Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 17:04:30 -0800 From: Jean Richter Subject: 11/30/99 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news 1. CA: Students set deadline in GSA controversy 2. MO: Event at the National Institute for GLBT Education 3. VA: True Spirit Conference to be held in February =========================================================== Reply-To: listserver@channelq.com Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 08:35:26 -0800 From: "Channel Q" To: Subject: Students Set Deadline in Gay-Straight Alliance Dispute PRESS RELEASE -- People For the American Way Foundation http://www.pfaw.org/news/ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 19, 1999 CONTACT: Nancy Coleman, Margot Friedman at 202-467-4999 Kendra Huard at 310-478-6657 ______________________________________________________________________ STUDENTS SET DEADLINE IN GAY-STRAIGHT ALLIANCE DISPUTE Attorneys for the students who have formed a Gay-Straight Alliance non-curricular club at El Modena High School in Orange County but have been denied their legal right to meet sent a letter to the school principal today. In the letter, the students, through their legal counsel, stated their desire to hold the first meeting of the club this coming Tuesday, and put the school on notice that they will have no choice but to file a lawsuit unless the principal grants them permission to meet by Monday at 11:00 a.m. pacific time. "The First Amendment gives these kids the right to meet and express their individual viewpoints. Every day of delay is a day of rights denied. Unless the Gay-Straight Alliance is permitted to meet and is treated like all other non-curricular clubs, school officials will leave the students with no choice but to ask a court to secure their rights," said Carole Shields, President of People For the American Way Foundation. The school officials' action violates not only the First Amendment but also the federal Equal Access Act, which prohibits school districts from discriminating against secondary school non-curricular clubs on the basis of the political, philosophical, religious or other viewpoints expressed at club meetings. In addition, California recently amended its Education Code to make it unlawful to harass or discriminate against lesbian and gay students or those perceived to be so. The students first applied to meet after school in September. Although approval normally occurs at the school level, the high school did not allow the students to meet and passed the matter on to the school board. On November 9, the school board held a "public forum" to hear "pro" and "con" views about the club, at which time the students were subjected to hostility and derision. Last night, rather than approve the club, as it must under federal law, the board put off a vote once again, at least until December. The result is that the students' request to meet continues to be effectively denied. "The saddest part is that the students have been let down by the very people whose job it is to protect them. These school officials should be setting an example of complying with the law and showing tolerance and mutual respect in the community," said Shields. Earlier this week, the students and their mothers retained attorneys with PFAW Foundation as their legal counsel. Irell & Manella, a leading California law firm with offices in Los Angeles and Orange County, is serving as co-counsel on a pro bono basis. ______________________________________________________________________ People For the American Way Foundation is a 300,000 member nonpartisan organization which defends constitutional principles and core democratic values. Earlier this month, PFAW Foundation released "Hostile Climate 1999," a chronicle of anti-gay discrimination nationwide. http://www.HostileClimate.org ====================================================================== PFAWF Press Releases -- http://www.pfaw.org/news/ ====================================================================== _________________________________________________________________________ This message has been distributed as a free, non-profit informational service, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. Please do not publish or post in a public place on the Internet, copyrighted material without permission and attribution. Forwarding of this material should not necessarily be construed as an endorsement of the content. Some messages may be from anti-gay organizations and are forwarded as opposition research. ============================================================================ ===== [sorry I didn't get this out earlier...] From: "Gabi Clayton" To: Subject: FW: Annual Event for Friends of the National Institute for GLBT Education Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 11:51:37 -0800 -----Original Message----- From: Eddie Miller [mailto:emiller@thenationalinstitute.org] Sent: Friday, November 19, 1999 8:53 AM Subject: Annual Event for Friends of the National Institute for GLBT Education Please Pass the following invitation to all interested individuals: You are invited to be our guest and share your ideas on keeping gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth alive at the 3rd Annual Reception of the Friends of the National Institute for GLBT Education (formerly, the Norman Institute.) Tuesday, November 30, 1999 at Figlio