Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 17:50:14 -0700 From: Jean Richter Subject: 4/16/99 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news, pt. 2 1. UT: Lesbian teacher's foes may appeal judge's ruling 2. FL: School board votes down discrimination protection for LGB students 3. CA: Free GLSEN conference in Marin ================================================================================ Deseret News, March 18, 1999 Box 1257,Salt Lake City,UT,84110 (Fax 801-237-2121 ) (E-MAIL: letters@desnews.com ) ( http://www.desnews.com ) Group likely to appeal ruling on Weaver Nebo district, state education board may be her co-defendants By Jeffrey P. Haney, Deseret News staff writer PROVO - Matt Hilton sighs when asked how many hours he has dedicated to a lawsuit filed by a group of Utah County conservatives in an attempt to oust gay teacher Wendy Weaver from her job. [Deleted article. filemanager@qrd.org] ================================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Mar 1999 09:09:08 -0700 From: Jessea NR Greenman Current members of the Board are: Dr. Sandra Richmond, Chairperson Mr. Thomas E. Lynch, Vice Chairperson Ms. Paulette Burdick Ms. Jody Gleason Mr. William Graham Dr. Art Johnson Ms. Dorothy Montgomery and they may be reached at Palm Beach County School District 3340 Forest Hill Blvd. Room C316 West Palm Beach, Florida 33406-5869 FAX 561/434-8571 South Florida Sun-Sentinel, March 18, 1999 200 E. Las Olas,Fort Lauderdale,FL,33301 (Fax 305-356-4624 ) (E-MAIL: ss_letters@tribune.com ) ( http://www.sun-sentinel.com ) School Board backs off special protection for gay students By KELLIE PATRICK, Education Writer After two hours of heated debate in which the Bible was frequently quoted and some speakers were heckled, the Palm Beach County School Board opted not to give gay and lesbian students special protection from discrimination. About 30 parents and others spoke against the proposed policy amendment, which would have added sexual orientation to the list of specific characteristics for which students cannot be descriminated against. These include race, religion, sex and disability. Many of the speakers, galvanized by a flyer that had been circulated in some communites, were concerned that the Board was poised to begin endorsing homosexuality in the classroom. "This proposed policy change is not about protecting children from discrimination, it is about advancing the gay agenda," said John Brooks. When it came time to vote, it was not the parents' concerns that prevented the board from passing the policy change, but Board Members' fear that it would make the district more vulnerable to lawsuits. "We are trying to ensure that no child is harrassed, but we do not want to add additional liability," said Board Member Jody Gleason. "I'm disappointed," said Sheila Bewsee, youth coordinator for Compass, the gay and lesbian community center in West Palm Beach. She was one of 10 parents, former students and others who spoke in favor of the policy. School Board attorney Cynthia Prettyman told the board that gay and lesbian students would be protected under the discrimination policy and would be entitled to the same grievance proceedures even if they were not specifically named as a class in policy language. Gay and lesbian students can still file discrimination complaints, Prettyman said, and could file a lawsuit if the district does not follow its anti-discrimination policy. But specifically naming sexual orientation as a class would increase the district's legal liability, she said, because it would give attorneys another legal argument: They could say the district specifically promised to protect gay and lesbian students from discrimination and failed to do so. As Prettyman explained, some Board Members reversed their earlier-stated positions on the policy. While Members Bill Graham, Dorothy Montgomery and Paulette Burdick voted against the amendment that removed sexual orientation from the policy, the vote to pass the policy without those words passed unanimously. Bewsee said that not listing gay and lesbian students in the policy means a continuance of the perception that it's ok to descriminate against students based on their sexual orientation. Speaker John Sickler said a policy that specifically banned discrimination based on sexual orientation might have helped him when he was a student 15 years ago. On his way to the meeting, he said he saw a WWJD bumper sticker. "That made me think, What Would Jesus Do? and I thought, He wouldn't cast a stone. He would protect all students." One audience member told Sickler: "He would tell you not to be gay." The School Board left the words sexual orientation in its amended harassment policy. While the federal government does not recognize gays and lesbians as a class