Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 17:35:08 -0700 From: Jean Richter Subject: 4/29/98 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. OK: Articles on gay teacher ban posted to web 2. OR: Teens who assaulted gay student sentenced 3. MA: Report on Harvard gay rights conference 4. MD: "Follow the Rainbow II" networking event 5. Australia: Schools urged to stock gay-positive books =========================================================================== I've posted a collection of articles and opinion pieces on the bill banning gay teachers to our web site at URL: http://www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/Alerts/States/Oklahoma/bill3.html At over 28K it's too big to post here, but if you can't access the web and would like to see the articles, let me know and I'll email them to you. =========================================================================== Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 18:25:42 -0800 From: Doug Case To: NYouthAC@aol.com, Subject: Corvallis, OR: Teens who assaulted gay student sentenced Eugene Register-Guard, April 24, 1998 Eugene,OR Teens who assaulted gay student sentenced By The Associated Press [Deleted article. filemanager@qrd.org] This message has been forwarded to a list of individuals interested in lesbigay youth and/or higher education issues. Please do not publish, or post in a public place on the Internet, copyrighted material without permission and attribution. It's fine, of course, to publish information in press releases. ============================================================================== Harvard Crimson, April 27, 1998 14 Plympton Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 (E-MAIL: letters@thecrimson.harvard.edu)(http://www.thecrimson.harvard.edu/) Conference Focuses on Gay Rights By Kamil E. Redmond Gay activists and politicians gathered at the Second Annual Harvard Queer Politics Conference Saturday to discuss the advancement of gay rights in federal and educational institutions. The culminating event of Queer Harvard month, the conference took place at the Institute of Politics' ARCO Forum. Calling the conference an attempt to "foster stable relationships, both gay and straight," former Governor of Oregon and current Director of the State and Local Government Programs of the Kennedy School of Government, Barbara K. Roberts introduced the first panel, which focused on the rights of gay and lesbian youths. Richard Socarides, special assistant to the president and senior advisor for public liaison began the discussion by outlining the most recent attempts by the federal government to promote gay rights. These efforts include a non-discrimination policy and formal conversations on gay rights between the president and gay and lesbian youths. "One of our main goals is to protect the health and safety of gay youths." Socarides said. In an effort to realize that goal, Socarides said the Departments of Justice and Education have recently initiated the production of a manual on prevention of hate crimes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have also conducted a study about gay youths at risk. K. Kelli Peterson, co-founder of the first gay straight alliance (GSA) in the State of Utah shifted the focus of the discussion to youth activism, describing her struggles to create a gay student organization in the "conservative" city of Salt Lake City, Utah. Citing the club as a "major issue during an election year," Peterson said concerns about the existence of the GSA led to a March 1996 Salt Lake City school board ban on all non-curricular activities. "We understood that the GSA had to be allowed to continue - that it was an organization which brought people together," she said. As the final speaker on the panel, Kevin B Jennings '85, executive director of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) focused on the history of the gay rights movement and the increased role of queer youth in the movement. "Young people are coming out. They are demanding that their voices be heard. Homophobia in schools is not new. Young people just won't take it anymore." Jennings said. Calling this recent historical period, "the best of times and the worst of times," Jennings said the positioning of gay rights at the forefront of political debate has caused an increase in attacks against gays and lesbians. "It is incredible that youths are speaking up, yet that leaves them vulnerable to both verbal and physical attack. The attitude of young people in confronting bigotry has changed." Jennings said. The panel was moderated by Jarrett T. Barrios '90, former co-chair of the Harvard-Radcliffe Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Students Association. The conference also included an afternoon panel on marriage and families. The Harvard-Radcliffe Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Transgendered and Supporters Alliance (BGLTSA) and the Kennedy School of Government Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Student Caucus sponsored Saturday's event. Adam A. Sofen '01, one panel's organizers and a Crimson editor, said he hopes people are inspired by the words of the panelists. "People should feel a sense of outrage about the atrocities committed against gay youth," Sofen said. "We are very sheltered here at college. That is not the case all over the country." Christopher E. Holloway '01 echoed Sofen's sentiments, suggesting the problem is more specific than physical attacks on gay students. "They get no support from government institutions and schools. Obviously oppression is still present in societal institutions," he said. =============================================================================== Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 15:05:12 -0400 From: Jon Strickland Subject: Follow the Rainbow II Gentle People: Again, I find myself invading your email to update you about an important event. Follow the Rainbow II, a networking event for Gay Students, Parents, Coalition Members and Friends, will occur on Saturday, 9 May 1998, from 4-8 PM. This event is sponsored by the Safe Schools Coalition of Montgomery County. Building on our successful December forum, there will be a time to share with all EIGHT G/S clubs. An opportunity will also be afforded to meet Board of Education member Mona Signer. There will be food! games! prizes! music! and dancing! Please join us at the MCC Open Door Church (5817 Barnsville Road, Boyds, Maryland - just 10 minutes past Gaithersburg). Call for more info... (301)738-7675. Bring along a dish, dessert, drinks, or snacks to share! And HAVE FUN! Directions: I-270 N to Rt 121 - Boyds (west); proceed 4 miles to a right onto Barnsville Road (Rt 117). The church is 1.5 miles down on the right side. Same sky! Jon GLSEN/DC WebSpinner PS: If you haven't visited our web site, please drop by sometime and give a holler! http://www.glsendc.org ============================================================================ Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 11:56:09 -1000 From: Martin Rice Subject: [Fwd: Gay books plea to schools] Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 07:38:13 +1000 (EST) To: TWOradio@aol.com, TWOclf@aol.com From: Graham Underhill Subject: Gay books plea to schools Gay books plea to schools The Courier-Mail newspaper. >30apr98 GAY groups have written to every Queensland high school urging them to stock "gay-positive" books and films, in a bid to lower the suicide rate of gay and lesbian students. Lists of gay-positive books and films have been sent to every principal, librarian and school counsellor of every state, independent and Catholic high school in Queensland. The push has come from three organisations – the Gay and Lesbian Welfare Association, Diverse Students Safe Schools, and Building Bridges. GLWA co-convenor Roger Sawkins said all schools had a duty of care to provide information for gay and lesbian students, who faced homophobia and isolation. "Recent studies show gay and lesbian students are three times more likely than their peers to attempt suicide," Mr Sawkins said. A spokesman for Education Minister Bob Quinn said it was a matter for individual school communities to decide whether they would stock the resources. Queensland Catholic Education Commission executive director Alan Druery said the decision to use any gay-positive resources would rest with the local diocese offices in systemic schools or with the congregation in schools run by Catholic orders. In a memo to independent schools, executive director of the Association of Independent Schools of Queensland Dr John Roulston said the material could help schools counsel students. The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has contributed A$1500 towards the campaign. ENDS. --------------------------------- =============================================================================== 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/