Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1999 16:10:04 -0800 From: Jean Richter Subject: 11/18/99 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. Use your computer to help document hate crimes 2. MI: Various letters on banned history displays 3. DC: Job posting: NYAC Racial and Economic Justice Coordinator ======================================================================== Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 05:54:56 -0700 From: HCDN@lambda.org Subject: Use your computer to help hate crime victims LAMBDA GLBT Community Services (LAMBDA) is seeking volunteers throughout North America to participate in the first-ever comprehensive online incident-reporting and support system. Hate crimes are a serious problem all over the world. The Hate Crimes Documentation Network (HCDN), a project of LAMBDA, allows victims of hate-based violence, discrimination, and harassment to report online what has happened to them. Anyone with access to a computer can join the HCDN. Volunteers are needed to make sure that victims, and those who become aware of hate-based incidents, know that help and support are only a mouse-click away. Victim service agencies, support organizations (such as P-FLAG), lawyers, activists, and others willing to offer support to victims of hate crimes are also encouraged to join the HCDN. LAMBDA GLBT Community Services is a non-profit organization working to help victims of domestic and hate violence, queer youth, and those seeking to understand sexual orientation and gender identity issues. The LAMBDA website is located at http://www.lambda.org Incident reports may be submitted to the Hate Crime Documentation Network (HCDN) at http://www.lambda.org For information on joining the HCDN, email HCDN@lambda.org To join the LAMBDA e-mail list, send a message to lambda-subscribe@onelist.com ======================================================================== Plymouth Observer, October 17, 1999 Plymouth, MI (E-Mail: volander@oe.homecomm.net ) ( http://observer-eccentric.com ) Letter: Display educated youth I have followed with a parent's interest, as well as the interest of an artist and a writer, the controversy surrounding the "diversity" displays, now dismantled, at both West Middle School and the high school in Plymouth. A statement once made by Malcolm Forbes has always been a favorite of mine to quote, and I am proud my three children have chosen his words, as well, to describe education. "The purpose of education," said Forbes, "is to replace an empty mind with an open one." How better to open a child's mind than to present the grand diversity of our world and its people for review and unfettered discussion? Evolution and creationism, the graphic horrors of war described by those who have linked it and the beauties of peace described by those who seek it, "The Virgin and St. Anne" by da Vinci and "The Holy Virgin Mary" by Chris Ofili – all of this can be shared with children. There should be no fear in learning about different ideas and ideals of visions or views, but rather a celebration that these differences exist. There is no need to personally embrace an idea to acknowledge its existence, and to learn about it and from it. Depriving our children of the opportunity to learn about the differences in the people around them and around the world, the differences in the way these same people view the world or choose to express their view of the world, deprives our children of the very thing we, in this country, have come to value most – our freedom. What X-Files world this would be if we had no reason to explore beyond our doorstep because there were no new subjects to discuss, no new theories to test, no new discoveries to be made, no new people to meet. Or, worse still, if we were unable to explore beyond our doorstep because someone blocked our way. – Jan M. Lobenherz, Plymouth Letter: School board commended I commend the Plymouth-Canton school administration for their recent order which forced two teachers to take down their displays depicting Gay and Lesbian History Month. In a day and age in which one is said to be "homophobic" and "bigoted" for stating that homosexuality is unnatural and not a practice to be commended, the Plymouth-Canton school administration should receive many thanks for having enough courage to say no to the display of material that honors such perverse behavior. In my eyes, fear of homosexuals is not what motivates my stance against the unnatural behavior. Nor do I feel that the vast majority of those who view homosexual practice as being wrong, do so out of fear and ignorance of homosexuals. Rather homosexuality is wrong because first of all it is contrary to God's created order of one man and one woman, and secondly, by reason of this created order, it is quite obviously biologically unnatural. And until those men and women who promote the homosexual lifestyle as being normal and natural, can convince me of the biological evidence supporting their assertion, I will continue to declare homosexual behavior as being a perversion of God's intended design of one man and one woman. Schools should be a place of higher learning where one is educated in the traditional disciplines, grounding students in the basics while stimulating them to think for themselves and aspire to great things. It should never be turned into a place of indoctrination regarding one's sexual preferences and practices. – Jim Gorski, Plymouth Letter: Angry at display I wish to thank the Plymouth-Canton School Board for calling for the dismantling of the showcases at West and Salem concerning Gay History Month. Perhaps only a few parents complained, but I want to let it be known that there are many, many more who are angry at the very vocal few gay activists who are pushing their agenda more and more openly in our schools. We've been accused of being bigoted, right-wing, politically incorrect, etc., but the majority of people in this country are still Christians, and the