Date: Thu, 25 Jun 1998 14:45:57 -0700 From: Jean Richter Subject: 6/25/98 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. AR: PFLAG statement on Title IX harassment agreement ============================================================ Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 09:23:05 -0800 From: Doug Case To: (LGBT Political Activists and National Media), Cc: GLB-PRESS@LISTSERV.AOL.COM, gaynet@queernet.org, Subject: Historic victory involving anti-gay harassment at school Message-ID: PARENTS, FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF LESBIANS AND GAYS June 23, 1998 Contact: Carolyn Wagner, 501-444-0825, Janice Hughes, 202-638-4200 x225 Arkansas Family Wins Historic Victory Involving Anti-Gay Harassment at High School Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is hailing the historic agreement between the U.S. federal government and an Arkansas public school system as an important step towards protecting lesbian and gay youth in schools across the country. The agreement-between the U.S. Education Dept.'s Office of Civil Rights and Fayetteville Public Schools-says that the Arkansas school district must take specific steps to handle various forms of sexual harassment, including "sexual harassment directed at gay and lesbian students," according to the agreement which was sent to the family's legal counsel, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, on June 17. It came in response to a complaint brought by an openly-gay Fayetteville student, Willi Wagner, and his parents who charged that the local school system had failed to act after he was harassed repeatedly and beaten up by a gang of students. "I see this as a very powerful tool to help parents, just like us, ensure a safe school environment for our children," said Willi's mother, Carolyn Wagner, who with her husband Bill, worked closely with PFLAG (of which they are members) since 1996 to meet with federal officials on the issue. "A mother has certain dreams for her children, and they always include that they be happy, healthy and safe," Wagner said. "Now, parents of gay and lesbian children have some kind of recourse." Under the agreement, the Fayetteville public school system must overhaul its policies and procedures as well as train staff and administrators. This is the first time that new Title IX guidelines, issued last year, have been applied to sexual harassment directed at a gay or lesbian students. Title IX, of the Education Amendments of 1972, is a federal statute that bars sex discrimination, including sexual harassment. Schools must be in compliance with Title IX to receive federal funding. "We are relieved to hear that the U.S. Department of Education is now making it clear to schools that they have an obligation to protect all of our children," said PFLAG Executive Director Kirsten Kingdon. "It is heart-wrenching for me to hear of the abuse that youth like Willi Wagner have to endure-from other students, as well as from administrators and teachers- just because of who they are," said Kingdon, a mother, grandmother and a former special education lawyer. As a parent and community-based group, PFLAG fills a special niche in the work to make schools safer for gay and lesbian youth. Many of PFLAG's 400-plus chapters are engaged in "safe schools" activities at local high schools. These activities include teacher trainings on gay and lesbian youth and providing scholarships to gay and lesbian students.. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian and bisexual persons, their families & friends and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity. Serving nearly 70,000 members, PFLAG affiliates are located in 400-plus communities in the U.S. and abroad. 1101 14th St. NW, Suite 1030 * Washington, DC 20005 * (202)638-4200 Fax: (202)638-0243 * E-mail: info@pflag.org * Web:www.pflag.org Janice Hughes PFLAG Communications Director 1101 14th St., NW (Suite 1030) Washington, DC 20005 (tel) 202-638-4200 x225 (fax) 202-638-0243 jhughes@pflag.org http://www.pflag.org ************************************************************************ This message has been distributed as a free, nonprofit informational service, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. Please do not publish, or post in a public place on the Internet, copyrighted material without permission and attribution. (Note: Press releases are fine to reprint. Don't reprint wire stories, such as Associated Press stories, in their entirety unless you subscribe to that wire service.) Forwarding of this material should not necessarily be construed as an endorsement of the content. In fact, sometimes messages from anti-gay organizations are forwarded as "opposition research." =============================================================================== Jean Richter -- richter@eecs.berkeley.edu The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project (Public Education Regarding Sexual Orientation Nationally) CHECK OUT OUR INFO-LOADED WEB PAGE AT: http://www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/