Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 16:54:33 -0700 From: Jean Richter Subject: 8/12/98 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. CA: Editorial on Antioch gay youth photo exhibit controversy; Settlement reached in Pacifica student harassment case 2. GLSEN national conference 3. NJ: Update on teachers' discrimination suits =================================================================== Antioch Ledger, August 6, 1998 P. O. Box 2299,Antioch,CA,94531 (Fax 510-706-2305 ) Editorial: Accept Decision on Gay Youth Photos Once again, Antioch's Civic Arts Commission is being second-guessed. The commission voted Monday night to allow a gay youth photo exhibit to be displayed at the city's Lynn House gallery, along with other works by young artists. After the panel OK'd the exhibit, Councilman Allen Payton vowed to bring the decision before the council to try to have it overturned. He has said before that the exhibit is political and controversial; therefore the council needs to decide whether it should be displayed in a city building. But as anyone who has seen this display can tell you, it is neither political nor controversial. These are day-in-the-life kinds of photographs of young people who happen to be gay, shown with their families and friends. More than anything, this display is striving, through photography, an artistic medium, to promote understanding, and tolerance. That's not political, and it shouldn't be controversial. The display is communicating a message, and we are supposed to have the freedom to do that. That alone is good reason to put the exhibit in the Lynn House, even if not everyone likes the message. And a majority of the commission agrees the photos are artistic enough to be displayed here. Payton, and the rest of the Antioch council, should accept that. After all, they appointed the commission's members to make these kinds of decisions, no matter how controversial or political a piece of art is alleged to be. If the commission can't do its job, then why bother having one? Maybe the council members should take on the task of choosing art themselves. The commission voted to display the exhibit, making a decision that won't be popular with everyone. But residents can decide for themselves it they want to see the photos. The panel's decision on the exhibit isn't a bad one for Antioch, if we want to be seen as a tolerant, accepting and compassionate community. That's certainly not a bad reputation to have. ================================================================================ From: Laursiegel@aol.com Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 15:07:39 EDT Subject: Settlement Reached in Pacifica school harassment case This article appeared in the Pacifica Tribune, 8/5/98 The lawsuit involving the boy who was tormented at school and the Laguna Salada Union School District has tentatively ended in settlement. In closed session Monday, the Laguna Salada school board unanimously approved an agreement negotiated by the attorneys for both sides, Eric Ruchames, school board president said. Under the agreement, the school board may opt for any of three agreed-upon organizations to present staff training and student curriculum about discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and harassment about perceived sexual orientation. "That had been the sticky point, our unwillingness to give up control about who comes in to do the training," Ruchames said. The tentative agreement lists three organizations that the school board could choose: the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center, California Teachers Association, and/or Peninsula YMCA/Project Focus. One male and one female teacher in every school will receive special training in the area of sexual harassment, sexual orientation and discrimination. Those teachers will handle student complaints of sexual harassment, sexual orientation harassment, racism, violence, discrimination or anti-social behavior, the agreement reads. Both sides have agreed on the use of certain educational training videos. The agreement also requires a letter of affirmation be sent to the boy who endured years of anguish at school saying that, indeed, he suffered harassment. Another part of the agreement states that schools will post in a prominent location the school district policy regarding harassment. The purpose of the terms of the agreement is to make everyone aware of all forms of harassment so they can be prevented in the future. Declining to comment further until a final agreement is drafted and signed, Ruchames expressed relief about avoiding a lengthy court trial. "We are pleased to put this behind us right now and move on," he said. "We are happy that a settlement was reached and that the district had made the non-monetary agreements that are so important to the case," said the mother of student "Doe" when asked to comment on the issue. "Every student deserves respect and a safe learning environment. I hope the changes will help provide that for all students. We will be watching to make sure these agreements are kept. Our family is very grateful to the many community members, GLSEN, LSUSD parents, teachers and students who have spoken out and given us their support." "Nothing will change what happened to me at Vallemar and Ortega, but I hope that by bringing attention to this I have made a difference for other kids," student "Doe" said in a statement faxed to the Tribune. "I am happy that we have a settlement. I am looking forward to starting high school in San Francisco in September, putting this behind me and moving on with my life." =============================================================================== Subject: TEACHING RESPECT FOR ALL: GLSEN'S NATIONAL CONFERENCE Date: Mon, 10 Aug 98 16:01:18 -0800 x-sender: jspear@trudy.digitopia.com From: John Spear (415-551-9788) 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 http://www.glsen.org/ ............................................................ NEWS RELEASE -- DISTRIBUTE WIDELY Contact: John Spear, Field Director/Conference Coordinator 415-551-9788 jspear@glsen.org Kate Frankfurt, Director of Advocacy Programs 212-727-0135 x 108 kfrankfurt@glsen.org GLSEN CONVENES LARGEST GATHERING FOCUSING ON ANTI-GAY BIAS IN SCHOOLS "Teaching Respect for All" Set for October 30 - November 1, 1998 in Oakland Go to the Teaching Respect for All web site for more information: www.glsen.org/ NEW YORK, NY ---August 6, 1998 --- The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) today announced its second annual national conference, Teaching Respect for All. Featuring workshops, keynotes, award-wining films, comedy, a cyber cafe, a large expo, and much more, Teaching Respect for All will be the largest and most comprehensive gathering of LGBT and straight educators, activists, students, and parents working to end homophobia in schools. The conference will take place at the Oakland Mariott Halloween weekend, October 30 - November 1, 1998. Some of the highlights of the conference include: - a screening of Sundance-winner Out of the Past - 7 day-long pre-conference training institutes - over 60 workshops - keynote address by author/activist Suzanne Pharr - Pathfinder Award brunch featuring comic Marga Gomez - over a dozen workshops and a pre-conference institute for youth - the PlanetOut cybercafe - the A Different Light Expo "'Teaching Respect for All' is, in the end, what GLSEN is all about. We believe our schools must teach respect for all, despite the prejudices most still feel when confronted with issues of sexual orientation, and that there is never an acceptable excuse for failing to do so. This conference will give conference-goers the skills, contacts and power to change schools throughout the country," said Kevin Jennings, GLSEN's executive director. The opportunity to receive the discounted early bird registration rate for Teaching Respect for All has been EXTENDED to August 14, so act now to register and get a significant discount. Registration and additional information on Teaching Respect for All can be found on GLSEN's web site or by calling GLSEN. Conference-goers coming from outside the Bay Area may receive a discounted room rate at the Marriott, discounted air fares from American Airlines, a special rate on a rental car and a reduced-fare on an airport shuttle. Major sponsors of Teaching Respect for All include: Tzabaco Catalog, Pacific Bell, American Airlines, PlanetOut, A Different Light Bookstore and Digital Queers. -- END -- GLSEN is the largest national organization that brings together teachers, parents, students, and concerned citizens to work together to end homophobia in our schools. GLSEN strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected, regardless of sexual orientation ............................................................ 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: ............................................................ ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 08:23:16 -0700 From: Alex Damien To: schools@critpath.org Subject: NJ Lesbian & Gay Teachers NOT WANTED New Jersey public schools under the watchful eye of the State's Dept. of Education are discriminating against Lesbian and Gay teachers. This is occurring since the Law Against Discrimination was amended in 1992. The following sites have information regarding the current situation: http://www.sunlink.net/~angels http://www.sunlink.net/~angels/bergen.htm http://www.sunlink.net/~angels/suit.htm and http://www.netcom.com/~alexdn http://www.netcom.com/~alexdn/contents.html http://www.netcom.com/~alexdn/swede.html (this page is another Gay teacher in southern Jersey) http://www.netcom.com/~alexdn/teacher.html (this page is a teacher denied tenure for reasons other than sexual orientation but warned about blacklisting) If you have any information regarding sexual orientation discrimination or other questionable incidents in New Jersey, please respond. George DeCarlo *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* GEORGE DECARLO Anti-Discrimination site http://www.netcom.com/~alexdn/ YOUR comments and suggestions are necessary. alexdn@ix.netcom.com Thank you. Yes, the public is wonderfully tolerant. It forgives everything except genius. The Critic As Artist, Oscar Wilde -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- ============================================================================= 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/