Date: Fri, 29 May 1998 14:19:52 -0700 From: Jean Richter Subject: 5/29/98 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. PA: Latest update on civil rights initiative ======================================================= Date: Thu, 28 May 1998 22:27:20 -0400 From: PLGTF Subject: (ALERT PA Civil Rights Initiative At Risk - May 28 1998 pm Alert, Sisters and Brothers -- Saboteurs are encouraging Pennsylvania Civil Rights Initiative promised cosponsors to withdraw their support for the initiative, to postpone introduction, and in essence to destroy a growing grassroots effort to amend and expand the Human Relations Act and the Fair Educational Opportunities Act inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity. By a majority consensus, 21 of the 30 organization Initiative Partners agreed, after a now nearly two year organizing phase, to press forward for introduction. Sixteen of these 21 people made a moving presentation to Senator Allen Kukovich (D-West Moreland County) on May 5 1998 in Harrisburg to ask his support of our collective decision. Kukovich will introduce if the four Democratic Senators who made a commitment keep that commitment and agree to move forward. They include Philadelphia based legislators Hughes, Kitchen, Schwartz, and Williams. Of the 14 promised cosponsors in the House, no one has stepped forward to serve as prime sponsor, a key role obviously in introduction and assured movement through the legislature. It is time to act. June is a critical time for our community and it is essential that we concretize this near two year organizing effort with bill numbers. Please help. Please read the press release. Distribute the phone numbers. Ask everyone you know to make phone calls now, if in Philadelphia, to the Philadelphia based promised cosponsors, and if outside of Philadelphia, to your representatives and senators to encourage their support. Kukovich is the contact in the Senate and in the house, Mike Veon, Policy Chair or Mark Cohen are important contacts. Thanks Rita 215-772-2001 and plgtf@op.net -------- The Pennsylvania Civil Rights Initiative: Introduction Phase-1998 Timely Alert. Please make 3 to 7 Calls this week to Get and to Give Information: The Message: Discrimination is wrong. The time to act is now. We are your family. Support the Core Principles. Cosponsor the Pennsylvania Civil Rights Initiative twin bills. Support proposed introduction in early June 1998. Who Are My (Our) Representatives? For the names, addresses, phone and fax numbers of your representatives, call any of the following: The Senate Clerk at 717-787-5920 and House Clerk at 717-787-2372; and/or the Philadelphia Delegates at 717-787-9104. You can also ask for a Senate and House legislative directory (the "Blue Book" ) from the Clerk (above) or your representative. Statewide, call the League of Women Voters at 800-692-7281 or visit their web site http://www.pa.lwv.org/pa/ In Philadelphia, contact the Committee of Seventy at 215-557-3600 or search their web site http://www.libertynet.org/seventy What Legislators Promised to Cosponsor the twin bills? (19 of 128 total needed for adoption) Reinforce their agreement to cosponsor with a simple thank you. Of the 19 legislators listed below, only Senators Kukovich and Schwartz participated at a planning meeting with Initiative cosigners in early May to discuss a proposed June introduction. Status: Kukovich will introduce if each senator below or others concur to introduce in June. Will they? Senator Allen Kukovich [D-Westmoreland], Chair, State Government, a solid and committed man, has been willing to be a prime sponsor in the Senate. Promised Senate co-sponsors, all Philadelphia Democrats, include: Vincent Hughes, Chair, Communications; Shirley Kitchen, Chair, Urban Affairs/Housing; Allyson Schwartz, Chair, Education; and Hardy Williams, Chair, Public Health and Welfare, who is retiring from the Senate shortly. Representatives Louise Bishop, Chair, Health Subcommittee; Andrew Carn, Secretary, Insurance; Lita Cohen [R-Montgomery], cosponsor of the Bias Crime amendment; Mark Cohen, Caucus Chair; Dwight Evans, Chair, Appropriations; Ivan Itkin [Allegheny], Democratic Whip - ?; Harold James, Chair, Crime and Corrections Subcommittee and Chair of the Black Caucus; Thaddeus Kirkland [Delaware], Secretary Education; Benjamin Ramos, Secretary, Health/Human Services; James Roebuck, Chair, Basic Education; W. Curtis Thomas, Secretary, Urban Affairs; Rosita Youngblood, Secretary, Intergovernmental Affairs; and LeANNA Washington, Urban