Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 20:03:05 -0400 From: ngltf@ngltf.org (NGLTF Media Desk) Subject: Anti-Gay Attacks Against Teachers in Oklahoma ******************************************************** NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE PRESS RELEASE Contact: Tracey Conaty, Communications Director tconaty@ngltf.org 202-332-6483 x3303 pager 800-757-6476 2320 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 http://www.ngltf.org ******************************************************** ANTI-GAY ATTACKS AGAINST TEACHERS AND PARENTS IN OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE WASHINGTON, DC---April 10, 1998--- If some lawmakers in Oklahoma have it their way, "homosexuals or lesbians" would not be allowed to adopt or be allowed to work in a school. These attacks are part of two separate bills currently alive in the Oklahoma state legislature. "Pass or fail, these attacks do damage," stated Rebecca Isaacs, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force political director. "The effect on gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender parents, teachers, school workers and their families is beyond measure," added Isaacs. The measure attacking "homosexual and lesbian" school teachers and all other school employees(SB 1394) is an amendment attached to a bill intended to ban sex offenders from school-related jobs. The obvious intent is to imply a connection between gays and sex offenders. In 1978 , the National Gay Task Force (now the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force) brought suit against a similar measure in Oklahoma that became state law that year. It banned teachers from discussing same-sex sexual conduct. The case ultimately made it to the U.S. Supreme Court where in 1985 a portion of it was struck down on first amendment grounds. The measure banning a "homosexual" or "lesbian" from adopting (SB 1261) is an amendment to a bill intended to ban sex offenders from adopting children. Both of these amendments were added during deliberation on the House floor. While community leaders are hopeful that the leadership in both houses will not allow such scapegoating bills to become law, they are encouraging all Oklahomans to contact Senate President Pro Tem Stratton Taylor (405-521-5555) and House Speaker Loyd Benson (405-557-7100) and urge them to ensure the removal of these amendments in conference committee. For more information on these measures, contact Keith Smith of the ACLU in Oklahoma at 405-850-2219 and long time community activist Tom Neal at 918-583-5601. For more information about state legislation related to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community in 1998, contact NGLTF for its most recent Legislative Update. For a report on all such legislation introduced in the past three years, contact the Task Force for its annual survey Capital Gains and Losses. For more information about GLBT school-related issues, contact Kate Frankfurt, Director of Advocacy for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Teachers Network at 212-727-0135 ext. 108. -30- _________________________________________ This message was issued by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Media Department. If you have any questions regarding this post, please direct them to one of the contacts at the top of this message If you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, please send an email with "UNSUBSCRIBE PRESSLIST" in the subject and body of your email message to .