Date: Wed, 03 May 2000 17:00:41 -0700 From: Jean Richter Subject: 5/3/2000 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. La Raza grant opportunity (tight deadline) 2. NY: More on gay families & schools workshops; More on LGBTQ youth event in New York City 3. CT: Student allowed to take same-sex date to prom 4. CA: SDSU gay group needs help responding to anti-gay hate ============================================================================== From: "NYAC" Subject: Grant information Date: Tue, 2 May 2000 10:52:04 -0400 May 1, 2000 We hope the information in this announcement about grants will be helpful, but the deadline for proposals is ** Thursday, May 4 **. (We would have passed it along sooner had we received it sooner...) Best wishes, Joseph Truong Bridges Project Assistant National Council of La RAZA Funding Alert To learn more about NCLR, please go to: http://www.nclr.org The National Council of La RAZA (NCLR) is offering intermediary support for organizing communities program. ELIGIBILITY: This request for proposals is limited to "emerging local groups." Emerging local groups are those groups who are in the formative stages of organizational development, less than five years old, with a budget of less than $100,000, and are neighborhood-based. Coalitions will only be considered if they are made up of local groups in a specific neighborhood. In a rural area, an entire community may be considered a "neighborhood." Emerging groups need not have 501(c)3 tax-exempt status, but must be 501(c)3 eligible. Another 501(c)3 organization may serve as a fiscal agent for the grantee. For-profit organizations are not eligible. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis. PURPOSE: This program has been developed to provide seed grants, training, and technical assistance to emerging local groups for neighborhood organizing, leadership development, advocacy, and community development. USE OF FUNDS: Funds are to be used to meet the goals and objectives of the receiving organization. FUNDING LIMITS: Maximum grant awards are $15,000, with the average award at $7,500. TIMELINES: All proposals must be received by May 4, 2000. Proposals from the following state(s) should be sent to the following respective field offices. Proposals from the states of Maine; New Hampshire; Vermont; Massachusetts; New York; New Jersey; Connecticut; Rhode Island; Pennsylvania; Delaware; Virginia; West Virginia; Maryland; District of Columbia; Kentucky; Tennessee; North Carolina; South Carolina; Georgia; Alabama; Mississippi; Arkansas; Louisiana; Florida; and Puerto Rico should be sent to: National Council of La Raza, 1111 19th St. N.W., Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20036, Attention: Alvin Cruz/MOTT. Fax: (202) 776-1792. Phone: (202) 776-1706 Proposals from the states of Ohio; Michigan; Indiana; Illinois; Missouri; Iowa; Wisconsin; Minnesota; North Dakota; South Dakota; Nebraska; Kansas; and Oklahoma should be sent to: National Council of La Raza, 203 North Wabash Avenue, Suite 918, Chicago, IL 60601, Attention: Jorge Hinojosa/MOTT. Fax: (312) 269-9260 Phone: (312) 269-9250 Proposals from the states of Arizona; New Mexico; Colorado; Utah; Nevada; Idaho; Wyoming; Montana; Washington; and Oregon should be sent to: National Council of La Raza, 111 West Monroe, Suite 301, Phoenix, AZ 85003, Attention: Maria Leyva/MOTT. Fax: (602) 252-0315. Phone: (602) 417-1403. Proposals from California and Hawaii should be sent to: National Council of La Raza, 523 West 6th Street, Suite 301, Los Angeles, CA 90014, Attention: Magdalena Duran/MOTT. Fax: (213) 489-1167. Phone: (213) 489-3428 Proposals from Texas should be sent to: National Council of La Raza, 115 East Travis, Suite 320, San Antonio, TX 78205, Attention: Norma Ramirez/MOTT. Fax: (210) 212-4459. Phone: (210) 212-4454 Ext. 1. Awards are expected to be made by the end of May 2000. ** Please note that all awards are subject to refunding of the program by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. REPORTING REQUIRED: All grantees will be responsible for submitting financial and narrative progress reports, based on a format and schedule agreed upon between NCLR and the grantee. REQUIRED TRAINING: Selected grantees should be available for a training and networking session June 29-30, 2000, and may also be invited to attend the 2000 NCLR Annual Conference in San Diego, California, July 1-5, 2000. NCLR would cover travel-related costs for one person from each funded organization. COORDINATION: This effort will be coordinated through the field offices of NCLR as well as its Washington, DC office. The project is part of the Office of Technical Assistance and Constituency Support (TACS). For a copy of the proposal packet please contact Claressa Johnson at (202) 776-1779. For additional information contact Alvin Cruz at (202) 776-1706. ================================================================================ From: SARATOGANY@aol.com Date: Wed, 3 May 2000 07:22:07 EDT Subject: An e-reminder... Virginia Casper, Ph.D., Speaks in Albany (5/4 and then 5/5) 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" =================================================================== THIS IS A MESSAGE FROM GLSEN NEW YORK CAPITAL REGION "Teaching Respect for all in our Schools" GLSEN NYCR P.O. Box 5392 Albany, New York 12205 (518)462-6138 VM76 glsencr@nycap.rr.com www.glsen.org To unsubscribe