Date: Thu, 08 Oct 1998 17:28:19 -0700 From: Jean Richter Subject: 10/8/98 1. NEA president speaks on anti-gay abuse in schools 2. WI: More on school library censorship 3. UT: Contact info for Wendy Weaver's school & district 4. NC: Contact info for Margaret Boring's former school & school district 5. CA: TV program on gay teens in school ========================================================================== From: REVSHA@aol.com Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1998 22:36:00 EDT Subject: for Friday PM release News from the NEA/GLC National Education Association Gay and Lesbian Caucus For Afternoon Release Oct. 9, 1998 Contact: Jim Testerman, Co-Chair 717/848-3354 Sharon Miken, Co-Chair 609/786-9311 NEA president tells educators to protect all lesbian and gay students from harassment; cites 'legal liability' "Harassment of gay students is illegal. Hopefully this message will be heeded and next year I will be able to say gay students are as safe in schools as other students."--Bob Chase, NEA President (WASHINGTON)--"Sexual harassment of gay students is illegal and will not be tolerated." With those blunt words, National Education Association President Bob Chase reminded educators that they face "legal liability" when they do not protect sexual minority students. Speaking before the board of directors at the first meeting of the new school year, Chase, in his prepared remarks, cited statistics that showed gay students are two to five times more likely than their peers to skip school because they fear for their safety. "Having someone like Bob Chase take such a strong stance should send a clear and potent message to all schools that their sexual minority students are entitled to protection," said Sharon Miken, co-chair of the NEA Gay and Lesbian Caucus. Miken and co-chair Jim Testerman participated in the NEA observance of lesbian and gay issues facing students and education employees. --more-- NEA/GLC Chase page 2 "Over the past several years, the NEA has strengthened its position on gay and lesbian issues," noted Testerman. "Harassment affects all students and educators. Bob Chase is a true champion of this cause." Chase noted the landmark decision that awarded Jamie Nabozny $900,000 from his school district when the courts found administrators failed to protect him from abuse because of his sexual orientation. Chase also noted what he termed a "historic civil rights agreement" between the department of education and the Fayetteville (Arkansas) school district as a result of the department's enforcement of new Title IX guidelines which prohibit sexual harassment directed at gay and lesbian students. The board of directors also heard from David Buckel of the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund. Buckel was co-counsel in the Nabozny suit. The case is recognized as the first lawsuit brought against a school for failing to address anti-gay abuse. --- The National Education Association Gay and Lesbian Caucus was founded 11 years ago. Its mission statement says: "The NEA/GLC, in order to eliminate institutional discrimination and homophobia, monitors and participates in the development of NEA policies and activities, provides resources and fosters better communication among educators, students, and communities." ### =============================================================================== Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1998 11:26:42 -0700 From: Jessea NR Greenman Subject: Contact info for Wisconsin School District you might like to write or call the Barron school district and its Superintendent and Board directly. to do so: Barron Area School District 100 W. River Ave. Barron WI 54812 phone: 715-537-5612 Date: Thu, 08 Oct 1998 14:46:38 -0400 Subject: Press Release: ACLU Fights School Censorship of Gay-Themed Books From: "Channel Q News" To: Channel Q ACLU of Wisconsin Fights School Censorship of Gay-Themed Books FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 6, 1998 Contact: Emily Whitfield, ACLU National, 212-549-2666 Chris Ahmuty, ACLU of Wisconsin, 414-272-4270 MILWAUKEE--The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin said today that it may take legal action if a local school district does not reconsider its decision to ban four books on gay issues from the shelves of the Barron High School Library. The district acted after receiving a citizen complaint about "Baby Be-Bop" by Francesca Lia Block and "When Someone You Know is Gay" by Susan and Daniel Cohen. In response, District Administrator Vita Sherry ordered the removal of the books. The School Board then ordered the removal of two additional books, "Two Teenagers in Twenty" by Ann Heron and "The Drowning of Stephan Jones" by Betty Greene. All of the removed books deal with gay themes. "Too many school administrators think any mention of lesbians and gay men in school is "dangerous" these days," said Matthew Coles, Director of the National ACLU's Lesbian and Gay Rights Project. "Today we are facing a virtual epidemic of anti-gay intolerance and violence, much of it in high schools." "The only 'danger'" Coles added, "is the sorry spectacle of an educational institution purging its library of any mention of lesbians and gay men. You don't fight ignorance with ignorance." Chris Ahmuty, Executive Director of the ACLU of Wisconsin, said the ACLU is investigating to determine whether or not the district has violated students' right to read as established by the First Amendment, and whether the district is acting in a discriminatory fashion against gay and lesbian students contrary to Wisconsin law. "The ACLU agrees that the District and the School Board have a legitimate role in promoting the values of its community through the