Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 14:05:12 -0800 From: richter@eecs.berkeley.edu (Jean Richter) Subject: MI: Gerry Crane passes away From: LstRmantic@aol.com Many of you may remember Gerry Crane, the Byron Center (Michigan) High School band director who's job was threatened when the public school he worked for learned he was gay. A few days ago he had what they thought was a heart attack and he slipped into a coma, though they found no traces of any heart damage. They then suspected it was an allergic reation. Tonight I received the following letter from a friend of mine informing me that Gerry has passed away. Please widly distribute this post. Many people around the world responded to support Gerry when he was threatened by the school board and I know they would want to know this information. Please pray for Randy, Gerry's partner. He was steadfast during the whole scandal and is one of the sweetest men I've ever had the pleasure of meeting, along with Gerry. I'm sure he'll be devastated. I'll provide updates as I get them. Brad Bergman LstRmantic@aol.com (formerly BBergman01@aol.com) >Dear friends, >It is 3:50 am Friday morning, and I have just returned from St. Mary's Hospital. >About a half an hour ago Gerry Crane died. I had the tremendous privilege of being >there in the room. Afterward, one friend described it as a holy moment. I can think >of no better way to describe the experience. >Gerry is now at peace. Randy faces a difficult road of grieving. Actually, many of >us do, but especially Randy. Please pray. >Earlier in the evening we held a prayer vigil at the chapel at Westminster Church. It >was a beautiful weaving of God's Spirit through the words, prayers, and songs of >many people. What most impressed me was how Gerry touched the lives of so >many people. What a gift he was to us! We thank God for that gift! January 3, 1997 TO: All GLSTN Members and Supporters FROM: Kevin Jennings It is with tremendous sadness that I write to inform you that one of our members, Gerry Crane, died this morning. Gerry suffered a heart attack on Friday December 27 and lapsed into a coma, from which he never awakened prior to his death this morning. He was 32 years old. Many of you will remember Gerry's story, and perhaps you met him at our Midwestern Conference last March in Chicago.. An outstanding teacher who had revived the nearly-defunct music program in the Byron Center (MI) Schools, Gerry answered a student's question about his commitment ring with the truth about his marriage to his husband, Randy Block, in the fall of 1995. Gerry then faced relentless harassment for the remainder of the school year, including a full school board meeting where it was voted that homosexuals were "unfit role models" as well as the sending of anti-gay hate videotapes to all of his students' families by a colleague. At year's end, he accepted a one-year severance package rather than return and continue to face this harassment. This fall, he was involved in the fledgling GLSTN/Kalamazoo chapter, which was formed in the wake of the Byron Center controversy. I have just spoken with Gerry's husband, Randy Block, who has asked me to inform you that, in lieu of flowers, the family will welcome gifts to a scholarship established in Gerry's memory. Please direct gifts to: The Gerald M. Crane Memorial Music Scholarship Fund c/o The Grand Rapids Foundation 161 Ottawa Ave. Suite 209-C Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Gerry's death leaves me deeply sad as well as deeply angry. While Gerry was not directly assassinated by bigots (as were leaders such as Medger Evers or Harvey Milk), he may as well have been. My heart goes out to Randy and their friends in this time of enormous pain and loss. May we all recommit ourselves to our work so that I never have to write a memo of this nature again. ======================================================== GLSTNAlert is a GLSTN news bulletin service of the The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Teachers Network (GLSTN). ======================================================== To Unsubscribe from GLSTNAlert simply send an email to GLSTNAlert@aol.com with the words "Unsubscribe GLSTNAlert" in the subject line (no quotes and note the lack of space in GLSTNAlert). ======================================================== To Subscribe to GLSTNAlert simply send an email to GLSTNAlert@aol.com with the words "Subscribe GLSTNAlert" in the subject line (no quotes and note the lack of space in GLSTNAlert). Also: please write your name in the message portion of your