Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 18:52:57 -0700 From: Jean Richter Subject: 4/12/2000 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news, pt. 2 1. Book review: Social Work with Lesbians, Gays, and Bisexuals 2. Australia: Rural gay teens in need of more services 3. Info on NGLTF Policy Institute fellowships posted to web site 4. NE: More on anti-harassment policy controversy ================================================================== From: SARATOGANY@aol.com Date: Sun, 2 Apr 2000 08:43:54 EDT Subject: Book Review: "Social Work with Lesbians, Gays, and Bisexuals" Msg fwd by: The Coalition for Safer Schools of NYS, PO Box 2345, Malta, NY 12020 Email to: saratogany@aol.com "The Actual or Perceived GLBT Student Protection Project" Book Reviewed by: THE REVEREND JOHN M. KETTLEWELL 110 MONUMENT DRIVE SCHUYLERVILLE, NEW YORK 12871 phone/fax (518)695-4320 E-mail kane-kettlewell@spa.net Book Reviewed: "Social Work with Lesbians, Gays, and Bisexuals: A Strengths Perspective" To: GLSEN (National) As I noted previously, my handwriting is illegible so I need to do the narrative bit on my computer, though I will fill in the checklists, etc. on the provided form. [Note: I am the Religion and Education Consultant for the Coalition for Safer Schools of New York, a group dedicated to promoting protection in schools for GLBT children or those perceived as such. I am a priest of the Episcopal Church but also an organizer of, Lead Teacher, and Counselor for The Adirondack School, a non-sectarian independent school. Social Work with Lesbians, Gays, and Bisexuals, by Katherine Van Wormer, Joel Wells, and Mary Boes, Allyn and Bacon, Needham Heights, MA, 2000 Narrative Responses to the Criteria section. Content: This work is directed to social workers, but it would be appropriate for a wide range of readers, including intelligent adolescents, parents, physicians, school teachers and administrators, clergy, and anyone who counsels children, adolescents, or adults. It is written in a lucid, very accessible style that avoids professional jargon. The book amounts to a compendium of information addressing almost every conceivable issue in relation to Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals. Because the authors assume that their readers, however professionally trained, are perhaps naive and even ignorant about the subject, the book would be of great value to any reader including, as mentioned above, an intelligent teen-ager, especially one who was trying to learn about himself or herself. It is so readable it is difficult to put the book down. The authors explore the tragic effects of "heterosexism" in our culture on individuals and the communities designated in the title, preferring that term to "homophobia," which they also might use in specific contexts. The thrust of their recommendations to therapists is to avoid the usual disability or deficiency approach of the helping professions, and instead to support and encourage the strengths of those who seek help. There is very much about the needs of children: those discovering same-sex attraction; the harassed; the children of Lesbian and Gay parents, and the children of parents who "come out." Appropriateness: As stated above, the language of the text and the manner in which the material is handled would make it appropriate for audiences well beyond the social work profession. In relation to GLSEN concerns, I would say that it should be required reading and a part of the reference library of every school teacher, administrator, psychologist or counselor. The humane understanding of the authors and their deep sympathy for the communities with which they deal would encourage a positive and caring attitude on the part of such professionals. Scope: Although the book is hardly two hundred pages long, the authors have included a vast amount of information, with many illustrative stories supporting their argument and conveying effectively the points they make. It is surprising that they can cover so much without ever seeming superficial, and always maintaining interest in the material. Features; Documentation, Illustration: The book is printed in rather small type to facilitate the inclusion of so much material, but the type size hardly retards reading when the interest of the content is so continuously maintained. The authors provide a thorough index and an extensive bibliography as well as an excellent glossary. The glossary includes not only technical terms, but much "in-group" slang as well. There is a wealth of documentation. A chapter summary at the beginning provides a quick and easy guide to specific areas of interest, because anyone who reads this book will certainly return to it time and time again Non discriminatory statement of The Adirondack School] The Adirondack School is non-sectarian and does not discriminate in employment or admissions against persons of any race, color, sexual orientation, gender, religion, national or ethnic origin, or those with disabilities, respecting the dignity and worth of all individuals. ============================================================================== ======= CSS-NYS Note: This book can be found at www.amazon.com Social Work with Lesbians, Gays, and Bisexuals: A Strengths Perspective Usually ships in 2-3 days Katherine S. Van Wormer, et al / Paperback / Published 2000 Our Price: $29.85 Average Customer Review: 5 STARS John Myers Director of Operations and Programs Coalition for Safer Schools of NYS PO Box 2345 Malta, NY 12020 (518) 587-0176 Email: saratogany@aol.com =============================================================================== The Age, April 3, 2000 250 Spencer Street, Melbourne, 3000. Australia. (Fax: + 61-3-9601-2414 ) (E-mail: letters@theage.fairfax.com.au ) (http://www.theage.com.au ) Risks to gay and lesbian rural young provoke calls for services By Chloe Saltau, Social Policy Reporter The further from the big city ­ with some exceptions ­ the more entrenched is the prejudice, according to 26-year-old Claire Csihar. She and her girlfriend are careful not to hold hands or kiss as they walk the streets where they live, in the central Victorian town of Bendigo. And it wasn't so long ago that if they wanted to read the Melbourne gay and lesbian press, they had to visit a local sex shop. [Deleted article. filemanager@qrd.org] ================================================================================ I've posted information on NGLTF Policy Institute fellowships to our web site at URL: http://www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/Alerts/Current/fellowships.html At nearly 20K, the info's a bit long to post here, but if you can't access the web and would like to see it, email me. ================================================================================ Omaha World-Herald, April 3, 2000 World Herald Square, Omaha, NE, 68102 (Fax 402-345-4547 ) (E-MAIL: pulse@owh.com ) ( http://www.omaha.com/OWH ) Letter: Gays Are Harassed I am co-founder of the Millard West Gay-Straight Alliance. I am overwhelmed by the wonderful support our cause has been receiving over the past few weeks. Some of the editorials and articles have been citing Brett Johnson and me, but I feel obligated to acknowledge some of the other students who are amazingly brave leaders in our city. These people include the Student Democrats, all of the Omaha and Millard Gay-Straight Alliance members, and my co-founder, Nick Turner, who is incredible. We have a simple goal. Is it so much to ask for a safe school environment for all students? There is harassment in our schools ­ sometimes it is covert and hard to target. However, each of us, regardless of sexual orientation, has a responsibility to make sure that this safe environment exists. We should take heed of one of our country's most revered leaders. Martin Luther King Jr. said, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." They say history repeats itself, but we can change that. Yes, I'm an idealist. I have a dream. You can say it sounds stupid, but I say let's let go of our cynicism, ignorance and fear, learn from the past and change the future. I am sick and tired of people saying that we can't make a difference. We can if we say we can. What are you waiting for, America? ­ Melanie Gillis, Omaha Letter: Protect Those Students The question that was before the Millard School Board is simple: Is there a category of student that does not warrant protection against harassment, public ridicule and intimidation? Even if a majority of students believe that sexual orientation is a choice and that gays are an abomination, would that justify peer persecution in a public educational setting? Take, for example, the students and faculty at Bob Jones University. They have every right as free Americans to believe that the pope is the antichrist and that the Roman Catholic Church is a satanic cult. But they do not have the right, nor would they ever seriously consider, yelling "papist abomination" or any other anti-Catholic slur anytime they encounter a Catholic. The last thing our schools need are young Rev. Fred Phelps wannabes harassing anyone for any reason in an institute of public learning. ­ Stephen L. Tipton, Omaha ================================================================================