Date: Fri, 13 Oct 1995 22:09:05 -0700 From: jessea@uclink2.berkeley.edu (Jessea NR Greenman) Subject: CWA's HALF PAGE AD RUNNING IN NEWSPAPERS ACROSS AMERICA ACTUAL TEXT OF CONCERNED WOMEN FOR AMERICA HALF PAGE AD RUNNING IN NEWSPAPERS ACROSS AMERICA 1-800-955-2120 (Cleveland Plain Dealer, Des Moines Register, Sacramento CA Bee, and many others; if you see this ad in your local newspaper, fight back with a letter to the editor! Also, please please please write to the NEA folks listed at the very end of this message... they REALLY REALLY REALLY need your support *now*) Friday, October 13, 1995 CELEBRATING GAY AND LESBIAN HISTORY MONTH IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS NOT JUST A BAD IDEA - IT'S A RESOLUTION OF THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION. This is completely true. The NEA, this nation's largest education union, passed a resolution this summer at their annual convention. This resolution (reprinted in the center of the ad) advances the celebration of gays. lesbians, bisexuals and transexuals (sic) for an entire month in all public schools throughout the nation. This idea that school children should celebrate homosexuality at all--much less an entire month of study--is proof of how misguided the NEA is. They sincerely expect an entire nation of schoolchildren to accept the homosexual, lesbian, and bisexual lifestyle as normal. *This is a blatant attack on children and schools.* What's really frightening is the thought that our children will be celebrating the history of a group of people who historically prey on the innocence of minors. That's a fact (although not politically correct). According to the Reisman & Johnson Report, 1995, among the 166 gays and lesbians of historical significance, 49% admitted to having sex with a minor. This information comes directly from the Alyson Almanac, the fact book of the lesbian and gay community. This Almanac claims some research indicates that Jesus Christ, Winston Churchill, and George Washington were homosexuals. This Almanac is likely to be the main resource for selecting who your children will study during this month-long celebration. *This is a mockery of higher education.* Imagine the environment your children will be in for an entire month. As with any month of study, the library, lunchroom, and hallways will be covered in posters promoting the gay and lesbian community and celebrating their "lifestyle." Think about the guest speakers--their topics for discussion and how they are likely to present themselves to the full assembly of the school. Consider the personal involvement your child will experience when they are required to conduct a study and write a report on a homosexual, lesbian, and bisexual. And then there are films to watch and pro-homosexual displays to build in the classrooms. Just imagine. *This is a threat to morality & decency.* Anything that can be done to chip away morality and family values will further this extremist cause. This resolution is just another example of how our society is being manipulated. Our children and our schools are clearly being targeted. And in the process, the nation's largest teachers union is helping to make it happen. *This must be stopped now.* It is vital that this campaign by the National Education Association be exposed and stopped. That's why we have developed an action information packet free to anyone who calls the phone number below. These packets include a copy of the NEA resolution and information on how *you* can stop this from entering in your children's schools. Homosexual organizations have selected October as Lesbian and Gay History Month. It's already being celebrated in some schools. It may be celebrated at your school before the month is over. Please call now. This must be stopped. *CALL 1-800-955-2120* Concerned Women for America, P.O. Box 65453, Washington, DC 20035-5453. (The following text is from an insert of the NEA resolution in the middle of the ad) The 1995-96 Resolutions of the National Education Association. B-9. Sexual Orientation The National Education Association recognizes the importance of raising the awareness and increasing the sensitivity of staff, students, parents, and the community to sexual orientation in our society. The Association therefore supports the development of positive plans that lead to effective ongoing training programs for education employees for the purpose of identifying and eliminating sexual orientation stereotyping in the educational setting. Such programs should attend to but not be limited to-- a. Accurate portrayal of the roles and contributions of gay, lesbian, and bisexual people throughout history, with acknowledgment of their sexual orientation. b. The acceptance of diverse sexual orientation and the awareness of sexual stereotyping whenever sexually and/or tolerance of diversity is taught. c. Elimination of sexual