Tower on the Country Club Plaza (209 West 46th Terrace, Kansas City, Missouri) Highlight: Unveiling the Institute's Endangered Youth Campaign: A national gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) youth suicide prevention program. Guest Speaker: Ginna Trotter Betts, Senior Advisor on Nursing and Policy to the U.S. Secretary of Health & U.S. Surgeon General, will opening a dialog with our community regarding the Surgeon General's "A Call to Action for Suicide Prevention" and GLBT Youth Suicide. Hors d'oeuvres will be served at 6:30 p.m. with a program from 7:00 to 8:30. No Admittance Fee. For more information, call (816) 960-7200. ============================================================================ ==== X-Sender: darkwng@pop.erols.com Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 12:46:35 -0400 From: DAS Subject: [Amboyz-Announce] TRUE SPIRIT PRESS RELEASE Sender: amboyz-announce-admin@real.iximd.com List-Id: American Boyz announcement service The American Boyz present True Spirit Conference 2000 Creating a Vision for the Next Century Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, Alexandria, Virginia, February 18-20, 2000 5000 Seminary Road Alexandria, Virginia 22311 Tel: 1 (800) HILTONS (for reservations only) 1 (703) 845-1010 PRESS RELEASE - PLEASE REDISTRIBUTE WHERE APPROPRIATE The American Boyz to Hold Fourth Annual True Spirit Conference CONTACT: The American Boyz phone: (410) 620-2161 e-mail address: TrueSpirit@office.iximd.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 8, 1999 - The American Boyz are pleased to announce the Fourth Annual True Spirit Conferece to be held at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, Alexandria, Virginia, on February 18-20, 2000.This three-day conference focuses on the social, physical, emotional, spiritual, and relational health of all gender variant people on the FTM spectrum and their significant others, friends, families, and allies. Workshops and panel presentations to be held during this fourth annual event address such topics as: health and wellness issues, relationships, special needs populations (including youth, elders, people of color, and individuals who have physical challenges), legal, political, and employment issues, and spirituality. "True Spirit offers many unique opportunities for participants that address a variety of the real life needs and concerns of people of transgender experience," says Trey Maurer, True Spirit 2000 media coordinator. One of those unique opportunities is making health screening available on site including blood pressure checks, breast exams, and other health maintenance services. "Getting routine health checks can be an exceptional challenge for some trans people, " continued Maurer, "so we try to remove one of the barriers to access by bringing health care providers directly to the conference participants." Other events scheduled for True Spirit 2000 are: authors readings and chat sessions, exhibit hall with information and merchandise, art show, and the American Boyz Award Ceremony. Conference fees range from $40-$80. Those registering before January 1, 2000 will enjoy a discounted registration fee of $60. Children ages 14 years and younger accompanied by an adult will be admitted free. Some work scholarship and housing assistance is available on a first come, first serve basis. There are two options for registration: download and complete the registration form from the internet at http://www.amboyz.org/TSC/TSC2000reg.html Or, request a conference flyer from The American Boyz/True Spirit 2000, 212A South Bridge Street, # 131, Elkton, MD, 21921. True Spirit will, for the fourth year, provide a major opportunity for people of transgender experience, their friends, familes, allies, and service providers to gather together for education, networking, and support. Representatives of the press are invited to True Spirit 2000 but MUST pre-register as a press person, and sign and comply with all True Spirit press and camera regulations. All registered press will receive a True Spirit 2000 press packet upon their arrival at the conference. Opportunities for corporate and organizational sponsorship are still available. The American Boyz is an organization for female to male gender variant people (FTMs) of any orientation, including but not limited to tomboys, butches, f2ms, transmen, drag kings, masculine females, crossdressers, intersexuals, and those who support us, including our Significant Others, Friends, Famliies, and Allies (SOFFAs). The American Boyz, Inc., 212A South Bridge Street, # 131, Elkton, MD, 21921; FAX: 410-620-2024; URL:http://www.amboyz.org; Email: amboyz@iximd.com The above information is brought to you courtesy of the American Boyz announcement service. Amboyz-Announce is a one way news feed that provides information about the American Boyz organization for ftms and soffas, including the True Spirit Conference, our affiliates, and special projects. This is a low volume news feed that carries 0 - 5 messages per month. More information is available at the following locations: _____________________________________________ Amboyz-Announce mailing list Amboyz-Announce@office.iximd.com http://office.iximd.com/mailman/listinfo/amboyz-announce ============================================================================ ======= 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/