Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 17:18:43 -0700 From: richter@eecs.berkeley.edu (Jean Richter) Subject: 7/23/97 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. More on the biological origins of homosexuality 2. NH: GLSTN responds to bad editorial on gay youth suicide 3. WA: Gay student sues school district for antigay harassment 4. GLSTN's Kevin Jennings meets with President Clinton 5. CA: Letter to editor in support of Alameda teacher 6. NE: Letter to editor in support of AIDS education in schools ================================================================== Date: Tue, 22 Jul 1997 15:34:35 -0400 From: Maggie Heineman To: schools@critpath.org (The Schools List) Chandler Burr has a website at http://members.aol.com/gaygene There are still differences of opinion concerning the importance of the various factors which contribute to the development of human sexuality. After I saw the post on the schools list this morning I wrote to Chandler to ask him if his ideas had changed in the last four years since 1993 Atlantic Monthly article. He responded: >Maggie-- > >The answer to your question-- would I change anything in the Atlantic >article "Sexuality and Biology"-- is both an emphatic yes and an emphatic no. > Yes, if you mean would I update it, and by that standard I have completely >changed it in the formof my new book "A Separate Creation: The Search for the >Biological Origins of Sexual Orientation." (Hyperion 1996). The research has >gone well beyond what was available in 1993, that article is now completely >out of date, and all the newdetails are laid out in the book. But no if you >mean would I retract at all the idea that sexual orientation per se, on an >instinctual-- not cultural-- level, is 100% biological. > >Chandler > ===================================================================== From: RLKottwitz@aol.com Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 01:42:42 -0400 (EDT) Subject: GLSTN NH Replies to Lessner and Union Leader The New Hampshire chapter of GLSTN sent the following letter to the Manchester Union Leader in response to Richard Lessner's editorial challenging the gay teen suicide statistics. [The original editorial can be found at URL: http://www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/Alerts/States/NewHampshire/suicide.html] Randy Kottwitz GLSTN New Hampshire P. O. Box 172 Northwood, NH 03261-0172 Phone/fax: (603) 463-5608 July 22, 1997 Manchester Union Leader P. O. Box 9555 Manchester, NH 03108-9555 via fax: (603) 668-6397 To the editor: We were deeply dismayed to read Richard Lessner's unconscionable attacks on children in his two recent editorials entitled "Lies and Statistics -- Parts I and II." Although he is correct that the 1989 Bush Administration Health and Human Services report on youth suicide included only reports on secondary research, he conveniently neglected the author's plea for primary research in order to substantiate the report's findings. That plea has resulted in primary research studies which more than substantiate the gruesome HHS findings. In 1995, the Massachusetts Department of Education conducted a youth risk behavior study of 4,159 grade 9 - 12 students in 59 randomly selected schools. Because of the high student and school response rates, the results of this scientifically reliable survey apply to public high school students across Massachusetts -- both rural and urban. That survey reported the following: "Students who describe themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual and/or who have had same sex sexual contact reported being significantly more likely than their peers to face threats, attempt suicide and abuse drugs and alcohol. When compared to peers, this group was: 1) Four times more likely to have attempted suicide; 2) Five times more likely to miss school because of feeling unsafe; and 3) Nearly five times more likely to have used cocaine." On the subject of suicide alone, the survey results show that 36.5% of gay, lesbian and bisexual students have attempted suicide in the past year as opposed to 8.9% of other students. Admittedly, Massachusetts is not New Hampshire. Given our shared media market and the similar demographics of our populations, a survey of New Hampshire students surely would yield similar results. Considering the isolation and generally more homophobic culture of our state, our children are probably more likely to have considered "the final solution" to end their struggle with sexual identity. Impersonal statistics do not express the horrific impact of lesbian and gay teen suicides on family values and family life. How many mothers, how many fathers, must suffer the tragedy of losing a child because of the homophobia directed against their children? The suicide of a lesbian or gay teen sears the souls of other family members -- brothers and sisters, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and in-laws. Friends, teachers, and clergy who knew them also must deal with the tragedy. These young people are flesh and blood, real people with real families. If the rate is inflated or wrong, exactly what rate of suicide among lesbian and gay teenagers would be acceptable to Mr. Lessner? Using the bully pulpit of the editorial page of our only statewide newspaper to attack our children, both gay and straight, has immeasurable negative ramifications. Mr. Lessner's editorials perpetuate the climate of hostility that lesbian and gay youth must face. His unloving, uncaring remarks clearly do not lead to discussions that would reduce the suicide rate and its causes. We encourage Mr. Lessner to engage in dialogues with