[glstn.video.announcement] 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 CONTACT: John Spear, Assistant Director 212/727-0135 TEACHERS RELEASE NEW VIDEO WHICH IS SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON HOMOPHOBIA IN SCHOOLS PRODUCTION INSPIRED BY RADICAL RIGHT ATTACKS IN CONGRESS AND BEYOND New York, NY (February 16, 1996)--The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Teachers Network released today a new video entitled "Setting the Record Straight." Made by Philadelphia film maker Jim Caiola (winner of a 1995 National Golden Apple Award for his educational film AIDS: The Next Generation), "Setting the Record Straight" features lesbian, gay, and straight teachers and youth addressing how homophobia damages schools in a dramatic eleven-minute video. GLSTN Executive Director Kevin Jennings characterizes the film as a direct response to anti-gay events such as the U.S. House "Hearings on Parents, Schools, and Values" (held at the behest of far right Traditional Values Coalition in December, 1995) as well as propaganda such as The Gay Agenda, a video distributed to thousands of churches by far right groups over the past few years . "We are tired of having ourselves defined by people who portray us as predators and child molesters," Jennings said. "The point of the film is to give local organizers a tool with which they can fight back the next time there is an anti-gay initiative in their community, especially one dealing with youth or schools. Such initiatives can only succeed if their supporters can demonize us. We feel the film does an excellent job of putting a human face on the issue and communicating why homophobia must be addressed in schools." Jennings reported that the first public showings of the film were in Seattle on January 27 and in Boston on February 8 at events attended by approximately fifty people each, and that he envisions it being used in similar settings across the country by GLSTN chapters and other such groups. "It's basically a tool to start a conversation among friends and communities, hopefully on a small scale, where fears can be addressed and overcome. We plan to use it to win our friends and co-workers over, one heart at a time." Caiola was moved to make the film after his father, a straight teacher, was given Jennings' book "One Teacher in Ten: Gay and Lesbian Educators Tell Their Stories" by a colleague. "My Dad was so impressed by the teachers in the book, and I wanted to find a way to convey their stories on film," Caiola said. Caiola used footage shot by local GLSTN volunteers and then supplemented it with interviews with GLSTN chapter leaders as well as students who attended a GLSTN conference in Washington to produce the final product. "The video contrasts hateful things the Right says about gay people in general and gay teachers in particular--which are presented as text on the screen--with actual faces and stories of those folks, so that the lies become apparent," Caiola said. "I'm glad we can finally answer some of the rhetoric I've been hearing for years now." Jennings added that local GLSTN chapters would premier the film over a period of the next two months at public events in over twenty cities, and that the video will also be available for other individuals and organizers to utilize. He added that this is the first of three videos GLSTN will produce, with future projects featuring a training video for school staff on the needs of gay and lesbian students as well as a film on lesbian and gay history designed for high school students. "It's the MTV generation, and we've got to use this medium if we're going to be successful," Jennings said. "If the radical Right can do it with The Gay Agenda, so can we." 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ***** GLSTN VIDEO ORDER FORM ***** "Setting the Record Straight is a film everyone--gay, straight, parent, teacher, community member--ought to see. It puts a human face to an issue at the heart of today's debate on homosexuality: gay and lesbian issues in schools. If everyone saw this video today, homophobia would be a significantly smaller problem in our society." --Charely Todd, Headmaster, Watkinson School (CT) Available on VHS cassette * 11 minutes * $29.95 Name: ___________________________________________ Street Address: _________________________________ City/State/Zip: _________________________________ Phone: _________________________________ Email: _________________________________ Setting the Record Straight #___ copies @ $29.95 each = $___________ + Shipping & Handling #___ copies @ $3.50 each = $___________ GLSTN Minimum Annual Membership Fee (optional) $25.00 = $___________ (members receive a 10% discount on video) 10% Video Discount for Members (10%) - $2.99 = - $___________ TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED: $___________ Please make checks payable to GLSTN. Mail orders to: GLSTN: Setting the Record Straight 122 West 26th Street, Suite 1100 New York, NY 10001 Orders must be prepaid. Please provide exact street address. Pricing subject to change without notice. Please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ***** ***** ***** 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.