Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 17:46:58 -0700 From: Jean Richter Subject: 4/30/99 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. WA: Latest safe schools report released on web 2. New GLSEN email list for curriculum discussion 3. CA: PFLAG president visits Fresno 4. NY: Job posting for Adolescent AIDS Coordinator 5. LA: Was anti-gay discrimination behind superintendent's contract non-renewal? ================================================================================== Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1999 11:20:18 -0700 From: "Reis, Elizabeth" Subject: exciting news: report released today Exciting news!! The Safe Schools Coalition of Washington is proud to announce the release today, on our website < http://www.safeschools-wa.org > of our newest report, "83,000 Youth: Selected Findings of Eight Population-Based Studies" We are still about $2,500 short of being able to print the report. Donations are very, very welcome. Make checks payable to "Safe Schools/NWC" and mail them to the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment, P.O. Box 21428, Seattle, WA 98111-3428. Or call with your credit card: 206-233-9136. You can also help us afford to print the report by prepaying for an order now (suggested donation: at least $3.33 per copy) and waiting the month or two it takes for us to gather donations to print it. Or designate your donation of $333. to cover our sending copies to 100 Washington State principals and school superintendents. We would especially like to thank Elizabeth Saewyc, Michael Resnick, Shaun Donahue, Kelly Hale, Pamela Hillard, Nancy Peterfreund, Kevin Gogin, Phong Pham, Tim Hack, and Doug White for their making this report possible through sharing their data. We would also like to acknowledge the support of Tracy Flynn and Tony Vetro with data analysis. And, as always, we are grateful to Gabi Clayton for website design and Karen Reed who is providing graphic design for the print version of the report. Beth Reis Public Health, Seattle & King County (Public Health Educator and liaison to the Safe Schools Coalition of Washington) 2124 Fourth Ave, Seattle, WA 98121 phone: 206-296-4755 (8-5 Pacific time) voice-mail: 206-205-6156 (24 hours) fax: 206-296-0184 email: elizabeth.reis@metrokc.gov =============================================================================== GLSEN INTRODUCES NEW LIST-SERVE FOR CURRICULUM IDEAS We are excited to introduce GLSENTeach. GLSENTeach is a discussion-based forum for educators. Teachers will be able to discuss curricula, teaching strategies, resources and everyday advice with their peers. They can also share classroom experiences, lesson plans and suggest ideas for research projects. This list will also provide information about GLSEN's in-school programming work. To subscribe, send an email to glsenlists@glsen.org with the following as the first line of your email message: Subscribe GLSENTeach. by Carrie Obry (National GLSEN Communications Associate, cobry@glsen.org) ================================================================================ Fresno Bee, April 27, 1999 1626 E Street,Fresno,CA,93789 (Fax 209-441-6499 ) (E-MAIL: letters@fresnobee.com ) ( http://www.fresnobee.com/ ) Gay-group president urges airing of views By John G. Taylor, The Fresno Bee Paul Beeman is a retired United Methodist minister inclined to fold his hands behind his head as he reflects on life's quirks, such as how much he has in common with shock-rocker Marilyn Manson. Beeman is national president of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, a group that offers support and seeks to protect the civil rights of homosexuals and their families. Just as Manson is viewed as a pariah by those who oppose his May 4 Fresno concert, Beeman recently stepped into the lion's den when he visited the Rev. Fred Phelps in Topeka, Kan. Phelps promotes a virulent anti-gay philosophy, staging protests nationwide. Beeman said they didn't see eye to eye. "I refuse to demonize either of them," said Beeman, referring to Manson and Phelps. "And I refuse to agree with either of them. They have every right to make their opinions known, short of inciting to violence. "We have to make a case for our convictions, rather than straitjacket those who disagree with us." Beeman and his wife, Betty, who alternate living in Mesa, Ariz., and Olympia, Wash., were in Fresno Monday as part of a swing through some of the 425 chapters of the PFLAG organization, which represents 75,000 households. Kathy Ward of Fresno said the local chapter includes 45 households. Within a period of five months, the Beemans learned their adult son and daughter were gay. "Our learning curve went straight up," he said. They used - and then threw away - phrases such as "This must be a phase," "Are you sure?" and "There are different ways to love people." They also learned that gay couples do "crazy things" like make breakfast, coach soccer and attend parent-teacher meetings. Summing up their extended relations, Betty Beeman said: "This family demonstrates what real family values are honesty, compassion, generosity, love, acceptance." On a sheet detailing his background, one of Beeman's top goals is listed as ensuring "safe space for all children in school and at worship." He was asked if there were parallels between the shootings at a Littleton, Colo., high school and the kind of behavior that leads to gay bashing. "Antisocial tendences begin early school is a setting where a lot of that escalation takes place," Beeman said. It would be a distortion of the truth, he said, to label the two alleged shooters, members of the "Trench Coat Mafia," as "normal victims of being teased at school." He said that's why intervention is crucial before tendencies become crimes. His organization helps form alliances between gay and straight students on campuses, allowing differing views to be aired without hostility. ================================================================================= POSITION AVAILABLE Posted: April 1999 The Adolescent AIDS Program at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New York is a nationally recognized program providing: Comprehensive clinical care for youth who are HIV positive and at risk On-site medical and psychosocial research Training of health professionals Innovative outreach/social marketing Gay & Lesbian Adolescent Health Resource Center Coordinator: The Adolescent AIDS Program has been newly funded to develop the Gay & Lesbian Adolescent Health Resource Center. We seek a coordinator to develop and implement the activities of this first statewide resource center. The resource center will provide up-to-date technical assistance; information and resources that will help adolescents, family members and providers obtain useful and practical medical and psychological care, treatment and referral information. Education/Experience: Masters and/or Bachelors degree(s) in: public health, social services or education. Education and/or experience serving gay and lesbian youth in health or human service settings a plus. A proven track record and three years experience in planning, outreach, health education, curriculum development and training. Ability to interact with diverse communities of consumers, advocates, service providers and decision-makers in the New York health and social services and education communities. Fax or mail cover letter and resume indicating position of interest to: (no calls please) Donna Futterman, MD, Director Adolescent AIDS Program - Montefiore Medical Center 111 East 210th Street, Bronx, NY 10467 No Calls. Fax: 718 882 0432 =================================================================================== From: "Oddist Lambrecht" Subject: Loss of Contract of ALLEN PARISH SUPERINTENDENT of SCHOOLS Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 22:57:49 -0500 The Allen Parish Superintendent of Schools Mr Louis Karam's Contract was not renewed last month. No one was told why in the papers. I asked a Board member Why?He never could tell a reason period.The real fact is most people in the Parish percieve Mr Karam as Gay.Tommorrow the Louisiana Senate votes on S.B.999 Empolyment Protection based on sexual orientation. =================================================================================== 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/