Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1998 15:02:48 -0700 From: Jean Richter Subject: 8/21/98 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. New GLSEN book: "Telling Tales Out of School" ====================================================== Subject: GLSEN ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF 'TELLING TALES OUT OF SCHOOL: GAY,LESBIANS AND BISEXUALS REVISIT THEIR SCHOOL DAYS Date: Fri, 21 Aug 98 12:52:35 -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/ ............................................................ For Immediate Release - August 24, 1998 Contact: Kevin Jennings, Executive Director (212-727-0135, ext. 113) Kate Frankfurt, Director of Advocacy and Public Policy (ext. 108). GLSEN Announces Release of Telling Tales Out of School: Gays, Lesbians and Bisexuals Revisit Their School Days Anthology Inspired by GLSEN's Back-to-School Campaign, Now In Its Fourth Year New York, NY - The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), the nation's largest organization addressing anti-gay bias in schools, announces the publication of Executive Director Kevin Jennings' new book, Telling Tales Out of School, by Los Angeles-based Alyson Publications. In this collection of over 30 essays, people of all ages share their experiences growing up gay, lesbian and bisexual in schools across the country. Telling Tales was inspired by GLSEN's Back-to-School Campaign, now in its fourth year. The first Back-to-School Campaign in 1995 asked concerned individuals to write to their schools about their own experiences in order to erase the common misconception among school administrators that there are "no gay people" in our schools. In the flood of responses, the idea for Telling Tales was born. As Jennings writes in the introduction to Telling Tales, "People started sending me copies of their letters, and the stories were so incredible, so moving, that I knew there was a book crying out to be made from them." The anthology includes his own story of enduring taunts and discrimination in school in rural North Carolina in the '70s, an experience which inspired Jennings to become an educator himself, working to make schools safe for all students. Jennings is also the editor of Becoming Visible: A Reader in Gay and Lesbian History for High School and College Students and One Teacher in Ten: Gay and Lesbian Educators Tell Their Stories. These poignant recollections bear witness to the struggles many youth still face in our nation's schools, where too often anti-gay bias undermines the learning environment. The diverse voices in his latest collection have a powerful message for concerned readers, as well as for those who may not be aware of just how unsafe the school environment can be for many students. Jennings notes, "I hope reading these stories will inspire more people to take action, whether by writing their former schools or by getting involved in a local school board election or taking some other action to make our schools better places for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered youth." -more- GLSEN Announces Release of Telling Tales Out of School page 2 GLSEN invites all those concerned about anti-gay bias in schools to join with these voices in the 1998 Back-to-School Campaign. The 1998 Campaign will include GLSEN's Second Annual "Report Card," a community-based assessment of school performance on LGBT issues in a variety of school districts nationwide. Result of the study will be announced at the Campaign kick-off on Thursday, Sept., 10 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. -30- Reporters' Note: A black and white photo of Mr. Jennings and a scanned image of Telling Tales are available in electronic form over the Internet or by calling 212-727-0135. With over 80 chapters, and a membership of over ten thousand teachers, parents and concerned citizens, GLSEN is the largest national organization working to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation. For more information on Telling Tales or GLSEN's Fourth Annual "Back-to-School Campaign," visit GLSEN's web site at http://www.glsen.org/ or telephone 212-727-0135. The 1998 Back-to-School Campaign is sponsored by the Tzabaco Catalog. ............................................................ 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/