Date: Wed, 08 Jul 1998 17:39:45 -0700 From: Jean Richter Subject: 7/8/98 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. CA: Models of Pride youth conference in October 2. MA: Want to be interviewed at Boston pride march? 3. PFLAG statement on hate crimes legislation ====================================================== From: "Mark Arteaga and Bart Verry" Subject: Models of Pride Youth Conference Press Release Date: Tue, 7 Jul 1998 17:15:55 -0700 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Randy Herrera (818) 393-0664 Models of Pride VI Youth Conference in Los Angeles The sixth annual Models of Pride Conference for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth will be held on Saturday, October 24, 1998 at Occidental College in Eagle Rock. This free conference is being produced by the Gay and Lesbian Education Commission, and is targeted at youth aged 14-23 who are coping with the issues of coming out, or simply exploring the nature of their sexual orientation. This year’s program will include sessions on sexual orientation and ethnicity, coming out, health issues, how to become more involved in the community, bisexual and transgender issues, financial management, and how to raise a family, as well as plenty of opportunities for networking and socializing. The conference will conclude with a Models of Pride panel with many noteworthy community members, and will be followed by a dinner and dance. Registration begins at 8:30am at Thorne Hall, with the program beginning at 9:30 am. The dance will conclude at 8:30 pm. The second annual "Model of Pride" award will be presented, which will be given to a young person who has contributed significantly to the GLBT community. Nominations for this award must be submitted by October 15th. To register, obtain additional information about the conference or the Model of Pride award, or to make a donation, you may call (213) 341-4951 or e-mail mopride@oxy.edu or visit the home page at http://abacus.math.oxy.edu/lbga/models/ ============================================================================= From: MccGSA@aol.com Date: Tue, 7 Jul 1998 22:41:34 EDT Subject: Boston Pride, Sat.July 11 TV Doc. 10am, FWRD New England Contacts please post and froward to your friends. Subject: Boston Pride, Sat.July 11 TV Doc. 10am, FWRD New England Contacts Is your organization or group marching in Boston's Pride?? Would you, or members of your group be Taped for a TV Documentary If yes, RSVP with your place in the line of march to MCCgsa@aol.com and/or if your group isn't marching, join The Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth RSVP GCGLY@aol.com Or Massasoit' Community College Gay Straight Alliance RSVP MccGSA@aol.com Gather at 10am on Boylston Street between Exeter and Fairfield Across from Lord and Taylor Look for our banners. RSVP MccGSA@aol.com - we will begin taping at 10 am, also during and after the march Our Message: Students, teachers, administrators, professionals, are like any other Students, teachers, administrators -- except we are gay -- You cannot tell us by our cover. We are especially interested in taping Gay Religious Groups Corporate Groups - i.e. GBBC Professional Groups - Lawyers, Doctors, etc. Student Groups - GSA's HS & College please march with your banner - or if your school and/or college is not marching, plan to march with the Governor's commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth. Would YOU be available for a follow up interview in your church, school, place of business e-mail us at MccGSA@aol.com Please prepare a soundbite for a one to three min. interview - for questions like: Why are you marching today? Why is it important to be out? What does (visibility, safety, equality and/or justice mean to you? OUR MISSION: Provide or Increase (visibility, Safety Equality Justice) For Gay People. Visibility - Many of us look straight, so we need to self disclose We need to come out in order to Find each other Have a vote - we need to be visible to be counted Have free speech; i.e. speak as and for gay and lesbian people We march to increase our visibility, our political strength, and to celebrate. Safety Massasoit's campus security will be marching with us -- emphasizing safety Safe Schools and Safe Colleges Hate Crimes Reporting Equality Same tuition -- we want our course included Same student fees -- Domestic Partnership - equal pay for equal work Gay Civil Marriage - same equal rights Justice. Equal rights, not special rights The legislation - student rights, equal civil rights, domestic partnership The Commission The courts The laws. ================================================================================ Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1998 11:42:51 -0500 From: Heather Wright Subject: Hate Crimes press release and statement >For immediate release Contact: Janice Hughes >July 8, 1998 202-638-4200 x225 > > > 'Hate Crimes Hurt Families,' > National Parents' Group Says > > Saying "hate crimes hurt families," Parents, Families and Friends >of Lesbians >and Gays (PFLAG) Executive Director Kirsten Kingdon urged the U.S. Congress >to support the Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 1998 (HCPA). This act would >make a crime motivated by a victim's sexual orientation a federal crime. > "As a mother of two sons - one gay and one straight - I am >painfully aware that our gay family members and friends are especially at >risk to be victims of a hate crime," said Kingdon, who heads the 400-plus >chapter group. > "What parent wants a child to suffer that way?" she asked. "What >parent wants to receive a call in the middle of the night - as PFLAG moms >and dads do - to hear that their child has been attacked, or even murdered, >due to their sexual orientation?" > "Reported anti-gay violence is escalating - more than any other >category of hate crime - and parents like myself live with the real fear >that it may strike our gay children next," Kingdon said in a written >statement for today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on the hate >crimes legislation. > PFLAG works to battle hate crimes through: > * a highly successful public education campaign - Project Open >Mind - which underscores the link between hate speech and violence. PFLAG >expects to expand Project Open Mind, already launched in six cities >including Tulsa, OK; Atlanta, GA; and Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN; to >additional U.S. cities over the next few years; and > * a second nationwide initiative to create more supportive "safe >spaces" for gay youth and their families in response to violent hate crimes. > PFLAG is a member of the Hate Crimes Coalition, a diverse group of >national civil rights organizations which supports passage of HCPA (S. >1529, H.R. 3081), and local efforts to prevent hate crime. > > Executive Director Kingdon is available for interviews: 202-638-4200. >Parents & grandparents from across the U.S. are also available. > > ### > >"Hate Crimes Hurt Families." > >- Statement by Kirsten Kingdon, Executive Director of > Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG) >for July 8, 1998 Senate Judiciary Cttee. hearing > > > "Hate crimes hurt families. > > "As a mother of two sons - one gay and one straight - I am >painfully aware that our gay family members and friends are more likely to >be victims of a hate crime. > > "What parent wants a child to suffer that way? What parent wants to >receive a call in the middle of the night - as PFLAG moms and dads do - to >hear that their child has been attacked, or even murdered, due to their >sexual orientation?" > > "Reported anti-gay violence is escalating - more than any other >category of hate crimes - and parents like myself live every day with the >real fear that it may strike our gay children next. > > "Many of us as mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts and uncles >have seen the damage inflicted on our own loved ones who are hated simply >for being gay. We know that only some hate crimes are reported because >victims are afraid. We know that all too often victims are not taken >seriously by law enforcement officers. And we know that all too often >attacks are not classified as hate crimes even when the evidence is clear. > > "It's plain and simple: passage of this historic legislation is >needed now, before hate crime brutalizes even more families." > > ### > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Heather Wright Communications Assistant, PFLAG 1101 14th St, NW Washington, DC 20005 ph: 202-638-4200 hwright@pflag.org fx: 202-638-0243 http://www.pflag.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ =========================================================================== 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/