Date: Thu, 02 Dec 1999 16:58:41 -0800 From: Jean Richter Subject: 12/2/99 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. GLSEN distributes booklet to nation's school superintendents ==================================================================== From: "GLSEN Alert" To: "GLSEN News" Subject: GLSENAlert: Unprecedented Coalition Urges Schools to Support Youth, Reject "Ex-Gay" Messages Date: Tue, 23 Nov 1999 09:20:22 -0500 ........................................................... 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/ ........................................................... GLSEN NEWS TUESDAY, NOV. 23, 1999 YOUTH ADVOCATES HAIL EDUCATION, HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH GROUPS FOR UNPRECEDENTED COLLABORATIVE EFFORT IN SUPPORT OF LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL STUDENTS First-of-its-kind Publication Urges Educators to Better Support Students, Reject 'Ex-Gay' Messages NEW YORK, NEW YORK (23 November 1999) - A publication released today by an unprecedented coalition of the nation's leading education, health and mental health organizations strongly urges educators and school administrators to better understand sexual orientation development, support lesbian, gay and bisexual students, and reject efforts to bring "ex-gay" messages into the nation's schools. The initiative was greeted with great approval by a number of national organizations which advocate on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. The publication, Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation and Youth, was mailed this week to over 15,000 school district superintendents across the country. Prompted by concerns that school personnel were receiving inaccurate information on the issue of sexual orientation and how to address it best with students, the coalition began meeting in November 1998 to produce the document. The coalition included the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Counseling Association, American Association of School Administrators, American Federation of Teachers, American Psychological Association, American School Health Association, The Interfaith Alliance Foundation, National Association of School Psychologists, National Association of Social Workers, and the National Education Association. The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN)-the largest national organization working to end anti-gay bias in K-12 schools- as well as the National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC), and Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) today hailed the effort, noting that lesbian, gay and bisexual students face pervasive harassment and isolation at school. One recent survey found that 69% of lesbian, gay and bisexual students have experienced verbal or physical harassment, or physical assault, while at school. "Our nation's educators have been struggling for too long with too little information about sexual orientation development and youth-and this has taken a heavy toll on the health and well-being of lesbian, gay and bisexual students. Educating the educators is a necessary and much-welcomed step in the right direction," said GLSEN Executive Director Kevin Jennings. "This breakthrough publication and the unprecedented coalition behind it will help lead to the day in which isolation and in-school harassment will become the exception, rather than the rule, for these youth." NYAC Executive Director Rea Carey stated, "Gay, lesbian and bisexual students now have a new tool to enhance their ability to gain support in the school environment. The unprecedented leverage of this powerful body of national mainstream education and health organizations will go far in ensuring a safer school day for thousands of students. It is our hope that the collective voice of these organizations will ring through the hallways and playgrounds of our nation's schools. The next time a student is wondering if he or she is bisexual, or the next time a young lesbian gets attacked, I hope the person to whom they turn to is someone who has read this publication." "Every day, I talk to other families who have a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered child, just as I do. We know our loved ones face unspeakable harassment and violence at school -- and we know that, with information and resources, schools can do a better job of ensuring that all students are safe," added PFLAG Executive Director Kirsten Kingdon. "This unprecedented publication is precisely the kind of factual, objective material our schools badly need. While it is long overdue, we are grateful that schools will now have this information. Families nationwide stand ready to help make sure it is put to good use." To receive a copy of Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation and Youth, visit GLSEN's web site at www.glsen.org. -30- The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) is the largest national organization fighting to end anti-gay bias in America's K-12 schools. Through its network of 85 chapters, and by providing resources to over 500 high school-based gay-straight student alliances, GLSEN works to ensure that all students, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity, have access to safe and respectful learning environments. Visit www.glsen.org. The National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC) is the only national organization solely focused on advocacy, education, and information addressing the broad range of issues facing gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth. NYAC works to end discrimination against these young people and to ensure their physical and emotional well being. NYAC represents the interests of GLBT youth and the over 500 organizations nationwide providing support services to GLBT youth. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their families and friends through support, education and advocacy. Serving more than 77,000 members, PFLAG affiliates are located in 430 communities in the United States. Visit www.pflag.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: ........................................................... Reply-To: listserver@channelq.com Date: Tue, 23 Nov 1999 08:57:58 -0800 From: "Channel Q" To: Subject: Opposition Research: FRC PR: FRC Accuses APA and Homosexuality Lobby of Censoring... FRC Accuses APA and Homosexuality Lobby of Censoring Facts in School Primer WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading organizations representing counselors, educators, doctors, mental health professionals, and social workers have sent to every school district nationwide a primer that censors facts about the health risks of homosexuality and about the real option individuals have to leave the lifestyle, Family Research Council charged Tuesday. "Once again, the American Psychological Association, whose recently published study on pedophilia was condemned by the U.S. House of Representatives, is actively involved in promoting unhealthy lifestyles," Janet Parshall, Family Research Council's Chief Spokesperson, said Tuesday. "The APA and the coalition behind this effort are the very people who still think Alfred Kinsey's research on sexuality is good science. They can no longer wield their authority on matters of sexuality without being seriously questioned." The primer, "Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation & Youth," was endorsed by the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), American Academy of Pediatrics, American Counseling Association, American Association of School Administrators, American Federation of Teachers, American School Health Association, American Psychological Association, Interfaith Alliance Foundation, National Association of School Psychologists, National Association of Social Workers, and the National Education Association. "We're all for the facts about homosexuality getting out, but you won't find them in this publication," Parshall said. "This is another attempt by the homosexual lobby to silence any views on homosexuality but its own. The primer does not acknowledge the unhealthy consequences of homosexuality. It presents a one-sided case that promotes homosexuality by advocating censorship for information in schools about the opportunity of individuals to experience a healthy change and leave the homosexual lifestyle. Thousands who have desired to change have done so. "Parents do not want their children indoctrinated with pro-homosexuality propaganda. Their children's physical, spiritual, and mental well-being is at stake. "Young people who are sexually confused need the facts about homosexuality. They need to know that research shows that they aren't 'born gay,' that there is hope for a way out of the lifestyle, and that continuing in homosexuality presents serious health risks." On Tuesday, Family Research Council released two publications to counter the "Just the Facts" primer: "Top 10 Strategies Used by Homosexual Activists in Schools" and "How to Protect Your Children from Pro-Homosexuality Propaganda in Schools." Call the FRC Press Office for copies. _________________________________________________________________________ This message has been distributed as a free, non-profit informational service, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. Please do not publish or post in a public place on the Internet, copyrighted material without permission and attribution. Forwarding of this material should not necessarily be construed as an endorsement of the content. Some messages may be from anti-gay organizations and are forwarded as opposition research. From: Quiva@aol.com Date: Tue, 23 Nov 1999 14:48:15 EST Subject: Being Gay is Not Abnormal, Coalition Tells Educators (Justin Garrett, Quiva@aol.com) Being Gay Is Not Abnormal, Coalition Tells Educators Health professionals send booklet to U.S. Schools Erica Goode, New York Times Tuesday, November 23, 1999 (c)1999 San Francisco Chronicle URL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/11/23/MN102622.DTL In a move likely to prompt debate over how secondary schools should handle the issue of homosexuality, a coalition of medical, mental health, educational and religious organizations announced yesterday that it will send school superintendents across the country a booklet informing them that there is ``no support among health and mental health professional organizations'' for the idea that homosexuality is abnormal or mentally unhealthy. [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/