email. ======================================================== The Detroit News, January 4, 1996 OBITUARY Gay teacher forced out of conservative high school dies at 32 GRAND RAPIDS -- Gerry Crane, who was forced to resign as a music teacher because he was gay, died Friday from complications of a heart attack. He was 32. Crane, who began teaching music at Byron Center High School in 1993, quit his job last July after months of unrelenting hostility from the community. Byron Center, 15 miles south of Grand Rapids, is typical of many western Michigan communities where conservative Christians have significant influence. Crane's family declined comment through Saint Mary's Health Services, the Grand Rapids hospital where he died early Friday. "Mr. Crane's family and loved ones request prayers, support and that their privacy be respected at this time," spokeswoman Micki Benz said in a statement. Benz said Crane suffered a heart attack Dec. 27 and had been in intensive care all week. She said funeral arrangements were pending. "We are stunned and saddened by this sudden and unexpected tragedy," Byron Center Education Association President David Prindle said in a release. "He will be missed." A release put out by Byron Center Public Schools said officials there were saddened to hear of Crane's death. "Despite the prior public controversy, Mr. Crane's dedication to teaching and to music was unwavering and unquestioned," the release said. "He will be missed by the many friends he made while working in the district." The campaign against Crane included the threat of dismissal after school board members discovered he "married" his same-sex partner and an explicit video mailed to the parents of his students that showed homosexual acts. The anti-gay packages mailed last February included a letter signed by 38 people associated with a group called Parents for Traditional Values. Crane will be remembered by his supporters as an excellent teacher who revived a mediocre music program and produced the school's first musical. Opponents, however, believed his sexual orientation set a poor example for teen-agers. Richard Gregory, pastor of Byron Center Bible Church, had said just as news of Crane's homosexuality was spreading through the community in December 1995 that he "made a choice that imperils the morals of our community. The issue is the biblical authority that teaches that homosexuality is immoral." A woman who answered the phone at the church Friday said Gregory would have no comment on Crane's death. Although the school board did not fire Mr. Crane, it issued a statement that December, making its stance clear. "Individuals who espouse homosexuality do not constitute proper role models as teachers for students in this district," the board said in pledging to keep him under scrutiny. Stung by the criticism, Crane nonetheless pledged to stick around. But by July, he opted to take a severance package and move on. Crane received support from his students who gave him a standing ovation during a holiday concert on Dec. 7, 1995. "We want him to know we are 100 percent behind him," senior Joe Pennington said at the time. NOTES: from BCS41@aol.com - The telephone number for Byron Center Bible Church is 616-878-9658. - Below are a list of all daily newspapers in Michigan for those who wish to compose a letter to the editor about this sad situation: MICHIGAN The Daily Telegram,Box 647,Adrian,MI,49221 -(Fax 517-263-4152, print run 17,316) Albion Recorder,111 W. Center St.,Albion,MI,49224 -(Fax 517-629-5790, print run 13,000) Sun,Box 425,Alma,MI,48801 (print run 11,200) News,Box 367,Alpena,MI,49707 -(Fax 517-354-2096, print run 12,559) (E-MAIL: alpenanews@oweb.com) Ann Arbor News,340 E. Huron St.,Ann Arbor,MI,48106 -(Fax 313-994-6879, print run 53,988) -(E-Mail: LetterNews@aol.com) Huron Daily Tribune,211 N. Heisterman Street,Bad Axe,MI,48413 -(Fax 517-269-9893, print run 8,652) Battle Creek Enquirer,155 W. Van Buren St.,Battle Creek,MI,49016 -(Fax 616-964-0299, print run 28,664) -(E-MAIL: enquirer@ccm.tdsnet.com) Bay City Times,311 5th St.,Bay City,MI,48706 -(Fax 517-893-0649, print run 39,920) The Pioneer,502 N. State St.,Big Rapids,MI,49307 -(Fax 616-796-1152, print run 5,200) Cadillac News,P. O. Box 640,Cadillac, MI,49601 Daily Tribune,Box 290,Cheboygan,MI,49721 -(Fax 616-627-5331, print run 4,800) The Daily Reporter,15 W. Pearl St.,Coldwater,MI,49036 -(Fax 517-278-6041, print run 7,200) Daily University Star (E-MAIL: jh@swt.edu) Detroit News,615 W. Lafayette,Detroit,MI,48226 -(Fax 313-222-6417, print run 481,766) (E-MAIL: