Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 12:50:21 -0500 From: NGLTF@aol.com Subject: NGLTF April 1996 Activist Alert ************************************************* NATIONAL GAY & LESBIAN TASK FORCE ACTIVIST ALERT April 1996 2320 17th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 332-6483 FAX (202) 332-0207 TTY (202) 332-6219 EMAIL ngltf@ngltf.org WWW http://www.ngltf.org/ngltf Federal Workers Support NGLTF CFC # 2622 ************************************************* Please carbon copy NGLTF on all correspondence sent to the action target(s). THIS MONTH Utah's teachers under attack Prepare Your Response The Program That Stole Objectivity Don't Be Left Out In The Cold Make Democracy Work Hot Air In San Diego Utah's teachers under attack Last month, the Utah State Legislature passed SB 246, a bill making it illegal for school employees and volunteers to engage in behavior or speech that "undermine the health, safety, welfare, or morals of school children or the confidence of the public in the operation of schools; and that action results in a material or substantial interference or disruption in the moral activities of the school." The stated purpose of the bill is to prohibit schools from condoning "illegal" behavior, but according to the bill's sponsor State Senator Craig Taylor, the bill could be used to fire an openly gay teacher, or teachers whose private behavior or speech makes the community uncomfortable. If the bill were to become law, openly gay teachers could lose their jobs, and communities would control curriculum content and teacher's private and professional behavior. Governor Mike Leavitt vetoed the bill because the language of the bill contradicts first amendment free speech protections. He has put SB 246 on the agenda for an April 17 special session of the legislature in order to fix the bill's language, giving Taylor a chance to make the language more explicit in targeting gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students, school personnel, and their allies. Action: Contact the legislature leadership and ask them to delete Sen. Taylor's language from SB 246, because it is unnecessary and unconstitutional. Lane Beattie (R, President, 1313 North 1100 West; West Bountiful, Utah 84087; (801) 298-7000. Craig A. Peterson (R); Majority Leader; 1687 North 200 West Orem, Utah 84057; (801) 756-8888. Leonard M. Blackham (R); Majority Whip; P.O. Box 255; Moroni, Utah 84646; (801) 436-8125. Scott N. Howell (D); Minority Leader; 9711 South 3725 East; Sandy, Utah 84092; (801) 328-6643. George Mantes (D); Minority Whip; 185 North Main Suite 201; Tooele, Utah 84074; (801) 531-8157. *************** Prepare Your Response The U.S. Supreme Court decision on Colorado's Amendment 2 could come any day. Prepare to respond to this landmark legal decision NOW in order to mobilize a national out, loud response within 24 hours of the public announcement of a decision. We must let the world know that the decision on Amendment 2 is one of the more important Supreme Court decisions affecting civil rights in this country -- if we win, we must let the world know that right wing anti-gay initiatives are unconstitutional! If we lose, lets make it clear that we will not rest until our rights are protected and Amendment 2 is struck down! Action: Now is the time to check for permits and sites, to brief your local editorial board on the case and its implications, to start a letters to the editor campaign, and to organize a march, vigil, demonstration, or other events in coalition with the many allies in your community who will be affected by the decision to celebrate or protest the decision on Amendment 2. If you don't have the Undo 2 Kit, and its supplement A Supreme Response, or if you already have the kit, but would like the new decision talking points, and the schedule of possible decision dates, contact Karen Bullock-Jordan, ext 3206, . You can also download the kit and supplement from the NGLTF Web page. *************** The Program That Stole Objectivity Last year, Birdie Jo Hoaks, a 25-year old transgendered indigent person, first sought shelter at a women's facility but was turned away because a shelter worker considered Hoaks a young boy. Penniless and still in need of a bed, Hoaks went to Salt Lake City Child Services shortly before Christmas, 1995, carrying a note stating s/he was a 13 year-old boy abandoned by his parents. Hoaks was then successful in getting food and a bed and was subsequently sent to a Salt Lake City boys home. When it was discovered that Hoaks had female genitalia, Hoaks was arrested and charged with two misdemeanor counts, Theft of Services and Making False Statements, for which Hoaks was sentenced to a year and a half in Utah Prison. Hoaks was approached by NBC Dateline with an offer to tell the true story of what happened . Instead, the Dateline segment was titled "The Birdie Who Stole Christmas" and featured Hoaks as a scam-artist, singlehandedly stealing the Salt Lake City Christmas and resources from the deserving. During the segment, NBC aired information about Hoak's current employment. As a result, Hoaks lost the job and is indigent once again. Action: Contact NBC and Dateline and demand that they present a balanced view about transgenders and refrain from sensationalism.. Neil Shapiro; Dateline Executive Producer; NBC, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, NYC 10112, (212) 664-4444. Other NBC staff can be reached via phone at: Warren Littlefield, President of NBC Entertainment (818) 840-3870, Roz Wineman, head of NBC Standards and Practices (212) 664-5443), Daniel Ferguson, Media Relations (212) 664-3733, Andrew Brewer, Standards & Practices, Community Relations (212) 664-4458. *************** Don't Be Left Out In The Cold As the