that can be discriminated against, it does recognize same sex sexual harassment. The Board opted to bring its policies in line with the federal government, but not extend protection further than that. The policies protect students from both students and school district employees. A student who violates the policy could face a warning, out-of- school suspension or expulsion. A staff member could face a reprimand, suspension, termination or be required to have more training. Previous Palm Beach County school boards considered but shied away from specifically naming gays and lesbians in anti-discrimination and harassment policies. Both the Broward and the Miami-Dade county school districts have already added sexual orientation to their anti-discrimination policies. Although the board voted the way those who opposed including sexual orientation in their policies had hoped, several members admonished what some of those speakers said. "I am appalled by this whole proceeding, and by some of the hateful things said," said School Board Chairwoman Sandra Richmond. Kellie Patrick can be reached at Kpatrick@Sun-Sentinel.com or 561-243-6629. O+O+ O+O+ O+O+ O+O+ O+O+ O+O+ Jessea NR Greenman, "I can only hope that...the Court soon will reconsider its analysis and conclude that depriving individuals of the right to choose for themselves how to conduct their intimate relationships poses a far greater threat to the values most deeply rooted in our Nation's history than tolerance of nonconformity could ever do." Former Supreme Court Justice Blackmun ================================================================================= Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 16:52:53 -0700 From: BobLatham@aol.com Subject: Free GLSEN Conf in Marin, Kevin Jennings Keynote (Please share this information with members who do not have e-mail.) The 1st Annual GLSEN-Marin "Safe Schools/Safe Communities" Conference will be held April 27, 1999 from 4 pm to 8 pm at Sir Francis Drake High School-Little Theatre 1327 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo The conference is for students, educators, parents, teachers, administrators and community members. All those concerned about teaching respect for all in our schools are invited to attend. THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR THE CONFERENCE. The conference is sponsored by Spectrum, Center for Lesbian, Bay, Bisexual & Transgender Concerns and by GLSEN SCHEDULE: 3:30-4:00 Check-in and Refreshments 4:00-5:15 Choice of Workshops: YOUTH SPEAK OUT! Liz Kalmanson, Youth Programs Coordinator, Spectrum. Join members of Rainbow's End & students from Gay/Straight Alliances throughout Marin in an interactive workshop for youth. Students come together to develop tools to create positive change in their own schools--so that all students--straight or gay are safe and can learn without fear. -or- LGBTQ LEGAL ISSUES Attorneys from NCLR will lead a discussion of issues related to school safety. Particular attention will be paid to what other states and school systems have done, and are doing, to prevent legal problems and keep students safe. 5:30 - 6:45 Choice of Workshops or "The Kiss": IT'S ELEMENTARY Helen S. Cohen, Producer, will show this award winning film which goes inside first through eighth grade classrooms to see what really happens when teachers address gay and lesbian issues in age appropriate ways. Helen is a film producer at Women's Educational Media, the nonprofit production company she runs with Debra Chasnoff. -or- THE INVISIBLE MINORITY Grant Peterson is a retired teacher, counselor, site and district office administrator with 33 years of experience. At the request of the Alameda County Superintendent, Peterson participated in the planning and implementation of the April 1995 and May 1996 Leadership Academy programs addressing the needs of GLBT youth. Grant will lead a student panel discussion for adults. A truly educational experience. -or- "THE KISS" Enjoy the final dress rehearsal of this provocative and thoughtful play by local writer and teacher David Smith. 6:30 - 7:00 Reception 7:00 - 8:00 KEYNOTE ADDRESS by KEVIN JENNINGS Kevin Jennings is the Founder and Executive Director of GLSEN. He is a noted author, best known for his work in the fight for equality for gay and lesbian youth. Kevin's books include: Becoming Visible: A Reader in Gay & Lesbian History for High School and College Students, One Teacher in Ten: Gay & Lesbian Educator Tell Their Stories, and Telling Tales Out of School: Lesbian, Bay and Bisexual People Remember Their School Years. In 1997 Kevin was named in Newsweek Magazine's list of 100 people to watch in the new century. ================================================================================ 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/