Date: Fri, 25 Apr 1997 17:18:04 -0700 From: richter@eecs.berkeley.edu (Jean Richter) Subject: 4/25/97 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. Canada: Anti-gay abuse in New Brunswick; anti-gay backlash in BC 2. FL: Letter urges support for gay youth 3. CA: AB101 passes education committee ================================================================= Date: Tue, 08 Apr 1997 21:57:04 -0400 From: Weasel Boy Subject: Re: New Brunswick gay youth being neglected Hey. My name is Jason Mark. I was a student at Tantramar Regional High School from 1983-87. I got the notice from the GLB mailing list off of the BIT NET. The homophobia I encountered in school was more than just the odd teasing and ribbing that most kids get. I was routinely singled out by students and even a few teachers (my shop teacher called me a "fag" in front of the rest of the class once). I often felt that I had nowhere to turn or escape to, and without the proper support, I felt that me situation was hopeless. I could shock you with stories of the humiliation physical attacks I was subjected to, but I'm sure you've heard it all before. The one time I did attempt to speak to a teacher, I was told that I had "brought it all on" myself by "being so weird." I think another teacher said something along the lines of "ask and ye shall receive" in regards to the abuse I received from other students in class. Good luck with your endeavors. J ================================================================= From: "Matthew Martin" Subject: Fw: Ban GALE Date: Wed, 9 Apr 1997 09:47:46 -0700 Here is what is happening in BC. Surrey is a suburb of Vancouver. In March the BC Teacher's Federation, voted to educated all teachers in the province about homophobia. It passed with approx. 10 votes against the motion! This is now the backlash. For more info contact GALE. Their address and web page are listed below. Matthew Martin ---------- > From: GALE BC > Subject: Ban GALE > Date: Tuesday, April 08, 1997 6:51 PM > > URGENT MESSAGE!!!! > > Attention all GALE members and Friends: > > The Surrey School Board has put forward a notice of motion that will > effectively > ban all GALE resources and resources from any other gay or lesbian > organization > from Surrey schools. No administrator, teacher or counsellor will be able > to use > or redistribute these resources in Surrey schools! > > This motion is being brought forward as a result of right wing parent > groups in > Surrey complaining about GALE and because of the Christian fundamentalist > dominated school board. One of our members is a Surrey teacher who has had 3 > books waiting for board approval for the last three months. These books are > from > the GALE resource list, they are: > > 1) Belinda's Bouquet > 2) One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads > 3) Asha's Mums > > The board is trying to block the approval of these books this Thursday, as the > Surrey Teachers' Assoc.has complained to the board in writing that if these > books do not appear before the board this Thursday, they will be filing a > grievance against the board. > This motion will likely be passed, but it has serious implications for all > discussion of gay and lesbain topic matter in Surrey schools. > > It is CRITICALLY IMPORTANT that GALE members, their friends and allies be at > this meeting with protest signs to voice the concerns of the glbt communities > and this board's attempt at CENSORSHIP. > > Please notify any sympathetic media of this meeting and get your friends > out to > show their support for GALE. Murray Warren, > (our GALE Media Spokesperson) has requested that the board hear a > presentation > from him. We anticipate that they will turn down his request, but I would > not be > surprised if they do not have groups like Concerned Parents For Quality > Education (CPQE) a Surrey based group and Parents For Healthy Children (PHC) > lined up to make presentations. > > If you saw the recent media debate between Alice McQuade and Kari Simpson > (Citizen's Research Institute) on CBC Newsworld last weekend, you will have an > idea of the level of hate that will be there. > > The School Board meeting is this Thursday, April 10th. It starts at 7:30 p.m. > but people should be there promptly at 7:00 (or earlier) to get a seat. This > meeting will be televised on local cable, so we need to be there in force so > there is not a standing ovation like the one parents gave the Coquitlam board > when they defeated Murray's proposal. > > The address is 14225-56th Ave. It is just next to the Law Courts in Surrey, > just > off highway #10. > > We will be discussing this motion and how to respond to it at our regularly > scheduled GALE meeting tomorrow night at the BCTF building. Please get as many > people to the Surrey School Board Meeting and as much media there as you can. > > > There will also be parents handing out information to expose Trustee Heather > Stilwell's extensive connections to the religious right and her intent to > from a > group called TOUCH. (Trustees Opposed to Unneccessary Curriculum on > Homosexuality). This is a province wide group that she is trying to form. > Below > is some information about her as well as Kari Simpson, I expect Kari will > be at > this meeting as well. > > > OPPOSITION TO ANTI-HOMOPHOBIA