orientation name-calling and jokes in the classroom. d. Support for the celebration of a Lesbian and Gay History Month as a means of acknowledging the contributions of lesbians, gays, and bisexuals throughout history. ==== [P.E.R.S.O.N. Project note: This is from one of the co-chairs of the NEA's Gay/Lesbian Caucus. The NEA and its state affiliates have been taking a huge beating from the right wing over its pro-LGB stance, most recently its vote to support LGB History Month, which is October]. Please write the following state education association presidents and encourage them not to bow to pressure from the right wing regarding civil rights for lesbians, gays, and bisexuals. Many state associations are being targeted with hate mail because of the National Education Associations **support** for the celebration of a Lesbian and Gay History Month as **one option** for schools that choose to eliminate homophobia and sexual orientation stereotyping. Please note NEA's long standing record on human and civil rights including lesbians, gays, and bisexuals in your letters. This only a partial list of states having the most trouble right now. Please copy your letter to Keith Geiger, President National Education Association 1201 16th St. N.W. Washington, DC 20036 Fax= 202-822-7974 Florida Teaching Profession-NEA Aaron Wallace, President 213 S. Adams St. Tallahassee FL 32301 fax-904-222-1840 Georgia Association of Educators Faye Smith, President 3951 Snapfinger Pkwy Decatur, GA 30035 fax 404-289-5931 Kentucky Education Association Marnel Moorman, President 401 Capitol Ave. Frankfort, KY 40601 fax 502-227-8062 Maryland State Teachers Association Karl Pence, President 344 N. Charles St. Baltimore, MD 21201 fax 410-783-0585 Maine Education Association Timothy Humphrey, President 35 Community Dr. Augusta, ME 04330 fax 207-623-2129 Misissipi Association of Educators Joyce Arceneaux, President 775 N. State St. Jackson, Mississippi 39202-3086 fax 601-352-7054 NEA-New Mexico Charles Bowyer, President 130 S. Capitol P.O. Box 729 Santa Fe, NM 87504-0729 fax 505-982-6719*2 North Carolina Association of Educators Cecil Banks, President P.O. Box 27347 Raleigh, NC 27611-7347 fax 919-829-1626 The South Carolina Education Association Sheila Gallagher, President 421 Simalcrest Dr. Columbia, SC 29210 fax 803-772-0922 Tennessee Education Association Kathy Woodall, President 801 Second Ave., N Nashville, TN 37201-1099 fax 615-259-4581 Texas State Teachers Association Richard Kouri, President 316 W. 12th St. Austin, TX 78701 fax 512-469-0766 Virginia Education Association Robley Jones, President Gamble's Hill 116 S. 3rd St. Richmond, VA 23219 fax 804-775-8379 ------ the following is from the NGLTF's October Activist Alert: NEA and History Month under Attack This year's celebration of October as Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual History Month (LGBHM) has caught the attention of the right wing extremist group Concerned Women for America. CWA has flooded the National Education Association with over 20,000 letters and phone calls in the past 2 weeks protesting its endorsement statement which calls upon teachers and school districts to develop programs for "identifying and eliminating sexual orientation stereotyping." Some school districts and local NEA chapters are beginning to feel heat from callers misinformed about the issue. Action: Call/write the NEA and tell them you commend the resolution passed via democratic process by its membership. Let them know you are a citizen concerned about equity in education and fair treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people: Keith Geiger, President; National Education Association; 1201 16th St. NW; Washington, DC 20036-3290; 202.833.4000; fax 202.822.7974 Contact the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Teachers Network for more information and a curriculum packet: GLSTN; 122 W 26th St, Suite 1100; New York, NY 10001; 212.727.0135; or *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ YOU MAY RE-POST Jessea Greenman The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project*; ph/fax: 510-601-8883, 586 62nd St. Oakland, CA 94609-1245 Gopher to "gopher.outright.com" Organizing Manual: http://www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/ (under construction) http://www.pride.net/pridenet/person Resources: http://emanate.com/glwa/proj21 (courtesy "Gay & Lesbian Web Alliance") Action Alerts and Organizing Manual: http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/glb/person.html/ (courtesy Children's Animated Television) The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project is *always* looking for volunteer organizers. Please cc us (for our files) on all correspondence you send or receive regarding one of our action alerts. Thanks! *P.E.R.S.O.N. (copyrighted) stands for Public Education Regarding Sexual Orientation Nationally.