[README.index.to.these.documents] Provided by: GLSTN 122 West 26th Street, Suite 1100 New York, NY 10001 USA Tel: (212) 727-0135 Email: glstn@glstn.org Web: http://www.glstn.org/freedom/ ------------------------------- T H E G L S T N T O O L B O X ------------------------------- The GLSTN TOOLBOX is a collection of practical information for TEACHERS, STUDENTS, PARENTS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS fighting homophobia in K-12 schools. Founded in 1990 as a regional volunteer organization in Boston, The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Teachers Network (GLSTN) today has over 20 chapters around the country and is the largest organization of teachers and community members dedicated to ensuring that all students are valued and respected, regardless of sexual orientation. GLSTN's work includes community organizing, providing programming to schools, and developing materials that teachers can use to raise awareness among their colleagues and students. Membership is open to all who are committed to ending homophobia in schools, regardless of sexual orientation or occupation. (Filenames and filesizes are noted after each description.) W H A T ' S N E W ? (updated March 14, 1996) GLSTN ANNOUNCES SPRING 1996 WEST COAST CONFERENCE IN LOS ANGELES, featuring keynote speaker Marsha Scott, deputy assistant to President Clinton and liaison to the gay and lesbian community. Actress and mother Jamie Lee Curtis will provide closing remarks. [glstn.losangeles.conf.april96] (3 Kb) HOW TO START A GAY-STRAIGHT ALLIANCE provides provides practical advice on how to establish and run a student-led alliance. [start.a.gay.straight.alliance] (61 Kb) OVERVIEW OF THE RIGHTS OF GAY, LESBIAN AND BISEXUAL TEACHERS by Mary L. Bonauto, Esq. provides an overview of the major legal principles governing the employment of gay, lesbian and bisexual teachers in public and private schools. Included is information on constitutional law, state law protections, unions, as well as practical suggestions on how to protect your rights. [bonauto.teachers.legal.rights] (53 Kb) THE REAL ABOMINATIONS by Steven Z. Leder, Associate Rabbi at Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles, California. Leder has shared with us an inspiring personal letter he wrote to his brother about homosexuality and religion. [letter.from.a.rabbi] (5 Kb) GLSTN'S SPRING 1996 BOSTON CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT. New this year: a special youth track designed for high school students to attend. [glstn.boston.conf.april96] (3 Kb) PRESS RELEASE: GLSTN OFFERS STUDENTS A FREE GUIDE: HOW TO ESTABLISH A GAY-STRAIGHT ALLIANCE AT THEIR SCHOOL. [glstn.offer.to.students] (4 Kb) PRESS RELEASE: NEW GLSTN VIDEO, "SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT," puts a human face on the issue of homophobia in schools. An empowering tool to help educators and community members fight back the next time there is an anti-gay initiative in their community. An order form for the video is attached to the bottom of the announcement. [glstn.video.announcement] (7 Kb) A B O U T G L S T N THE GLSTN BROCHURE & MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION provides an introduction to The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Teachers Network, the largest national organization working to end homophobia in schools. [glstn.brochure] (13 Kb) HOW TO ORGANIZE A REGIONAL GLSTN CHAPTER offers a concise plan of action for those who wish to establish a GLSTN chapter in their region. [glstn.organizing.guide] (25 Kb) THE GLSTN FALL 1995 NEWSLETTER provides an overview of GLSTN's current activities along with interviews with some of the people behind-the-scenes at GLSTN. Executive Director Kevin Jennings responds to a parent who asks, "What's Homosexuality Got to do with Education?" [glstn.newsletter.fall95] (44 Kb) S P E C I A L E V E N T S SPRING 1996 GLSTN CALENDAR lists the organization's major events and activities for the remainder of the academic year. [glstn.calendar] (4 Kb) A copy of the LETTER FROM PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON welcoming