MEASURES > > KARI SIMPSON -- executive director of the Citizen's Research Institute; > "provincial representative" of the Christian Coalition of Canada [Doug Todd > article, Vancouver Sun, May 21, 1996]. "Her citizen and family advocacy > work has helped to ensure that the traditional family viewpoint receives > exposure, particularly when it is in conflict with bureaucracy or a trend > toward statism. What is not so well-known is that Simpson is a committed > Christian. She is married, a mother of four, and attends an independent > evangelical church in the Fraser Valley." [Christian Info News, September > 27, 1992] > > ON SEX EDUCATION Kari is quoted as saying: > "Remember when sex education was going to solve the > teen pregnancy problem? The reality is that this social experiment caused > teen sexual activity -- and pregnancy -- to increase. Add to that the AIDS > death sentence and it becomes clear that "sex ed" has not realized its > purported objective but has impacted to the detriment of our youth. By the > way, can anyone define sex education for me? Is it that once mythical class > of students which examined biology as it truly is? Or is it the class of > today which discusses the pros and cons of bestiality or the joys of mutual > masturbation?" [Christian Info News, September 27, 1992] > > ON THE BCTF/ GALE MOTIONS at the BCTF AGM: > ""According to family advocate Kari > Simpson....should push come to shove in court, she hopes that the BCTF's > endorsement of homosexual propagandizing will ironically result in the > restoration of parental primacy--and of a saner curriculum. Sums up Mrs. > Simpson: "It's time we gave teachers a positive alternative so we can get > back to educating our young people."" [B.C. Report, March 31, 1997, p.29] > > Simpson's Citizens' Research Institute was actively involved in opposing the > NDP government's changes to the Infant's Act in 1992-93. One of its > members, Tim Bonner, represented 25 parents who unsuccessfully sought for > the amendments to be overturned by the B.C. Supreme Court. Bonner went on > later that year to run as a candidate for the Christian Heritage Party in > Mission-Coquitlam in the October 1993 federal election. > > > > HEATHER STILWELL-- Stilwell is one of the key leaders of the Christian right > in Western Canada. She is currently leader of the B.C. Family Coalition > Party. She is the former leader of the Christian Heritage Party. She is a > former national board member and Western Regional Coordinator for Campaign > Life Coalition. She is former President of the Alliance for Life, a > national anti-choice group based in Winnipeg. She is former President of > Surrey-Delta Pro-Life Association. She is a member of Realwomen.. She is > also a Surrey School Trustee, elected on the SET slate along with Robert > Pickering. > > ON THE BCTF/GALE MOTION--"Heather Stilwell, a conservative school > trustee > from Surrey says the [GALE] motion is "shocking in its bare-faced boldness. > We would never bring in anything so unproven and so embarrassingly lacking > in substance." Mrs. Stilwell plans to form an association of like-minded > trustees across the province called TOUCH [Trustees Opposed to Unnecessary > Curriculum on Homosexuality] to fight the measure." [B.C. Report, March 31, > 1997] > > Thanks for your help with this! Sorry for the short notice, but we just found > out today! > > GALE Media Committee > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > --- > Web Site > GALE BC - galebc@ibm.net > > Box 93678 > Nelson Park PO > Vancouver > British Columbia > V6E 4L7 > ============================================================================ Tampa Tribune, April 7, 1997 P. O. Box 191,Tampa,FL,33601-4005 (Fax 813-259-8080, print run 321,626) (E-MAIL: tribletters@tampatrib.com) Gay and lesbian youth On March 26 I had the pleasure and honor of attending Gov. Chiles' Florida Forum '97, where various grass-roots organizations shared their experiences in helping our children. At this forum I learned that the governor has established a Commission on Education, and the lieutenant governor is co-chairing it. This is wonderful, but I must point out one area that everyone is overlooking. From the governor on down through the Commission on Education to every grass-roots program featured at the forum, no one is considering the gay, lesbian and bisexual children and youth of our state. It was my duty to point this out to the governor and every attendee at the forum and to request that Lt. Gov. MacKay include in its agenda a study of the problems of Florida's gay and lesbian youth. Our gay and lesbian youth are three times more likely to commit suicide than our heterosexual kids. While homosexual youths make up only 10 percent of the total population aged 15 to 24, they may account for 30 percent of suicides in this age group. In light of this fact, it was my duty to ask the governor to appoint a special commission to study their problems, just as Massachusetts Gov. William Weld did in 1992. I urge every gay, lesbian and bisexual Floridian and every one of their relatives and friends to write to Gov. Chiles to ask him to establish a Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth. We must act now to save the thousands who are at risk for suicide. GIL WILLIAMS, Spring Hill =================================================================== Subject: CA: AB 101 passes Education Committee Date: Wed, 9 Apr 1997 20:08:09 -0700 April 9, 1997 For Immediate Release Contacts: Ellen McCormick, Legislative Advocate (916) 444-0424 Sam Catalano, Legislative Assistant Laurie McBride, Executive Director LIFE: California's Lesbian/Gay and AIDS Lobby AB 101 -- THE DIGNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS ACT PASSES THE ASSEMBLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE: 11 - 8 After a two and half hour debate AB 101, (by Assembly Member Sheila Kuehl) the measure to end discrimination based on sexual orientation in California's public schools, was passed by the Assembly Education Committee. Speaking for the bill were numerous gay and lesbian youth; Stephanie Reed, a Petaluma mother who's son took his own life because of severe harassment and abuse from his classmates at school for being gay; many educators; and Education lobbying organizations. As well, in a press conference earlier that day Jamie Nabozny, the litigant in the landmark federal court ruling on gay students, spoke to the press about his experience being abused and harassed in a public school. During the hearing and the morning press conference, the proponents of the bill cited numerous cases of verbal and physical gay-bashing in California's public schools. Several youth spoke of incidents that would be remedied by AB 101. Opponents of AB 101 again asserted that the bill forces homosexuality on students in schools and misconstrued the bill to apply to religious private schools. "This bill is about stopping discrimination based on sexual orientation in public schools - nothing more," said Laurie McBride, LIFE Lobby Executive Director, "the radical right can try to bend this bill into whatever perception they want, but in the end it's still just about stopping discrimination, the Members of the [Assembly] committee understand this." AB 101 will next be heard by the Assembly Appropriations Committee. LIFE Lobby urges individuals and organizations to send letters to the author of the bill, Assembly Member Sheila Kuehl, and to send a copy ("cc") to the Chair of the Appropriations Committee (Assembly Member Carole Migden), to LIFE Lobby and to their own Assembly Member and Senator. To write to an Assembly Member or Senator you may use the following address: State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814. ### LIFE: California's Lesbian/Gay and AIDS Lobby has been lobbying on behalf of California's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and HIV-affected communities since 1986. LIFE is the oldest and largest institution representing these communities in California's State Capitol and is proud to celebrate a decade of service. VOTE COUNT: ASSEMBLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE Mazzoni (Chair) Yes Pacheco (Vice Chair) No Alquist Yes Bowen Yes Bowler No Campbell Abstention Davis Yes Goldsmith No Honda Yes House No Leach No Lempert Yes Leonard No Morrow No Scott Yes Strom-Martin Yes Sweeney Yes Villaraigosa Yes Washington No Wayne Yes Wildman Abstention LIFE: California's Lesbian/Gay and AIDS Lobby 926 J Street, Suite 522 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 444-0424 Date: Fri, 25 Apr 1997 18:40:29 -0700 From: richter@eecs.berkeley.edu (Jean Richter) Subject: 4/25/97 pt. 2 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. NH: School board election results in Bedford and Merrimack 2. RIP Leanne Katz 3. CA: Gay man elected president of Redondo Beach school board 4. Title IX can be used for anti-gay sexual harrassment ================================================================= From: RLKottwitz@aol.com Date: Wed, 9 Apr 1997 17:32:03 -0400 (EDT) Subject: BOSSERT & CHAGNON WIN BEDFORD, NH, SCHOOL BOARD SEATS Some of you may remember that last year's school board race in Bedford, NH (immediately to the north of Merrimack, NH) was characterized by vicious anti-gay attacks against the pro-education candidates via direct mail and phone banking on the eve of the election. Although "the gay issue" didn't come up in this year's campaign, last year's attack was certainly discussed in the community and had to have been on the minds of some of the voters. Regardless, the election win announced below is certainly a victory for education equity activists everywhere. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - APRIL 8, 1997 For information, contact: Rod Bossert (603) 472-8153 OR Cindy Chagnon (603) 472-8029 fax: (603) 472-8746 email: chags@tiac.net Web Page: http://www.tiac.net/users/chags BOSSERT & CHAGNON WIN BEDFORD, NH, SCHOOL BOARD SEATS Longtime Residents Will Be Voices of Reason on Embattled Board Bedford, NH -- In a stunning victory for the cause of good schools, moderate candidates Rod Bossert and Cindy Chagnon won election to the two open seats on the Bedford, NH School Board. Chagnon received 1,823 and Bossert received 1,807. Their opponents, Harold Foote and Jan Mares received 1,727 and 1,659, respectively. Voices of Reason Prevail By electing Bossert and Chagnon to the School Board, the people of Bedford have sent a strong message that they want reason, moderation, and good government to prevail. "We chose 'Voices of Reason' as our campaign theme because we