Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 18:00:43 -0700 From: Jean Richter Subject: 4/17/2000 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news, pt. 2 1. CO: Anti-discrimination bill fails in legislature 2. ME: Watered-down anti-discrimination referendum passes legislature 3. American School Board Journal article on GSA issues 4. MI: Letter on anti-gay prejudice's effect on young gays =============================================================================== DENVER POST, April 6, 2000 650 15th Street, Denver, CO, 80202 (Fax 303-820-1369 ) (E-MAIL: Letters@denverpost.com ) ( http://www.denverpost.com ) Editorial: Shame on the House Shame on the Colorado House for snuffing a law that would have protected people from discrimination because of their sexual orientation. The narrow 34-30 vote found moderate Republicans joining Democrats in support of HB 1331, which would have prohibited such discrimination in government employment, sales or rentals of housing, loans, admission to private schools, and purchase of cemetery plots. [Deleted article. filemanager@qrd.org] This editorial represents the official opinion of The Denver Post as decided by the newspaper's editorial board. The members of the editorial board are Gerald E. Grilly, publisher; Glenn Guzzo, editor; Sue O'Brien, editorial page editor; Bob Ewegen, deputy editorial page editor; Angela Cortez, Al Knight, Penelope Purdy and Billie Stanton, editorial writers; Mike Keefe, cartoonist; and Barbara Ellis and Peggy McKay, news editors. ================================================================================= Bangor Daily News, April 7, 2000 491 Main St., Box 1329, Bangor, ME, 04402-1329 (Fax 207-941-9476 ) (E-MAIL: bdnmail@bangornews.infi.net ) ( http://www.bangornews.com/ ) Statewide gay rights bill headed to governor's desk By A.J. Higgins, Of the NEWS Staff AUGUSTA ­ Maine's bill that will send the question of a statewide gay rights law to the people in a November referendum was on its way to the governor Thursday after receiving final votes of enactment in the House and Senate. Gov. Angus King said he has every intention of signing the bill that, if passed by the voters, would erase Maine's distinction as the only state in New England without a gay rights law. He knows the summer and fall campaigns on the issue will be emotionally charged. [Deleted article. filemanager@qrd.org] ================================================================================ From: SARATOGANY@aol.com Date: Sat, 8 Apr 2000 08:22:45 EDT Subject: ASBJ: BATTLES OVER GAY STUDENT CLUBS HEATING UP ACROSS THE NATION National School Board Association's American School Board Journal BATTLES OVER GAY STUDENT CLUBS HEATING UP ACROSS THE NATION 04/05/00 BY CHELSEA J. CARTER, ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER ORANGE, Calif. (AP) -- Anthony Colin wanted a club at his high school where students could get together and promote tolerance of homosexuality. Instead, his proposed Gay-Straight Alliance Club has polarized this Orange County community, pitting those who say school is no place for sexual issues against those who say it's the perfect place. Since 1989, students have formed more than 700 Gay-Straight Alliance clubs at [Deleted article. filemanager@qrd.org] ============================================================================ This message has been distributed as a free informational service for the expressed interest of non-profit research and educational purposes only. "The Actual or Perceived GLBT Student Protection Project" A project of: Coalition for Safer Schools of NYS John Myers Director of Operations and Programs PO Box 2345 Malta, NY 12020 (518) 587-0176 Email: saratogany@aol.com ================================================================================= Holland Sentinel, April 8, 2000 54 W. 8th St., Holland, MI, 49423 (Fax 616-392-3526 ) (E-MAIL: hlldsntnl@sentinelnet.com ) ( http://www.thehollandsentinel.net ) Letter: Prejudice destroys gay young people On March 23, The Sentinel published an article by columnist Linda Bowles defending Dr. Laura's attack on the "homosexual agenda." In it, she perpetuated many of the myths and stereotypes about gay individuals. Once again the gay persons of our community were bashed with vitriolic words even to the point of equating being gay with a "dead end lifestyle." Our community would not tolerate the use of similar words if used to describe any other group. No church in the area, should condone such lack of love and mercy. We find it interesting and disturbing that here, weeks later, no one has written to The Sentinel and countered her remarks. Why are such words tolerated? Ms. Bowles' prejudice comes through loud and clear. We surely hope that the youth leaders ­ school administrators, teachers, young peoples leaders, and ministers ­ in our community not only teach that prejudice destroys but that we are to love our neighbor as ourself. Are not gay individuals our neighbors? Prejudice not only destroyed Matt Shepherd and dozens of other victims of hate crime, but it also destroys the lives of those carry out these crimes. Suicide is the leading cause of death for young gay persons age 15 to 24. One-third of the gay Christian youth we talk to have attempted suicide. Statements like Ms. Bowles' create an environment of disrespect and disdain for gay individuals which must be countered. Words do have consequences. Prejudice destroys, not just in the big crimes that make the headlines, and in those who lose jobs or homes, but also in insidious ways often not recognized. We ask, "What brought you to the brink of suicide?" expecting big crises like "My parents threw me out of the house" (which does happen.) We are surprised when more often then not it was not something big, but small and continuous. Gay youth get the message daily ­ the "faggot" in the halls at school, along with sick jokes, and cruel comments. Rarely, if ever, does a young person hear gays spoken of in a positive light. Often teachers are not even aware that the comment "That's so gay!" repeated day in and day out chips away piece by piece at a gay student's self esteem. Nor, we wonder, if teachers, who do not counter prejudice, are aware of the damage the negative attitude does to the person speaking the words. Piece by piece our gay youth get the picture that they are different, and do not fit in or belong. One of the most basic human needs is to be accepted, to be loved. Sooner or later they seek ways to lessen the pain. Many skip school, some engage in risky behaviors seeking acceptance by others and self. Some even conclude "God hates me!" One-third see no way out except suicide. Prejudice destroys. A recent survey of gay youth that reported high rates of harassment in our schools, also reported that peers were more likely to intervene to stop harassment than school staff. Silence is complicity. A youth leader who hears, "That's gay!" and does nothing is perpetuating prejudice, and participating in the harassment and destruction of gay individuals. Not only does prejudice destroy, but silence is complicity. ­ Don and Carmen Bergman, Park Township [dbrenegade@hotmail.com] ================================================================================ 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/