Date: Thu, 24 Jun 1999 17:57:25 -0700 From: Jean Richter Subject: 6/24/99 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. CA: LYRIC's Young, Loud and Proud Conference; More on the defeat of AB 222 2. MA: More on hate crime against student ============================================================ From: MrPnkPnthR@aol.com Date: Thu, 24 Jun 1999 00:36:59 EDT Subject: Young Loud & Proud - Press Release PRESS RELEASE June 21, 1999 LYRIC (Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center) 127 Collingwood Street San Francisco, CA 94114 (415) 703-6150 ext. 25 voice (415) 703-6153 fax Contacts: Erik Berg or MC Ettinger at (415) 703-6150 ext. 25 LYRIC's Fourth annual Young, Loud, and Proud Conference to Draw Record Numbers. Conference organized by and for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning Youth expecting over 600 participants from all over the United States for this queer leadership and empowerment conference. LYRIC, in conjunction with the National Youth Advocacy Coalition, have joined efforts to host this year's Young, Loud, and Proud Conference. The conference will bring over 600 queer youth from across the nation to San Francisco. Attendees will participate in exciting workshops, panel discussions, and performances led by some of the most talented young queer activists and leaders in the country. Young, Loud, and Proud is the first national conference for and by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (lgbtqq) youth 25 and younger. This year, as in years past, YLP will serve as NYAC’s Pacific Region Conference. NYAC's regional conferences are designed to raise awareness of the needs facing LBGTQ youth across the country. The unified participation of LYRIC and NYAC strives to create a conference in which youth can share experiences, socialize, and discuss cutting edge issues. YLP 1999 will feature Alana Flores and Letta Simone Nefertari Neely as keynote speakers. Flores, who was recently featured in Girlfriends Magazine, had to endure harassment throughout her high school years for being a lesbian. She is currently the named plaintiff in a class action suit against her school district. Neely, an African American queer activist from New York, is an inspiring poet and talented writer. She was recently featured in Curve Magazine She is involved in queer youth organizing, and is widely recognized as a dynamic speaker. As a conference organized entirely by gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth, Young, Loud, and Proud is a truly unique event. Alana Flores said, "There will be tons of queer youth activists pouring into San Francisco from all across the country. It will be a really exciting experience!" Young, Loud, and Proud will take place at Mission High School on 3750 18th Street, between Dolores and Church Streets in San Francisco. This weekend-long event will be held July 9-11th. The conference will feature other exciting speakers, workshops, and caucuses, as well as a dance scheduled for the evening of Saturday July 10th, featuring Olga-T and a drag show. With record numbers expected to attend YLP this year, there is no doubt that the conference will be a dynamic success. The conference is free, and pre-registration is requested, though not required. For more information, contact Erik Berg or MC Ettinger (415) 703-6150 ext. 25. ================================================================================ Date: Fri, 04 Jun 1999 19:23:04 -0400 From: GLSEN Alert To: "GLSEN News" Subject: GLSENAlert: California's AB 222 Fails ........................................................... 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/ ........................................................... MEDIA RELEASE For Immediate Release Jim Anderson, Communications Director Phone - (212) 727-0135 x136 Pager - (888) 869-6512 GLSEN EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT OVER LOSS OF CALIFORNIA'S AB 222 Politics and misinformation won out over needs of lesbian and gay students, says GLSEN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA (4 June 1999) - The thirteen California chapters of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) today expressed their profound disappointment with the California State Assembly's failure to pass AB 222, The Dignity for Students Act. The bill would have amended state education code to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. GLSEN representatives note that in failing to pass AB 222, legislators missed a key opportunity to take a much-needed step forward in creating school communities that are safe places for every student, regardless of sexual orientation. "As State Assembly members go home and wash their hands of this debate, lesbian and gay students will continue struggling against discrimination and harassment in California's public schools," said GLSEN Field Director John Spear. "We made a lot of headway this year -- educating legislators and the general public about the pervasive harassment and discrimination these students face -- and we expect to pick up again next year. One can only hope that next time around, facts and compassion will win out over politics and misinformation." The facts, says GLSEN, are undeniable. As documented by the Massachusetts State Department of Education's biannual Youth Risk Behavior Survey, lesbian, gay and bisexual students are more than seven times as likely as their heterosexual classmates to be threatened with a weapon while at school. They are more than five times as likely to skip school because they feel unsafe at or en route to school. GLSEN studies indicate that average high school students hear anti-gay epithets 25 times a day. According to GLSEN, the vote against AB 222 will not only impact lesbian, gay and bisexual students as they attempt to access their educational entitlement. It will impact entire school communities as they work to create comprehensive safe schools plans in their efforts to ensure safety for all. "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to recognize the links between prohibiting discrimination, stopping harassment, and creating school communities that are free from student-on-student violence," continued Spear. "It's a shame that these connections were lost on certain members of the California State Assembly." ##### The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network is the largest national organization working to end anti-gay bias in America's schools. Established nationally in 1994, GLSEN now has over 85 chapters working in communities around the country. For more information call (212) 727-0135 or visit www.glsen.org ........................................................... 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: ........................................................... ================================================================================ BOSTON GLOBE, June 4, 1999 Box 2378,Boston,MA,02107 (Fax 617-929-2098 ) (E-MAIL: letter@globe.com ) ( http://www.boston.com/globe ) Hate attack shocks a prep school By Jordana Hart and Nicole Cusano, Globe Staff and Globe Correspondent NORTHFIELD - Forced into the corner of a dormitory room at Northfield Mount Hermon School, his shirt pulled up over his naked back, a teenager winced in pain as two other students allegedly used a knife to carve an anti-gay slur into his back. [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) These messages are archived by state on our information-loaded free web site: http://www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/