From: Heather Wright <hwright@PFLAG.org>
Subject: PFLAG Alert: 'Schools Will Not be Safe Until They Are Free of Hom
Date: Tue, 31 Aug 1999 14:35:18 -0400

> August 31, 1999
> 
> Contact: Eric Ferrero 202-638-4200 x212
> 
> 
> 
> As Students Return to School, Families Nationwide Vow:
> 'Schools Will Not Be Safe Until They Are Free of Homophobia' 
> 
> 	"This fall, a growing number of school districts have adopted zero
> tolerance of hate speech and harassment.  It's time for parents to adopt
> zero tolerance of school districts which don't."   That's the advice of
> Rev. Paul Beeman, national president of Parents, Families and Friends of
> Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), and Judy Shepard, mother of a murdered young
> gay man.
> 
> 	Citing studies which consistently show that hostile educational
> environments cause gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students to
> skip classes, drop out of school or commit suicide more than their peers,
> one of the nation's largest grassroots-based family groups today called
> for change.  Schools must be held responsible for "the scourge of fear and
> homophobia that hurts families and entire communities," Beeman said. 
> 
> 	PFLAG is redoubling its efforts, through its 425 chapters in
> communities nationwide, to ensure that sexual minority youth are safe,
> respected and able to learn in environments free of harassment.   As a new
> school year begins - and the nation continues an unprecedented dialogue
> about school safety in the wake of recent massacres in Colorado, Georgia
> and elsewhere - PFLAG is urging schools to address the underlying
> ignorance and prejudice that give rise to violence.  
> 
> 	"Too many of our schools, which ought to foster acceptance and
> reinforce the fair-minded values we teach our children, instead have
> become breeding grounds for homophobia and hate," Beeman said.  "Enough is
> enough.  These are our children, in our schools, in our communities - and
> we will not stand idly by while they face intimidation and abuse.  Every
> school in America must protect all its students.  Every parent should
> demand it, the U.S. Dept. of Education requires it, and PFLAG stands
> ready, willing and able to help any school do it."
> 
> 	PFLAG families were among the first in the nation to call for - and
> work for - safer schools.  Since then, thousands of schools nationwide
> have provided training, passed nondiscrimination policies, enforced
> "zero-tolerance" policies against harassment and abuse and integrated
> objective facts about sexual orientation into appropriate curricula.  "We
> were there in the beginning, and we'll be there until harassment ends and
> acceptance is universal," Beeman said.  "Our efforts are making a profound
> difference.  The challenge now, for all fair-minded Americans, is to help
> every school stop hatred."
> 
> 	Today, PFLAG released a powerful new tool in that effort: "An Open
> Letter to School Administrators" from Judy Shepard, whose son was murdered
> because he was gay.  In her moving letter, Shepard tells schools, "My son
> was killed because somehow, somewhere, his killers learned that the lives
> of gay people are not as worthy of the same respect, dignity and honor as
> the lives of other people.  I ask you to ensure that students in your
> school never learn that dangerous lesson."
> 
> 
> PFLAG's web site - www. pflag. org - offers expansive resources, 
> statistics and opportunities for dialogue on creating safe schools
> (including
> Judy Shepard's letter to school administrators). 
> 
> #   #   #
>  Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) promotes the
>  health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered
> persons, their
>  families & friends through support, education, and advocacy. Serving
> nearly
>  77,000 members & supporters, PFLAG affiliates are located in 425+
> communities
>  in the U.S.
> 
>  1101 14th St. NW, Suite 1030, Washington, DC 20005 .
>  phone: 202-638-4200  fax: 202-638-0243
>  Email info@pflag.org  Web http://www.pflag.org
> 
>  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>  To unsubscribe from PFLAG's Email Alert, send an
>  email, subject line "unsubscribe" to info@pflag.org
>  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> 
> 
> 
>