Date: Tue, 14 Sep 1999 17:35:50 -0700 From: Jean Richter Subject: 9/14/99 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. Dockers Khakis sponsors GLSEN conference scholarships 2. MD: School board withdraws inclusive anti-harassment policy 3. CA: Call or write the governor to urge him to sign AB 537 ==================================================================== From: "GLSEN Alert" To: "GLSEN News" Subject: GLSENAlert: Dockers Funds Youth Scholarships for GLSEN's Conference Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 08:53:13 -0400 Editor's Note: Youth activists interested in applying for a Dockers(r) Khakis Youth United Against Bias Scholarship to attend "Teaching Respect for All '99" should call (212) 727-0135, send an e-mail to studentpride@glsen.org or visit GLSEN's web site at www.glsen.org. MEDIA RELEASE For Immediate Release DOCKERS(r) KHAKIS SUPPORTS LGBT STUDENT ACTIVIST MOVEMENT Clothier re-establishes scholarship fund to bring 100 students to largest national summit of activists, parents, educators and youth fighting anti-gay bias in K-12 schools New York, New York (16 August 1999) - The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) today announced that Dockers(r) Khakis has funded a national scholarship program to bring over 100 youth to GLSEN's third annual national conference, "Teaching Respect for All '99", which will take place in Atlanta, October 1-3. Established for the second consecutive year, the Dockers(r) Khakis Youth United Against Bias scholarship fund will allow student activists from across the country to attend the largest national summit of parents, educators, students, and concerned community members working to end anti-gay bias in K-12 schools. "Dockers has put its money where its mouth is," said GLSEN's Executive Director Kevin Jennings. "One of the great hurdles standing between youth activists and their ability to participate in the larger civil rights movement is money, or the access it affords. These scholarships will allow youth and their adult allies to join together, learn from one another, and build stronger alliances as they work to end anti-gay harassment in hometown schools." According to GLSEN, increased support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender student organizing could not come at a better time. GLSEN's Student Pride Project - which provides support and resources to over 400 high school-based Gay-Straight Alliance student clubs - quadrupled in size over the last year. When asked why Dockers Khakis was again funding the national scholarship fund, Carrie Varoquiers of Levi Strauss & Co. said, "Our company has a long history of supporting Youth Empowerment and Social Justice. We see the scholarships as a small way we can help end the cycle of discrimination against gay youth and give students a chance to fulfill their potential." "Teaching Respect for All '99" is the largest national summit of those fighting anti-gay bias in K-12 schools. This year's conference will feature 70 workshops, seven intensive learning institutes, a keynote address by civil rights legend John Lewis, & entertainment by comedian Margaret Cho. The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network is the largest national organization fighting anti-gay bias in America's K-12 schools. Established nationally in 1994, GLSEN now has over 85 chapters working in communities across the country. Visit www.glsen.org. -30- =================================================================================== Reply-To: listserver@channelq.com Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 22:51:25 -0700 From: "Channel Q" To: (LGBT Political Activists), queerpolitics@abacus.oxy.edu Subject: Outcry Stalls Schools' New Anti-Harassment Policy in MD WASHINGTON POST, August 26, 1999 http://www.washingtonpost.com Outcry Stalls Schools' New Anti-Harassment Policy State Education Officials Drop Proposed Regulation Focusing on Gay Students By Amy Argetsinger, Washington Post Staff Writer Maryland state education officials have dropped a controversial proposal to ban harassment in schools after conservative groups objected to language singling out gay students as one of the groups needing protection. [Deleted article. filemanager@qrd.org] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The item above is being distributed as a free, non-profit informational service to a limited number of individuals who have expressed interest in this topic for educational and research purposes only. Please do redistribute or post copyrighted material anyplace on the Internet accessible to the public without attribution and permission from the author. Please note that distribution of this item does not necessarily constitute endorsement of the content; in fact, often items are distributed as "opposition research." ================================================================================== Date: Tue, 14 Sep 1999 16:51:30 -0700 From: "Richard, Jennifer" Subject: Call and Write the Governor Now to Urge Passage of Safe Schools Bills PLEASE RE-DISTRIBUTE The Christian Right is bombarding the Governor's office with letters and phone calls in opposition to AB 537. We need to let Governor Gray Davis know how many fair minded Californians support AB 537 and encourage him to sign the measure into law. A decision as to the bill's fate could be made this week, though the Governor officially has until October 10th to decide. While it is best to contact the governor at the State Capitol, you may find it easier to reach him at one of the satellite offices in your community. Below is the Governor's contact information. Please call and write today. 1st Floor State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814 Tel (916)445-2841 Fax (916)445-4633 300 S Spring Street #16701, Los Angeles, CA 90013 Tel (213)897-0322 Fax (213) 897-0319 555 California Street #2929, San Francisco, CA 94104 Tel (415)703-2218 Fax (415)703-2803 1350 Front Street 6054, San Diego, CA 92101 Tel (619)525-4641 Fax (619)525-4640 2550 Mariposa Mall #3042, Fresno, CA 93721 Tel (559) 445-5295 Fax (559)445-5328 18952 MacArthur Blvd. #440, Irvine, CA 92612 Tel (949) 553-3566 Fax (949) 553-3571 3737 Main Street #201, Riverside, CA 92501 Tel (909)680-6860 Fax (909)680-6863 SAMPLE LETTER Dear Governor Davis: I am writing to urge your support of AB 537, the California School Safety and Violence Prevention Act of 2000. Given the recent rash of hate crimes in California, it is now more important than ever to ensure that our public school students are protected from violence and discrimination on the basis of personal characteristics such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender, and sexual orientation. When harassment and discrimination go unchecked in our public schools, we are creating a climate where such acts can quickly escalate into incidents of hate violence. We must send a strong message that harassment and discrimination will not be tolerated in our public schools and universities. Sincerely, (YOUR NAME & ADDRESS) Keep up the good work! Jennifer Jennifer Richard, Senior Consultant, Office of Assemblymember Sheila Kuehl, State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814. e-mail: Jennifer.Richard@asm.ca.gov , direct line: (916)319-2346, fax:(916)319-2141. For Legislative Info: www.leginfo.ca.gov . ================================================================================ 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/