From: communications@pflag.org Date: Thu, 5 Dec 1996 12:37:55 -0500 Subject: GLSTN Conference For Immediate Release Dec 4., 1996 Contact: Diedre Cuffee-Gray, Media Coordinator or Kevin Jennings, Executive Director: 212-727-0135 GLSTN Issues Special Invitation to PFLAG Members for First-Ever National Conference in Salt Lake City Conference for those Addressing Homophobia in Schools to be Held March 21-23 New York, NY The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Teachers Network (GLSTN) today issued a special invitation to members of PFLAG to attend its first-ever national conference, to be held in Salt Lake City, Utah from March 21-23, 1997. Hosted by GLSTN/Utah, the conference will bring together hundreds of teachers, parents, community activists, and students working to create schools were all people are respected, regardless of sexual orientation. "We see PFLAG and its members as natural allies in this struggle," said Kevin Jennings, GLSTN's Executive Director. "Without the support of our families and friends, those of us working from within schools will not be able to make them better places for lesbian and gay youth." Jennings noted that PFLAG members speak with a unique voice borne of personal experience when it comes to addressing the costs of anti-gay bigotry for the young. "No one knows better than PFLAG members what homophobia does to kids and their families," said Jennings, "and we need their support to help both our schools and our communities to better understand that." The issue of anti-gay bigotry in schools has been a hot one in Utah this year. In January 1996, students and teachers at Salt Lake City's East High School formed a Gay-Straight Student Alliance, an act which prompted the Utah legislature which banned Gay-Straight Alliances in April 1996 to prevent the East High GSA from meeting. In response, teachers, parents, students, and community members banded together to form GLSTN/Utah, one of the GLSTN's most active chapters, which led the national organization to choose Utah as the site for its first-ever national conference. "We've chosen the theme 'Stand and Deliver' for the conference," said Kevin Jennings, GLSTN's Executive Director and a former high school history teacher, "because we need to stand and deliver a message of tolerance and justice in Utah. We need to let the folks who are fighting for equal educational opportunity there know that they are not alone." GLSTN/Utah Co-Chair Camille Lee, a teacher at East High School, added, "The legislature obviously thought they would silence us with their actions last spring, but they've done just the opposite -- they've brought us support we never dreamed we had from -- both Utah and beyond." Doug Wortham, Lee's fellow Co-Chair, added "We couldn't be more proud to be the hosts of this historic event." The Conference will be preceded by special one-day institutes on Friday, March 21 for "Straight Allies," GLSTN Chapter Leaders, People of Color, and LGBT Educators, as well as a "Change Agent" Training. That evening, Kelli Peterson, founder of the East High GSA, and Clayton Vetter, Utah's first openly gay pubic school teacher, will welcome participants at a free reception. The formal conference will begin on Saturday, March 22 with a keynote by Urvashi Vaid, former Executive Director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and author of Virtual Equality, followed by workshops that day and on Sunday, March 23. The conference will close with a Brunch Celebration with comic Suzanne Westenhoefer, at which GLSTN will present its 1996-97 Pathfinder Awards for leadership in the fight to end bigotry in our schools. Registration forms are available by calling 212-727-0135. "Looking over this program, there will obviously be something for everybody!" added Jennings With over forty chapters, and a membership of over four thousand teachers, parents, and concerned citizens, GLSTN is the largest national organization working to insure that schools are places where all people are respected and valued, regardless of sexual orientation. For more information, visit the GLSTN web site at http://www.glstn.org/ or call the national office at 212-727-0135.