Date: Mon, 21 Apr 1997 17:32:57 -0700 From: richter@eecs.berkeley.edu (Jean Richter) Subject: 4/21/97 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. Spring 1997 issue of "Rethinking Schools" 2. Updated info on Massachusetts safe schools video 3. Thailand: Gays & Lesbians banned from enrolling in teacher training schools 4. VA: Possible gaybashing in Chantilly 5. UT: Nasty letter denouncing GLSTN conference attendance 6. CA: Nasty (and misleading) anti-AB101 letter ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 2 Apr 1997 06:24:41 -0800 (PST) Subject: Spring 1997 issue of "Rethinking Schools" new RESOURCE for list: the Spring 1997 issue (Vol 11, No. 3) of "Rethinking Schools" contains a cover article entitled "Gay Issues, Schools, and the Right-Wing Backlash." Article includes a list of resources at end, too. To obtain copies, write to Rethinking Schools, 1001 East Keefe Ave, Milwaukee WI 53212; phone 414-964-9646, fax 414-964-7220, and business email= . Rethinking Schools is a progressive, national, multicultural newsletter. ====================================================================== The Massachusetts Department of Education, in conjunction with the Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth, announces the availability of a new video, Safe Schools: Making Schools Safe for Gay and Lesbian Students. Targeted towards a range of audiences, including school administrators, teachers, counselors, parents, high schools students and local community members, this 28 minute video provides an introduction to the Safe Schools Program for Gay and Lesbian Students at the Department of Education and its purpose, goals and activities since its 1993 inception. Through interviews with students, the video creates a portrait of the educational experiences of lesbian and gay youth and demonstrates the role of the Safe Schools Program for Gay and Lesbian Students in protecting the legal rights, health, and well-being of these students. Teachers, counselors and parents help to inform about the harmful effects of sexual orientation-based discrimination and what can be done to eliminate it. The video also describes how the MA Dept. of Education has helped to address the needs of all students through such efforts as faculty and staff trainings, regional workshops and the dissemination of material about issues of sexual orientation. Safe Schools: Making Schools Safer for Gay and Lesbian Students video is available free to all Massachusetts schools and in-state residents. Out of state residents must send a blank, 30 minute VHS T-120 videocassette in with their order. For more information or to order this video, please contact the Safe Schools Program at (617) 388-3300 ext. 409 or mail your blank video to Donna Brathwaite; Massachusetts Department of Education, 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148 ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 3 Apr 1997 06:02:43 -0800 Subject: GAYS AND LESBIANS BANNED FROM ENROLLING IN THAILAND'S TEACHER TRAINING SCHOOLS From: ern@iglhrc.org (ERN) To: Multiple recipients of Subject: IGLHRC EMERGENCY RESPONSE NETWORK: Volume VI, Number 2 EMERGENCY RESPONSE NETWORK Volume VI, Number 2 The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) Action Alerts GAYS AND LESBIANS BANNED FROM ENROLLING IN THAILAND'S TEACHER TRAINING SCHOOLS On December 26, 1996, in a report in the Bangkok Post, the Rajabat Institute Council, the collective governing body of all of Thailand's teachers colleges, declared that it would bar homosexuals from enrolling in any of its colleges nationwide. The announcement brought strong criticism from human rights groups and many others, who are urging the repeal of this discriminatory policy. On January 25th, Suraporn Danaitangtrakul, a Deputy Education Minister, proposed that the Institute set a new criteria to bar people with "improper personalities," but not certain groups such as homosexuals. Anjaree, a lesbian group in Thailand, supported Mr. Saraporn's ideas but said the term "improper personalities" needs to be more clearly defined. Furthermore, members of Anjaree are working with other human and civil rights groups to request that the ban be dropped and that an anti-discrimination clause be added to the charter of the colleges. They are currently planning a conference to discuss opposition to the ban. In a recent positive development, the Commission on Justice and Human Rights of the Thai Parliament has discussed the matter and decided that the ban goes against human rights principles. This occurred after hearing testimonies from psychiatrists confirming that homosexuals were not sick or abnormal. Members of Anjaree were also asked to present lesbian and gay arguments against the ban. Please express your concern and call for the immediate rescinding of the Rajabat Institutes ruling by writing, faxing or emailing the following relevant people, all of whom are formal members of the Rajabat Institutes Council. NOTE: PLEASE REMAIN FORMAL AND VERY COURTEOUS IF YOU LODGE PROTESTS. HARSH, NEGATIVE, EMOTIONAL AND ANGRY LETTERS MAY BACKFIRE. In Thailand, people highly value politeness and courtesy and we ask that you please observe this. Protest letters that recognize this decision is out of step with Thailand's high regard for democracy and human rights are likely to have a positive impact. H.E. Mr Sukavich Rangsitpol, Minister for Education & Chairman Rajabat Institutes Council Ministry of Education, Ratchdamnoen Road, Bangkok, Thailand Fax. (66 2) 282 9241 Email: bumrung@emisc.moe.go.th The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education (Vice-Chairman Rajabat Institutes Council) Ratchdamnoen Road, Bangkok, Thailand Fax. (66 2) 282 9241 Email: bumrung@emisc.moe.go.th Mr Charoon Choolarp Secretary-General Rajabat Institutes Council C/o Ministry of Education Ratchdamnoen Road, Bangkok, Thailand Fax. (66 2) 282 9241 Email: charoon@oric.rajabhat.ac.th [...] ======================================================================= From: Saratogany@aol.com (FORWARDED MESSAGE) Subj: Chantilly, Virginia, gay bashing incident Date: 97-04-02 23:52:11 EST From: wanix@wizard.net (Jon R. Sime) I was very recently informed of an extremely distressing event. If anyone in this area (Fairfax Co., Virginia) has any more information I am very interested in following this up. I work in the Automation department of TechOps for the Fairfax County Public Library System (FCPLS) which is located directly across the street from Chantilly High School (TechOps is the other half of the building that the Chantilly Regional Library is located in), the scene of a large scale bashing incident earlier today during school hours and directly in front of hundreds of people. I am party only to second hand information at this point but will do what I can to find out more. At 10.30am the school building was evacuated due to a bomb threat. Students were not allowed reentrance to the building until 12.30. In the two hours between students were left outside, most of them waiting on the bleachers so that they could retrieve their personal items from classrooms, etc. Apparently a bet/dare was made between two male students. The dare was for the two to go out onto the field and kiss. This they apparently did and as far as I have heard a large group of male students began chasing the two males who kissed. One of the two was apparently caught and beaten, by how many other students I have not heard. What I have heard is that he was punched, kicked, slammed into a (someone said brick? I'm not sure...) wall and had (at the very least) two fingers broken by the mob of homophobic students. As far as I know the other student escaped injury. I have not heard of any action taken against the attackers yet; nor has anyone from the school, to my knowledge, released an official statement about the event. I expect that will happen very soon. I was told that a number of male students were bragging about having beaten up a "faggot". I do not have any names of either the victims or attackers, and at this point I would be cautious about releasing such information anyway. Neither do I have any knowledge as to whether the two male students are gay or even bisexual; for all I know right now they could both be straight. What matters more than their actual sexual orientation is their perceived orientation and the attack inflicted upon them as a result of the intolerance of fellow students. Admittedly their kissing on the field in front of the entire student body was not the most prudent action, but at this point that is, in my mind at least, irrelevant. Please, if anyone has more information or can help in any way, contact me at "wanix@wizard.net". You can also reach me in the evenings at the Centreville Regional Library (703-830-2223; ask for Jon Sime (long "i", silent "e", rhymes with "rhyme")). If I find out anything more than this I will post it to this mailing list. Feel free to pass this on to any other GLBT list you think may be appropriate. And let me state once again that I am party to this in a second-hand manner. If I presented any erronous information in here I will correct it as soon as I find out. With love and compassion, Jon R. Sime ======================================================================== DESERET NEWS, March 31, 1997 (Fax 801-237-2121, print run 64,671) (E-MAIL: letters@desnews.com) LETTER: Don't promote gay agenda I do not approve of the Salt Lake City School District offering lane-change credits to teachers who attend a gay and lesbian seminar. The Utah Chapter of The Gay Lesbian Straight Teachers' Network hosted a conference on March 21-23 in Salt Lake City, and the Salt Lake City School District offered lane-change credits to teachers who attend this conference. Lane-change credits are a vehicle by which teachers can earn salary raises. I do not approve teachers earning raises by learning how to promote homosexuality in the classroom. The topics in the seminar include ``Being an Advocate for Gay and Lesbian Youth,'' ``Becoming an Agent of Change'' and ``Accepting the Challenge of Being a Straight Ally.'' Can you imagine the school district supporting a seminar with topics such as this? They wouldn't ``be allowed'' to support a seminar with a topic such as ``Becoming an Advocate for Christian Youth.'' No way. We have essentially lost our right to acknowledge religion in our schools. We don't want to lose our right to keep immorality out of our schools. If this gives you a feeling of concern, call your elected member of the school board. Find out why they would allow such an irresponsible thing. If they aren't concerned, don't vote for them again. If we don't voice our opinions this time, more seminars with immoral values will be supported by the school district. Let's not even start with it. Glenn W. Fassmann, Salt Lake City ======================================================================== EXTREMIST VIEWS ALARMING Your article praising Assemblyman Jack Scott left out some important information - his actual voting record and how it affects families. Scott's Education Committee vote on AB 101 is a good example. Scott voted for a bill that makes homosexuality equal to race, gender and ethnicity for protection against discrimination. Students will be taught that homosexuality is normal. This bill will muzzle free discussion of this controversial behavior. If this bill passes, a teacher or student who, for religious, moral or other reason speaks out against homosexuality will face legal action. Students from church-based private schools would be banned from CIF sports. The Boy Scouts would be forced out of public school facilities. We should be concerned that we have a liberal extremist in moderate's clothing affecting the future of our children. Mark Starrett, Altadena ======================================================================== 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/