majority of Christians still hold with God's word on the sinfulness of homosexuality. Guiding so-called "gay" students through a "coming-out" process is not a part of this school district's curriculum. Many of us feel, to the contrary, that young people are being lied to and led astray by those trying to justify their own chosen behaviors. Sadly, they're dragging many teens down whose parents may have been trying to teach them right from wrong. I agree with Mr. Salbenblatt that there is little more frightening than active ignorance, but it's ignorance of right and wrong which has made our country a terrifying place to live for many students. Schools complain that parents aren't doing their jobs. How should parents who are attempting to nurture Christian values feel when their children go to school and receive a different message? Please don't sit quietly by and allow your children to become confused with these varied messages, perhaps to the point of making choices which will affect them the rest of their lives. – C. Shumaker, Plymouth Letter: Narrow minded decision It is regrettable that the Plymouth-Canton School District has decided to send its students the message that only certain forms of diversity are acceptable. It is equally regrettable that this decision was apparently based on the complaints of a few anonymous individuals. Diversity is Diversity. Period. The students deserve better than this narrow-minded lesson. – Dr. Robert L. Merliss, Plymouth ================================================================================= X-Sender: rcarey%nyacyouth.org@mail.webdudes.com X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Light Version 3.0.1 (32) Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 09:39:54 -0400 From: Rea Carey Subject: NYAC Job Posting NATIONAL YOUTH ADVOCACY COALITION JOB POSTING - PLEASE DISTRIBUTE RACIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE COORDINATOR ORGANIZATION SUMMARY: The National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC) is a DC-based non-profit whose mission is to advocate for and with young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) in an effort to end discrimination against these youth and to ensure their physical and emotional well being. NYAC is committed to supporting local and national organizing within a multi-issue social justice framework whereby LGBT youth of all races, ethnicities, class backgrounds, and gender identities live to their fullest potential. POSITION SUMMARY: The full-time Racial and Economic Justice Coordinator position will assess and address the unique and often-neglected intersections of oppressions based on race, class and sexual orientation as they affect the healthy development and community leadership abilities of youth. The position is funded through a three-year grant from the Ford Foundation. The position will work in partnership with 11 other organizations funded by the Ford Foundation to address civic leadership and community youth development. Position supervised by the Executive Director. HIRING SALARY RANGE: $27,000 - $31,000 and benefits RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE: 1) Establish a national advisory committee to guide the Racial and Economic Justice Initiative; 2) Work with an external consultant to address institutional change within NYAC to assure that the organization can be an agent for racial and economic justice; 3) Create linkages between NYAC, its member organizations, and national and local people of color-based organizations; 4) Establish and support relationships with 11 other Ford Foundation youth leadership grantees; 5) Identify and assess resources and models in the youth-service field that address racial and economic justice by and for LGBT youth; 6) Develop and disseminate concrete strategies, technical assistance, and information on best practices that address racial and economic justice issues by and for LGBT youth; 7) Implement a mini-grants program among NYAC's member organizations to further racial and economic justice, and civil leadership work at the local level; 8) Work with external consultant in the evaluation of the initiative; and 9) Assist with writing of reports to funder as needed. SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES WILL HAVE MANY OF THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS: 1) A minimum of 2-5 years experience in anti-oppression, anti-racism and/or anti-classism program development work; 2) A minimum of 2-5 years experience in youth leadership and/or Community Youth Development program work; 3) An understanding of, and demonstrated commitment to, the issues faced by LGBT youth; 4) An understanding of, and demonstrated commitment to, addressing LGBT youth issues in the context of multi-issue, social justice work; 5) Awareness of people of color, immigrant and/or LGBT resources and organizations available in the field; 6) Ability to work in and with multiracial, multicultural, and/or multi-lingual organizations and programs addressing the needs of low income and/or communities of color; 7) Strong computer skills; and 8) Excellent written and verbal communication skills including phone, email, and in person. TO APPLY: People of color and younger leaders strongly encouraged to apply. NYAC embraces broad non-discrimination policy, EOE. Job description available: email or call (202-319-7596, x10). Letter of interest and resume must be received by NYAC no later than November 24, 1999, earlier submissions strongly encouraged. Send to "REJ Coordinator Search Committee"; NYAC; 1638 R Street, NW; Suite 300; Washington, DC 20009. ================================================================================ Jean Richter -- richter@eecs.berkeley.edu The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project (Public Education Regarding Sexual Orientation Nationally) These messages are archived by state on our information-loaded free web site: http://www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/