Date: Tue, 20 May 1997 15:30:21 -0700 From: richter@eecs.berkeley.edu (Jean Richter) Subject: 5/20/97 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. CA: Bill would prohibit pro-gay items in schools 2. FL: Contact governor to support gay youth and veto anti-marriage bill ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 21:30:07 -0700 From: "Thomas J. Martin" Subject: CA Assemblyman Targets Modesto Schools Plus Others in State Assemblyman George House, (R-Hughson), catering to the desires of those conservatives who were thwarted late last year when the Modesto City schools sent teachers to a training regarding safety issues for gay and lesbian students, has come storming back with AB 1940. This bill, which will be introduced on the steps of the Capitol Building at 9:30 AM Tuesday, May 6th, is written to insure that no public school will be able to use state funds to purchase "materials and instruction that promotes or advocates homosexuality as a viable alternative lifestyle." The bill is reported to also carry a provision in it which prohibits any school from referring students to organizations that advocate a gay lifestyle or say that it is okay to be gay. This could target the local PFLAG chapter and the community-sponsored Center For Human Services' Teen Group for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Transgender and Questioning Youth to not receive referrals from teachers and counselors who work with these students. James Enochs, Superintendent of Schools, said the legislation would hinder the efforts of school employess to create a safe, harassment-free environment for all students. The Modesto Bee reports that neither Mr. House nor his chief of staff, Jennifer Jacobs, has seen the video "Teaching Respect For All," a GLSTN training film which sparked so much controversy last December at the School Board. The Board voted 6-1 to retain the film for use with the teachers and other adults. House claims that he received many calls and letters from constituents, though no one could say how many, opposing the film and the decision to send 30 staff members to the GLSTN training. Opponents claim that the workshops and video had an anti-Christian bias. The bill is scheduled to be brought before the Assembly Education Committee Wednesday. Tom Martin Member PFLAG/ Co-Chair GLSTN Modesto, CA ========================================================================== Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 09:13:39 -0400 To: pflag-announce@casti.com From: Maggie Heineman Subject: PFLAG RD: Please email Gov. Chiles in Florda Carole Benowtiz is the PFLAG Regional Director for the Gulf States. Please send email to Governor chiles even if you are not a Florida resident. At 08:54 AM 5/5/97 -0700, Carole Benowitz wrote: >Please email Gov Chiles in Florida >WWW.EOG.STATE.FL.US >Veto SB272 and HB147 > >The bill says that Florida will not recognize same gender marriages and >implies about domestic partnerships. >We saw the Gov last Wednesday, letting him know how this effects >tourism, youth and children of same gender married couples. > >He is going out of town, so we have a short week to do this. >Thanks, >Carole > From: Gary Steinsmith, Pres., Dolphin Democratic Club (Speakpos@aol.com) To: Florida Freedom to Marry E-mail List Date: May 1, 1997 Late yesterday night (Wednesday, April 30th), Dolphin board member Dean Trantalis, Esq., filed with me the following report: A delegation consisting of Dean Trantalis, Esq., board member of the Dolphin Democratic Club, Carole Benowitz, PFLAG Gulf Region Director, and Rabbi Stanley Garfein of the Reform Jewish Movement met with Gov. Lawton Chiles today [April 30th] along with four of his advisors in order to discuss their opposition and desire to veto legislation passed just yesterday [April 29th] denying recognition of same-gender marriages and domestic partnerships in any form and any jurisdiction. This legislation was brought about in anticipation of the state of Hawaii enacting the right to same-gender marriages or partnerships. The Governor and his aides met with the delegation for just under a half-hour, where the issues of discrimination, economics, and constitutionality were discussed. Ms. Benowitz alerted the governor as to the high incidences of suicide and drop-outs amongst gay and lesbian youth and how such mean-spirited legislation only denigrates children while it empowers those who may commit hate crimes. "We must stand up for our children, and as parents we cannot accept laws which hurt them," Benowitz told the Governor. Trantalis explained to the Governor that the arguments in support of the bill haven't factual or legal basis to them. "The economy will be enhanced by allowing out-of-state couples to feel protected once they cross our borders, to visit and live like all other human beings whose rights are protected by our laws." Calling them "ghost arguments," Trantalis emphasized that no factual basis exists which would indicate that our economy would be adversely affected. "We should study this," the Governor said. The group agreed, but added that we shouldn't be enacting laws before they become justified. "The fact is, Governor, this law is just mean-spirited, and it doesn't belong in Florida," Benowitz stated. The Governor was informed how the law would even affect domestic partnerships policies in private corporations, like Disney and Viacom. This seemed to pique the interest of the Governor's staff, who, along with the Governor, remained mostly silent during the meeting, taking notes and appearing more interested in learning about the bill which up to now they seemed unfamiliar with its content. In the end, the Governor was given letters in support of a veto from the Florida State Conference of NAACP Branches , the National Council of Jewish Women, the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Broward County, the Reform Jewish Movement, the resolution passed by both the Monroe and Broward Democratic Executive Committee, as well as other material directed to inform the Governor and his staff on the subject. The Governor has 15-days from the date of passage in which to veto the bill, otherwise it will become law automatically. It is now critical that all good people immediately contact Gov. Chiles in Tallahassee and urge his veto of this blatantly discriminatory and unconstitutional bill. Phone him at: (904) 488-7146 or (904) 488-4441. Fax him at: (904) 487-0801. E-mail him via the Governor's Web Site at: http://www.eog.state.fl.us -- end -- St. Petersburg Times, May 1, 1997 P. O. Box 1121,St. Petersburg,FL,33731 (Fax 813-893-8675, print run 352,135) (E-MAIL: letters@SPTimes.com) Don't neglect gay and lesbian youth Re: Neglecting the children, editorial, April 22. Thank you for pointing out the way that our legislators are cheating children. No one can say that they are for children and then sponsor a vote for bills that directly contradict that claim. Gov. Lawton Chiles and Lt. Gov. Buddy MacKay have dedicated the last two years of the governor's term to the betterment of our children, from conception to adulthood, and I commend them most heartily for this. On March 26, I had the distinct pleasure and honor of attending Gov. Chiles' Florida Forum '97, where various grass-roots organizations shared their experiences in helping our children to be born healthy and to reach adulthood prepared to live productive, happy and satisfying lives. From the governor on down through his admirable Commission on Education to every grass-roots program featured at the forum, no one is considering gay, lesbian and bisexual children of our state. Our gay and lesbian youth are three times more likely to commit suicide than are 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. Nationally, in 1988, almost 5,000 kids in this age group committed suicide. About 1,500 of these were our gay and lesbian children. These figures can be extrapolated for Florida's gay and lesbian kids. In light of this fact, I hope that the Times will join me in asking 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 emulate Gov. Weld and establish a Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth. We must act now to save the thousands who are at risk for suicide! Please write Gov. Chiles, The Capitol, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001 today! Gil Williams, Spring Hill =========================================================================== 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/