to this list, please hit reply and write "unsubscribe" in the subject. ****************************************************************************** ******************* Lambda Family Circle, GLSEN New York Capital Region, and Albany Unitarian Society's Welcoming Congregation Committee is pleased to host Virginia Casper, Ph. D. For an intimate discussion with Local families and community members Join in a discussion with noted author, Virginia Casper, Ph.D. regarding "Creating Niches with Room to Grow: Strategies for Inclusive Education for Children of Lesbian and Gay-headed Families." WHEN: Thursday, May 4th, 2000 6:00 p.m. Potluck 7:15 p.m. Presentation and Discussion WHERE: Channing Hall First Unitarian Universalist Society in Albany 405 Washington Ave., Albany MORE INFORMATION: GLSEN NYCR at (518) 462-6138 VM76 * * * CHILDCARE WILL BE PROVIDED DURING THE PM DISCUSSION * * * Dr. Virginia Casper is a developmental psychologist and teacher educator who has spent a number of years researching communication between lesbian and gay parents and their children's educators. She is the co-author, with the late Steven B. Schultz, of Gay Parents/Straight Schools: Building Communication and Trust. Dr. Casper directs the Infant and Parent Development Program at Bank Street College of Education in New York City. Friday, May 5th , "Building Partnerships: Gay Families / Caring Schools" a conference for educators, parents and community members. Virginia Casper will present the keynote address, "Gay and Lesbian Issues in our Schools: Children's Development, Learning and Family Culture." Local presenters will also be offering workshops. The conference will take place from 9 am to 3 pm at the College of Saint Rose. The cost is $30.00 (student rate and scholarships are available). These events are sponsored by the Committee for GLBT Families and Schools, the Center for School Health and Wellness, GLSEN NYCR, Lambda Family Circle-an affiliate of the CDGLCC, The School of Education, College of St. Rose, The Undergraduate Social Work Department of Saint Rose and Connections Psychotherapy Associates. ==================================================================== "The Actual or Perceived GLBT Student Protection Project" A project of: Coalition for Safer Schools of New York State 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 Email List, send request to saratogany@aol.com) =============================================================================== From: Susanb1011@aol.com Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2000 15:49:47 EDT STOMP OUT HATE: Make Room For All, a night of live music and dancing for LGBTQ youth and allies will be held on Friday, May 12th, 8pm-12:30 am at Judson Memorial, 55 Washington Square South, in Greenwich Village, NYC. The event is sponsored by NYC Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network and a coalition of citywide groups. Groups that work with lgbtq youth are welcome to attend and table the event. There will be a suggested donation of $3 and the event is open to those 25 and under only (except volunteers and people tabling, etc.) for further information, please contact NYC GLSEN at (212) 749-6866 or email susanb1011@aol.com ================================================================================ From: SARATOGANY@aol.com Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2000 05:49:36 EDT Subject: CT: Waterbury Permits Same-Sex Students at Prom (after CCLU letter) 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" =================================================================== INFORMATION FORWARDED BY GLSEN CONNECTICUT! Waterbury Permits Same-Sex Students at Prom Dear friends, We are writing with good news -- in response to a letter from the CCLU on behalf of a 16-year-old student, the Waterbury schools have agreed to lift their ban on same sex couples at a local high school's Junior Prom. Our arguments were based on a 20- year-old Rhode Island First Amendment case, and more importantly, the 1997 Connecticut Public Act (P.A. 97-247) which extends the right to equal educational opportunities to gay and lesbian youth. We are grateful for the assistance of Jennifer Sachs of Day Berry & Howard, who volunteered as a cooperating attorney in this matter. A redacted letter is reproduced below. Phil Tegeler & Joe Grabarz CCLU April 4, 2000 Mr. Matthew Borelli Interim Superintendent of Schools 236 Grand Street Waterbury, CT 06702 Dear Mr. Borelli, We represent ---------, a student at Waterbury's Crosby High School. We write to inform you of a situation that has arisen in connection with Crosby's upcoming Junior Prom -- one which clearly violates Connecticut state law as well as state and federal constitutional guarantees, and one which we are now asking you to correct. As you may be aware, Crosby's Junior Prom is scheduled to take place on Friday, April 14, 2000. Some weeks ago, with the knowledge and participation of faculty and administrators including Crosby's Principal Barbara Carrington, Crosby students held a vote to determine whether their prom would be "traditional" - i.e., limited to opposite-sex couples - or "nontraditional," i.e., open to same-sex couples. Apparently, the students voted in favor of a "traditional" prom. Accordingly, students were informed that they were only welcome at the prom if they brought dates of the opposite sex, and were warned that they would