Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 16:18:52 -0700 From: richter@eecs.berkeley.edu (Jean Richter) Subject: 7/29/97 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. Update on "Love Makes a Family" photo exhibit schedule 2. Safe schools resource guide updated 3. NY: Safe schools teacher in-service 4. NJ: Positive reaction to gay teacher coming out 5. PA: Gay book in school library causes controversy 6. TX: Varied reactions to school for gay youth =============================================================== From: FamPhoto@aol.com LOVE MAKES A FAMILY: Living in Lesbian and Gay Families a photo-text exhibit The renowned exhibit that is traveling the United States and Canada will be featured in Provincetown for the month of August. Come to the opening reception on Sunday, August 3rd at the Unitarian Church, 236 Commercial Street, or stop by the church Mon-Friday (9-5p.m., Wed. 9-noon), Sunday 9-1 p.m. And check by the church in the evenings or on Saturdays as sometimes it is open for other events. It will be up until Sept. l. If you would like to bring this exhibit of 20 photos and text (taken from moving interviews with all the family members) to your community, church, library, school (there's even an elementary school version of the text), college, please email Peggy Gillespie and Family Diversity Projects at famphoto@aol.com for more information or visit our website at http://www.javanet.com/~famphoto =============================================================== Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 08:33:43 -0400 (EDT) From: ac245@osfn.rhilinet.gov (Tina M. Wood) Subject: Safe Schools Resource Guide updated I just finished htmlizing the updated version of "Creating Safe Schools for Lesbian and Gay Students: A Resource Guide for School Staff," which was developed by Youth Pride, Inc., of Rhode Island. The updated version has some new exercises, some new resources, and more quotes about why it is so important to have a safe environment for LGBT students. It is on the web at: http://members.tripod.com/~twood/guide.html It has a link back to the old version as well in case anyone needs it. Please spread the word. Tina W. -- ______ Tina M. Wood ac245@osfn.rhilinet.gov \ / Cumberland, Rhode Island ac245@osfn.org \ / Homepage: http://drycas.club.cc.cmu.edu/~maire/home.html \/ RI Safe Schools gateway: http://members.tripod.com/~twood/ ================================================================ From: SARATOGANY@aol.com Date: Sun, 22 Jun 1997 10:46:15 -0400 (EDT) Subject: CSS & GLSTN- NY Saratoga Region Chapter Complete 1st Teacher In-Service Hi: I have been real busy with the Coalition for Safer Schools , CSS, of late. Below is a brief of our 1st teacher in-service and the CSS/GLSTN SRC activity north of the Mohawk River. John Myers ****************************************************************************** ***************************** We ( the Myers Education Center's 2 social workers and CSS - GLSTN SRC) completed the in-service teacher training and it went off great. The program was titled "Sexual Orientation Equity In School: The Humanistic and Legal Perspectives". It was in 2 parts (6/17 and 6/20). Part 1 was the showing of 2 videos "Making Schools Safe" by the MA DOE and an edited version (36 mins) of "Teaching Respect for All". The handouts for Part 1 were "Stopping Anti Gay Abuse In High Schools: A Legal Perspective" by Dave Buckel, LLDEF, the MA Education Report on Gay and Lesbian Youth Issues and the MA DOE, MA High School Students and Sexual Orientation: Results of the 1995 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Part 2 was started with a lecture on the legal perspective (Title IX ,the Nabozny landmark federal court decision and the need for district sexual orientation non discrimination policy) and the humanistic viewpoint. Thereafter the session was open to discussion (Q & A ect). We had three additional handouts packets.(see below for contents). The number attending was 48 (less than first thought due a conference conflict). We received a hearty applause from the attendees and some very good complimentary comments from the principal, director and a number of teachers. A more than a few teachers thanked us for bring this topic out into the open. One teacher is considering showing "Teaching Respect ..." in his class next school year. It was mentioned by the director to bring this program to the other education center (up north in Glens Falls, Warren County). Needless to say I was very happy. This in-service, the presentation/discussion we had with the assembly (student/teacher) at Granville HS, the public library video series (4 Monday nights) and the Saratoga Springs youth weekly (8 to date) sexuality discussion meetings has been empowering. We are learning and networking as we go. We have been consulting with an administrator of a southern Saratoga County school regarding a Superintendent's Day workshop on GLBT issues next school year. In-service Handouts: Part 1 1. "Stopping Anti Gay