From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Fayetville letters Date: Sat, 8 Feb 1997 23:55:41 -0500 (EST) The following went out on IWG letterhead listing 3 congregations, 5 religious organizations and 37 clergy from 12 faiths and denominations. If you are in the general Philadelphia area and represent a congregation or religious organization or are clergy, let us know if you want to be added - all faiths are welcome. We will also be happy to help start similar organizations in other areas. These letters were sent in response to an alert on the schools list. For information on the schools list, send the one line message info schools to listproc@critpath.org. February 9, 1997 Dr. Bobby New PO Box 849 Fayetteville, AR 72702 Dear Dr. New: We were disturbed by reports that two students in your district, William Wagner a 16-year-old student at Fayetteville High School, and a 12-year-old girl at Woodland Junior High School have been regular targets of abuse by fellow students, and that there has been no intercession on their behalf by the faculty or administration of either school. We hope that you will investigate these cases and deal with them appropriately. Late last year in Wisconsin a young gay man named Jamie Nabozny received an out-of-court settlement of $900,000 in school district funds because the district administration had failed to adequately protect him from abusive classmates. We would strongly suggest implementing diversity- awareness training in your school system with a concentration on gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people. Sincerely, Barbara Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators February 9, 1997 John Delap Principal Fayetteville High School East Campus 1001 W. Stone Fayetteville, AR 72701 Dear Mr. Delap: We were disturbed by reports that William Wagner, a 16- year-old student at Fayetteville High School, has been a regular target of abuse by fellow students because he is a sexual minority, and that there has been no intercession on his behalf by the faculty or administration of the school. We hope that you will investigate this case and deal with it appropriately. Late last year a young gay man in Wisconsin named Jamie Nabozny received an out-of-court settlement of $900,000 in school district funds because the district administration had failed to adequately protect him from abusive classmates. We would strongly suggest implementing diversity awareness training in your school with a concentration on gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people. Sincerely, Barbara Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators -- Interfaith Working Group Religious organizations, congregations iwg@libertynet.org and clergy supporting gay rights, http://www.libertynet.org/~iwg/ reproductive freedom, and the 215-235-3050 separation of church and state.