be turned away if they attempted to attend with a same-sex date. ----------, who had planned to attend the prom with a male date, thus is currently precluded from doing so under Crosby's policy. Crosby's announced intention to deny gay and lesbian couples the ability to attend and participate in its prom is a clear violation of Connecticut law. Conn. Gen. Stat. Sect. 10-15c specifically states as follows: "The public schools shall be open to all children five years of age and over . . . , and each such child shall have, and shall be so advised by the appropriate school authorities, an equal opportunity to participate in the activities, programs and courses of study offered in such public schools, . . . without discrimination on account of race, color, sex, religion, national origin or sexual orientation" Conn. Gen. Stat. Sect. 10-15c (1999)(emphasis added). The statute is unambiguous on its face. It provides no exemption for discrimination that is accomplished by means of a student vote. It does not allow for the exclusion of same- sex couples from the high school prom. Equally important, the announced intention of Crosby's faculty and staff to bar admission to same-sex couples violates both state and federal constitutional guarantees of free speech, free association, and equal protection. As a Rhode Island federal court recognized nearly twenty years ago, granting a preliminary injunction ordering high school officials to allow two male students to attend their prom together, the desire to attend a school dance with the date of one's choice constitutes "significant expressive conduct" that merits the highest levels of protection. Fricke v. Lynch, 491 F. Supp. 381 (D. R.I. 1980). Clearly, the decision to proscribe such conduct is constitutionally indefensible. Because Crosby's policy with respect to attendance at its upcoming prom cannot be countenanced under either state or federal law, we ask you to take appropriate action to reverse this policy. Please contact us by the close of business Friday, April 7, 2000, to confirm that -------- and other students who would like to attend Crosby's prom with same- sex dates will be welcome to do so. If we do not hear from you by April 7, we will take appropriate legal action to protect --------'s interests. We will look forward to hearing from you shortly concerning a resolution of this matter. Sincerely, Philip D. Tegeler Legal Director Jennifer L. Sachs Day Berry & Howard Cooperating Attorney ============================================================ Tony O'Rourke Northeast Regional Field Organizer GLSEN 212-727-0135 ex 110 torourke@glsen.org Website: www.glsen.org GLSEN National Conference Chicago/Arlington Heights October 6-8 2000 ==================================================================== 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 Email List, send request to saratogany@aol.com) =============================================================================== Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2000 08:30:17 -0700 From: DebbieSDCA@aol.com Subject: please help - SDSU Please pass this on: Dear Friends, We are writing to you from the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Student Union at San Diego State University. Fred Phelps is threatening to picket our school's commencement ceremony on May 27. (A copy of Phelps' press release can be found at his www.godhatesfags.com website.) Why San Diego State University? Because as a part of our school's teacher education program, students are required to take a multi-cultural education class that asks them to examine their prejudices and exposes them to different cultural issues. As a part of the class, students take a few different "cultural plunges," including one gay plunge. An example of at cultural plunge might be to go to a gay bar or to attend an LGBT/Queer meeting or event. These are the teachers who will be educating and interacting with future generations of students. The design of this program represents a bold step on the part of our university and the education department to encourage these future teachers towards having a more open mind. What a wonderful way to work towards protecting LGBTQ youth and creating safer schools and communities by including exposure to the LGBTQ community and culture, as well as other communities and cultures. During the next couple weeks, our university officials and our student organizations will be deciding what our official responses will be to this threatened protest. If you would like to be updated on what our LGBT Student Union will be planning to do about this please contact us at lgbtsu@rohan.sdsu.edu or 619-594-2737. So, what do we want from you right now? Well, we are collecting letters and cards of support for our university, the education program and our multi-cultural education classes. We want to make sure they know how supported they are. We would really appreciate you taking a few moments to send some words of encouragement to our school. Our mailing address is: LGBTSU, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Dr, San Diego, CA 92182. Thank you so much. Jeffrey Redondo, President Deborah Singer, Vice President Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Student Union San Diego State University ================================================================================= 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/