Date: Mon, 17 Feb 1997 21:28:54 -0500 From: Maggie Heineman Subject: ETown School Board -- Action Alert permission to repost: ------------------------------ Elizabethtown, PA School Board -- Action Alert from the Bridges-Across Project On February 18, 1997 the Elizabethtown School Board is expected=20 to adopt a policy on sexual orientation which hurts children,=20 invites a backlash against Christianity, and has divided the=20 community since last September. Whether (like Maggie) you view homosexual love as equal in=20 value to heterosexual love or whether (like Steve) you view=20 scripture to call for only a male/female relationship in Marriage, we ask you to send email in support of the statement issued by citizens of Elizabethtown (below). Please send email to (easy cut and paste): saylor@gkh.com,kgsmart@redrose.net, Dobeneck@aol.com, maggie@critpath.org, scalverl@freenet.npiec.on.ca=20 Andy Saylor, Policy Committee Chair, Elizabethtown School Board Gil Smart, reporter, Lancaster Sunday News Monica von Dobeneck, reporter, Harrisburg Patriot News Steve Calverley, co-founder, Bridges-Across Maggie Heineman, co-founder, Bridges-Across=20 For additional information about the crisis in Elizabethtown, see: http://www.critpath.org/bridges-across/etown/ The mission of Bridges-Across is to provide models and resources=20 for building respectful relationships among people who have=20 differing opinions on the issue of homosexuality. For additional information about Bridges Across, see: http://www.critpath.org/bridges-across/etown/ Maggie Heineman is the mother of a lesbian and a gay-rights activist=20 See http://headlines.yahoo.com/planetout/stories/8511890432.html Steve Calverley is an ex-gay man and a volunteer with an Exodus affiliate See http://www.npiec.on.ca/~scalverl/post_gay.htm =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D statement from the residents of Elizabethtown =3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D As citizens, parents, students, and teachers, we support academic=20 excellence and educational equity for all children. We support=20 high quality public education inclusive of experienced and capable=20 teachers; well maintained educational facilities; state of the=20 art technology, library and instructional materials. We support=20 equal opportunity for all students and an educational experience=20 that is free from bias anad discrimination and that reflects and=20 supports the gender, racial, and cultural diversity present in=20 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.=20 We support the full human growth and development of all students=20 regardless of race, cultural heritage, religion, gender, sexual=20 orientation, or disability. In support of the need for academic=20 excellence and educational equity, we are making it known that=20 the Elizabethtown Area School Boards' intolerance will not be=20 tolerated. The misnamed pro-family resolution must be rescinded=20 and the discriminatory instructional policy regarding sexual=20 orientation must be withdrawn. Linda Kinney Poss, parent=20 Moderator, February 11, 1997 press conference] Bob Stanley, parent Speaker and Moderator, January 21, 1997 press conference =09 Karen Swiegert, parent and student Pastor Mary Merriman, MCC=20 Pastor Eva O'Diam, MCC =09 Rabbi Jack Paskoff,=20 Vivan Bergel, Ph.D. [Elizabethtown College] Eugene Clemens, Ph.D. [Elizabethtown College] Shayne Flowers, Elizabethtown College student On Tuesday, February 18, 1997 at 7:30 pm, the Elizabethtown=20 School Board will convene and is expected to vote on its misnamed=20 Pro-Family Resolution and Instructional Policy on Sexual=20 Orientation. Since September 1996, the Elizabethtown community=20 has vigorously opposed the Board's then proposed resolution and=20 now policy which contradicts the principles of academic excellence=20 and educational equity for each of our children. In a brief=20 statement, Elizabethtown residents share the following commentary=20 and are available to press: =20 Vivan Bergel, Ph.D. ...(O)ur children are relegated, in=20 essence, to non-citizenship status without power... the educational system must not silence our children or=20 discourage them from engaging in discourse about issues=20 that are important for their development...they are entitled=20 to a fair and equitable educational enviornment in which they=20 are permitted to speak and to learn about diverse issues and viewpoints .= ... Eugene Clemens, Ph.D. : ... My plea to the board is=20 that they not pass this policy and that the board draw=20 back from further division... and that our community begin=20 to discourse so as to regain trust and understanding.... Linda Kinney Poss: ... The way you get by this issue is=20 to rescind the anti-family diversity resolution, abandon the=20 anti-gay policy, and adopt the Statement of Equity Principles=85=20 this issue will not die, we will make a difference=85we're=20 not going away.... Bob Stanley: .... Our own school board doesn't even abide=20 by the democratic principles of our own country=85.we have to=20 uphold the principles of free speech and of the separation=20 of church and state... Maryann Stanley: ....We will not sit idly by while people=20 who were elected by a minority of all registered voters in=20 the district determine the fate of all of the children of=20 the district... =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D end of statement by Elizabethtown Resident= s =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D originally posted to the Internet 9:30 PM EST 2/17/97 by Maggie Heineman Bridges-Across http://www.critpath.org/bridges-across/ Margaret Andrus Heineman http://www.critpath.org/~maggie/ Steve Calverley - "Post Gay" http://www.npiec.on.ca/~scalverl/post_ga= y.htm "Tiny ripples of hope...from a million different centers of daring and energy will change the world" Robert F. Kennedy