Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 17:49:13 -0700 From: Jean Richter Subject: 4/20/2000 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. PFLAG events during the Millennium March 2. CA: Report on GLSEN conference in Modesto 3. Australia: Tasmania launches anti-homophobia program in schools 4. UT: Student sue school district over gay club ban ============================================================================= Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 10:26:28 -0700 From: Heather Wright (by way of Steve Basile ) Subject: PFLAG News: List of Conference Events * * * PFLAG News Release * * * For Release: April 12, 2000 Contact: Jay Heavner, 202.467.8180 x213, jheavner@pflag.org List of Events: PFLAG's Family Events During the Millennium March on Washington With 441 chapters and affiliates around the country, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is the family for equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people. More than any other group, PFLAG mobilizes straight allies-moms, dads, grandparents, siblings, family and friends-to support the rights, health and wellbeing of our GLBT loved ones. PFLAG has a number of events scheduled the week of the Millennium March on Washington. Highlights include an Apple Pie lobby day; a workshop by the Catholic Church's most outspoken supporter of gay rights, Bishop Thomas Gumbleton; and an appearance by actress Stockard Channing, who will star as the mother of a young lesbian in "Jane's Coming Out Story," to air on Lifetime in August. What: Apple Pie Baking, Sponsored by HERO Magazine When: Wednesday, April 26, 7:00 p.m. Where: New York Avenue Presbyterian Church Who: Mary Lee Macintosh and more than 35 other PFLAG cooks from around the country. Why: The next day members of PFLAG will deliver apple pies to members of Congress. Many of PFLAG's leaders are parents, family members and friends of GLBT people. "We know our GLBT loved ones are just as wholesome as Mom, Dad, and apple pie." Photo op: PFLAG moms, dads, families and friends baking pies. What: Apple Pie Lobby Day When: Thursday, April 27, 2:00 p.m. Where: Meet us with our pies outside the Rayburn Building at Independence Avenue and South Capitol Street SW Who: The orginial apple pie lobbyist, Susan Stanskas, and more than 80 PFLAG activists from more than 25 states Why: Frustrated by her state legislator's refusal to meet with her, Susan Stanskas of Fredericksburg, VA baked an apple pie to deliver to him. When, presented with the pie, he finally met with her. Today, PFLAG continues the tradition. Photo op: PFLAG moms, dads, families and friends standing with pies in front of the Capitol. What: Youth and Education Institute When: Friday, April 28, 2:00p.m.-5:00 p.m. Where: Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Arlington, VA Who: Susan Carmel, co-founder of the first GLBT Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) in the country, based in Seattle, WA Joann Elder, member of the Madison WI Metropolitan School District, Board of Education Carolyn Laub, member, San Francisco Unified School District LGBTQ Youth Monitoring Committee and the Founder and Director of the Bay Area GSA Network. Luis Torres, middle school teacher and Co-chair of GLSEN-Orange County More than 125 youth leaders and adult leaders from around the country. Why: 97 percent of all youth in high schools regularly hear homophobic remarks. 53% of all kids hear homophobic remarks from high school personnel. Studies consistently find that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered (GLBT) youth are two to six times more likely to attempt suicide than other youth. PFLAG's Safe Schools program, implemented by more than 80 locations last year, with more than 800 presentation nationwide, brings parents of GLBT youth and their kids together with school personnel. What: Plenary featuring Tipper Gore When: Friday, April 28, 7:00p.m.-11:00 p.m. Where: Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Arlington, VA Who: Tipper Gore, Keynote Speaker What: Conference, PFLAG: Family Voices for Equality When: Friday, April 29, 7:30p.m.-11:30 p.m. Saturday, April 30, 8:45a.m.-11:30 p.m. Where: Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Arlington, VA Who: More than 650 PFLAG activists from around the country. Why: PFLAG's 17th Conference comes at a critical time in the GLBT movement. Same-gender marriage, adoption by openly gay people and other family-oriented issues are the cutting edge issues of the day. As the family voice for GLBT rights, PFLAG will be at key voice in the debate over these and other issues. What: Pro-Gay Catholic Bishop Speaks Out When: Saturday, April 29, 8:45a.m. - 10 a.m. Where: Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Arlington, VA Who: Bishop Thomas G. Gumbleton, Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit Why: Bishop Gumbleton has been the Catholic Church's most outspoken supporter of the inclusion and embracing of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered (GLBT) Catholics. What: Awards Banquet with Stockard Channing When: Saturday, April 29, 7:30-11:30 p.m. Where: Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Arlington, VA Who: Actress Stockard Channing Judy Shepard and Dennis Shepard What: PFLAG Contingent at the Millennium March on Washington When: Sunday, April 30, 10:00 a.m.