Date: Fri, 23 Jan 1998 16:29:25 -0800 From: Jean Richter Subject: 1/23/98 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. CA: Please attend next San Leandro school board meeting; News report on Youth Lobby Day 2. Youth Pride Day '98 3. NY: Teen interview subjects needed for magazine article ============================================================== Please pass this on to all supportive people. Please come to the next San Leandro School Board Meeting. It is at 7pm on Feb. 3rd. The address is 835 E. 14th St, in San Leandro. The superintendent and school board are not showing any signs of taking action to implement their existing policy on hate-motivated behavior. Please come and help us show them we won't be appeased with vague statements and no action. The San Leandro School District Superintendent in his report on Jan. 21st indicated that he has received replies from other school districts regarding the adoption of Joint Resolution 1381. He indicated that he will report his findings at the Feb 3rd school board meeting. When the board was asked directly what its inclination was on the Joint Resolution or when the community will hear it for discussion, the reply was that it all depended on how it progressed through the process. We do not know what his report will be, but it would be very helpful to have the "family" community present at the Feb. 3 rd meeting to show its interest and to comment if need be. A large part of the school board meeting were presentations by the middle school and the high school for approval of the board to submit their proposals for the Annenberg Grant which is about $500,000. The proposals were to present the type of programs the money would go to in order to improve the chances of low achieving students to be ready for college. The proposals were critized by members of PIPE as an attempt at social engineering, and urged that such programs are not the basics of education, and should therefore not be approved. These programs proposed by the principal and teachers of San Leandro High would help not only the racial categories identified, but the silent minority of gays, lesbian/bi and transgender youths. So PIPE has now focused on new proposed programs as their added field of battle. With all due thanks for your help when the call went out, be prepared. ========================================================================== From: SRKrause Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 21:56:36 EST Subject: From Sacramento Bee, day 2 Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com) A plea for protection from harassment: Gay, lesbian students lobby for safety By Robert D. Dvila Bee Staff Writer (Published Jan. 22, 1998) Young gay and lesbian Californians emerged from the shadows of their classrooms to rally Wednesday at the Capitol for protection from harassment often suffered at school because of their sexual orientation. The third annual Youth Lobby Day drew them to Sacramento to tell their stories of being targeted because they are gay, to network with other activists and to lobby for policies ensuring safe learning environments for gay students. "There is a rising movement to take away our rights," said Lauren Smith, a high school freshman in San Leandro. Students have shoved and thrown trash at her and her girlfriend amid tensions that flared in the Alameda County town when a lesbian teacher came out to students last fall. "These people vote, and we don't," the 15-year-old student said. "But that doesn't take away our voice. We demand to be heard." Smith spoke during a noon demonstration on the Capitol west steps where Lobby Day participants gathered before breaking into caucuses to meet with individual legislators. Organizers said 350 people attended the rally, while California Highway Patrol officers estimated the turnout at 250. Participants arrived by plane and buses early Wednesday for the one-day event, sponsored by LIFE Lobby. The mood was exuberant as demonstrators in T-shirts, baggy clothes and backpacks put a youthful face on the issue of anti-gay harassment in schools. "I think the fact that we are here and learning and talking to our elected officials shows that we are serious about this," said 28-year-old Jaime Gutierrez of Concord. "This is very important to us." Assemblywoman Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica, who lost a bid last year to add sexual orientation to state laws forbidding discrimination in schools, urged participants not to give up the struggle for tolerant campuses. "It's not always whether you win the first time, the second time or the third time," said Kuehl, the state's first openly gay legislator. "At the end of every struggle, what's important is: Did you fight, did you stand up, did you make the pitch." Assemblywoman Carole Migden, D-San Francisco, told the young people that their visits often help change lawmakers' attitudes about gays and lesbians. "When real people are before you, you reconfigure how you think about things," said Migden, who also is a lesbian. "You are ambassadors for our community." ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 19:27:29 -0500 From: Jason Hungerford - Youth Guardian Services To: youth13-17@youth-guard.org, youth17-21@youth-guard.org, Subject: Youth Pride Day 98!! Youth Guaridan Services, the parent organization for the YOUTH Email Lists and the SCHOOLS Email List, is a new member of the Youth Pride Alliance (just voted in this month!) and we will actually be having a booth set up to distribute information about our organization and the kinds of things we're doing to benefit gay+ and questioning youth. Please support this very worthy event, and spread the word. Thanks, Jason ============================================================================ === For Immediate Release Contact Christopher Dyer at (202) 588-8008. Youth Pride Day to take place April 18, 1998 (January 23, 1998) Washington DC -- The Youth Pride Alliance announced that the Second Annual Youth Pride Day will take place Saturday April 18, 1998 in Washington DC. The event will take place in Dupont Circle, the heart of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered community in Washington. Youth Pride Day celebrates the dignity and courage of youth as they come to grips with their identity. The three main goals of Youth Pride Day are to promote Awareness of issues effecting GLBT youth, increase the Visibility of the dynamic diversity of GLBT youth and to foster Pride in us and in our community. Youth Pride Day is a unique celebration. It is one of three Youth Pride events in the country. Last year, it drew over 900 youth and their supporters to the first Youth Pride Day. Speakers included former U.S. Figure Skating Champion, Rudy Galindo, noted transgendered activist Jessica Xavier, and several youth activists from the Metro DC and from as far away as Kansas. This year, organizers plan to increase their outreach to youth within the Metro area as well as continue to build outreach nationally. "This event is organized by youth, for other youth. Many Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered and questioning youth feel isolated and alienated in their coming out process. By gathering in a public space we send a powerful message to our struggling brothers and sisters that they are not alone." Christopher Dyer, Chair and Founder of the Youth Pride Alliance, said. "This event promotes Pride in who and what we are. By creating a non-judgemental space for a day, we help empower youth to lead healthier and safer lives." Youth Pride Day '98 will feature National celebrities, speakers from other states and several testimonials by youth in the Metro Area. It will also feature performances by local bands and entertainers. Additionally, local and national groups will set up tables and informational booths. The day will end at a dance that evening. The Youth Pride Alliance is a coalition of over 20 youth support and advocacy groups in the Metro DC Area including Youth Guardian Services, Advocates For Youth, SMYAL, PFLAG-DC/Metro, GLSEN-DC/Metro, seven campus student groups, Metro Teen Aids Coalition, and BiNetwork DC. Its mission is to celebrate the dignity and courage of all young people as they discover their identity as gay, lesbian, bisexual or straight; and challenge society to stop the hate, the violence, the fear, the isolation, and the denial. Every young person deserves to live, love and be loved. By sponsoring events such as Youth Pride Day, the Alliance strives to achieve its goal of providing safe and healthy spaces for youth to grow. For additional information, contact Christopher Dyer at (202) 588-8008 or call the 24-hour YPA hotline at (703) 518-0631 or e-mail YouthPride@innovisionmm.com. -- Jason Hungerford jason@youth-guard.org Executive Director http://www.youth-guard.org/jason Youth Guardian Services http://www.youth-guard.org LISTOWNER: YOUTH13-17 / YOUTH17-21 / YOUTH21-25 Email Lists http://www.youth-guard.org/youth LISTOWNER: SCHOOLS Email List http://www.youth-guard.org/schools LIST ASST: PFLAG-TALK Email List http://www.critpath.org/pflag-talk LIST ASST: PFLAG-DISCUSS Email List "I'm not going to fade as soon as you close your eyes" ***** =========================================================================== Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 19:50:23 -0500 From: EvanWriter (by way of Jason Hungerford - Youth Guardian Services ) To: youth13-17@youth-guard.org, youth17-21@youth-guard.org, Subject: Writer needs help with article Dear Lists, I normally try not to do these type of announcements. But I know the writer working on this story, and have worked with him in the past. And he IS legitimate. He needs help with an upcoming story about high school students (gay & straight) in New York. If you can help him, please email him at evanwriter@aol.com Thanks, Jason ListOwner ============================================================================ ===== STOP NEW YORK SCHOOLS FROM HIDING THEIR GAY YOUTH !!!!!! MY name is EVAN FORSTER. I am a journalist and I am writing an article for New York magazine about New York City's Gay/Straight alliances. I NEED TO CONTACT GAY and STRAIGHT teens ASAP (Currently enrolled in high school) to be part of the article. I am particularly interested in students from Manhattan's private schools. (Trinity, Calhoun, Brearly, Dalton, Collegiate, etc). And