participants to the Fall 1995 Mid-Atlantic GLSTN conference. [clinton.welcome.gif] (16 Kb) The HISTORY MONTH PACKET provides four documents for teachers recognizing October as Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual History Month: (1) 10 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO RECOGNIZE HISTORY MONTH, (2) AMERICAN HISTORY PRIMARY SOURCES/CURRICULUM/BIOGRAPHY, (3) GAY AND LESBIAN HISTORY IN THE UNITED STATES: A TIMELINE and (4) TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF GAY AND LESBIAN HISTORY. [glstn.history.month] (32 Kb) GLSTN'S FIRST ANNUAL HISTORY MONTH ESSAY WINNER includes a press release and the full text of this year's winning essay by Allison Holzer, a 17-year-old senior who resides in Richmond, Indiana who wrote about why studying gay, lesbian, and bisexual history is important for all students, regardless of sexual orientation. [glstn.essay.winner] (9 Kb) R E S O U R C E S A N D G U I D E S WHAT YOU CAN DO: IDEAS FOR EDUCATORS ADDRESSING HOMOPHOBIA IN SCHOOLS includes a list of TEN ACTION POINTS to help end homophobia at your school and a listing of RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS DEALING WITH GAY AND LESBIAN ISSUES including recommended organizations, publications and video materials for various age groups. [glstn.what.you.can.do] (20 Kb) RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS DEALING WITH GAY & LESBIAN ISSUES is a listing of recommended organizations, publications and videos for various age groups. This document is included in the "WHAT YOU CAN DO" guide. (see above) [glstn.resources] (14 Kb) The STAFF TRAINING OUTLINE, contains a module and supporting materials for homophobia training in schools, including short essays written by gay, lesbian, bisexual and straight high school students, about how homophobia affects them. [glstn.training] (79 Kb) WINNING THE "CULTURAL WAR" IN EDUCATION (notes for remarks at the Human Rights Campaign Fund Leadership Conference, 3/5/95) provides concrete advice for community members organizing to end homophobia in schools. [glstn.winning.the.war] (9 Kb) HOW TO ASK YOUR LOCAL OFFICIALS TO ISSUE A GOVERNMENT PROCLAMATION explains how to approach your local leaders to provide official recognition of gay events. [glstn.proclamations] (5 Kb) THE REAL ABOMINATIONS by Steven Z. Leder, Associate Rabbi at Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles, California. Leder has shared with us an inspiring personal letter he wrote to his brother about homosexuality and religion. [letter.from.a.rabbi] (5 Kb) C O M I N G O U T COMING OUT SUGGESTIONS FOR TEACHERS offers important advice for gay and lesbian teachers who are considering coming out at school. [glstn.coming.out.teachers] (6 Kb) OPENLY GAY TEACHERS' STORIES by Kevin Jennings summarizes the experiences of the teachers who are featured in the book ONE TEACHER IN TEN: GAY AND LESBIAN EDUCATORS TELL THEIR STORIES. An excellent overview of the challenges which gay and lesbian educators face. [glstn.openly.gay.teachers] (62 Kb) ------------------------ THE GLSTN HONORARY BOARD ------------------------ Kate Clinton Robb Forman Dew Martin Duberman Louise Erdrich Bill T. Jones Greg Louganis Brian McNaught Ruth Messinger David Mixner Paul Monette Martina Navratilova Robert B. Parker Susan Sarandon Andrew Sullivan Carolyn and Laurence Tribe Virginia Uribe Urvashi Vaid ***** ***** ***** This document is part of THE GLSTN TOOLBOX, an online resource of practical information and tools, for educators, students, parents and community organizers, to help fight homophobia in K-12 schools. The GLSTN TOOLBOX is available from the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Teachers Network World Wide Web Site: http://www.glstn.org/freedom/ In the interest of sharing this information with others, you may copy and redistribute this document provided that all notices remain intact. You may not charge or make a profit from the redistribution of this material. If you have writing which you would like to contribute to The GLSTN TOOLBOX, please contact us by phone at (212) 727-0135 or by e-mail at glstn@glstn.org.