Date: Tue, 02 Mar 1999 21:44:22 -0800 From: Clare Howell Subject: IYF-TransTeacher Forced Out in Minnesota MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Editor: Clare Howell, clare@gpac.org TRANS-TEACHER IN MINNESOTA RESIGNS ================================== [Blaine, MN: 2 Mar 99] TRANSEXUAL WOMAN ALYSSA Williams has resigned from her job as music teacher at Roosevelt Middle School. "She was driven out and was never given a chance to be a teacher," said Beth Gerard, a parent of two children at RMS. "This is a shame. She was never judged according to her ability." Ms. Williams could not be reached for comment. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that some parents threatened to remove their children from school if Williams were allowed to teach. Parent Sandy Crosby had her 6th grade daughter removed from Williams' class. Crosby, who has never met Williams, said she was relieved to hear of the resignation. "He was not a good role model. I'm not pleased that he resigned, but I didn't want him to be around my children." Kathy Born, another parent with children at the school, said of Williams, "It's a shame. She's a person just like you and I. Roosevelt is going to lose a good teacher." Kathy's husband Steven added, "All we know is what our kids said, and they said she was doing a real good job." Parents in Touch, a local group formed to protest Ms. Williams' hiring, enlisted the aid of the Minnesota Christian Coalition and Pat Robertson's American Center for Law and Justice to challenge Minnesota's Human Rights Law which includes protection for transgender people. Said Ms. Crosby, "For them to have special privileges like blacks and Native Americans, that's just a bunch of fill in the blank. When it comes to this sexual diversity, that is not OK and we don't want it in our schools." ### Subscriptions. Please contact: Subscribe@Gpac.org For prior releases, check the GenderPAC website at: http://www.gpac.org (c) 1999 InYourFace GenderPAC's online news-only service for gender activism.