the families of lesbian and gay youth, and the organizations in New Hampshire that work directly with them. People who care about children, all children, usually attempt to learn more, to find out how everyone can help. That would be a magnificent use of the privilege the bully pulpit provides. Sincerely, Randal L Kottwitz & Knox Turner Co-chairs, GLSTN New Hampshire* Merrimack/Northwood, New Hampshire *GLSTN New Hampshire is a partnership of Granite State educators and community members affirming that each member of every school community is to be respected, regardless of sexual orientation. ===================================================================== Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 17:30:33 -0400 (EDT) From: "Channel Q" Sender: DennyCLU@aol.com Subject: ACLU News: Gay Student Sues Washington State School ============================================= AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION http://www.aclu.org ============================================= News from the ACLU of Washington... ============================================= Gay Student Sues Kent School District Over Failure To Take Action To Stop Harassment FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, July 23, 1997 SEATTLE -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington today filed a lawsuit against Kent School District on behalf of a gay youth who suffered repeated harassment in school because of his perceived sexual orientation. The suit charges that Kent school officials refused to enforce District anti-harassment policies to prevent further harassment of the student. The lawsuit was filed in United States District Court in Seattle. "Every student should be able to attend school without suffering verbal and physical abuse. We hope that this lawsuit will result in Kent and other school districts taking action to prevent students from being harassed because they are gay," said Kathleen Taylor, Executive Director of the ACLU of Washington. In October, 1996, student Mark Iversen was brutally beaten and kicked in a Kentwood High School classroom by at least eight classmates, who yelled epithets such as "faggot" and "queer" as they struck him. Over 30 other students watched the assault, and many actively encouraged the violence. The incident culminated years of verbal and physical harassment for Iversen in Kent schools. Mark and his mother repeatedly informed Kent school officials about the harassment and asked for their help to stop the abuse. School officials failed to enforce disciplinary and anti-harassment policies with respect to Mark. Their failure to take meaningful action to protect the student contributed to the continuation of the harassment and the October, 1996 assault. By seventh grade, the notion that Mark was gay spread through Kent Junior High School. Classmates began harassing him in school on nearly a daily basis, including haranguing him with derogatory terms such as "faggot" and "queer." The verbal assaults were accompanied by the threat of physical violence. In junior and senior high school Mark suffered the following humiliating treatment, all tolerated by the school administration: * He was pushed into lockers with a broomstick and called "fag" while two teachers sat by and did nothing. * An instructor stated to Mark, "I already have 20 girls in my class. I don't need another." * A classmate slammed a handwritten note on Mark's chest threatening "You're dead fag." * A teacher publicly questioned whether Mark was qualified to give blood based on the perception that Mark was gay. * When Mark reported to a teacher the abuse he had been suffering based on his sexual orientation, the teacher became antagonistic toward him, banned him from her classroom, and failed him. Largely because of the unabated harassment, Mark suffered severe emotional distress and depression while at Kent Junior High. He and his mother met with the principal to plead for School District assistance in stopping the harassment, which had begun to cause Mark to suffer stress-related headaches and stomach aches. The principal responded that Mark had brought such harassment on himself, and only Mark was in a position to stop it. In high school the verbal and physical harassment continued, as did the School District's refusal to take any meaningful steps to stop it despite repeated requests from Mark and his family. On several occasions when Mark and his family informed school officials of the abuse and requested protection, he was told words to the effect that he should expect such treatment if he acted, or was perceived to be, gay. School District policies state that all students should be free from all forms of harassment. Despite repeated appeals to school officials for help, the District failed to act to stop the harassment. Fearing for his safety, he continued to suffer severe emotional stress and stress-related stomach aches and headaches. The lawsuit seeks to have Kent School District required to adopt and enforce anti-harassment policies that explicitly will protect students from persecution based on their sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation. The lawsuit seeks to have the District required to adopt measures to educate teachers and administrators on issues of sexual orientation, including instruction on means to deal with harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation. The suit also seeks compensatory and punitive damages for the violation of the student's rights to equal protection and due process. ACLU-W cooperating attorney Jim Talbot is handling the case for the