cold weather comes to an end, so do the low, low registration rates for Creating Change. After Tax Day, registration fees for the 9th annual Creating Change increase by about 10%. Don't miss your opportunity to register at these low rates for the biggest, most thought-provoking queer conference in the world, with the most skills-building workshops, and the hottest political questions in our community! Since this year's conference occurs shortly after the November elections, you won't want to miss the chance to analyze the results with like-minded thinkers. Confirmed plenary speakers include Rep. Barney Frank. Action: Fill out the Arctic Blast Registration Form that follows, and send it to NGLTF, postmarked by April 15th. *************** Make Democracy Work The Blue Mountain Working Group has announced publication of How Democracy Works: Civil Rights, Civil Liberties and the Issues of Our Day. This easy-to-follow handbook uses the US Constitution to answer questions about various current issues including affirmative action, government regulation of the Internet, civil rights for gay men lesbians, and flag burning. How Democracy Works is intended for use as an educational tool in community organizations, classrooms and workplaces, as well as to promote conversation across the dining room table. Action: Get a copy of this free publication by contacting the Blue Mountain Working Group; 1402 3rd Avenue Suite 421; Seattle, WA 98101; 1 (800) 477-6233. If your organization would like to join distribute the pamphlet, and have your logo on the pamphlets, contact Jim Anderson (206) 622-3486, . *************** Hot Air In San Diego The Republican National Convention will be held in San Diego, August 12-15. NGLTF along with Voters Organized In Coalition for the Elections (VOICEs '96), are planning to demonstrate against the Republican Party's campaign message, which to date has scapegoated disenfranchised peoples as the source of America's woes, rather than offering real alternatives to transform society. NGLTF is committed to mobilizing progressives to have a large and visible presence at the convention. Action: Contact Scot Nakagawa, NGLTF Field Director, ext 3301; if you plan to attend the Republican Convention, or if you want to mobilize progressives in your community to take action during the time of the Republican Convention. --- If you have an item you think should be included in ACTIVIST ALERT, please mail or fax it to , Activist Alert, NGLTF Policy Institute, 2320 17th St., NW, Washington, DC 20009; fax (202) 332-0207; e-mail ngltf@ngltf.org. All entries should be national in scope or should allow for activists from around the country to respond. ************************************************************ Arctic Blast Registration for the 1996 National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Creating Changex Conference President Clinton? President Dole? President Buchanan?!? Don't AgonizexOrganize! Attend the 9th Annual Creating Changex Conference! The National Organizing Conference for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Movementx November 6-10, 1996 Washington DC Metro Area! Radisson Plaza Hotel at Mark Center 5000 Seminary Road, Alexandria, Virginia For hotel reservations at the conference rate of $89, call 703 / 845-1010 and mention the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Creating Changex Conference. Arctic Blast Registration Fees Creating Changex 1996 Individual Conference only $110 $2,300 Conference +1 institute $145 Conference +2 institutes $165 Organizations (up to 21 individual registrations)* Conference only $2,300 * Organizations may pay the Arctic Blast registration fee now, then designate the 21 individuals to attend any time prior to Creating Change 1996. The Arctic Blast registration fees are the lowest fees offered for Creating Change 1996. But, hurry, the Arctic Blast expires on Tax Day, 1996. That's right, this offer ends on April 15, 1996. You must mail the form back to NGLTF postmarked by April 15. Please print out and complete the Registration Form below, and return with payment to: NGLTF Creating Change Conference 2320 17th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009-2702 Credit card registrations may be faxed to 202-332-0207 For more information, contact NGLTF at: TEL 202-332-6483, ext. 3444 FAX 202-332-0207 TTY 202-332-6219 ================================================================= \/ Name_____________________________________________ \/ E-Mail Address __________________________________ \/ Organization And Contact Person___________________________ R Address _________________________________________ E _________________________________________________ G City ______________________ State ____ ZIP ______ I Work Phone (______)___________________ S Home Phone (______)___________________ T Other Affiliations? _____________________________ R _________________________________________________ A ================================================= T REGISTRATION FEES: To qualify for "Arctic Blast" rates, your application must be postmarked by April 15, 1996. I O Circle or fill in amount: N Individual: F Conf only $110 O Conf +1 Inst $145 R Conf + 2 Inst $165 M Organization (21 attendees designated later) R Conf only $2,300 E Contribution to Scholarship Fund ____ G T O T A L : ____ I ================================================= S FORM OF PAYMENT: T ___ Check/Money Order enclosed, made payable to "NGLTF Policy Institute" R ___ Credit Card (circle one): A VISA MasterCard AmericanExpress Discover T Card Number _________________________________ I Expiration Date _____________________________ O Name as it appears on card (please print) N _____________________________________________ F Signature ___________________________________ O R M