Date: Wed, 7 Dec 1994 08:25:15 -0500 (GMT-0500) From: "Thomas W. Holt Jr." Subject: New Resource (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, Nov 28, 1994 6:56 PM From: Michael Jackson To: lcrew@andromeda.rutgers.edu Subject: New Resource ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- LOUIE- THIS IS A MESSAGE I'D LIKE POSTED ON THE LESBIGAY SCHOLARS NETWORK Dear LesBiGay Scholars: If you know a teacher, student, or teacher in training who should be aware of the biographical dictionary I've written, would you please forward this information to them? The idea behind the dictionary, expressed in the introduction, is that teachers are ALREADY teaching about gays and lesbians, but often unaware of the fact. If teachers would be willing to mention--in passing--the sexuality of the just ONE of the people whose names they now mention in class, the students would be made aware that gays and lesbians are in every field of study, in every vocation, in every age, and no big deal, certainly not a group to be afraid of or hate. The contents of the dictionary are described below: 1500 NOTABLE GAYS AND LESBIANS is a 193 page biographical dictionary which contains a listing of 1500 gays and lesbians of interest to high school students and their teachers. The listings include the subject's name, birth, death, a 75-100 word biography,and an index to the subject's occupation as well as the high school subject to which the name is related. A large number of the names listed--well over half--are names found in texts commonly used in high schools. As well, substantial numbers of entries deal with contemporary figures whose names students and teachers are likely to recognize. This dictionary, which is being distributed without royalty or profit to any participant, aids in the identification of gays and lesbians already in the curriculum but whose gay and lesbian experiences may be unknown to the teacher and student. In using the dictionary, teachers and students may consult the index to locate their greatest vocational interest--art, social studies, English, science, and so on. From that point on, most readers will be surprised to find that they are already teaching or learning about the achievements of gays and lesbians. A goal of the directory is to lessen the feeling of the gay and lesbian student that "I am the only one" and to allow teachers to help straight students become aware that gays and lesbians are not exotic, quasi-criminal creatures, but major contributors to society. Those interested in the dictionary may obtain the student edition by sending $10 to GLBTF / Office of Outreach Services American Library Association 50 East Huron Street Chicago, IL 60611 As stated before, no participant receives any profit or royalty in the belief that too many of us have set through most of our education without knowing the enormous invisible contribution gays and lesbians have made to civilization.