Date: Sat, 30 Sep 1995 11:16:07 -0400 (EDT) From: David Casti Subject: ACTION ALERT: Congressional Hearings Submitted by: John Waiblinger On October 13, Congress will be holding testimony on "the homosexual agenda in our public schools". These hearings are the result of lobbying by Lou Sheldon and the Traditional Values Coalition and seek to have congress deny federal funding to any public school system that promotes any type of lesbian/gay/bi supportive kind of program. The LA Unified School District and its Gay and Lesbian Education Commission are Sheldon's #1 target. Currently the testimony that will be presented to Congress is incredibly one-sided. Provided below is a direct quote from a Sheldon mailing that should provide a good idea of what we can expect: -------------QUOTE FROM SHELDON-------------------------- The Congressional Subcommittee hearing is so important. Previously we had the "high moral ground" in explaining how they are promoting homosexuality. This shows they are "after our kids." Now, they are using the idea of "safety" for gay and lesbian students, particularly, stopping them from committing suicide. That is not true and we must expose the lie in it. The foremost authority on homosexulaity, Dr. Charles Socarides, says, "Kids are not committing suicide because of actions against homosexuality but because they know within themselves that is it not normal." --------------END OF DISGUSTING QUOTE--------------------- We can not allow this type of testimony to go unchallenged or for "our side" to not be represented. The mental health, the very lives, of a future generation of queer people is at stake. Congress must be deluged with messages indicating that America does not have the view that kids should be allowed to kill themselves because programs that would provide them positive support are contrary to American Family Values. Please take the time to check out the following information resources: The local YouthArts Forum Website contains a wealth of informational background materials (as well as the full text of the Lou Sheldon mailing on the issue) and some action suggestions: http://spidey.usc.edu/qf/yap Click on IMPORTANT or go directly to this information at: http://spidey.usc.edu/qf/yap/ed/forum/rights/index.html Another incredibly important site is the P.E.R.S.O.N. Website which is helping with the organization of a National call the Congress day on October 2. Their address is: http://www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/NACYSO/alert.html Do help! Our movement must organize to protect our youth and fight the Right's effort to portray any and all programs for lgb youth as "recuiting". We should not allow another generation of queers to grow up in isolation, harassment, and self-hate. I would request anyone who wishes their comments to be added to the YouthArts Reader Forum Pages to send me a copy of their e-mail, etc. Many Thanks, John Waiblinger http://www.usc.edu/Library/QF/john