORIAL By KIMBERLIE KRANICH For the Times As a lesbian, I find it difficult to believe members of STRAIGHT (Students Reinforcing Adherence In General Heterosexual Tradition) who say they don't hate homosexuals, just homosexuality (Feb. 23 CDT). How are these two hatreds different? To those who are the targets of such hatred, it feels the same. Here is a case in point: Not long ago I drove to the corner of College Avenue and Allen Street in State College and picked up my life partner from work. We chatted about our day as I drove us to College and Atherton. We stopped for the light and exchanged a "hello, nice to see you'' kiss while we waited. We were oblivious to the passengers in the cars around us until we heard what sounded like raucous horseplay. We didn't pay much attention to the sounds until the light turned green and we crossed Atherton. As we did a car with three men passed us. One of the men was leaning out the window and flipping us off. As he yelled his face was pink with rage. I reacted by slowing down so as not to get in front of their car and risk being followed home. We were stunned at this display of hate. I wondered how so much hatred could be generated from such a loving act. I am still baffled. Did that man hate homosexuality or did he hate us? It was impossible for us to make that distinction. This kind of hatred directed against me and my partner is the kind of hatred that can be fostered in groups like STRAIGHT that condemn homosexuality. By condemning homosexuality, one condemns the homosexual. Why do the people interested in forming STRAIGHT feel it necessary to "reinforce adherence in general heterosexual tradition''? How can my love for a woman threaten another's love for a member of the opposite sex? And how will STRAIGHT "reinforce adherence'' to heterosexuality? Will heterosexuals not be allowed to express emotional and physical closeness to members of the same sex? Will STRAIGHT physically separate two women or two men from holding hands or kissing in public? Will they verbally assault people who they think are gay or lesbian? Will they perpetuate stereotypes and tell lies about homosexuals and exploit the fears of those who don't know or understand us? Will they lobby against laws that prohibit discrimination against us? The extreme manifestation of hate is, of course, violence. Gays and lesbians and those perceived to be homosexual already have been physically and verbally harassed in State College, as verified by the police. Let us as a community of people who live and work in State College send a message that hatred of homosexuality will not be tolerated. Write your letters of love and support to the editor. We need to hear from you now. Kimberlie Kranich lives in State College. ================================================================== From: NYouthAC@aol.com Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 11:05:32 -0500 (EST) Subject: URGENT NYAC Summit Hotel Reminder NATIONAL YOUTH ADVOCACY COALITION, Washington, DC TO: NYAC Participating Organizations and other GLBT Youth Advocates FROM: Andy Garcia, Outreach and Education Coordinator RE: Upcoming NYAC First Annual Summit, April 27-29, 1997, Washington, DC URGENT REMINDER!!! MAKE YOUR HOTEL RESERVATIONS BY MARCH 26TH TO RECEIVE A DISCOUNTED RATE!!! If you are planning on attending NYAC First Annual Summit, please call the Radisson Barcelo Hotel (800-333-3333) to make your reservations. Tell them you are with the National Youth Advocacy Coalition to guarantee your discounted room rate of $109.00 per night for single or double rates. After March 26th, that rate cannot be guaranteed. Even if you are unsure whether or not you will be attending, you should reserve a room to lock in our special rate (you can always cancel later). WHAT IS THE SUMMIT? NYAC's Summit is unique. Unlike national "conferences," NYAC's Summit represents our philosophy that expertise on issues facing GLBT youth like with youth, service providers, and other advocates across the country. You will be expected to actively participate in the sessions you attend. The mission of the First Annual NYAC Summit is to creat a forum for youth and adults to exchange cutting-edge information; develop local, state and national advocacy strategies; and advance the field of services and advocacy for and with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth through participation in discussion roundtables and skills building sessions. For a Summit brochure, information on our youth travel scholarships or if you have any questions regarding NYAC's Summit, please email or call Andy Garcia, Outreach and Education Coordinator at 202/319-7596. ================================================================= Jean Richter -- richter@eecs.berkeley.edu The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project (Public Education Regarding Sexual Orientation Nationally) CHECK OUT OUR INFO-LOADED WEB PAGE AT: http://www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/