are two reasonable people who will listen to all sides of an issue and try to create affordable quality education for Bedford,," commented Chagnon. "The voters clearly wanted moderate board members who would carry out the fundamental tasks of governing our schools wisely and efficiently." Back to the Center "The concept of affordable quality public education was the real victor," observed Bossert. "Our goal now is to focus the board's attention on education & accountability." Four Point Action Plan To put the schools back on track, Bossert and Chagnon promoted a four point action plan during the campaign: * Fiscal Responsibility Reality-based budgeting, long-term planning, avoiding deficit spending * Creating a Supportive Learning Environment Maintaining accepted teacher/student ratios * Technological Literacy Advancing the basic skills and improving the curriculum * Upholding the Public Trust Maintaining accessibility & accountability, conducting the people's business in public. Consensus and Community Values Both members-elect hope to continue to make the School Board a respected part of town government, with broad-based support for its policies and decisions. "We take the responsibility the voters have given us very seriously," said Bossert. "The task of improving the quality of our educational programs while keeping costs reasonable requires time, dedication and hard work. We hope our terms on the School Board will make a difference for our community." Chagnon added, "Bedford's schools belong to everyone, and we intend to conduct the people's business openly. You will hear from us frequently as we consider the important issues facing our schools, and we genuinely look forward to hearing from all segments of the community." -END- From: RLKottwitz@aol.com Date: Wed, 9 Apr 1997 17:31:51 -0400 (EDT) Subject: VICTORY FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION IN MERRIMACK, NH FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- APRIL 8, 1997 For information, contact: Jim Flis -- (603) 424-3388 or John Astill -- (603) 424-0393 VICTORY FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION IN MERRIMACK, NH Third Consecutive Win for Moderates Merrimack, NH -- Jim Flis and John Astill won election to the two open seats on the Merrimack School Board. Total votes for Astill were 2,623, and for Flis 2,479. They defeated candidates representing the extremely conservative views that brought Merrimack to international media attention. Voters Support Good Schools "The tradition of public education in America won an important victory in Merrimack tonight," observed Astill. "With a resounding, affirmative voice, the people elected two candidates dedicated to maintaining and improving the quality of public education," Flis added. Three years ago, a conservative bloc won control of the board, and began enacting the agenda of the radical religious right. Creationism, classroom prayer, and the most severely homophobic policy ever enacted by any school board in the country tore the town apart. This agenda was so unpopular in the town that not one of the three conservative members dared to seek reelection. For three successive elections, the voters have elected moderates who support public education to replace the radical conservatives. Educating Our Children, Ending Politics of Gridlock Jim Flis, commenting on the significance of the victory, said, "Returning the attention of the School Board to its primary mission of education means we can spend our time working on the things that really matter: instructional improvements and long-term management. We need to accelerate the healing process that has been taking place over the past year, as we regain the mutual trust and respect between the community and the schools. The task ahead is to start building opportunities for our children as they enter the 21st century." Building a Functioning School Board John Astill agreed with this view, adding, "I hope to renew the community's respect for education as we resolve problems long ignored and make plans for the future. The disrespect for the schools brought by the conservatives often obstructed the board's business. Over the next three years, I intend to bring a spirit of civility and respect for divergent views to my work on the board. The people of Merrimack have said clearly for the third consecutive election that the School Board must put our children first." Preliminary Vote Counts (as of 9:26 pm) John Astill 2,623 Jim Flis 2,479 Tom Koenig 1,760 Rachel Dodson 1,304 -END- ====================================================================== The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project joins those mourning the death of Leanne Katz, who served as executive director of the National Coalition Against Censorship since its creation over 20 years ago. Ms. Katz, 65, died March 2 of cancer. NCAC under Ms. Katz' leadership has always been a fierce protector of the First Amendment, and Ms. Katz and her staff, unlike many ELECTED official who are sworn to uphold the Constitution, always understood that the First Amendment protects LGBT people, too. Tax-deductible contributions to NCAC in Ms. Katz' memory may be directed to NCAC, 275 Seventh Ave., NY NY 10001. NCAC has a Web site, for those seeking further information on the organization, at http://www.ncac.org ===================================================================== From: DBLLDEF@aol.com Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 14:35:38 -0400 (EDT) To: richter@eecs.