Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2000 17:53:30 -0800 From: Jean Richter Subject: 3/24/2000 P.E.R.S.O.N. Project news, pt. 2 1. GLSEN announces grants for school libraries 2. MD: Several pro-gay bills introduced (but passage unlikely) 3. CA: More on Oceanside teacher harassment case appeal 4. National Day of Silence is seeking participants ======================================================================= From: "GLSEN Alert" To: "GLSEN News" Subject: GLSENAlert: GLSEN Moves to Increase LGBT Resources in Schools Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2000 14:35:11 -0500 Sender: ........................................................... An important message from GLSEN-Alert, the electronic news service of GLSEN. The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network -- GLSEN 121 West 27th Street, Suite 804 New York, NY 10001 212-717-0135; 212-727-0254 - fax glsen@glsen.org http://www.glsen.org/ ........................................................... GLSEN NEWS March 16, 2000 GLSEN CELEBRATES 'FREEDOM OF INFORMATION DAY' BY OFFERING $15K IN GRANTS TO HELP SCHOOL LIBRARIANS IMPROVE LGBT RESOURCES "Students are coming out at earlier ages, but our school library collections largely remain in the closet." - GLSEN Executive Director Kevin Jennings March 16, 2000-In a move to help elementary and secondary school librarians increase access to information about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people through library resource materials, GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) today launched the Free to Learn Project, a new national librarian assistance and grant program. The project was launched as library and anti-censorship groups today celebrated National Freedom of Information Day, raising awareness about the importance of promoting and protecting freedom of information. "Students are coming out at earlier ages but our school library collections largely remain in the closet," said GLSEN Executive Director Kevin Jennings. "Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, as well as the children of same-sex couples, often suffer in isolation-an isolation compounded by school libraries offering little more than a dictionary definition of 'homosexuality.' Through this new grant program, librarians will have the freedom to select resources and provide critical information to these students." During the first phase of Free to Learn, GLSEN will work through its network of 85 community-based chapters to meet with school librarians, conduct assessments of current library resources, and help identify fiction and non-fiction selections that librarians believe will complement existing collections. Due to the generosity of several longtime organizational supporters, GLSEN chapters will then have access to a $15,000 fund that may be used to purchase books as requested by librarians for donation to elementary and secondary school libraries. Noting recent studies which suggest that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth are now disclosing their sexual orientation between ages 13 and 16, GLSEN Education Director Scott Hirschfeld stated that the need for information about LGBT people in school libraries is greater now than ever before. Just a decade ago, he added, coming out was an adult rather than adolescent process. "It is critically important for the lesbian high school sophomore to find information that reflects her experience, and it's important for the second grader being raised by two dads to find stories that represent families like his own," stated Hirschfeld. "In addition to providing resources to these youth, we must not underestimate the value to all students, straight and gay, of having accurate, accessible and age-appropriate information about the diversity of the world in which they live." -30- GLSEN is the largest national organization working to end anti-gay bigotry in K-12 schools. Established nationally in 1994, GLSEN has become one of America's leading voices for equity and safety in the educational system. For more information visit www.glsen.org. ........................................................... Visit the GLSEN Blackboard online: http://www.glsen.org/ Past GLSENAlert posts are archived on the GLSEN Blackboard: http://www.glsen.org/pages/sections/news/glsenalert/ ........................................................... TO SUBSCRIBE OR UNSUBSCRIBE You may add or remove yourself from this mailing list by going to: http://www.glsen.org/pages/sections/news/glsenalert/ If you have problems or questions, you can contact the list server administrator at: ........................................................... ========================================================================== Baltimore Sun, March 16, 2000 501 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD, 21278 (Fax 410-332-6977 ) (E-MAIL: letters@baltsun.com ) ( http://www.sunspot.net/ ) Gay-rights supporters, opponents lobby state lawmakers ­ again By M. Dion Thompson, Sun Staff Supporters and opponents of gay rights came to Annapolis yesterday for what has become an annual debate in the General Assembly, one that offers supporters little hope of success. [Deleted article. filemanager@qrd.org] ================================================================================ Contra Costa Times, March 15, 2000 Box 5088, Walnut Creek, CA, 94596 (Fax 925-933-0239 ) (Online mailer: http://www.hotcoco.com/contact_us/letters.htm ) ( http://www.hotcoco.com ) Justices hearing lesbian teacher's harassment case Oceanside educator says state rights law protected her even before 1999 changes favorable to gays Michelle Ray Ortiz SAN DIEGO ­ The whispers started soon after she arrived at Oceanside High School in 1983. But the real problems began 10 years later, after biology teacher Dawn Murray said she was denied a promotion to director of student activities. [Deleted article. filemanager@qrd.org] need to be fearful." ================================================================================ From: SARATOGANY@aol.com Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 00:47:26 EST Subject: DAY OF SILENCE PROJECT SEEKS DoSP 2000 PARTICIPANTS To: SARATOGANY@aol.com, bdm3g@gateway.net Msg fwd by: The Coalition for Safer Schools of NYS, PO Box 2345, Malta, NY 12020 Email to: saratogany@aol.com "The Actual or Perceived GLBT Student Protection Project" ========================================================= This message has been distributed as a free informational service for the expressed interest of non-profit research and educational purposes only. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PLEASE DISTRIBUTE TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES Contact person: Chloe Palenchar, Co-Chair, dayofsilence@hotmail.com DAY OF SILENCE PROJECT SEEKS DoSP 2000 PARTICIPANTS Thursday, March 15, 2000-- On April 5, 2000, thousands of students at high schools and colleges across the United States and Canada will stay silent, passing out cards advocating for queer equality rather than speaking. These students will be participating in the Day of Silence. The purpose of the Day of Silence is to create a visible, "audible" silence to protest the oppression forced upon lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth. It also hopes to offer educational tools and dialogue devoted to ending the silence by organizing post-event forums and breaks. Participation in the event has grown exponentially from a single campus in 1996 into an international effort. In 1999, there were over 200 schools that participated. Chloe Palenchar, Co-Chair of DoSP, comments: "This event is growing because people really find it to be an effective organizing tool. After the event last year, I received some truly joyous emails from school coordinators that had great experiences." The Day of Silence Project Team is composed of volunteer youths from across the country who are dedicated to fighting for queer rights. They provide a framework to help individual schools and organizations participate in the Day of Silence Project. From helpful hints on organizing to a pat on the back when the going gets tough, DoSP staff work to ensure participants get the most out of the day. If you or your school are interested in participating or learning more about the project, please contact Chloe Palenchar, Co-Chair, at dayofsilence@hotmail.com. Also, please refer to our homepage at http://www.youth-guard.org/dayofsilence/ Day of Silence Project is a non-profit, youth-run organization that helps high schools and colleges in the United States and Canada to organize a Day of Silence at their school. Day of Silence Project aims to recognize and combat the silencing of the GLBT community throughout history and today. =============================================================================== 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/