Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 19:18:15 -0700 From: Jean Richter Subject: 4/20/2000 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news, pt. 2 1. CA: Scholarship opportunity for queer Asian & Pacific Islanders 2. NE: Opinion column on anti-discrimination policy 3. UK: Parliament in standoff over gay issues ===================================================================== X-Sender: cmlaub@pop.slip.net Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000 17:49:42 -0700 From: Carolyn Laub Subject: Queer A&PI Pride Scholarship Check out this great scholarship opportunity... Carolyn ***************** Queer Asian & Pacific Islander Pride Scholarship Are you... ...in need of money to help pay for your education? ...Asian or Pacific Islander (A&PI)? ...lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning (LGBTQQ)? ...21 years old or younger? ...living in San Francisco or San Mateo County? ...a high school senior, high school graduate, have your GED, attending college? If you answer "yes" to all of the above, fill out this application!! Deadline: April 30, 2000 Notification: May 31, 2000 Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center will award 2-6 scholarships, with amounts ranging from $2,000 to $12,000. To request an application call 415.292.3400 415.292.3410 TTY Where does this fund come from? Ed Tang, a generous and conscientious Taiwanese gay man wishes to help LGBTQQ youth achieve educational pursuits and dreams, proudly and without shame. A&PI Wellness Center and this individual know well the challenges faced by A&PI LGBTQQ youth, the homophobic atmospheres of high schools, and the subtle and blatant differences in what it means to be both A&PI and LGBTQQ. This new and historic scholarship recognizes these challenges and strives to break down some of the barriers in order for A&PI LGBTQQ youth to achieve their educational goals. This scholarship is made possible through a partnership with The Peninsula Community Foundation. **************************************** Bay Area Gay-Straight Alliance Network 965 Mission Street, Suite 218 San Francisco, CA 94103 ph: (415) 442-4726 fax: (415) 442-4727 www.gsanetwork.org carolyn@gsanetwork.org **************************************** ==================================================================================== Omaha World-Herald, April 10, 2000 Another Point of View: Hate-Speech Concept Legalistically Garbled BY DAVID CHILDS Lawyers are always given intellectual respect, which troubles me, since the vast majority is able to argue either side of a case with conviction and certainty. Thus, they write the worst op-ed opinions. Richard Dooling is quite good (perhaps) at writing novels, and equally good at garbling the concept of "hate speech." [Deleted article. filemanager@qrd.org] * The writer, of Omaha, is a lawyer. This is in response to the April 4 editorial "Speech Ban Is Worse Than Offensive Talk." Omaha World-Herald, April 11, 2000 Ban Slurs of Gays It is disappointing that the Millard School Board does not seem receptive to the demands of the students within the district. The current anti-discrimination policy may not exclude any specific group, but it should encompass as many as possible. In schools and society today, homosexuals are one of the groups most commonly discriminated against. It is important to have it in writing before the students, telling them that the slurs they use that are demeaning to homosexuals will not be permitted in our educational system. If racial slurs or comments that are discriminatory regarding ethnic origin, sex, marital status, etc., aren't permitted, why should derogatory remarks to homosexuals be? The incidents regarding this type of discrimination are far from being handled or isolated, and it is time for the public to encourage the board to become receptive to a necessary change in Millard policy. ­ Lindsay Hamilton, Omaha Letter: Gays at Greater Risk Richard Dooling's recent column (Speech Ban Is Worse Than Offensive Talk) misses a big point. By taking gay people out of the anti-discrimination rules of a school district, you open them up to more than just nasty speech. You open them up to physical threats and actions. Teachers who can be fired for being gay are not going to feel safe coming to the aid of these students. After all, "why would any heterosexual, red-blooded American teacher protect a snivelly little faggot or dyke"? Think this doesn't happen? There are lawsuits because school districts across the country openly tolerated harassment of gays that would never be tolerated if that wasn't the predator's motive. It happened to me when I was in high school 20 years ago, and it's still happening today. Give teachers and staff not only the safety but the obligation to protect all students, including the gay ones. ­ Gary Rimar, Shelby Township, Mich. [dynamic@mail.com] ================================================================================ BBC Online News, April 11, 2000 http://www.bbc.co.uk Stand-off over gay sex bill Peers have allowed plans to lower the age of consent for gay men to clear their first hurdle in the House of Lords in a tactical move which could lead to further clashes with the government. The measure ­ which has twice been rejected in the Lords ­ was given an unopposed second reading by peers on Tuesday night. [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/