Date: Wed, 01 Apr 1998 15:37:44 -0800 From: Jean Richter Subject: 4/1/98 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news "Say, did you hear about that elementary school in Utah that got in trouble over a game of 'Farmer in the Dell'?" :-) Hopefully, no bogus stories found their way into this year's April 1st posting - happy April Fools' Day! 1. CA: News articles on "gay in suburbia" posted to web; More on LA GLEC dissolution 2. NY: Job opening at GLSEN national office 3. IL: "Love Makes a Family" exhibit at Western Illinois University ======================================================================= The Contra Costa Times published a number of articles on gay youth in the East Bay - you can find them at their web site: http://www.hotcoco.com/specsec/gay/index.htm The articles total over 45K, so I won't be posting them to the list, but if you can't access the web and would like to have them emailed to you, let me know. ======================================================================= Subject: Los Angeles Unified School District discontinues Gay, Lesbian education commission Date: Mon, 30 Mar 98 14:05:07 -0500 x-sender: kfrankfurt@trudy.digitopia.com From: kfrankfurt To: News from GLSEN Sender: ............................................................ An important message from GLSEN-Alert, the electronic news service of GLSEN. The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network -- GLSEN 121 West 27th Street, Suite 804 New York, NY 10001 212-717-0135 -- 212-727-0254 - fax glsen@glsen.org Visit the GLSEN Blackboard online: http://www.glsen.org/ ............................................................ Dear Community Member: On behalf of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth who need the services of the Gay and Lesbian Education Commission (GLEC) of the Los Angeles Unified School District, I am writing to inform you of some recent actions of the LAUSD Board of Education that have been of concern to GLEC. Last October, the Board voted to create a Human Relations Commission responsible for creating programs for and providing outreach to students in LAUSD around issues of diversity. While GLEC is very supportive of the creation of this Commission, GLEC has recently learned that the Board has decided to eliminate the Education Commissions, specifically because the race-related Commissions (Black, Mexican American, Asian Pacific and American Indian Commissions) violate Proposition 209 and may subject the District to lawsuits. We have also been told that the current functions and programs offered by GLEC may be addressed by the Human Relations Commission in some form that is unlarown and undeveloped at this point in time. My purpose in writing is to ask for your support on this very important issue. GLEC was established in 1991 to advise the Board of Education regarding the special needs of GLBT students, faculty and staff. In addition to serving students of evety ethnicity, disability and gender, GLEC serves a population with exceptional special needs and with severe under-representation within the District. Without GLEC, it would be virtually impossible to address homelessness, substance abuse and the disproportionate number of suicides among our GLBT youth, which some have estimated as being as much as 30% higher than those ofnon-gay youth. Since its inception, GLEC has been extremely successful in the creation of Gay and Lesbian Pride Month, the Models of Pride Youth Conference, the Gay and Lesbian From, and a number of college scholarship programs. The visible existence of an office where a student can call to report harassment in her/his school, or where a teacher can call to receive information for a lesson plan has significantly enhanced, and in some cases saved the lives of our gay youth. Some GLBT youth have no one else to turn to but GLEC. The Nabozny case has also been a strong lesson that the failure of a Board of Education to address issues of harassment of GLBT youth can be very costly for the District. The activities and outTeach provided by GLEC have helped to create an environment where harassment of gay and lesbian youth is and will not be tolerated. The future of GLEC is incredibly important to providing environments where GLBT youth can exist without having to wony about harassment and violence against them because of their sexual orientation, while also providing a place for them to go when they experience such harassment and violence. Enclosed you will find a sample lener of support. Please take a moment and type this letter, altering it in any way you would like, and then mail it to GLEC in the enclosed self-addressed envelope by March Ist. In addition, we invite members of the community to address the Board of Education on the extremely important need to have resources and support for GLBT youth in the District. Most likely, a resolution will be introduced to the Board on March 9th calling for the elimination of the Education Commissions, and a likely vote will occur on March 23rd. While these dates are tentative, it is clear that this resolution will be proposed and will most likely pass. If you would like to address the Board, you may do so by writing them, calling them, or attending a Board meeting. You may contact the Board Secretary at (213) 625-6273 to get on the agenda for a meeting. Thank you in advance for your support. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (213) 259-2531, or you may call the GLEC office at (213) 625-6392. Sinceley, Bart Veny, Chair WHAT IS GLEC? The Gay and Lesbian Education Commission was established in 1991 to advise the Los Angeles Board of Education regarding the special needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students, faculty, staff and support personnel in the Los Angeles Unified School District. WHO DOES GLEC HELP? GLEC serves students, faculty, and personnel in LAUSD of every race, ethnicity, disability, gender, and sexual orientation with a particular emphasis on the needs of gay youth, a population with exceptional special needs and with severe under-representation within the District. WHAT SERVICES DOES GLEC PROVIDE? MODELS OF PRIDE: Empowering Weekend workshop for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth held annually in October with presentations on career counseling, health and safety, coming out, dating and relationships, political involvement, and much more. GAY FROM: Los Angeles is the first and only city to have a public school system-sponsored prom for gay youth, a tradition that began in 1994. Held in late Spring, hundreds of youth are able to participate in an American rite of passage in an atmosphere free of bigotry and harassment. AWARENESS MONTH: Every June, as our nation celebrates Gay Pride Month, GLEC produces inschool assemblies, posters, displays, and lessons to increase awareness and understanding of the gay community, its history, its culture, its legends and leaders. YOUTH LOBBY DAY: Every January, hundreds of students and elected state officials convene in Sacramento to advance the fight for equal rights, protection and an official end to discrimination in our schools. The unique opportunity gives students a hands on education of California's legislature, while legislators are educated on the issues affecting gay youth. GLEC WEBSITE: LA's gay students now have a website page they can call "home." Twenty four hours a day, GLEC reaches out with information and support. In its first month, the GLEC website received 10,000 hits. SPEAKERS BUREAU: A team of trained speakers prepare presentations to school assemblies and classrooms throughout Los Angeles resulting in further awareness and understanding of gay people. PROJECT 10: Since 1984, this on-campus counseling program has been committed to keep students in school, off drugs and alive. By providing valuable information and raising self-esteem, Project 10's support groups have helped to lower the suicide rate of gay youth. HOW IS GLEC UNIQUE? GLEC is truly one of a kind. No other school district in the nation has an officially-sanctioned office for more than 675,000 students, faculty, and personnel to contact regarding gay issues. Our mission -- more profound and vital than its official role -- is to provide young gay students with a sense of inclusion and fairness in the quality and scope of their education and, by extension, their lives. Sample Letter to Send: Bart Veny, Chair Gay and Lesbian Education Commission P. O. Box 291478 Los Angeles, CA 90029 Dear Bart: On behalf of (name of organization, myself, etc.), I am writing to provide my support to the Gay and Lesbian Education Commission (GLEC) of the Los Angeles Unified School District. It has come to my attention that the Board of Education has created a Human Relations Commission that will be responsible for creating programs for and providing outreach to students in LAUSD around issues of diversity. I have also learned that the Board is strongly considering the elimination of the Education Commissions, including GLEC. While I am supportive of the creation of this Commission, it is imperative that its creation will not diminish or eliminate the current support services and programs provided to students who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender. (Please insert one paragraph about yourself or your agency.) In my opinion, the role of GLEC to advise the Board of Education regarding the special needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students, faculty and staff is extremely critical, due to the uniqueness of the population served by GLEC. In addition to serving students of every race, ethnicity, disability and gender, the Commission also serves a population with exceptional special needs and with severe underrepresentation within the District. Even with select school staff who are committed to these issues, it is virtually impossible to address homelessness, substance abuse and the disproportionate number of suicides among our gay and lesbian youth, which some have estimated as being as much as 30% higher than those ofnon-gay youth. As the Gay and Lesbian Education Commission has done a great deal to improve and enhance the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth, you have my full support of the actions and activities of this important and needed Commission. ............................................................ Visit the GLSEN Blackboard online: http://www.glsen.org/ Past GLSENAlert posts are archived on the GLSEN Blackboard: http://www.glsen.org/pages/sections/news/glsenalert/ ............................................................ For information about subscribing and unsubscribing to GLSENAlert, send an email to: with the subject of body: help If you have problems using these commands, you can contact the list server administrator at: ............................................................ ================================================================================ Subject: Job Opening Date: Tue, 31 Mar 98 18:02:20 -0500 x-sender: kfrankfurt@trudy.digitopia.com From: kfrankfurt To: News from GLSEN Sender: ............................................................ An important message from GLSEN-Alert, the electronic news service of GLSEN. The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network -- GLSEN 121 West 27th Street, Suite 804 New York, NY 10001 212-717-0135 -- 212-727-0254 - fax glsen@glsen.org Visit the GLSEN Blackboard online: http://www.glsen.org/ ............................................................ *** Job Opening at the GLSEN National Office *** Title: Executive Assistant Job Summary: The Executive Assistant provides administrative and programmatic support to the Executive Director and the Director of Development Supervisor: Executive Director Responsibilities: * Coordinate Executive Director's schedule and provide general administrative support * Manage correspondence and other relations with the National Board of Directors * Provides support to Director of Development with fundraising events, management of donors and foundation relations * Provide computer support to staff * Occasional travel to educational, GLBT and GLSEN conferences to represent organization Qualifications: solid interpersonal and phone skills; facility with written and oral communication; organizational skills; extensive computer knowledge; ability to travel; experience with GLBT and/or school-related issues; dedication, flexibility, ability to handle various tasks at the same time; work on short deadlines. Benefits: 3 weeks paid vacation; full medical benefits; salary commensurate with experience. Please send cover letter, resume, and two letters of recommendation to: Kevin Jennings, Executive Director, GLSEN, 121 West 27th Street, Suite 804, New York, NY 10001 or by fax to 212-727-0254. Deadline: April 24, 1998 ............................................................ Visit the GLSEN Blackboard online: http://www.glsen.org/ Past GLSENAlert posts are archived on the GLSEN Blackboard: http://www.glsen.org/pages/sections/news/glsenalert/ ............................................................ For information about subscribing and unsubscribing to GLSENAlert, send an email to: with the subject of body: help If you have problems using these commands, you can contact the list server administrator at: ............................................................ ============================================================================== Date: Tue, 31 Mar 1998 19:48:38 -0600 (CST) From: Joshua Mcguire J Thought that I would send this to you for your Illinois subscribers PRESS RELEASE :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Love Makes A Family...traveling picture/text exhibit to appear at Western Illinois University The highly acclaimed "Love Makes A Family" picture/text exhibit will be displayed at Western Illinois University in conjuction with WIU's 4th Annual Gay Lesbian Bisexual Awareness Week. The exhibit will be diplayed in the University Union Prairie Lounge beginning at 8:00 am daily. The exhibit is scheduled to appear at WIU beginning Monday, April 5 and will conclude on Saturday, April 11, 1998. For more information about the exhibit, as well as Awareness Week events such as keunote speaker Donna Red Wing of the Human Rights Campaign and comedian, Julie Goldman, contact the office of the Bisexuals, Gays, Lesbians and Friends Association at 309.298.3203 or e-mail at mibglf@wiu.edu. Western Illinois Unversity is located in Macomb, Illinois on routes 136 and 67, one hour south of Galesburg, 1 and a half hours west of Peoria, 1 and a half hours north of Springfield, and 45 minutes east of the Mississippi river. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: THANKS! Josh McGuire BGLFA President ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Joshua J. McGuire 606 W. Carroll #3 Western Illinois University Macomb, IL 61455 (309)836-8115 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: =============================================================================== 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/