Date: Thu, 3 Jun 99 14:35:09 -0500 From: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Subject: [NGLTF PRESS] NGLTF, GLSEN Call For Passage of CA AB222 ********************************************* NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE GAY, LESBIAN AND STRAIGHT EDUCATORS NETWORK PRESS RELEASE Contact: Betsy Gressler, Deputy Political Director NGLTF 202-332-6483 ext. 3306 * 800-757-6476 pager bgressler@ngltf.org * www.ngltf.org John Spear, National Field Director GLSEN 510-593-4143 jspear@glsen.org * www.glsen.org ********************************************* TASK FORCE AND GLSEN CALLS FOR PASSAGE OF CALIFORNIA DIGNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS ACT WASHINGTON, DC-June 2, 1999--- The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network today called on California Assemblymembers to approve a measure that would make California schools safer for gay, lesbian, and bisexual students and teachers. The bill, AB222, is sponsored by Assemblymember Shiela Kuehl (D-Los Angeles) and would outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation. The bill could face a vote before the California Assembly as early as Thursday. "Children are not born with bigotry and intolerance: they learn it. Banning discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) students and teachers sends the message that hate will not be tolerated," stated Kerry Lobel, NGLTF Executive Director. "Students cannot learn in an environment where anti-GLBT sentiments are pervasive and unchecked." Discrimination against and harassment of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered youth is endemic. According to the 1997 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey, lesbian, gay, and bisexual students are more than seven times as likely than their heterosexual classmates to be threatened with a weapon, and as much as five times as likely to skip school because they feel unsafe. Average high schools students hear anti-gay epithets 25 times per day on average. When teachers are present while these incidents occur, they do not intervene up to 97% of the time. "This bill does something very simple: it puts the `public' back into public education. Studies continue to demonstrate widespread discrimination and harassment of GLBT students in schools; AB 222 appropriately seeks to right these wrongs. After all, our public education system is, in fact, for every student - regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Discrimination against any kind of student has no place in our public schools," stated John Spear, National Field Director for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network. If passed, California would join Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin to legislatively enact similar measures addressing discrimination and harassment against GLBT students. This year two other states - Texas and Hawaii - have introduced similar school anti-discrimination measures, but both have died. Four additional states, Colorado, Maine, New York, and Washington, have introduced bills requiring schools to develop anti-harassment programs to prevent and stop anti-GLBT student harassment. Only the Maine and New York measures remain active. -30- Founded in 1973, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force works to eliminate prejudice, violence and injustice against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people at the local, state and national level. As part of a broader social justice movement for freedom, justice and equality, NGLTF is creating a world that respects and celebrates the diversity of human expression and identity where all people may fully participate in society. The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Educators Network is the largest national organization working to end anti-gay bias in America's schools. Established nationally in 1994, GLSEN now has 85 chapters in communities across the country._________________________________________ This message was issued by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Media Department. If you have a question regarding this post, please direct it to the contact at the top of this message. If you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, please send an email with "UNSUBSCRIBE PRESSLIST" in the subject and body of your email message to . You may also unsubscribe by visiting http://www.ngltf.org.