Date: Mon, 24 Apr 1995 09:19:15 -0400 From: David B. O'Donnell To: Multiple recipients of list GLB-NEWS Subject: (USA, CA) NO DIGNITY FOR CALIFORNIA STUDENTS [ Send all responses to Egcm@F9.N291.Z1.FIDONET.ORG only. Any responses to the list or list-owners will be returned to you. ] No Dignity For California Students State Assembly Education Committee Fails Gay & Lesbian Students Sacramento, CA (EGCM) The California State Assembly Committee on Education heard emotional testimony for and against AB 1001,the "Dignity for All Students" bill by Assemblymember Sheila Kuehi. AB 1001, cosponsored by LIFE AIDS Lobby and the California Teacher's Association, would have added "sexual orientation" to all existing nondiscrimination provisions of that states education code. After an hour of debate, the bill was defeated in committee on a party line vote, 8-8. Students, parents and teachers from across California came to Sacramento to lobby and give testimony in support of AB 1001. Telling their own stories of harassment and the climate of prejudice that infects school campuses, students were eloquent in their statements that AB 1001 would make a difference in their lives and the lives of future students. Testimony from a high school principal stressed the need for this bill to stem the tide of hate filled rhetoric and derision of gay and lesbian people so prevalent on campuses. "FAGGOT, the slur of choice today on school campuses, will continue to be the slur of choice tomorrow. The passage of this bill would have sent a message that such prejudice is not tolerable. Instead, that message is lost," fumed Laurie McBride, Executive Director of the LIFE AIDS Lobby. "Despite the testimony, despite the sheer simplicity of the bill itself, despite their private admissions that name calling and gay-bashing should not be tolerated, Republican legislators could not or would not vote for the bill." McBride continued, "While many agreed with the goal of the bill, none would dare endorse an obvious, simple remedy." Testimony was emotional on both sides. Witnesses agreed that any debate on gay and lesbian issues are more controversial than ever. Opponents included Beverly Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition, the Committee on Moral Concerns, two conservative ministers and two private citizens. Their testimony ranged from condemnations of the "homosexual agenda" to protestations that adding sexual orientation to existing education codes would be equivalent to giving gays "special rights". One minister testified that gays and lesbians are "ungodly" and live a "dirty" lifestyle; another testified that the state has no business protecting the rights of sinners; that with the sin go the wages of sin -- and if that includes discrimination, then so be it. Assemblymember Sheila Kuehi responded to these arguments by declaring, "The witnesses for the opposition make our argument for us. Listen to what they said here This is exactly the hatred we face every day. This is the reason we need this bill. This is the moral decay at the heart of our society, that breeds hate and division." The students who testified were shaken by the intensity and personalized nature of the opposition. For that matter, so were veteran observers. Kuehl vowed the bring the bill back "every session until every California student, gay or lesbian or not, is protected" McBride reiterated this pledge on behalf of LIFE AIDS Lobby. For more information contact: Laurie McBride; Lobby for Individual Freedom and Equality; 926 J Street #522; Sacramento, CA 95814; 916-444-0424 voice; 916-444-3059 fax. The entire contents of The Electronic Gay Community Magazine are Copyright 1995 by The Land of Awes Computer Information System (telephone 316-269-0913 Voice, 316-269-4208 fax/modem) but may be reproduced by any means without permission from the publishers provided that this copyright notice remains with each article. Request the GCM.ARC or GCM.ZIP file for a copy of the magazine. To request the GCM.ZIP file via the Internet, do the following: Address a message to: FTPMAIL@TBB.COM Compose a one line message of: GET GCM.ZIP Send the message. You will get a reply message with the file attached to it.