Date: Sun, 30 Apr 1995 22:17:19 -0400 From: PMDAtropos@AOL.COM To: Multiple recipients of list GLB-NEWS Subject: Protest at ALbuquerque Job Corps [ Send replies to summers@rt66.com ONLY. Replies to the list or list owner will be returned. ] Lesbian Avengers force Job Corps administrator By Bob Summersgill, for The Weekly Rainbow, April 6, 1995 The Lesbian Avengers protested the Albuquerque Job Corps Center's refusal to protect gay and lesbian students on campus March, 30. The protest included fire eating and chanting. Lesbian Avenger Carol Kubala said "We are the Lesbian Avengers, Albuquerque chapter, we came here to speak up for the student rights of gays and lesbians." "There's been a series of really horrible actions against gay and lesbian students and staff here at Job Corps in Albuquerque, and today we're here to tell them that we're not going to take it anymore," said Karen, a Lesbian Avenger at the first action of the local activist group. Students and faculty have complained to Job Corps security about harassment, threats, assaults, and even a car fire. The only response by Job Corps management prior to the protest was suspending two lesbian staff members who complained about attacks against them. During the protest, Kubala read at length policies from the National Job Corps on sexuality, and harassment. The Center has a "zero-tolerance" policy regarding physical abuse, requiring the removal of any violent student, but implementation has been selective. "They have some really good policies on the books [concerning sexual orientation and harassment], but those policies aren't being followed," Kubala said. One policy states: "To become a sexually responsible person, the student must integrate sexual thoughts, feelings, and behaviors into his/her total self-concept. The student must learn how to deal with sexual drives and feelings in ways that are acceptable to him/herself and society, and in group living situations on center." The policy further lists kissing, necking, and petting; masturbation; sexual intercourse; and homosexual behavior as activities "considered Tnormal' activities of sexual development." Some Job Corps students speak out despite the policies: "You are destroying yourself, In the Bible it says it is an abomination of the soul," said Thomas Sandles, a student. "If you do this [be gay or lesbian] than you bring worse things on the world. That why the AIDS is here." Students feeling harassed claim that the Job Corps administration has not been responsive to their own policies, however. "Most of the harassment files get misplaced, like mine have, because I was threatened with rape by someone, and then I was physically abused by that person in a bathroom here during school," said Gabriel Miller, a Job Corps student "A teacher filed a report on it, another student filed a report, and I filed a report. They all disappeared." The Albuquerque Job Corps Center provides vocational education, academic scholarship, and support for the social development of young adults between the ages of 16 and 25. Job Corps is funded by through the US Department of Labor (DoL). Center Director Barbara Calderon met with the Avengers the morning after the protest, after initially refusing to meet with them. Calderon would not discuss any specific incidence of violence or harassment or what actions might be taken to correct the problems. The Lesbian Avengers made several recommendations, including a memo to all students outlining Job Corps policy on homosexuality and harassment, holding an assembly on the same subject, including gay and lesbians in the mandatory cultural diversity program, allowing a gay and lesbian support group to form on campus, and not retaliating against students who participated in the program. Calderon would not commit to any recommendations to the Avengers. Calderon would not discuss the situation with reporters, other than to say she would "consider" the recommendations. Calderon's superiors at Teledyne and the DoL have been contacted with copies of the student complaints. Albuquerque Job Corps Center is currently under funding review by the DoL. The Lesbian Avengers are sending another letter to Calderon's superiors to outline the suggestions. "I know everything that goes on on this campus, as far as assaults, as far as people getting beaten up, that doesn't happen here," said Student Body President, Angel Zepeda "And if it did happen I haven't known about it, and it hasn't been a big issue. "But as far as... someone being assaulted just deliberately because of homosexuality, doesn't happen, didn't happen." Patrick Allderge, a Job Corps student and security officer said "A lot of sexual harassment, a lot of stuff that goes on that they don't even recognize, they just blow it off. TWe got the paper work somewhere.' They never seem to find it. Mostly to gay and lesbian students. Now if it was a straight student, they would take chargeI I don't think it is right." "Ms. Calderon had a meeting with all the gay students today, saying thatudents," said Lovell. "I will ask Ms. Calderon that we ask security to look at that." One of the suspended employees, Tamera Revels, said of the protest "I'm basically gladI that there are so many supporters here today and hopefully an effort like this will change something for the better." "If you are afraid here, we are going to do everything we can. That's got to stop. We're not here to intimidate anybody," said Zepeda. "We're not here to try to make everything rough for everybody. We are here to learn." Allderge, wearing his security uniform, said "I used to live on campus, but now I live off campus. I feel much more safe off campus." Job Corps is funded by DoL and managed by Teledyne. Their addresses & phone numbers are: Richard Trigg & Dan Cox, US Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20210, 202-219-5571, 202-21-51. Bbaden Tneorp.,0 Ol Bd#12 Anle, 64, 10-4-09. f the protest "I'm basically gladI that there are so many supporters here today and hopefully an effort like this will change something for the better." "If you are afraid here, we are going to do everything we can. That's got to stop. We're not here to intimidate anybody," said Zepeda. "We're not here to try to make everything rough for everybody. We are here to learn." Allderge, wearing his security uniform, said "I used to live on campus, but now I live off campus. I feel much more safe off campus." Job Corps is funded by DoL and managed by Teledyne. Their addresses & phone numbers are: Richard Trigg & Dan Cox, US Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20210, 202-219-5571, 202-219-5183. Barabara Eden, Teledyne Corp., 11340 W. Olympic Blvd # 120, Los Angeles, CA 90064, 310-478-0911.