most particularly students who are involved in GSAs. The article will take a look at why straight teen allies are involved. It will examine why they understand what their parents and school faculty do not. It's going to be a great piece. (Many of you might have seen the piece I did for OUT magazine that came out last September. I recently did a similar piece for BUZZ in Los Angeles and will hopefully do the NY story... IF I CAN GET HELP FORM THE STUDENTS AT THE NYC SCHOOLS. I have tried contacting the schools, out teachers, the whole bit, but NO ONE WILL HELP. SCHOOLS IN NY ARE TOO AFRAID to connect me with the students. Many are afraid that people will find out that they are supportive of gay teens and many wish to ignore the issue entirely. HELP ME STOP THEM FROM KEEPING YOU IN THEIR CLOSET THE RUG!!!! We have a small but powerful oppoortunity to get the message out that gay teens are here and need equal protection and the eqaual right to grow up just like straight teens. Again, I will need straight as well as gay students. Even if you are not from NYC but you chat with someone who is, tell them about this article. E-mail this letter to a friend. If you know any straight allies who you can depend on, contact them as well. Time is running out. I will need students who can go on record -- meaning use their real names. This requires written parental permission, BUT I WILL ALSO SPEAK WITH THOSE WHO WISH TO RETAIN COMPLETE ANONYMITY. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT : EvanWriter@aol.com or call me at 718-797-0801 Thank you. Evan Forster P.S. I have worked with numerous organizations on the articles I have written, including GLSEN, Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center in Los Angeles, Lesbain and Gay Community Center in New York City and more. I am a real journalist and this is a real request If you contact me, I will tell you who to contact at the various organizations to verify my qaulifications. Of course, you can also contact NY magazine. ============================================================================== 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/ Date: Fri, 23 Jan 1998 16:55:02 -0800 From: Jean Richter Subject: 1/23/98 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news, pt. 2 1. ME: More info on Northeastern LGBT Student Conference ============================================================= From: "ncop" (by way of Jessea NR Greenman) Subject: Northeast GLBT Regional Student Conference Info 1998 Northeast Regional Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally Student Conference February 20-22, 1998 Sponsored by the University of Southern Maine, Alliance for Sexual Diversity, Human Rights Campaign, and many more. This is the 4th Annual Conference of this type held in New England. The conference is open to college and university students, high school students, members of queer youth organizations, faculty/staff advisors and members of the community who work with queer students. The registration fee is $20 before January 31, 1998. After this date the fee is $30. If your organization registers 5 or more people the fee is only $15 per person. University of Southern Maine Students pay $10 before 1/31/98. You may reserve you conference registration space by sending an email to Sarah Holmes at sholmes@usm.maine.edu or by fax at 207.780.4139 It must contain the following information: Name, Mailing Address, Email (if avail), Phone Number, School and/or organization affiliation, whether you will be attending all three days or just saturday, and when payment will be received. Your payment must reach us by February 6th or your space will not be held. Registration will continue until we run out of spaces. This is already beginning to happen so please register asap. Requests for reasonable accomadations for disabled persons must be made before 1/31/98. All events will be held in accessible locations and an ASL interpreter will be present at the keynote address. Transportation and lodging are the responsibility of conference attendees. Directions will be provided in registration confirmation packets sent to attendees. There are a number of hotels in the greater Portland area. The Radisson Eastland Hotel in downtown Portland has made arrangements to reserve rooms for conference attendees at reduced rate. This arrangement ends on 1/31/98 so you must call and reserve your room asap. They are going quickly. For a list of other hotel possibilities please email Mary Kay Kasper at kasper@usm.maine.edu Some members of the Alliance for Sexual Diversity are providing floor and couch space the weekend of the conference to those who cannot afford other alternatives. Please contact Mary Kay for that information as well. Now, more specific information about the conference itself..... The Keynote Speakers are: Donna Red Wing, National Field Director of the Human Rights Campaign in Washington, D.C. and former field director for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. Ms. Red Wing will be speaking on Saturday, February 21, 1998 at 7:00 pm in the Luther Bonney Hall Auditorium on the Portland Campus of USM. Her topic will be the state of the LGBT movement, grassroots