[glstn.offer.to.students] 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/ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 28, 1996 Contact: Kevin Jennings, GLSTN Executive Director 212-727-0135 NATIONAL TEACHERS ORGANIZATION APPLAUDS TEACHERS AND STUDENTS IN UTAH; OFFERS FREE RESOURCE PACKET TO ANY STUDENTS WISHING TO START "GAY-STRAIGHT ALLIANCES" IN AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOLS New York, NY (February 28, 1996)--The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Teachers Network today commended Utah teacher Clayton Vetter, who became the first public school teacher in that state to acknowledge being gay in a press conference announcing the formation of a Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Teachers Alliance in Salt Lake City on February 27. Vetter came out and community members mobilized the group, in response to the 4-3 vote last week of the Salt Lake City Board of Education to ban student clubs rather than allow students to form a Gay-Straight Alliance at East High School. "Clayton Vetter and his supporters have stood up for the values of truth and honesty," said Kevin Jennings, GLSTN's Executive Director. "Rather than allowing the 'big lie' that gays are a threat to our children to continue, he and other community members have spoken up on behalf of equality for all people." Jennings, who in 1989 was the faculty advisor the nation's first-ever Gay-Straight Alliance at Concord Academy in Concord, Massachusetts, added, "Students in Utah have a right to go to schools where all people are respected, and where teachers and students are judged on their abilities and character rather than by the prejudices of any single element of the community. The courage of student like Kelli Petersen [founder of the East H.S. Gay-Straight Alliance] and teachers like Clayton Vetter will triumph over the cowardice of so-called 'leaders' who are willing to scrap an entire extracurricular program rather than allow a few kids a place to meet." Jennings went on to offer free copies of GLSTN's "Starting a Gay-Straight Alliance" publication to any student in the U.S. who wishes to found such an organization. "We won't let ourselves, or these kids, be silenced by legislative intimidation. If kids want to start a club to make their schools places where all people are respected, we'll do everything in our power to help them." Call (212) 727-0135 or e-mail GLSTN@aol.com for a copy of the guide. With over thirty chapters, and a membership of over three thousand teachers, parents, and concerned citizens, The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Teachers Network (GLSTN) is the largest national organization working to insure that schools are places where all people are respected and valued, regardless of sexual orientation. ***** ***** ***** 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. 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. 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.