-noon Where: On the Ellipse and on the parade route Who: Hundreds-perhaps thousands-of PFLAG members Photo op: Look for the PFLAG folks wearing red PFLAG T-shirts # # # Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their families & friends through support, education, and advocacy. Serving nearly 77,000 members & supporters, PFLAG affiliates are located in 430+ communities in the U.S. 1726 M St. NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036 phone: 202-467-8180 fax: 202-467-8194 Email info@pflag.org Web http://www.pflag.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe from PFLAG's Email Alert, send an email, subject line "unsubscribe" to info@pflag.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ =============================================================================== Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2000 19:02:18 -0700 Subject: GLSEN- Modesto Conference From: Alice Y Miller GLSEN, Modesto Chapter with Modesto Junior College held a conference for teachers, administrators, school nurses, etc. on April 7-8 . The main purpose was to educate people to the background and necessity for AB 537 and to give teachers real information that they can use in implementing 537, now that it is the law. Those who received invitations were educators in Stanislaus, Merced and San Joaquin Counties . We had the full support of the Superintent of Stanislaus County Schools (he was a speaker at a recent GLSEN/PFLAG meeting), and of the superintendent of Modesto City Schools. With room for 250 people, registration was first-come-first served. Keynote speaker was Martha Gieger. Several speakers lead workshops for break-out sessions, and included parents, teachers, teens, both local and from out of town. Friday evening was 'movie night', showing several films relating to GLBT teens and children of GLBT parents. Participants were able to choose three different break out sessions from a list of approximately twelve for Saturday. A closing gathering allowed all participants to 'meet and greet' all the speakers and event organizers and to socialize with each other. ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. =============================================================================== From: SARATOGANY@aol.com Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000 06:39:02 EDT Subject: Tasmanian schools learn to stop homophobia To: SARATOGANY@aol.com PlanetOut http://www.planetout.com/pno/news/article.html?2000/04/10/3 Tasmanian schools learn to stop homophobia 4/11/00 Tasmania School Anti-Bias Kit The Education Department of the Australian state of Tasmania on April 7 became the first in the nation to introduce anti-homophobia materials required for all state schools from kindergarten through 12th grade, the Tasmanian Lesbian and Gay Rights Group (TLGRG) said. The kit was formally presented to 150 school principals, teachers and counselors and a "Stop Homophobia" poster contest for students was opened. The materials are intended to support a new statewide policy against discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity. [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 ================================================================================ From: SARATOGANY@aol.com Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000 18:39:46 EDT Subject: Salt Lake City: Students File Federal Lawsuit (Curriculum Related Club Rejected) "The Actual or Perceived GLBT Student Protection Project" A project of: Coalition for Safer Schools of NYS CSS-NYS Note: One would think that GLBT political, social, cultural, legal and law issues would at least be curriculum related to mandated "Government" and "Social Studies" classes. CSS-NYS participated, as guest, in a few Government classes. The issues discussed, on different occasions, were "gays in the military" and "same-gender marriage". there are many more GLBT issue topics that can and should be discussed in these classes. SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, April 11, 2000 P. O. Box 867, Salt Lake City, UT, 84110 (Fax 801-257-8950) (E-MAIL: letters@sltrib.com ) ( http://www.sltrib.com ) Students Sue District Over Gay Clubs BY HEATHER MAY, THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Two East High School students sued the Salt Lake City School District on