Subject: Utah Youth Under Attack
From: [email-masked]
Date: Thu, 7 Mar 1996 19:26:41 -0500

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PRESS RELEASE
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
2320 17th St. NW; Washington, DC 20009
Contact: Robert Bray (415) 552-6448 [email-masked]
or Tracey Conaty (202) 332-6483 [email-masked]
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ATTACKS ON UTAH YOUNG PEOPLE CONDEMNED BY NGLTF;
ACTION ALERT AGAINST LEGISLATIVE GAY BASHING

Washington, DC, March 7, 1996...The gay and lesbian, chess, ski, bible, and
4H clubs may all be gone at East High School in Salt Lake City for the time
being, but protests, grassroots outrage and national attention are still
surging in support of gay and lesbian students and teachers in Utah.

 On February 20, the Salt Lake City Board of Education voted to ban all
nonacademic clubs rather than allow a gay and lesbian club to form at East
High.  The measure passed 4-3 after a heated public debate on homosexuality,
the likes of which have never before been seen in the Mormon state.  The ban
takes effect this fall.

 Then, in a follow-up action a few days later, the Utah state legislature
passed SB 246, which regulates the private actions of public school employees
and volunteers if those actions and speech undermine the "morals" of school
children or disrupt school activities.

 The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) has urged the school board
to change its vote, and has condemned the passage of SB 246.  NGLTF has fired
off a letter to Utah Governor Michael Leavitt urging him to not sign it.  The
Task Force is calling on concerned people nationwide to send letters and
phone calls immediately to Utah officials to support local activists.

 "Our concern is that this provision could be used against teachers,
counselors or other school employees who...offered support to the gay,
lesbian or bisexual student," said NGLTF executive director Melinda Paras in
a letter to Governor Leavitt.  "Whose morals are employees to be concerned
about?  Is it the morals of one religious group?  One group of parents?  A
complaint by one or more extremists could cause an employee to be disciplined
for trying to teach love, compassion and respect to all students.  We urge
you to send a message of respect for diversity by not signing SB 246." 

 In addition, NGLTF has also written every member of the Board of Education,
praising those who voted against eliminating school clubs and urging those
who voted for it to reconsider and change the ruling.  "Unfortunately, the
action taken by the majority of the School Board is likely to send an
unintended message to students -- and adults -- who believe that harassing or
attacking gay and lesbian students...is justified because they are  different
and immoral," said NGLTF's Paras to school board members.

 NGLTF is working with the Utah Human Rights Coalition (UHRC) and other local
groups to focus national attention on the urgent situation in Utah and
mobilize local community response.  UHRC has also helped organize local
rallies and letter and fax campaigns directed at state officials.  Last
autumn, NGLTF deployed staffers Robert Bray, Scot Nakagawa and campaign
consultant Susan Hibbard to Utah for an intensive movement-building training
sponsored by UHRC in anticipation of hostile attacks on the gay community.  
 
 The attacks on the high school students have resulted in an unprecedented,
and some say stunning, response from the community in arch-conservative Utah.
  On February 23, more than 200 students walked out of West High School in
Salt Lake City and stormed to the state Capitol to protest the Board of
Education's elimination of all nonacademic clubs.  East High openly lesbian
student Kelli Peterson, one of the founders of the school's Gay/Straight
Alliance club, told the students it is wrong that lawmakers are "deciding our
morals for us.  We will all be 18 soon and we'll be voting!"

 Rallies and other activities have sprung up in Salt Lake City, culminating
in a March 2 "Save Our School" event that attracted more than 2,000 outraged
students, parents, activists and concerned citizens.  Led by Kelli Peterson
and other young activists, the citizens marched through downtown Salt Lake
City to the state Capitol. 

 "Your presence is an act of courage, valor and commitment," said NGLTF's
Melinda Paras in a statement read at the rally.  "In Utah today, the
extremist right wing is making the gay, lesbian and bisexual community the
scapegoats for what is wrong with America.  They are using old fears and
prejudices to whip up new hatreds.  Your actions have sent an important
message to youth around the country.  Because of you, they will feel less
alone in their struggle to find a safe environment within their schools.
 Because of you, they have seen powerful young leaders speaking out in their
own voices. Ultimately we will prevail.  We will educate young people in
schools about the truth of who we are."

 The march and rally was one of the largest protests in the state's history
and drew national media attention. "This issue has brought out the activist
in people who had never before been active," said Charlene Orchard, UHRC
Co-Chair.   "It is clear the struggle we are facing is not going away soon.
 In fact, it appears the next culture war is going to be fought here with
radical right organizations around the country drawing a line in the sand in
Utah," added Orchard.

 Activists and concerned people are urged to write and, preferably, fax
immediately the Governor and urge him to not sign SB 246 into law.  Write,
fax, phone or email Governor Michael Leavitt, State Capitol Building, Salt
Lake City, UT 84114, fax (801)538-1528, phone (801)538-1000, internet email
[email-masked].  Also, write Mary Jo Rasmussen, President, Salt
Lake City Board of Education, Salt Lake City School District, 440 E. 100 S.
Salt Lake City, UT 84111-1898.   Urge the board to reconsider its ban on
clubs.  UHRC , an all-volunteer group, needs letters of support.  They can be
sent to UHRC, P.O. Box 521242, Salt Lake City, UT 84152-1242.  For more
information about NGLTF's movement building field work, contact Scot
Nakagawa, NGLTF field program director, at (202)332-6483, ext. 3301.

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