Date: Tue, 07 Dec 1999 17:00:37 -0800 From: Jean Richter Subject: 12/7/99 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. England: News and requests from Schools' Out! 2. New Zealand: Two suspects arraigned in gay teen's murder case 3. News column and letters on "Just the Facts" booklet 4. ND: Lesbian content censored from high school play ================================================================================== Subject: School's Out! News 27.11.99 corrected version. Ignore previous Date: Sun, 28 Nov 1999 16:26:28 -0000 SCHOOL'S OUT! NATIONAL [WORKING FOR LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSPERSON EQUALITY IN EDUCATION] BM SCHOOL'S OUT! NATIONAL LONDON WC1N 3XX E-MAIL secretary@schools-out.org.uk HTTP://www.schools-out.org.uk NEWS 28.11.99 1 CHILDREN'S BBC TV Programe on Lesbian and Gay Youth 2 'COMING OUT' PLAY IN WELSH SCHOOLS 3 REQUEST: CONTACTS IN TELEVISION 4 REQUEST: HOMOPHOBIA IN SCHOOLS 1 CHILDREN'S BBC TV Programe on Lesbian and Gay Youth A Chilren's BBC Television series with a target audiance of eight to twelve year old's is to show a programme on lesbian and gay youth. The programme part of the series "Sorted" will be shown on BBC2 at 11.00 am Sunday December 12th. Prior to the series 1000 questionnaires were sent to schools asking eight to 12 year old children what issues concerned or upset them. They frequently raised Homosexuality.The results showed some children were woried about being gay, or being thought of as gay. Others were concerned about the bullying of children who were seen as gay. Director Julian Smith is quoted in "Gay Times" as saying "I want a young gay person to see it and realise that they're not the only alone, that they're not the only one in the world who is gay and that they're part of a bigger group of people. I also wanted to give children who are not gay the opportunity to see gay kids talking about their lives, and maybe make the more sensitive to people who are going through a dificult time." 2 'COMING OUT' PLAY FOR WELSH SCHOOLS The Street Wise Theatre Group in Wales are taking their play 'Coming Out' into local schools. The play consists of two seperate stories, 'Kiss and Tell' and 'Good as you' which aim to portray the tribulations facing young gay people coming to terms with their sexuality.The tour started on 21st November at the Scala Arts Centre in Prestatyn. For further information contact Ann Smith on: 01824 708 214. 3 REQUEST: CONTACTS IN TELEVISION? Janey Hulme is a journalist with "The Teacher" Magazine she has the following request:- Anyone in television interested in a 2 hour comedy drama script which has as its main theme the bullying of a gay schoolboy? I have given up trying to interest an agent. Not only did one criticise the opening (which starts with a gay wedding) but another who didn't like it spoke about 'queer-bashing'. CONTACT: JANEY HULME 108 HIGH STREET ST ALBANS AL4 9BY. 4 HOMOPHOBIA IN SCHOOLS. STUDENT REQUEST I am a final year Broadcasting student at the University of Leeds, and I am currently producing a documentary about the experiences of gay, lesbian and bisexual students and teachers. The film will focus on homophobic bullying, considering whether the impact of Section 28 has hindered attempts to tackle the problem. The programme will not be broadcast or otherwise distributed outside the University, and all contributors' right to confidentiality will be respected. I wish to interview young people under the age of 21 about their experiences at school, whether or not they were "out". I am particularly keen to speak to young people bullied at school because of their sexuality. I would also be interested to hear from gay, lesbian and bisexual teachers. Filming will take place in Leeds during January and February 2000. Confidentiality will be respected and any travelling expenses covered. For more information, please telephone Lauren on 07881 950695, or 0113 263 6303, for an informal chat. Alternatively, you may contact me via e-mail, at ldweadick@hotmail.com. =========================================================================================================== TV3 Network News, 29 November 1999 New Zealand Transcript of TV 3 News coverage of the trial of the accused murderers of Jeff Whittington Intro: Two men appeared in court today charged with the murder of a gay 14 year old. Jeff Whittington was found in an alleyway back in May with severe head injuries. [Deleted article. filemanager@qrd.org] ================================================================================= Cox News Service, November 29, 1999 How schools can get straight with gay students By Tom Teepen Family-values and religious right groups are up in alarms over a pamphlet about gay and lesbian youths recently sent to school administrators around the country. Their distress is understandable. The booklet's appeal to reason has little place in the narrow cosmography of the sexually repressive. [Deleted article. filemanager@qrd.org] - REED KIRK, San Francisco ================================================================================= Bismarck Tribune, November 29, 1999 P. O. Box 1498, Bismarck, ND, 58501 (Fax 701-224-1412 ) (E-MAIL: kdarnay@mail.ndonline.com ) ( http://www.ndonline.com ) Hometown values take center stage LAUREN DONOVAN, Bismarck Tribune LIGHTS UP: Kayla Vandal, with her long sweep of dark hair and eyes green as new grass, is a lesbian in her high school play at Garrison. (AUDIENCE: A local citizen cringes at the word and asks if it's necessary to bring it to everyone's attention.) [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/