Monday, claiming discrimination because the district will not allow them to form a club to discuss gay and lesbian issues. Jessica Cohen and Margaret Hinckley, both juniors, contend the district violated their First Amendment rights of expression when it denied their requests to form the Rainbow Club in 1999 and the PRISM (People Respecting Important Social Movements) Club in January. [Deleted article. filemanager@qrd.org] From: JGrissom@lambdalegal.org Reply-To: lambdalegal@lambdalegal.org Subject: Salt Lake School District Official Sued For Nixing Yet Another Student Club Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000 13:39:34 -0400 =========================================== LAMBDA LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND www.lambdalegal.org NATIONAL CENTER FOR LESBIAN RIGHTS www.nclrights.org AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF UTAH www.acluutah.org News Release ============================================ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, April 11, 2000 CONTACT: Peg Byron, Lambda, 212-809-8585 x230, 1-888-987-1984 pager Jon W. Davidson, Lambda, 323-937-2728 x 228 Carole Gnade, ACLU, 801-521-9862 Shannon Minter, NCLR, 415-392-6257 ============================================ Salt Lake School District Official Sued For Nixing Yet Another Student Club Despite in-court pledge not to suppress gay-positive views, district rejects club's application (NEW YORK, Tuesday, April 11, 2000) - The same Salt Lake City school district that gained notoriety by banning dozens of student clubs in order to block the formation of a gay-straight alliance (GSA) is under fire once again. In a lawsuit filed Monday, students charge the assistant superintendent with again violating the law and the district's own policies in order to keep clubs with a gay perspective off school grounds. "All we want is to be treated just like the rest of the clubs," said 11th-grader Jessi Cohen, age 16, who along with classmate Maggie Hinckley is a plaintiff in the lawsuit. "Our club would be a place for students to look at subjects we learn about in class from the perspective of lesbian and gay people." Added Cohen, "Lesbians and gay men have played a role in many of the areas we discuss in our classes. From American History to Government, and Sociology classes, issues affecting lesbian and gay people come up all the time." The students' application for their PRISM club, which stands for "People Respecting Important Social Movements," was submitted in February and explains that, in order to extend and enhance their study of curriculum subjects, the students want to "talk about democracy, civil rights, equality, discrimination and diversity" with an eye toward the perspectives of lesbians and gay men. The lawsuit alleges that, in denying the club recognition, the assistant superintendent trampled students' first amendment rights of speech and expressive association. PRISM's attorneys seek a preliminary injunction to allow PRISM club members to meet on school grounds while the case proceeds. Lead counsel the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights filed the lawsuit in United States District Court in Salt Lake City on behalf of the East High School PRISM Club and two of its members, as well as the East High Rainbow Club, a similar curricular club that was denied recognition during the 1999 academic year. "Lesbian and gay students and their supportive classmates just want to be on an equal playing field," said Hinckley, the other 11th grade student involved in the case. "Students were stopped from having a gay straight alliance, and last year the Rainbow club was blocked. Even though our PRISM club fits all the criteria that the school board established, the officials are trying to hold our club to a different standard. That's unfair," she said. In Salt Lake City, only clubs the school district deems "curriculum-related" are recognized since the district officially banned all non-curricular clubs in 1996 in order to thwart students' attempts to form a gay straight alliance. The legal challenge on behalf of that GSA, East High Gay/Straight Alliance v. Board of Ed., continues on appeal. Last November, as part of that case, school officials assured U.S. District Court Judge Bruce Jenkins that gay-positive views would not be suppressed in curriculum-related clubs at East High. (East High School Prism Club v. Seidel, No. 2:00-CV-0311K) --30-- Link directly to Lambda's news release: http://www.lambdalegal.org/cgi-bin/pages/documents/record?record=621 ======================================= Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund www.lambdalegal.org National Headquarters 120 Wall Street, Suite 1500 New York, NY 10005-3904 212-809-8585 phone 212-809-0055 fax lambdalegal@lambdalegal.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/