Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2000 17:18:58 -0700 From: Jean Richter Subject: 4/21/2000 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. CA: News from the Bay Area GSA Network posted to web site 2. VT: Governor takes part in school's diversity day 3. Australia: Help requested in forming support groups for rural gay teens 4. WA: Attorneys General report on the roots of school violence 5. ME: Christian Coalition sends virulently anti-gay letter to schools ============================================================================== I've posted news items from the Bay Area GSA Network to our web site at URL: http://www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/Alerts/States/California/bagsan.html At over 17K it's a bit long to post here, but if you can't access the web and would like to have the info emailed to you, please let me know. ============================================================================== RUTLAND HERALD, April 12, 2000 Dean, Brattleboro students discuss diversity By SUSAN SMALLHEER Southern Vermont Bureau BRATTLEBORO - Eric Waterman is only 14, but the Brattleboro Union High School freshman in many ways is old, too old. Waterman told 900 people Tuesday, including Gov. Howard B. Dean, that he is gay and is persecuted for it in the hallways of his high school. [Deleted article. filemanager@qrd.org] =============================================================================== [People with ideas and info re their experiences in starting such gay/lesbian teen support groups or gay-straight alliances in rural areas, please contact Cindy directly at the email address below.] > >>Dear Sir/Madam, > >> I am trying to start a support group for gay and > >>lesbian teenagers in rural Australia. > >> I have come up against some resistance against a > >>support group. Strange as it may seem, the main "wet-blanket" is actually > >>the Gay and Lesbian Liason Officer for our region. Her theory is that there > >>is so much homophobia in country areas that no teenager is going to make > >>contact with the support group and that they will work themselves out when > >>they get to university where the atmosphere is more supportive. She also has > >>major concerns with the kids being under the age of consent and how the > >>community would react to that. I asked her why she thinks we have such a > >>high youth suicde rate in our region- maybe it was this head in the sand > >>attitude, and was told not to expect her support or resources, it was a > >>pointless exercise. > >> There are over 3000 teens in our area. Statistically > >>a couple of hundred are gay. I feel that if a support group helped just one > >>life, it is worth it. I feel that unless homosexuality becomes a topic in > >>our society there is no hope of acceptance for these kids. Am I beating my > >>head against a wall? > >> What I would like is a little advice, maybe some > >>contact with any other teen support groups- anywhere in the world, but > >>particularly country groups that I could learn from and exchange information > >>and ideas. I'm so angry with this attitude that too many people hold > >>predudiced views, so let's just do nothing! Can you help me? > >> I ca be contacted at: > >> > >> cindy-lu-@excite.com > >> > >>Yours faithfully, > >> Cindy Peterson > > ================================================================================== From: SARATOGANY@aol.com Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 19:20:06 EDT Subject: Nat. Attorneys General Association's Report: School violence can turn on a word: To: SARATOGANY@aol.com, jmyers@skidmore.edu The Herald Everett, Washington. http://www.heraldnet.com/Stories/00/4/11/12500942.htm 4/11/00 School violence can turn on a word: Verbal abuse blame in new study By SHARON SALYER Herald writer SEATTLE -- Her boyfriend, she said, dressed in the distinctive black-garbed "Gothic" style popular with some youths. [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 To join the CSS-NYS e-mail list send your request to above e-mail address =============================================================================== Lewiston Sun-Journal, April 12, 2000 104 Park Street, Lewiston, ME, 04240 (Fax 207-784-5955 ) (E-MAIL: letters@sunjournal.com ) ( http://www.sunjournal.com ) GAY RIGHTS Coalition rips homosexuals in letter to school districts By Michael Gordon, Staff Writer [mgordon@sunjournal.com] The Christian Coalition of Maine is trying to enlist school districts in its fight against a gay rights bill, with a letter warning them that homosexual teachers are more likely to molest students and that districts could be held legally liable. It based those claims on a controversial study that's been discredited by the American Psychological Association. [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/