Date: Fri, 18 Aug 2000 17:05:55 -0700 From: Jean Richter Subject: 8/18/2000 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news Thanks very much to all of you who sent good wishes for my housemate's surgery. It really helps to know there are so many caring people out there wishing her well. Unfortunately the surgery wasn't as effective as we'd hoped, and she may have to have another to fix the problem, but we're keeping our fingers crossed that the problem will resolve on its own. Thanks again for all the support - JMR 1. FL: PFLAG awards scholarships to gay youth 2. NY: Ballston Spa schools change discrimination & harassment policies ============================================================================== 1. FL: PFLAG awards scholarships to gay youth Jacksonville Times-Union, August 18, 2000 Box 1949, Jacksonville, FL, 32231 (Fax 904-359-4478 ) (E-MAIL: tuletter@tu.infi.net ) ( http://www.jacksonville.com/ ) http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/081800/met_3832483.html Dinner raises scholarship funds for gay students By Alliniece T. Andino, Times-Union staff writer As she volunteers in the Jacksonville area gay and lesbian community, Crystal Gail Welcome remembers a school friend. Her friend was a lesbian who committed suicide. "I'm trying to do as much as possible, so that they [young people] don't think there's no place for them to turn," said Welcome, 19, who is also a lesbian. [Deleted article. filemanager@qrd.org] ============================================================================ ==== 2. NY: Ballston Spa schools change discrimination & harassment policies From: SARATOGANY@aol.com Date: Fri, 18 Aug 2000 15:15:13 EDT Subject: NY: Ballston Spa SD Bans Discrimination/Harassment, GLBT Included Message from: The Coalition for Safer Schools of NYS, PO Box 2345, Malta, NY 12020 Email to: saratogany@aol.com "The Real or Perceived GLBT Student Protection Project" CSS-NYS Note: In early May, district parents Jeff and Karen Groff wrote a letter to the Ballston Spa School District superintendent and school board president. Attached to the letter was CSS-NYS's recommended anti-harassment policy (see below). Subsequent to this letter a BSSD point of contact was identified and a meeting was scheduled. On June 4th CSS-NYS (myself), BSSD parent Jeff Groff (CSS-NYS trustee) and Jean Fei, Saratogians for Equality and Acceptance of Diversity (SEAD) met with the BSSD Community and Human Resource Director, Pat Nugent. During the one hour meeting we reviewed the recommended anti-harassment policy, and provided a copy of the US Ed's "Protecting Students from Harassment and Hate Crime: A Guide for Schools (available free, 1-800-USA-LEARN), a copy CSS-NYS's 2 part information support packet and the videos "Growing Up Gay" (Brian McNaught) and GLSEN's "Teaching Respect for ALL" with Kevin Jennings. We noted the provisions of Title IX, which covers "sexual harassment" and not other forms of harassment. We also noted the school district's liability to protect all students regardless of sexual orientation and reference the federal landmark Nabozny case. Which found two principals and an assistant principal guilty based in part using the US 14th Amendment (Equal Protection). The fourth defendant, the school district, was found innocent but was required to pay the $1,000,000. It is thought the district's policy that included sexual orientation may have help them in this case. Lawsuits weigh heavily on district taxpayers. On August 10th we were provided a copy of the new policy, which had a 1st school board reading. After our review of the new policy, we felt it certainly was headed in the right direction but there was some ambiguities in paragraph one. We provided a recommended paragraph change, that included " real or perceived race or color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, cultural background, age, disability, as per our original recommendation. (Note: We strongly believe gender identity and gender variance has been covered here.) On August 16th, we were notified by Pat Nugent via telephone that our recommended changes were accepted and would be presented that evening to the school board for a 2nd reading and vote. The Board voted and approved the policy. I am told, without opposition. Due to other commitments, none of our team could be at the school board meeting. You should note, that not only did the BSSD approve a anti-harassment policy, it also includes non-discrimination at the same time. Within a two week period we had been successful in two neighboring conservative school districts voting and approving policies that satisfy and comply with our focus project objectives. Each district will widely disseminate their respective policies and will provided training for staff and students. (On August 6th the Saratoga Springs School Board voted and approved a policy that protects real or perceived sexual orientation.) A key element to this process is a parent or guarding within the district to take the initial lead role via a letter with a recommended policy attached and of course being present at the meeting with the district official(s). We have now selected two other school districts in Saratoga County. As the song says "just