Affairs, Subcommittee Chair, First Class Cities and Counties; and Anthony Hardy Williams, Co-Chair, Philadelphia Delegation who is expected to run for his father’s Senate seat. Do You Want to Meet New Friends and Organize? Call your local contact or the Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force at (215-772-2000) for a civil rights background packet and/or Petitions, Statements of Support (Att. 5) and Organization Partnership forms (Att. 6) to distribute at PRIDE events or anywhere you may go. (May 9, 1998 press release attached) =================== Immediate Release * Contacts – Partial List (Legislators' Contact Info at- p. 3) May 9, 1998 Update 13.1 of 13.1 Rita Addessa, Executive Director, PLGTF 215-772-2001 direct and 215-724-8244 before 9 am Mary Louise Cervone, CPA, VP, Dignity USA. 215-923-4936 Vivian Cooperman, President, PFLAG. 215-604-0202 Elise DeLong, Esq. Pittsburgh. 412- 885-0615 Andrew Grenier, Cry Out ! Act Up/Pittsburgh. 412-661-6264 Larry Gross, Ph.D. PLGTF CoChair. 215-898-5620 Linda Martin, President, NOW/Lancaster Area. 717-393-2883 Pastor Eva O'Diam, MCC/Harrisburg. 717-236-7387 Dan Miller, CPA, Harrisburg, PA 717-234-2250 Richard Hoke, Unitarian Church, Harrisburg. 717-737-3973 Randy Fisher, Founder, Laurel Highlands GALA, Johnstown. 814-539-0147 James Roberts, Executive Director, MAAP. 215-851-1936 Pennsylvania Civil Rights Initiative Moves Forward... National Organizations Join In Support of the Pennsylvania Civil Rights Initiative: ...According to Rita Addessa, executive director of the Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force, the National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Council, the National Lesbian and Gay Health Alternatives, and Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund have joined in support of the Pennsylvania Civil Rights Initiative Coalition. The Initiative is a movement of a near-thirty diverse organizations and 2800 Pennsylvanians who have signed Petitions to encourage lawmakers to support the introduction of twin civil rights bills to prohibit discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and in education on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. In the Senate, Allen Kukovich (D-Westmoreland County) has promised to be the prime sponsor. Promised Senate cosponsors include Philadelphia Democrats: Vincent Hughes; Shirley Kitchen; Allyson Schwartz, and Hardy Williams and in the House, Representatives Louise Bishop, Andrew Carn, Lita Cohen (R-Montgomery County), Mark Cohen, Dwight Evans, Ivan Itkin, Harold James, Thaddeus Kirkland (D-Delaware County), Benjamin Ramos, James Roebuck., W. Curtis Thomas, Rosita Youngblood, LeANNA Washington, and Anthony Hardy Williams, Philadelphia Democrats. Launched in August 1996 by the Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force, the Initiative is focused on the introduction and adoption of amendments to (1) the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act and (2) the Pennsylvania Fair Educational Opportunities Act. Proposed amendments to the Human Relations Act which prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations, would (1) expand established areas of protection to include "education," (2) expand protected categories to include "sexual orientation" and "gender identity," and (3) create a definition of the term "sex" as adopted by the Pittsburgh Human Relations Commission. Amendments to the Fair Education Opportunities Act, which focuses on postsecondary education, similarly, will expand existent protected categories to include sexual orientation and gender identity. Initiative organizers hope for introduction in June 1998. (Contact information, p. 3) *Source: Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force. Room 1005.1616 Walnut Street. Philadelphia, PA 19103-5310 ========= Pennsylvania Civil Rights Initiative Release May 9, 1998. 