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: A Posting on New Title IX Guidelines TO: Those Working To Stop Anti-Gay Abuse In Secondary Schools FROM: David S. Buckel, Staff Attorney, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund DATE: April 8, 1997 RE: NEW FEDERAL GUIDELINES ON TITLE IX: ANTI-GAY SEXUAL HARASSMENT COVERED In March of 1997, the Office of Civil Rights for the U.S. Department of Education released new guidelines for educators on Title IX, the federal statute that bars sex discrimination in public schools that receive federal funding. For the first time, these guidelines make clear that one form of anti-gay harassment in schools -- namely harassment that creates a sexually hostile environment -- is illegal under Title IX. Specifically, the guidelines provide as follows: "Although Title IX does not prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, sexual harassment directed at gay or lesbian students may constitute sexual harasssment prohibited by Title IX. For example, if students heckle another student with comments based on the student's sexual orientation (e.g., "gay students are not welcome at this table in the cafeteria"), but their actions or language do not involve sexual conduct, their actions would not be sexual harassment covered by Title IX. On the other hand, harassing conduct of a sexual nature directed toward gay or lesbian students (e.g., if a male student or a group of male students target a lesbian student for physical sexual advances) may create a sexually hostile environment and, therefore, may be prohibited by Title IX. It should be noted that some State and local laws may prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Also, under certain circumstances, courts may permit redress for harassment on the basis of sexual orientation under other Federal legal authority." Sexual Harassment Guidance 62 Fed. Reg. 12039 (footnotes omitted). As an example of alternative protections under federal law, the guidelines cite Lambda's school harassment case, Nabozny v. Podlesny, 92 F. 3d 446 (7th Cir. 1996), where we used federal equal protection law to challenge public school officials' failure to take action against anti-gay abuse in a school, resulting in a near-million dollar recovery from the officials. Title IX is a federal statute taken very seriously by educators around the country, because it can be a basis for legal liability for schools (and payment of monetary damages), either through complaints to the Office of Civil Rights ("OCR") or in court. Accordingly, it is likely that educators in general will now consider anti-gay harassment more seriously than in the past. The bottom line is this: there are different sources of law to challenge anti-gay harassment in general in schools, but where the harassment is specifically "of a sexual nature," it may be illegal under Title IX and the school may be liable for monetary damages. While consultation with the statute itself and the entire set of guidelines is necessary to fully understand Title IX's requirements, below are some thought-provoking excerpts from the guidelines. First, the guidelines emphasize the need for each school to expressly identify for students that they may be able to file a complaint regarding sexual harassment, which now expressly includes anti-gay sexual harassment: "Schools are required by the Title IX regulations to adopt and publish grievance procedures providing for prompt and equitable resolution of [Title IX] complaints . . . in the absence of effective policies and grievance procedures, if the alleged harassment was sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive to create a hostile environment, a school will be in violation of Title IX because of the existence of a hostile environment, even if the school was not aware of the harassment and thus failed to remedy it. This is because, without a policy and procedure, a student does not know either of the school's interest in preventing this form of discrimination or how to report harassment so that it can be remedied." Sexual Harassment Guidance 62 Fed. Reg. 12040 (footnotes omitted). Next there is language about how the school may be liable even with regard to the witnesses of anti-gay sexual harassment, such as the gay friends or peers of a targeted student: "A hostile environment can occur even if the harassment is not targeted specifically at the individual complainant. For example, if a student or students regularly directs sexual comments toward a particular student, a hostile environment may be created not only for the targeted student, but also for others who witness the conduct." Id. at 12041 (footnote omitted). For more information on the new guidelines, call Lambda or call the Office of Civil Rights at 1-800-421-3481, or visit the website for the guidelines through http://www.ed.gov/offices/OCR/ocrpubs.html, or at http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/1997-1/031397b.html ========================================================================= 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/