Date: Fri, 09 Apr 1999 16:34:16 -0700 From: Jean Richter Subject: 4/9/99 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. CA: Openly gay Redondo Beach school board member re-elected in landslide; Teens go to studio to protest gay content in "Dawson's Creek" 2. Info on book on transgender families 3. MN: Former student sues school district over anti-gay abuse =============================================================================== Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 15:37:58 -0800 From: "Jay M. Kohorn and D. Zeke Zeidler" Subject: Openly Gay School Board Member Re-elected in Landslide FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jay Kohorn March 10, 1999 (310) 540-8600 OPENLY GAY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER RE-ELECTED IN LANDSLIDE Zeke Zeidler highest vote-getter for any Redondo Beach office Openly Gay Redondo Beach School Board member Zeke Zeidler has been re-elected to his second 4-year term in a landslide. Zeidler, first elected to the school board in 1995, faced a field of five other candidates, including two supported by the far-right. The candidates were vying for two seats; the other incumbent chose not to seek re-election. Zeidler far-outdistanced the other candidates, gaining 31 percent of the total votes cast with voters able to cast votes for two candidates. An ally won the second seat with 18.8 percent of the vote. However, with 5654 actual voters participating in the overall city election, Zeidler garnished 2937 votes, well over 50 percent and more than any other candidate or incumbent for any office in the city. The far-right opposition was formed in response to the school board adopting same-sex domestic partnership benefits in October as part of the teachers union negotiated contract. Campaign literature referred to Zeidler as "a self-proclaimed openly homosexual ... running for the School Board to advance a personal agenda." "I am grateful to the voters and our campaign supporters for giving me the opportunity to build on our educational successes," Zeidler said. His Gay and Lesbian community supporters included the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund and the Stonewall Democratic Club. "This feels like a huge vote of confidence for the school board, our new superintendent, and the direction in which we've been going," Zeidler continued. "Our children and their education continue to be my number one priority." Among the school district accomplishments, Zeidler cites class sizes of 20 or less in kindergarten through third grade, expanded arts programs and accelerated courses, and take-home laptop computers for each ninth grader. In addition to the domestic partnership benefits, all of the school district policies in the past four years have included sexual orientation in the anti-discrimination clauses. ### ============================================================================== Associated Press, March 12, 1999 Teen-agers protest homosexual theme in television show WILMINGTON - More than 30 teen-agers gathered outside Wilmington's EUE Screen Gems Studios to protest the homosexual subject matter of the locally filmed television show Dawson's Creek. [Deleted article. filemanager@qrd.org] ================================================================================ From: MaryBoenke@aol.com Date: Sat, 13 Mar 1999 00:18:24 EST Thanks for your inquiry about my book and the TSOn publication. The following blurb will answer your questions. - - - TRANS FORMING FAMILIES: REAL STORIES ABOUT TRANSGENDERED LOVED ONES is a great new book, hot off the press last week, edited and self-published by Mary Boenke. The book is a collection of stories by mothers of very young gender variant children, parents of adult transgendered folks, spouses and partners, and even grandparents, siblings and friends. Written mostly by "ordinary people", who have all struggled from bewilderment to acceptance and even celebration, these 31 stories serve as role models for all those families who are still hurting, rejecting, or feeling isolated -- or who have already "arrived"! The subjects vary greatly, -- both FTM's and MTF's, intersexed persons, cross-dressers, adults and children, mostly American, but several from other countries; some even with physical disabiities, and from all walks of life. But all are stories of profound caring, stories of pioneering families who put love above all else and come out accepting, even celebrating the courage and specialness of their transgenered loved one. Jamison Green says "No concerned parent, family member or friends of a transgendered or transsexual person can fail to be moved by these stories, a long overdue book, a book of love..." The book also includes a glossary, current list of trans organizations and a trans-family reading list. Also an Introduction by Jessica Xavier, Foreword by Robert Berstein, and Preface by the editor about her own family experiences and learnings. Predicted to be a best seller within the trans community. Mary is the mother of an FTM son, Chair of PFLAG's Transgendered Special Outreach Network (TSON), founder and Co-President of the Roanoke PFLAG chapter, and a trans-activist. (She is also a co-author, with Jessica Xavier and Nancy Sharp, of the popular 16 page introductory booklet, Our Trans Children, which has sold over 13,000 copies. 2nd edition, updated, now available, also from Mary [below]. $3 for 3, $18 for 25, $34 for 50, etc. including mailing.) The book is $12, including mailing, through April 30. (Then to cover price, $13.95.) 164 pages, paperback. Make check out to Mary Boenke and mail to her at: 180 Bailey Blvd., Hardy, VA 24101. Inquire about larger orders and consignments. For reviews, excerpts, and more information visit the book's website: www.aiyiyi.com/transbook, call 540/890-3957, or email maryboenke@aol.com. Please repost anywhere appropriate. - - - Discount for larger orders and'or consignment info also availble. Ask me! Luv, Mary ================================================================================= Duluth News-Tribune, March 13, 1999 Box 169000,Duluth,MN,55816 (Fax 218-720-4120 ) (E-MAIL: newstrib@duluth.infi.net ) ( http://www.duluthnews.com/ ) Duluth school district sued by former student Allegations include taunting, harassment, abuse By Mark Stodghill, News-Tribune Staff writer A former student is suing the Duluth school district alleging he was discriminated against in school because he was perceived as being gay. [Deleted article. filemanager@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/