another brick in the wall". I hope this information will be helpful to those of you who are real or perceived GLBT advocates and activist. A very pleased, John Myers =================================================================== Ballston Spa Central School District Ballston Spa, NY 12020 File 3.4 PROHIBITION AGAINST DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT 1. This policy is intended to ensure that all students and employees of the Ballston Spa Central School District have an equal opportunity to pursue the educational and employment opportunities offered by the District. Specifically, this policy reaffirms the District's commitment to provide educational and employment opportunities free from unlawful discrimination, harassment and the provisions of this policy on any basis including, but not limited to, real or perceived race or color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, cultural background, age, disability. 2. Accordingly, it is the policy of the District that: All students be free from prohibited discrimination. All employees be free from prohibited discrimination. All applicants for employment be free from prohibited discrimination. All forms of prohibited discrimination directed at any student or employee, be considered unacceptable conduct and strictly prohibited. 3. In accordance with this policy, employees who have contact with students are responsible for conducting themselves in a manner consistent with this policy and ensuring that all students in their charge comply with this policy. Likewise, all supervisory employees in the District are responsible to ensure compliance with this policy. Specifically, all supervisory employees have an affirmative duty to discuss this policy with their staff members, answer any questions about the policy, and encourage members of their staff to utilize this policy if they believe they are subjected to any form of discrimination. 4. Notices of this policy shall be posted, and the accompanying procedures and form will be available in the office of each District building. Upon the effective date of this policy, the provisions shall supercede and replace any prior District policies and regulations regarding discrimination, sexual harassment, and related complaint procedures. Upon the effective date of this policy, all employee and student handbooks and codes of conduct shall be amended to include the prohibition contained in this policy. John Myers -------------------------------------- RECOMMENDED ANTI HARASSMENT POLICY It is the policy of (school district name) that harassment is unacceptable conduct and will not be tolerated. This is in keeping with efforts to establish an environment in which the dignity and worth of all members of the school community are respected. The goal of (school district name) is to provide a community in which all students are accepted and judged as individuals. Harassment includes epithets, comments, gestures, and any other behaviors that demean, intimidate, threaten or offend another based on real or perceived gender, race, color, religion, cultural background, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, physical condition or abilities. Behaviors that are prohibited under the harassment policy include, but are not limited to the following: 1.. graffiti 2.. vandalism 3.. hate talk 4.. stereotypic name calling, epithets, or slurs 5.. trash talk during athletics 6.. display of visual materials or the alteration of visual materials displayed by others 7.. jokes or humor 8.. comments, gestures, or look Any person committing any form of harassment will be subject to disciplinary action if: 1.. the gestures, comments, epithets or behaviors are commonly considered by members of the group demeaned to be disparaging to that group, and 2.. such conduct either A.. interferes with the comfort, safety, and work or study performance of the person(s) to whom the conduct is addressed or directed, or B.. makes the work, study, or social environment hostile or intimidating to members of average sensibilities of the group demeaned. Any instances which can be perceived as harassment should be reported immediately to a faculty member or an administrator and must be brought to the attention of the school principal. ==================================================================== This message has been distributed as a free informational service for the expressed interest of non-profit research and educational purposes only. PRIMER WEBSITES GLSEN --- Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network www.glsen.org Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund www.lambdalegal.org Safe Schools Coalition of Washington www.safeschools-wa.org The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project Home Page www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/ Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays www.pflag.org Empire State (NY) Pride Agenda www.prideagenda.org GLAAD Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation www.glaad.org "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 subscribe or unsubscribe (CSS-NYS Email List) send request to saratogany@aol.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/