Date: Mon, 18 Jan 1999 11:12:21 -0800 From: Clare Howell Subject: IYF-Conservative Group Threatens Lawsuit Over TransTeacher MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Editor: Clare Howell, clare@gpac.org Contact: Linda Owen, St. Paul Pioneer Press (651) 228-5432 CONSERVATIVE GROUP TREATENS LAWSUIT OVER TRANS-TEACHER ====================================================== [Blaine, MN: 16 Jan 99] CALLING TRANSEXUAL WOMAN ALYSSA Williams "a man pretending to be a woman", the American Center for Law and Justice, a Pat Robertson financed organization, is threatening to sue a Minnesota school district unless they remove Williams from her job as music teacher at Roosevelt Middle School in Blaine. 'Parents in Touch', a local group, complained to the Anoka-Hennepin school district about Williams' presence in the classroom. They want her to have no contact with students, although they cite no misconduct by Williams, nor do they question her credentials. They charge that school administrators have disciplined and intimidated students for speaking out against Williams and opting out of her classes. Minnesota is the only state with a human rights law that forbids discrimination against transgendered people. The senior counsel for the conservative group, Francis Manion, wrote a letter to 'Parents in Touch' saying that his organization would sue the school district if the group's demands are not met. The letter states that the school district went beyond the requirements of the state law and illegally promoted Williams' lifestyle as "acceptable, normal and not to be thought of as any different than traditional male- female gender roles." School board chairman Michael Sullivan said the board would look into specific compliants of harassment or retribution against students protesting Williams' presence. However, board members and administrators say they have received no such compliants. ### 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.