Letters@detnews.com) Detroit Free Press,321 W. Lafayette Blvd.,Detroit,MI,48231 -(Fax 313-222-6774, print run 622,349) (E-MAIL: Editpg@det-freepress.com or DFPLetters@cis.compuserve.com) Dowagiac Daily News,Box 30,Dowagiac,MI,49047 -(Fax 616-782-5290, print run 3,000) The State News,343 Student Services Bldg.,East Lansing,MI,48824 -(Fax 517-353-2599, print run 38,000) -(EMAIL: snews@pilot.msu.edu) The Daily Press,600 Ludington,Escanaba,MI,49829 -(Fax 906-786-9006, print run 11,000) Flint Journal,200 E. First St.,Flint,MI,48502 -(Fax 810-767-7518, print run 106,284) (E-MAIL: fj@flintj.com) Grand Haven Tribune,101 N. Third Street,Grand Haven,MI,49417 -(Fax 616-842-9584, print run 11,000) Grand Rapids Press,155 Michigan St. NW,Grand Rapids,MI,49502 -(Fax 616-222-5212, print run 146,749) -(E-MAIL: editor@gr-press.com) The Daily News,Box 340,Greenville,MI,48838 -(Fax 616-754-8559, print run 8,500) Hillsdale Daily News,Box 287, Hillsdale,MI,49242 -(Fax 517-437-3963, print run 8,300) Holland Sentinel,54 W. 8th St.,Holland,MI,49423 -(Fax 616-392-3526-?, print run 19,104) The Daily Mining Gazette,206 Shelden Avenue,Houghton,MI,49931 (print run 12,500) Ionia Sentinel-Standard,114-6 N. Depot,Ionia,MI,48846 -(Fax 616-527-6860, print run 4,200) The Daily News,Box 460,Iron Mountain,MI,49801 -(Fax 906-774-7660, print run 11,282) Ironwood Daily Globe,118 E. McLeod Ave.,Ironwood,MI,49938 -(Fax 906-932-5358, print run 8,100) Jackson Citizen Patriot,214 S. Jackson St.,Jackson,MI,49204 -(Fax 517-787-9711, print run 37,634) Kalamazoo Gazette,401 S. Burdick Street,Kalamazoo,MI,49007 -(Fax 616-345-0583, print run 64,l201 - no out of Michigan letters accepted) Western Michigan Herald,1523 Faunce Student Services Building, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI,49008 (E-MAIL: WMU_Herald@wmich.edu) Lansing State Journal,120 E. Lenawee St.,Lansing,MI,48919 -(Fax 517-377-1284, print run 70,652) Daily News,Box 340,Ludington,MI,49431 -(Fax 616-843-4011, print run 8,000) Manistee News Advocate,75 Maple Street,Manistee,MI,49660 -(Fax 616-723-4733, print run 5,800) The Mining Journal,Box 430,Marquette,MI,49855 -(Fax 906-228-5556, print run 18,326) Marshall Chronicle,115 S. Grand St.,Marshall,MI,49068 -(Fax 616-781-4012, print run 1,700) Menominee Herald-Leader,Box 10,Menominee,MI,49858 Midland Daily News,Box 432,Midland,MI,48640 -(Fax 517-835-9151, print run 16,610) (E-MAIL: mdnletters@mdn.net) Monroe News,Box 1176,Monroe,MI,48161 -(Fax 313-242-3175, print run 23,600) The Macomb Daily,P. O. Box 707,Mount Clemens,MI,48043 -(Fax 810-469-2892, print run 48,253) (E-MAIL: edit@macombdaily.com) Mount Pleasant-Alma Times,215 N. Main St.,Mount Pleasant,MI,48858 -(Fax 517-773-0382, print run 11,000) Muskegon Chronicle,Box 59,Muskegon,MI,49443 -(Fax 616-722-2552, print run 47,741) Star,217 N. 4th St.,Niles,MI,49120 -(Fax 616-683-2175, print run 4,500) The Argus-Press,Box 399,Owosso,MI,48867 -(Fax 517-725-6376, print run 12,500) (E-MAIL: argus@shianet.org) Petosky News Review,Box 528,Petosky,MI,49770 -(Fax 616-347-6833, print run 10,801) The Oakland Press,P. O. Box 9,Pontiac,MI,48056 -(Fax 810-332-8885, print run 74,600) Times Herald,911 Military St.,Port Huron,MI,48060 -(Fax 810-989-6294, print run 30,500) (E-MAIL: tmshrld@ic.net) The Daily Tribune,210 E. 3rd St.,Royal Oak,MI,48068 -(Fax 810-541-7903, print run 26,331) Saginaw News,203 S. Washington Ave.,Saginaw,MI,48605 -(Fax 517-752-3115, print run 56,626) The Herald-Palladium,Box 128,Saint Joseph,MI,49085 -(Fax 616-429-7661, print run 33,598) The Evening News,109 Arlington St.,Sault Ste Marie,MI,49783 -(Fax 906-632-1222, print run 8,300) South Haven Daily Tribune,259 Kalamazoo Street,South Haven,MI,49090 -(Fax 616-637-8415, print run 2,100) Sturgis Journal,Box 660,Sturgis,MI,49091 -(Fax 616-651-2296) (E-MAIL: journal@sturgisjournal.com) Three Rivers Commercial-News,124 N. Main St.,Three Rivers,MI,49093 (print run 11,600) Traverse City Record-Eagle,Box 632,Traverse City,MI,49685-0632 -(Fax 616-946-8273, print run 24,696) Wayne Eagle,35540 W. Michigan Ave.,Wayne,MI,48184 Ypsilanti Press,20 E. Michigan Ave.,Ypsilanti,MI,48197 -(Fax 313-487-8387, print run 15,634) THE DETROIT FREE PRESS January 4, 1996 321 W. Lafayette Blvd.,Detroit,MI,48231 (Fax 313-222-6774, print run 622,349) (E-MAIL: Editpg@det-freepress.com or DFPLetters@cis.compuserve.com) (http://www.freep.com) Small town respected, reviled gay teacher BY BARTON DEITERS, Free Press Special Writer [Deleted article. staff@qrd.org] ====================================================================== 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/