Abuse in High Schools: A Legal Perspective (LLDEF) 2. "Making Schools Safe for Gay and Lesbian Youth"(education report) MA Governorís Commission On Gay and Lesbian Youth 3. MA DOE, MA High School Students and Sexual Orientation: Results of the 1995 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Part 2 1. Examples of Policy /Position Statements and Official Letters: a. APA and the National Association of School Psychologist (NASP) b. National Education Association (NEA) c. Governor of Washington State, letter to all school superintendents d. Commissioner of Education (RI) letter to all school superintendents e. Professional organizations (partial list) with policy/position and resolutions 2. Miscellaneous: Regarding GLBT a. Recommendations: Ten Action Points for Educators b. APA: Answers to Your Questions About Sexual Orientation and Homosexuality c. Bibliography: Primarily GLBT Teacher/Student issues d. Internet Sites: Primarily GLBT Schools Information Resources e. Reactions to Homphobia 3. The Tragic Suicide of Four Teenagers Owing to Homophobia (4 short articles) =================================================================== Bergen Record, July 28, 1997 150 River Street,Hackensack,NJ,07602 (Fax 201-646-4135, print run 172,667) (E-MAIL: newsroom@bergen-record.com) Letter: Homosexuality is not a choice [Deleted article. filemanager@qrd.org] Gunnar Mengers, River Edge ====================================================================== Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, July 29, 1997 Pittsburgh PA E-MAIL: letters@tribune-review.com Reaction mixed to book about homosexuality By S.K. Musisko [Deleted article. filemanager@qrd.org] ====================================================================== Dallas Morning News, July 27, 1997 Box 655237,Dallas,TX,75265 (Fax 214-263-0456, print run 393,511) (E-Mail: DMNeditor@aol.com or letterstoeditor@dallasnews.com) A safe haven First of all I would like to commend your paper for the objective and factual information provided in the article regarding the proposed Walt Whitman Community School ("School for gay youths is planned," July 15). As the parents of a 16-year-old son who is gay, and who has been the target of verbal and physical harassment at his junior and senior high schools, we can attest that it is impossible for gay/lesbian children to obtain an education, free of discrimination, in our nation's schools. It is our fervent hope and prayer that someday this form of socially and legally accepted form of hate and discrimination will no longer exist. Until that day comes, it will be comforting to know that our children will have options, such as the Walt Whitman Community School. We will be sending a donation to the school, as I hope many other parents will do as well. It takes a community to raise and educate the children of the community, all the children, not just the children who are socially acceptable. BILL and CAROLYN WAGNER, Fayetteville, Ark. 'Just pure sick' What is our nation coming to? After reading of the opening of a gay, lesbian and bisexual high school here in Texas, I am just pure sick. Are we (America) the next Sodom and Gomorrah? How can we teach our children that it is natural and OK for a man to have sexual relations with another man, or a woman with a woman? If this was part of God's plan, there would only be one sex. I could go on and on about how immoral this is. Yes, I am a Baptist, more so, I am a Christian. If America doesn't believe in God and seek God's will in all we do, America needs to take "God" out of "God bless America" for we shall surely fall, as did Sodom and Gomorrah. ANDREW RABON, Hurst Voucher impact Re: "School for gay youths is planned," July 15, Dallas Morning News, Metropolitan section. I wonder how many adamant supporters of "educational choice" will try to exclude schools such as the planned Walt Whitman Community School from proposed voucher schemes, arguing that public monies should not be used to fund anything "objectionable"? Of course, it does not seem to matter to the same supporters that there are millions of Americans who object to the use of public monies to fund the religious indoctrination of students. I personally oppose school vouchers, but if one day the U.S. Supreme Court rules them constitutional for religious and other private schools, then students choosing to attend the Walt Whitman Community School must be allowed to use vouchers as well. BILL PECKAT, Dallas Segregation This is in regard to your July 15 article concerning the idea of starting a separate school for homosexual students. This struck me as the most ridiculous idea; a giant leap backward in gay and lesbian rights. Is this not segregation? Why tout one minute for equal rights and the right to be treated as everyone else, then the next minute wanting to be cloistered in a special group protected by what? STEPHANIE FREEMAN, Dallas ==================================================================== 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/