curriculum," said Christopher Ahmuty, Executive Director of the ACLU of Wisconsin. "But it may not promote its values by suppressing certain viewpoints or favoring one religious view over another." "We are troubled by the district's apparent anti-gay and sectarian motivation in removing these books from the school library," he added. The ACLU of Wisconsin has already received a reply to its initial public records request and has filed another in anticipation of a legal challenge. According to a memorandum to the school's Reconsideration Committee obtained by the ACLU, School District Administrator Vita Sherry found one book, "When Someone You Know is Gay," to contain "a dangerous viewpoint." "The information in Chapter 6," Sherry wrote, "would, I believe, lead them [students] to think that they are free to interpret the biblical references in any way they wish. I believe this is a dangerous viewpoint, although I recognize that it seems to be a rather popular one at this time. This viewpoint does a disservice to Barron's religious community, and I cannot support it." That viewpoint itself may be unconstitutional, Ahmuty said. "School libraries should reflect a diversity of viewpoints. As the U.S. Supreme Court has said, local school boards may not remove books from school libraries simply because they dislike the ideas contained in those books and seek by their removal to 'prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion.'" "We cannot pretend there are no gays/lesbians in Barron High School," Sherry's memo continued. "We must provide support for those students who are dealing with these issues." The School Board has asked its Policy and Personnel Committee to review the district's library materials selection policy. Complaints on three other books, including John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men are awaiting that review. Ahmuty said that other books -- and the integrity of selection process itself -- may be put in jeopardy by the district's questionable motivation. "Unfortunately," he said, "whatever concern the district may have for these students is rendered meaningless by their actions." The ACLU of Wisconsin is a citizen organization dedicated to preserving the rights of all Wisconsin residents. It is a state affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union. -end- =================================================================================== If you wish to write to Wendy Weaver's school or school district regarding the lawsuit against her (as detailed in the 10/6/98 P.E.R.S.O.N. mailing), the contact info is: Spanish Fork Senior High School 99 N 300 W Spanish Fork, Utah 84660 Office: 801.798.4060 Fax: 801.798.4067 School District Nebo School District 350 South Main Spanish Fork, Utah 84660 Phone: 801.798.4000 =================================================================================== If you wish to contact Margaret Boring's former school or school district to comment on her reassignment (as detailed in the 10/6/98 P.E.R.S.O.N. mailing), here is the info: High School: North Buncumbe High 890 Clarks Chapel Rd. Weaverville NC 28787 phone: 704-645-4221 fax: 704-658-0860 School District Buncombe County School District Clarks Chapel Rd Weaverville, North Carolina 28787 Phone: 704.645.3806 =================================================================================== Date: Thu, 08 Oct 1998 18:38:25 -0500 From: JLSE Subject: Gay Teen Web Page Subject: California: Gay Teens in School Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1998 19:04:34 -0400 (EDT) From: John Lindner To: Multiple recipients of list Sorry for the late notice, but the California Teachers Association's weekly television program, CTA Quest for Excellence, is featuring a program about Gay Teens in School this week (Oct. 5 - 12). http://www.ctaquest.org/online/thisweek/gay.html Gay Teens in School The struggle for gay and lesbian tolerance is one of the most recent civil rights issues in this country - a struggle that impacts the lives of many of California's school children. Gay teens make up thirty percent of all teen suicides and twenty-eight percent of gay students drop out of school. Fear of rejection keeps many of them from talking to their parents. Quest takes a look at what these students go through and a plea for awareness that could save the lives of many of our teenagers. Here's the broadcast schedule (also listed at http://www.ctaquest.org/markets/index.html ). Shows are usually repeated once per season. John English Market (Weekly) Bakersfield, KERO ABC 23 Saturdays 12:00pm Chico-Redding, KRCR ABC 7 Sundays 9:30am El Centro, KYMA NBC 11 Saturdays 11:00am Eureka, KAEF ABC 23 Sundays 9:30am Fresno, Media One Cable Cable 42 Wednesdays 8:30pm Fresno, Media One Cable Cable 42 Thursdays 8:30pm Fresno, KAIL UPN 53 Sundays 11:00am Los Angeles, KCOP UPN 13 Saturdays 11:30am Los Angeles, KDOC* IND 56 Wednesdays 8:30pm Medford, KDRV ABC 12 Sundays 8:30am Palm Springs, KCOP UPN 13 Saturdays 11:30am Reno, KRXI FOX 11 Saturdays 11:00am Riverside County, KCOP UPN 13 Saturdays 11:30am Sacramento-Stockton, KXTV ABC 10 Sundays 11:00am Sacramento, Comcast* Cable 9 Wednesdays 9:00pm Salinas-Monterey, KSBW NBC 8 Sundays 5:00pm San Bernardino County, KCOP 13 Saturdays 11:30am San Diego, XETV FOX 6 Saturdays 11:30am Santa Barbara, KSBY NBC 6 Sundays 9:00am San Francisco, KBHK UPN 44 Saturdays 11:30am San Francisco, KTSF* IND 26 Fridays 11:30pm Spanish Market (2x monthly) Los Angeles, KWHY IND 22 Saturdays 10:00am San Francisco, KSTS TELE 48 Sundays 11:00am* Sacramento, KUVS UNIV 19 Saturdays 6:30am * Indicates one week delay =============================================================== 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/