Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 10:56:27 -0800
From: Clare Howell <clareq@idt.net>
Subject: IYF-HRC Reception/Teacher in MN Speaks Out

MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Editor: Clare Howell, clare@gpac.org

.HRC RECEPTION BRINGS TOGETHER 
 CONGRESSMEMBERS AND TRANS-ACTIVISTS
.TRANSEXUAL TEACHER DRIVEN OUT OF 
 JOB SPEAKS OUT

HRC RECEPTION BRINGS TOGETHER 
CONGRESSMEMBERS AND TRANS-ACTIVISTS
===================================

[Washington, DC: 15 Mar 99] A HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN 
(HRC) reception last Thursday (11 Mar) for Congressional 
sponsors of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA) and 
the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) drew 
approximately 150 people, among them 20 Congressmembers 
including Sen. Edward Kennedy and Rep. Barney Frank. 
Also attending were 6 trans-activists representing 
GenderPAC and It's Time America!

        Sen. Kennedy and Rep. Frank both spoke of the 
need to pass HCPA this year. The activists spoke with 
HRC members and sought out Congressmembers to emphasize 
that violence against trans-identified people, while 
under-reported, is rampant. They point to statistics 
that reveal one trans-murder per month in the U.S. 

        HCPA would classify as a hate crime an assault 
upon a person based on that person's "real or perceived 
gender." Such a classification would allow a prosecutor 
to seek enhanced penalties against perpetrators and 
give the victim the right to pursue justice in the 
Federal court system. 

        Activists stressed the importance of attending 
the reception and meeting Congressmembers and HRC staffers 
face-to-face. Said Miranda Stevens of It's Time America, 
"Being there establishes our presence; it demonstrates 
that we are part of the community HRC represents." 

                ###

TRANSEXUAL TEACHER DRIVEN OUT OF JOB SPEAKS OUT
===============================================

[Blaine, MN: 15 Mar 99] ALYSSA WILLIAMS, WHO RESIGNED
from her job as music teacher at Roosevelt Middle School,
confirmed that a small, vocal group of parents and clergy
drove her out. She said that a parents' group [Parents
in Touch] worked tirelessly to get rid of her. "They do 
not want to accept that I exist," she said. 

        'Parents in Touch' was created to protest Ms.
Williams' hiring by the Anoka-Hennepin School District.
The group enlisted the Minnesota Christian Coalition and
Pat Robertson's American Center for Law and Justice in
their campaign to force Ms. Williams out.

        Said May Olson, spokesperson for the school 
district, "There were clergy and parents who came forward
in support of her, but there were also those who were the
most vocal and did not want her in the classroom. They
were the ones who appeared at school board meetings."

        The parents' group had no compliant against either 
Ms. Williams' credentials or teaching methods. Their
opposition to Ms. Williams was based solely on the fact 
that Williams is transgendered.

        Ms. Williams said she plans to retreat from the
public eye. "I will be Ok," she said. "I will miss the 
classroom and the work of teaching children about music
and to care about themselves."

        Some activists expressed disappointment with Ms. 
Williams' decision to withdraw. "No one can make the call 
except the person at risk, but this was an opportunity 
missed," said Riki Anne Wilchins of GenderPAC. "Minnesota 
is the only state with a Human Rights Law that protects 
transgender people. This was a chance to set a positive 
legal precedent. And, sadly, this makes it easier for the 
far-right to attack the next transperson."

                ###

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