13.1 of 13.1 p. 2 of 3 The core principles which guide this effort hold that: We are committed to organizing, educating, and negotiating with integrity for a Pennsylvania wide civil rights bill, inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity. We will be grounded in and guided by the principles that we deserve our full rights. We will support the achievement of civil rights protections, minimally, in employment, housing, public accommodations, and in education. We will not suffer any restriction of our rights (e.g. parental rights, domestic partnership rights, the recognition of marriage) nor homophobic insults (e.g. the presumption of criminality or immorality) in a Pennsylvania civil rights law. We will assure the strengthening of civil rights laws on behalf of all women and all minorities. Initiative Coalition Partners (Att. 6) include: David Acosta, Executive Director, GALAEI Project, Philadelphia, PA * Rita Addessa, Executive Director, Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force Becky Belloff, Activities Coordinator; Marc Ford, Secretary; and Kenneth Grimley, Open Door Club, Bucks County Community College Gabrielle Bonet, York, PA activist Mary Louise Cervone, Vice President, Dignity/USA Inja Coates, individually [affiliated with Grassroot Queers] Robert Cogan, Ph.D., President, ACLU/Northwest Chapter * Vivian Cooperman, President, PFLAG, Philadelphia, PA Elise DeLong, Esq, legal activist, Pittsburgh, PA Randy Fisher and Tim Fetters, Jr., founders, Laurel Highlands Gay and Lesbian Alliance [Somerset, Cambria, Blair, and West Moreland Counties, PA] Angela Gardner, Executive Director, Renaissance Transgender Association, Inc. Lynda Goldstein, Ph.D., academic activist, Wilkes-Barre, PA Andrew Grenier, Cry Out! Act-UP, Pittsburgh, PA Billy Hileman, Spokesperson, Cry Out! Act-UP, Pittsburgh, PA Kristine W. Holt, Temple University law student Joseph Melillo, President with Richard Hoke and Becky Wenger, United Church of Harrisburg, PA * Jim Fischer Keller, Treasurer & Board Member, Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Pittsburgh Bonnie Jouhari, Chair, Berks Hate Crimes Task Force * Rabbi Mordechai Liebling, Executive Director, Jewish Reconstructionist Federation Reverend Dwight Lundgren, Minister, First Baptist Church, Philadelphia, PA Linda Martin, President, Pennsylvania NOW Lancaster, PA Chapter Joyce Masquelier, member, Erie PFLAG Dan Miller, CPA [Harrisburg, PA] Chris Niebrzydowski, past-President, Pennsylvania NOW, 1988-1993 Evan O'Diam, Pastor, Metropolitan Church of the Spirit, Harrisburg, PA James Roberts, Executive Director, Minority AIDS Project of Philadelphia and Vicinity Eugene Root, Political Action Chair, Men of All Colors Together/Philadelphia, PA Deborah Sieger, Ph.D., past-President, Pennsylvania NOW, 1986-1988 Rich Schulze, D.Ed., CHES, Williamsport, PA [Lycoming County] Deni Scott, Founder, Transsexual Menace of Western Pennsylvania Tyrone Smith, Executive Director, Unity Inc. Marie Summers, President, Dignity/Philadelphia, PA Jim Testerman, Co-Chair, National Education Association [NEA] Gay and Lesbian Caucus Paul Thomas, Ed.D., Staff Representative, Pennsylvania Federation of Teachers and Founder, American Federation of Teachers [AFT] Human and Civil Rights Committee Carol Anne Villanova, individually [currently President, Allies, Kutztown University] Melina Waldo, Regional Director, PFLAG [Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays] PA, NY, and NJ Reverend Paul Washington, Rector Emeritus, Church of the Advocate [Philadelphia, PA] Delma and Peg Welch, York, PA activists Michael Valoris, President, Congregation Beth Ahavah * R. Franklin Williams, President, York Area Lambda -* Denotes organizations that have joined the Initiative Coalition (Att. 6) since February 1998 Pennsylvania Civil Rights Initiative Release. May 9, 1998. 13.1 of 13.1 p. 3 of 3 Initiative Coalition Supporters (Att. 5) include: National Organizations Beverly Saunders Biddle, Executive Director, National Lesbian and Gay Health Association Kevin Cathcart, Esq. Executive Director, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund Jubi Headley, Executive Director, National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Council Pennsylvania/Non-Pennsylvania Organizations Mark R. Banister, President, Dignity/Pittsburgh, PA Brigid Brooker and Marya Kaye, Creative Characters Barbara Burgos DiTullio, President, Pennsylvania NOW Randal G. Forrester, Executive Director, PERSAD Center, Inc./ Pittsburgh, PA Stephen A. Glassman, Co-Chair, Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition Carol Goertzel, Executive Director, Women's Association for Women's Alternatives, Swarthmore Melanie A. Thompson, Coordinator, Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Helpline of Altoona, PA Carole J. Johnson, Executive Director and staff, Women Organized Against Rape/Philadelphia, PA Carol Kirschner, President, PFLAG/Mechanicsburg, PA Brian McNeill, President, Dignity, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN David M. Rosenblum, Chair, Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia, PA James L. Weston, President and members of Dignity, Seattle, WA Individuals: The Pennsylvania Civil Rights Initiative Petition to Pennsylvania Lawmakers And, more than 2800 Pennsylvanians have added their voice to community organizations for civil, human, and education rights in Pennsylvania. Now, it is time to add your voice and to tell your representatives that lesbian and gay people as well as bisexual and transgendered people are human beings entitled to the same rights and privileges that other citizens take for granted. Clip and Save: Please make 3 Calls to Get and to Give Information: The Message: Discrimination is wrong. The time to act is now. Support the Core Principles and the Pennsylvania Civil Rights Initiative twin bills. Support proposed introduction for early June 1998. For the names, addresses, phone and fax numbers of your Pennsylvania Legislators, call any of the following: The Senate Clerk at 717-787-5920 and House Clerk at 717-787-2372; and/or the Philadelphia Delegates at 717-787-9104. You can also ask for a Senate and House legislative directory (the "Blue Book" ) from the Clerk (above) or your rep. Additional contacts: The League of Women Voters at 800-692-7281 or web site http://www.pa.lwv.org/pa/ In Philadelphia, the Committee of Seventy at 215-557-3600 or web site http://www.libertynet.org/seventy Do You Want to Organize? Call your local contact or the Task Force (215-772-2000) for Petitions, Statements of Support (Att. 5) and Organization Partnership forms (Att. 6). =========================================================================== Date: Fri, 29 May 1998 14:50:49 -0700 From: Jean Richter Subject: 5/29/98 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news, pt. 2 1. CA: GLSEN SFBA statement on the Karl Debro disciplinary action ================================================================== Subject: SAN LEANDRO SCHOOL BD VOTES AGAINST TEACHER Date: Fri, 29 May 98 11:53:16 -0500 x-sender: glsenalert@trudy.digitopia.com From: GLSEN news from GLSEN To: News from GLSEN ............................................................ 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 http://www.glsen.org/ ............................................................ The latest from GLSEN/SFBA CO-CHAIR'S MESSAGE by Grant Peterson The San Leandro school board at a meeting Tuesday, May 12, voted unanimously to uphold Superintendent Tom Himmelberg's findings in support of parents who complained that Karl Debro's classroom conduct was unprofessional, that he misused class time, and that he singled out students whose parents disagreed with him. There is no question that Mr. Debro is guilty, just as numerous others in our nation's history have been guilty for having defended the down-trodden and stood up to an indifferent power structure that cares little about protecting the powerless whose views and actions do not fit the expected subservient mold. But guilty of what? Mr. Debro spent one class period discussing a school board meeting. During two additional class periods he permitted discussion about the harassment of two students and a school-wide survey addressing institutional effects of racism. Total time elapsed: 140 minutes. None of the above "infractions" is uncommon where sound teaching is taking place; in fact, numerous other teachers at San Leandro High School engaged in similar discussions, but only Mr. Debro was singled out for reprisal. Yes, Mr. Debro is definitely guilty. I find him guilty of having the courage to speak out in defense of a lesbian teacher whose major sin was being honest regarding who she is, and this she did after having first discussed and gotten approval from the administration. And no one can deny that Mr. Debro is guilty of having decried the abuse heaped on two lesbian students by both adults and other students, not for what these two young women did (although a handful of community members made unsubstantiated charges against them), but because they didn't fit a small group's prescribed heterosexual mold. Mr. Debro made the unforgivable mistake of opening his classroom to discussion about the importance of respecting all students and providing students in his class a forum to explore the elements of oppression against those who may be different. Mr. Debro's guilt is compounded by having actually spoken to his class on these issues after parents said they didn't want their children to be present when homosexuality was discussed. Now, were Mr. Debro speaking about sexual behavior, whether it be homosexual or heterosexual, every parent should be outraged, not just the complainants, but no