Date: Mon, 19 Jul 1999 17:40:05 -0700 From: Jean Richter Subject: 7/19/99 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. Leadership changes for the NEA-GLC 2. AK: Web site for news article on gay teen's struggles at school 3. MA: Article on support groups for gay teens posted to web site ============================================================================== From: REVSHA@aol.com Date: Sat, 26 Jun 1999 23:44:13 EDT Subject: NEA-GLC--Please note July1 embargo News from the NEA/GLC The National Education Association Gay and Lesbian Caucus Contacts: Jim Testerman, Co-Chair 717-848-3354; Fax: 717-843-9790; E- mail: JTesterman@Cyberia.com Sharon Miken, Co-Chair 609-786-9311; Fax 609-939-4724; E-mail: RevSha@AOL.com Jane Hind, Communications Director 609-786-9311; JHND6@AOL.com For Immediate Release July 1, 1999 Testerman Will Not Seek NEA-GLC Co-Chair Reelection " The opportunity to educate millions of people would not have occurred with out this backlash. This has taught me to recognize most adverse situations as gifts." --Jim Testerman, NEA/GLC Co-Chair (Washington)-- Jim Testerman, who for the last six years has been one of the key leaders of the National Education Association Gay and Lesbian Caucus, will not seek another term as co-chair. Testerman, an openly gay seventh grade life science teacher from York, Pennsylvania, was elected treasurer of the Pennsylvania State Education Association in May. His successor will be elected at this year's NEA convention in Orlando, Fla. Testerman has seen the caucus through some of its most tumultuous years of growth. In 1996 Testerman guided a new business item through the NEA at its annual convention which recognized Gay and Lesbian History Month. Backlash from conservative groups both within and outside of the NEA brought pressure to bear on the organization which found itself under fire for its strong support of sexual minority issues. "For me, the real lesson throughout this time was that we must recognize that the opportunity to educate millions of people would not have occurred without this `backlash'," said Testerman. "A public relations campaign to accomplish this amount of grass roots education would have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. We --more-- Testerman page 2 got it for free. For the first time, many education employees received accurate information regarding sexual orientation. This has taught me to recognize most adverse situations as gifts." The following year, Testerman's guidance was again called on when the NEA decided to group all "month" recognitions into an umbrella celebration. This time backlash came most strongly from minority caucuses and within Testerman's own caucus as many members perceived the move as giving up a recognition that was hard-fought to achieve. That same year during the national convention in Atlanta when the caucus was faced with a lockout of its meeting rooms by the Alabama state delegation, Testerman was called on to help negotiate a settlement to the impasse. Testerman noted, "There is a time and a place for negotiations. This was not one of them. The state leadership at that time was on a power trip and was extremely homophobic." The co-chair said that attempts to create a dialogue with the Alabama delegation failed. "They were unresponsive," he said. Regarding his role as caucus co-chair, Testerman said, "During my tenure, membership has increased 40 percent and we have become one of the most influential caucuses of the largest union in the United States. We have created a safe place of support and acceptance for education employees and students." Testerman graduated from Elizabethtown College and received his masters degree from Millersville State University. He joined the caucus in 1990 first serving as regional director for the northeast region. He was first elected co-chair in 1993. Testerman also serves on NEA's Human and Civil Rights Committee and the Pennsylvania State Education Association’s board of directors. ---- The National Education Assn. Gay and Lesbian Caucus was founded in 1987 for the purpose of defending the rights of all education employees. 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." ### From: REVSHA@aol.com Date: Mon, 12 Jul 1999 10:20:47 EDT Subject: GLC news release News from the NEA/GLC The National Education Association Gay and Lesbian Caucus Contacts: Jim Testerman, Co-Chair 717-848-3354; Fax: 717-843-9790; E- mail: JTesterman@Cyberia.com Sharon Miken, Co-Chair 609-786-9311; Fax 609-939-4724; E-mail: RevSha@AOL.com Mike Chiumento, Co-Chair Elect 734-422-8078; Fax 734-513-8934; E-mail:SidBru@AOL.com. Jane Hind, Communications Director 609-786-9311; E-mail: JHND6@AOL.com For Immediate Release July 12, 1999 Chiumento Elected Co-Chair of NEA-GLC Curt Rock Succeeds Chiumento as Treasurer "I came out publicly because I was fed up with having the words `sexual orientation' conspicuously absent from schools' anti-harasssment policies."--Mike Chiumento, newly-elected co-chair of the NEA-GLC ORLANDO, FL--Michael Chiumento, a Michigan music teacher who challenged a school district's anti-gay policy, was elected co-chair of the National Education Association Gay and Lesbian Caucus during the NEA's annual convention here. Chiumento has been treasurer of the Caucus since 1997. Curt Rock, a fourth grade teacher from Minnesota, was elected treasurer to succeed Chiumento. "I look forward to continuing my work with the NEA-GLC on a new level. The Caucus has become an important advocate in addressing the issues of safety and civil rights for all students and school personnel," said Chiumento who was unopposed for the position. Chiumento, who is openly gay, has been an instrumental music teacher in the Plymouth-Canton School District for 21 years. --more-- Chiumento elected page 2 Chiumento succeeds Jim Testerman who served as co-chair for six years. Testerman was elected treasurer of the Pennsylvania State Education Association in May. Chiumento was active in protesting the Westland-Wayne School Board's decision to eliminate the words "sexual orientation" from its harassment policy. The resultant fallout from the board's decision saw the board president, Trish Brown, ousted from her post when she fought to keep protection in the policy. "Mike Chiumento is not one to sit on the sidelines," said Brown. "If there is an issue that affects lesbians and gays, Mike will be there doing whatever it takes. He never gives up." Of his decision to be an "open" teacher, Chiumento said, "I came out publicly because I was no longer willing to have the classroom--mine or anyone else's--be an unsafe place for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered teachers or students. I was fed up with having the phrase `sexual orientation' conspicuously absent from schools' anti-harassment policies.” Newly-elected GLC treasurer Rock is vice president of Foley United Educators. Both Rock and Chiumento will take office September 1, 1999. ---- The National Education Assn. Gay and Lesbian Caucus was founded in 1987 for the purpose of defending the rights of all education employees. 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." ### ================================================================================= GLSEN has archived an article on their web site about an Alaska gay teen and his struggles at school at URL: http://www.glsen.org/pages/sections/news/natlnews/1999/jun/24.article ================================================================================= I've posted an article on support groups for gay teens on our site at URL: http://www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/Alerts/States/Massachusetts/article.html At over 26K, it's a bit long to post here, but if you can't access the web and would like to have a copy emailed to you, please let me know. ================================================================================= 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/