organizing, and the HRC's vision for America and how students fit into that vision. This event will be open to the public, non-conference attendees will be asked to make a donation at the door. Wendy Chapkis, Professor of Women's Studies and Sociology at the University of Southern Maine and author of the two books: _Beauty Secrets_ and _Live Sex Acts: Performing Erotic Labor_ Ms. Chapkis will speak Saturday morning at the beginning of the day of workshops. Her topic will concern issues of identity and sexuality. Workshops: There will be approximately 12 workshops spread out over the day Saturday, February 21st. These are some, but not all, of the topics and presenters: "All you needed to know about gay history in 50 minutes or less" presented by Howard Solomon, Professor of History at Tufts University "Speak Out" presented by Jonathon Lee and Naomi Falcone of the Maine Speak Out Project. This statewide organization provides trained speakers whose lives have been touched by the issues of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered individuals and our allies. "Teaching in the Public Schools" presented by Rita Kissen and graduates of the Teacher Education Program at USM. Prof. Kissen is the author of _The Last Closet: Gay and Lesbian Teachers_ "Substance Abuse in the Gay Communitye" organized by Michael Blanchard. This panel will include members of the gay community who have been affected by substance abuse and professionals who deal with recovery and prevention. "Hate and Bias Crimes in Schools and on Campus" (this will most likely be presented by members of the Maine Attorney General's Office and the Civil Rights Team Project) "Safer Sex Workshop and Demonstration" presented by Rodney from The AIDS Project, Portoland "Safe Zones and Safe Schools Projects" presented in part by Sarah Holmes, Conference Coordinator and founder of the Safe Zone Project at USM "Academia and Queer Studies Programs" presenters tba "Take those college activist skills and.....get a job" presented by Lawrence Bliss, Director of Career Services at USM (and the man who helped Sarah write her resume! :) "Being Gay Online" presented by Dave Seguin, a student and internet guru. "GLBT students and athletics" presentor tba. and more. there will also be booths for vendors and both local and national organizations. ENTERTAINMENT (we know the real reason to come to this conference!) Friday evening will begin around 4:00 when Registration Check-in begins. From 6:00 to 8:00 pm conference attendees will have the opportunity to begin networking with others who share some of the same interests of backgrounds. Some of these networking groups will be "facilitated" by Saturday's workshop presenters and speakers. At 8:00 pm local Comedienne JULIE DANO will perform. For those of you who have not yet seen her you will be in for a great surprise. She is hilariously funny with her both good natured and barbed humor. This event will be open to the public, free to conference attendees and USM students, donations requested from the general public. After the evening's planned entertainment you will have access to a night on the town in Portland. As the motto says "A lot of fun for a little city." Portland has a number of gay bars that are single sex and mixed and more than a few great dance clubs. We are trying to work out some deals with these establishments along with coffee shops, movie theatres and restaurants. Or you can hang out in the Campus Center with other conference attendees and enjoy chem-free (unless you count caffeine as a chemical!) socializing. Your choice. All meals on Saturday and Sunday morning are included in the registration fee. Saturday morning join us for check-in and breakfast at 8:00 am. The welcome and Wendy Chapkis' Keynote address will begin at 9:00. Lunch and an afternoon tea and cookie break will be held and conference attendees are welcome to join us and Donna Red Wing for a reception at 6:00. Enjoy the performance of the renowned Maine Gay Men's Chorus. Saturday Evening there will be an all ages dance (with a cash bar!!) in the Campus Center. This event will be free for conference attendees, or $4 for the general public. Bring your valid ID or you will not be allowed to buy alcohol. Sunday morning we will gather again at 10:00 AM for breakfast with lots of coffee and tea. There will be another block of workshops and networking opportunities and a "town meeting" to discuss the future of the Northeast/New England Conference and other opportunities for Students in the Northeast. Please be sure to bring (or send) information from your group or organization. Posters and announcements for future events are welcome, also help others out by bringing copies of old posters to share some ideas that have worked well for your group. This conference proves to be an exciting experience. I am really happy to be involved in planning this. If you have any other questions please contact me at: sholmes@usm.maine.edu or at 1-800-866-6263 (800# provided by the Human Rights Campaign. Thanks!!!) Hope to see you February 20th. ==================================================================== 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/