Date: Mon, 19 Oct 1998 14:59:29 -0700 From: Jean Richter Subject: 10/19/98 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. Several items on Matthew Shepard murder 2. WY: Email addresses of legislators 3. UT: Article on school club lawsuit ========================================================= Subject: Fw: Addressing tragedy in the classroom Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 16:35:47 -0700 From: studentpride Subject: Addressing tragedy in the classroom Date: Thursday, October 15, 1998 7:54 AM This is a message from the AdvisorTalk List, a service of Student Pride. AdvisorTalk is an unmoderated list serve of Gay-Straight Alliance organizerrs. Civility and Netiquette are assumed and appreciated. ___________________________________________________ Please share this information with as many teachers as possible. Please talk about this in your classrooms, in your GSAs and communty groups so that as much good as possible can grow from this horrible act. Yours, Kerry ---------------- Begin Forwarded Message ---------------- In the wake of the Matthew Shepard tragedy, we ask that you speak with the members of your chapter, and ask them to take some time to address the issues which it raises; particularly toward how tolerating homophobia is de-humanizing, and may allow incidents like this to occur. At GLSEN, we see it as our position to not allow homophobia to go unanswered in the schools. And we believe that it is through subtle-or-not-so-subtle repetition of homophobic conditioning- whether through teacher comments, intended humorously or otherwise, and through a lack of response to comments, behavior, and smaller expressions of hate, that anti-gay and lesbian attitudes are not only inadvertently sanctioned, but actually legitimized and reinforced. The silence on the issue is in fact deafening. In response to what could only be considered a tragedy, therefore, we ask that you take a few moments to discuss these issues with your students, and to encourage your colleagues to do the same. We've generated a few suggestions for classroom discussion; and are eager to see this email initiate a larger GLSENtalk dialogue on the subject. 1) Your students are likely to have strong feelings about this. Approach this is as you would any pertinent current events issue and allow your students to share what they know, and discuss their feelings. 2) Engage your students in a discussion of motivation: what in our society perpetuates the attitudes that makes this violence okay? Do they believe that the young men who committed this crime could have viewed Matthew Shepard as a fellow human being? How or how not? Do they think it made a difference that they knew that he was gay? This may lead to some students suggesting that - in order for Matthew to protect himself- he should not have let people know about his sexual identity. You may use this as an opportunity to discuss whether that's fair: should we ask people to hide large parts of themselves, their lives. Likewise, you might encourage your students to think or talk about times they've had secrets, or aspects of themselves that made them feel different, and how it felt to keep those parts of themselves hidden. You could lead your group to discuss "blaming the victim". This is a phenomenon and a catch phrase they might not be familiar with. Ask them to consider such incidents, and whether it's right to punish someone twice. You might ask your students if it's easier to think that the gay guy might be in the wrong in this case, and why is it easier to feel that way? You could also simply ask them: Did Matthew Shepard do anything wrong? Was he a bad guy? Did he hurt anybody? While discussing perpetrators and motive, ask your students if they've ever hurt anybody, or insulted anybody for being different. Ask them if they've ever used homophobic language (give examples, including fag, queer, or dyke.) Students may say that they are just kidding around. Ask them if they believe that everyone knows that. Share with them some of the statistics about violence, or harassment in the schools. Again: ask your students how these young murderers could have believed it was okay to hurt someone. Where and how would they have learned that this was okay? How could they have learned otherwise? 3) On bystanders: if your students have followed the news stories they know about the two young women - girlfriends of the perpetrators - who stood by until after the fact. They are accomplices. Ask your students if they have ever stood by and watched someone be harassed or insulted or hurt. How did that feel? Why didn't they get involved? By not getting involved, do they think that they signaled to the perpetrators, the victim, and other bystanders, that they thought that this was okay? How do they think it would feel to be the victim in that circumstance? How would they want others to act, if they were the victim? 4) Community: what kind of message does your community send out about gay and lesbian people? How could that message be changed? Simple curricular suggestions: for Social Studies, it should be easy and logical to engage your class in a discussion of current events, and to ask students what anti-gay bias they've witnessed at their schools. Likewise, Health, Psychology, and Biology courses should see a natural progression of the curriculum which would include a discussion of the psychological factors involved in this crime. English classes may want to read an article, and write their answers to questions down, and discuss their writing; and perhaps practice their essay writing and letter-writing skills by writing letters-to-the-editor. Conclusion: Teachers must not be silent at this critical time. This is a major news story and students need a chance to explore their feelings and come to terms witha horrific event. We urge you to provide that opportunity. ----------------- End Forwarded Message ----------------- ___________________________________________________ Student Pride is a Project of The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). To unsubscribe from this list, send a message to with the subject or body of the message reading: unsubscribe advisortalk To subscribe send a message to the same address with the subject or body of the message reading: subscribe advisortalk For help from the list administrator, send a message to: glsenmom@glsen.org THE GLSEN BLACKBOARD ONLINE: http://www.glsen.org/ STUDENT PRIDE ONLINE: http://www.glsen.org/pages/sections/involved/studentpride/ ___________________________________________________ From: RCREA@aol.com Date: Sat, 17 Oct 1998 12:16:06 EDT Subject: DC Vigil - Rea Carey's Statement (NYAC) In a message dated 98-10-16 17:53:47 EDT, rcarey@nyacyouth.org writes: << The following statement was made by the Rea Carey, Executive Director of the National Youth Advocacy Coalition on Wednesday, October 14th at a vigil held in Washington, DC to honor Matthew Shepard. "So, let's get real about hate. - Hate means that Russell Arthur Henderson and Aaron James McKinney felt it was o.k. to tie Matthew Shepard to a fence and beat him to death! - Hate means that 22% of gay, lesbian and bisexual (GLB) youth have to skip school because they feel unsafe! - Hate means that the Wyoming state legislature refused to pass hate crimes legislation inclusive of sexual orientation not once, not twice, but three times! - Hate means that 66% of GLB youth have reported being threatened with a weapon while at school! - Hate means that AFTER attacking Matt Shepard, his murderers went into town and picked a fight with two Latino men. In their night-long parade of hate, Russell Arthur Henderson and Aaron James McKinney demonstrated quite clearly what we have know all along -- that hate against one group of people is directly linked to hate against another group. - And finally, hate means that since Matthew Shepard's death, each one of us has probably thought, "that could have been me." And, you know what? It could have. We must fight hate, homophobia, racism and all forms of bigotry with all of our might! We must work for a day when we don't need hate crimes legislation because we will have done our work as a country to prevent hate-based crimes. We must work hard to deter hate crimes before we lose one more member of our community. Tomorrow, I will be attending the White House Conference on School Safety with other advocates for safe learning environments. This conference comes at a critical time as our nation struggles with violent attacks on this country's students at the hands of their peers. Although Matthew Shepard was a college student, his attack is, unfortunately, representative of the continuum of violence and harassment faced by gay youth beginning in grade school. The National Youth Advocacy Coalition calls on our nation's decision-makers, the White House, and communities across the country to open their eyes to the day to day realities of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth. Our country can not afford to lose one more life at the hands of homophobic youth and the laws, systems and beliefs that support them." Be fierce! Be fabulous! Fight Hate!" ----------------------------------------------------------------------- National Youth Advocacy Coalition 1711 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 206 Washington, DC 20009 202-319-7596 202-319-7365 fax nyac@nyacyouth.org The National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC) is the only national organization solely focused on improving the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) youth through advocacy, education, and information. NYAC advocates with and for GLBT youth through the collaboration of a broad spectrum of community-based and national organizations. Through this partnership, NYAC seeks to end discrimination against GLBT youth and to ensure their physical and emotional well-being. From: JeanInBldr@aol.com Date: Sat, 17 Oct 1998 09:40:55 EDT I'm sending the poem I wrote to read at a Candlelight Vigil for Matthew Shepard on the Courthouse lawn in Boulder, CO on Oct. 13. I offer the poem as my tribute to Matthew's life. Jean Hodges, President PFLAG Boulder For the Vigil Service Dedicated to Matthew Shepard Boulder Court House Lawn October 13, 1998 Human Scarecrow by Jean Hodges Human scarecrow tied to a fence....silent In desolate isolation On a wind-blown plain. Speak to us of your dreams Know that you are not alone. Human scarecrow tied to a fence...blinded With blood-soaked pain Left to the black abyss. Share your lofty vision with us Lift our darkest sorrow. Human scarecrow tied to a fence...inert In bare feet and crushed skull Abandoned to die. Let us walk in your patent leather shoes, Your spirit born again in us. Human scarecrow tied to a fence....crucified For the sins of cruel strangers, Rise above the violent murderers; Teach us the way of unconditional love, Your soul lives as legacy to us all. ==================================================================== From: MPetrelis@aol.com Date: Sat, 17 Oct 1998 16:13:36 EDT Subject: WY emails PLEASE REPOST!! PLEASE REPOST!! PLEASE REPOST!! Dear friends, This is the most comprehensive amil list of this sort I have come across. It came from Gene Hunt of Washington, DC. Thanks Gene. Email your thoughts to Wyoming lawmakers! Do it now! --mp jianders@house.wyoming.com, randerso@house.wyoming.com, rbadgett@house.wyoming.com, Wyowende, bbensel@house.wyoming.com, nberry@house.wyoming.com, bburns@cyberhighway.net, ccase@house.wyoming.com, childers@house.wyoming.com, kDecaria@house.wyoming.com, ndeegan@house.wyoming.com, 75166.714@CompuServe.com. rogerhuckfeldt@juno.com, wajohnso@house.wyoming.com, rluthi@house.wyoming.com, mmassie@house.wyoming.com, pnagel@trib.com, agnspan@lariat.org, doosborn@house.wyoming.com, fparady@house.wyoming.com, cpasenea@house.wyoming.com, fphilp@house.wyoming.com, trardin@house.wyoming.com, wreese@house.wyoming.com, torose@house.wyoming.com, tross@house.wyoming.com, prounds@wyoming.com, lryckman@house.wyoming.com, jsteinbr@house.wyoming.com, rtempest@house.wyoming.com, JWasserburger@ccsd.k12.wy.us, lgilbert@senate.wyoming.com, guvgood@hotmail.com, mharris@senate.wyoming.com, rjob@senate.wyoming.com, kinnison@mailhost.cyberhighway.net, jmockler@senate.wyoming.com, bpeck@senate.wyoming.com, vpicard@senate.wyoming.com, jschiffe@senate.wyoming.com, Jim Jenne, gzimmer@trib.com ================================================================================ Salt Lake Tribune, October 18, 1998 P. O. Box 867,Salt Lake City,UT,84110 (Fax 801-237-2022 ) (E-MAIL: letters@sltrib.com ) ( http://www.sltrib.com ) Students, Parents Challenge the Ban on Clubs in City Schools BY ROBERT BRYSON, THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Eight West and East high pupils Saturday challenged Salt Lake City School Board's ban of all noncurricular clubs as unfair and shortchanging students. [Deleted article. filemanager@qrd.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/