one has suggested that this was the thesis of Mr. Debro's remarks. Homosexuality happens to be a fact. It's right up there with other facts, such as the fact that there is racism in our society, and sexism, and ageism. It's also a fact that in this country abortion and the death penalty are legal. Does that mean they are beyond the bounds of rational discussion? I think not. And what was the superintendent and the school board doing and saying during the period of time Mr. Debro was calling for respect and understanding for those who did not fit the mold of the majority? In a word, nothing. For six months community members pleaded with their elected officials to speak out against intolerance and to protect students and staff from the bigotry and hatred that was being directed at them. What was the response of the superintendent and the board? There were platitudes, assurances given that policies were in place and they needed only to be followed. Apart from that, silence. Policies are useless if they are not enforced, a concept seemingly lost on the San Leandro board and administrative staff. For months those in attendance at board meetings were lectured on the illegality of discussing items that were not on the meeting agenda. After the first meeting at which the subject was raised, the argument became specious at best. Board members know how to get items on the agenda. It can only be assumed that the safety of students and staff was simply not an agenda item they wished to address. Instead, the board and superintendent did nothing. It was Mr. Debro who had the audacity to fill the void created by the elected officials and superintendent. Yes, there were also courageous teachers and community members who supported Mr. Debro's position, but those in a position to make changes wallowed in their own silence and inaction. And what were the consequences of this silence and inaction? A teacher who refused to lie about who she was felt forced to leave because she wasn't safe. Two students were forced to leave because they feared for their safety. Mr. Debro was disciplined by the superintendent and board for promoting liberty and justice for all. Is Mr. Debro really the guilty party? I would submit that Mr. Debro is guilty of having taken actions the superintendent and board should have taken. Had they met their responsibility for enforcing their policies of justice of which they are so proud, Mr. Debro might not have felt the need to speak out against injustice, hate and bigotry. Had they defended the right of their staff to be open about who they are, irrespective of their sexual orientation, a teacher would not have felt compelled to leave. Did they conveniently overlook California state law which says that teachers cannot be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation? If they genuinely cared about all of San Leandro's students, two young lesbians would not be deprived of the education in a comprehensive high school, something they rightly deserve. Yes, Mr. Debro is guilty, but it looks to me as though it's a bum rap and he's the fall guy. Lacking leadership from the board and superintendent, we can only hope that in the interest of what's right, Mr. Debro's voice will not be stilled and that others will join the chorus fighting oppression and intolerance of students and staff in San Leandro schools. Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, in a poignant statement, remarked, "I swear never to be silent whenever and wherever human lives endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere when human lives are endangered. When human dignity is in jeopardy, that place, at that moment, must become the center of the universe." I applaud Karl Debro's courage and his contribution to justice for all. We should all aspire to be so guilty. Co-chair Ann Acrey: (510) 339-9854 (H) or (510) 317-4768 (W) or MsLes01@aol.com Co-chair Grant Peterson: (510) 886-4263 or grantinhay@aol.com ............................................................ 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/ ............................................................ TO SUBSCRIBE OR UNSUBSCRIBE You may add or remove yourself from this mailing list by going to: http://www.glsen.org/pages/sections/news/glsenalert/ If you have problems or questions, you can contact the list server administrator at: ............................................................ ====================================================================== 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/