ACLU-W. --END-- ============================================= ================================================================== From: GLSTNAlert@aol.com Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 18:53:18 -0400 (EDT) Subject: GLSTN E.D. Kevin Jennings Meets with Pres. Clinton For Immediate Release July 23, 1997 Contact: Kevin Jennings, Executive Director, 212-727-0135 GLSTN Executive Director Kevin Jennings Meets with President Clinton in Historic Gathering with Lesbian and Gay Community Leaders Needs of LGBT Students Are a Prime Focus of Discussion (New York, NY) GLSTN Executive Director Kevin Jennings joined eleven other leaders of the lesbian and gay community in an open agenda, ninety-minute private meeting with President Clinton in the White House yesterday. Participants were given the opportunity to air their concerns and needs in a frank, open discussion with the President. This was the first meeting between the President and lesbian and gay community leaders in this format since 1993. "Having never participated in something like this before, I was unsure of how things would flow, but I was pleased to find the President open, honest, and receptive to our concerns," said Jennings. "I was especially delighted that the needs of lesbian and gay students were made a primary focus of the meeting." Jennings noted that the President responded with dismay when statistics on anti-gay violence and harassment in schools were shared. "I believe the President "got it" on this issue, and that he will now include anti-gay violence as part of his campaign to create safe schools and equal education opportunity for all." Jennings also applauded the support that the issue of safe schools received from other community leaders present. "To a person, every representative of the community spoke to this issue. I believe the President was impressed by our unanimity as well as the passion we all brought to the issue of protecting our youth. I think he knows now that we won't stop until all of our youth have the chance to grow up into happy, healthy adults." Reporters' Note: A black and white photo of Mr. Jennings is available in electronic form over the Internet or by calling 212-727-0135. Other meeting participants included Tim Gill (Quark, Inc.), Elizabeth Birch (HRC), Kerry Lobel (NGLTF), Kevin Cathcart (Lambda Legal Defense), Jeff Soref (Empire State Pride Agenda), Lori Jean (Los Angeles Lesbian and Gay Center) Brian Bond (Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund), Gloria Nieto (People of Color AIDS Task Force), Martin Ornelas-Quintero (LLEGO), Nancy McDonald (PFLAG), and Verna Eggleston (Hetrick--Martin Institute). With over sixty chapters, and a membership of over five thousand teachers, parents, and concerned citizens, GLSTN is the largest national organization working to insure that schools are places where all people are respected and valued, regardless of sexual orientation. For more information, visit our web site at http://www.glstn.org/ or call our office at 212-727-0135. ________________________________________________________ Do not hit reply to send an email to GLSTN. GLSTN's email address is glstn@glstn.org Staff Addresses: Deidre Cuffee-Gray: dcuffee-gray@glstn.org Janice Goldfarb: jgoldfarb@glstn.org Kevin Jennings: kjennings@glstn.org John Spear: jspear@glstn.org Student Pride USA: studentpride@glstn.org GLSTN Interns: GLSTNintrn@aol.com ======================================================== 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. ======================================================== ====================================================================== SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, July 23, 1997 KNOW-NOTHINGS Editor -- I am writing as a gay teacher in the San Francisco school district. Once again, Christian Fundamentalism rears its ugly head. Clearly, the Trelow's charges are intended not to protect their child, but prevent any discussion of the mere existence of gay people from occurring in the schools. I remind your readers that absolutely no sexually inappropriate speech occurred; only the mention of a television show, (initiated by a student), that millions of TV viewers saw. The charges are clearly intended to attack academic freedom and the First Amendment of the Constitution. In attempting to destroy the livelihood of this teacher; the Trelow's actions are reprehensible and fascistic. These folks are well connected with right-wingers who wish to push us all back into the closet. Every liberal thinker should speak out against these raging ``Know-Nothings,'' who are attempting to chill our constitutionally protected rights. VINCE QUACKENBUSH, San Francisco ====================================================================== Lincoln Journal-Star, July 21, 1997 P. O. Box 81609,Lincoln,NE,68501 (Fax 402-473-7291, print run 39,583) (E-MAIL: oped@nebweb.com) Blissful ignorance The old adage "ignorance is bliss" must be true in Lincoln. Does Mayor Mike Johanns believe that avoiding such issues as discussing condom use as part of AIDS prevention education in public schools and vetoing the Lincoln-Lancaster Women's Commission's sponsorship of the Lincoln Pride Fest will "protect" Lincoln from AIDS and gays? In a front page story of the Journal Star on July 15, "AIDS deaths down," Helene Gayle, a physician and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official, attributed the lower overall death rate of AIDS to greater awareness and the willingness to practice safe sex. Helen Stoddart, Lincoln ====================================================================== 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/