Date: Wed, 13 Mar 96 06:06 EST From: Maggie Heineman Subject: Pennsylvania Expose - March 13, 1996 Pennsylvania Expose - March 13, 1996 Pennsylvania Expose is a project of the FTRN Communications Working Group and People for the American Way. It is available by fax and email. Subscription information is below. ================================================================== A. Parental Rights and Responsibilities Act B. Interfaith Working Group establishes religion@critpath.org C. Calendar ====================================================== A. Parental Rights and Responsibilities Act- a wolf in sheep's clothing by Brian Gocial, People for the American Way 1-800-326-7329 The Parental Rights and Responsibilities Act of 1995 (S. 984/H.R. 1946) is a key component in the Christian Coalition's "Contract with the American Family." The danger of this legislation is in its innocuous, pro-family "mask" which misleads legislators and the public. None would dispute that active parental involvement in the care, upbringing and education of our children is the cornerstone of a strong, healthy society. Unfortunately, increasing parental involvement in education is not what this legislation is about. If the Parental Rights and Responsibilities Act of 1995 were to become law, Religious Right groups would be empowered to challenge, in federal court, virtually every decision of public schools, libraries and health and welfare programs. In addition, it could prevent minor's access to comprehensive health care and sex education and thwart child abuse and child labor laws. Communities would be paralyzed under the threat of lawsuits about virtually all the services and programs they provide. Representative Largent's (R-OK) stated goal for introducing the legislation is to "re-affirm the fact that the majority of parents have the best interest and safety of their children at heart..." In the Religious Right media, however, the message takes on a much different tone. Of the People, the Arlington, VA-based group sponsoring the state initiatives, has been a frequent guest on right-wing radio programs. When asked about the amendment by Focus on the Family, Of the People's Executive Director, Greg Erken, responded, "We talk to parents every day across this country and they tell us that they have no effective vehicle to challenge something like outcome based education, condom distribution, etc." He also stated that the legislation is necessary to stop the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child as it could interfere in the discipline and training of American children. Furthermore, Erken "believes that the amendment could also be used to restrict or remove materials from public libraries." Suggested Actions: Write, Call, or arrange an in-district visit with targeted Pennsylvania legislators to express your opposition to Senate Bill 984 and House Resolution 1946: Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) p: 202-224-4254 f: 202-224-1893 Rep. George Gekas (R-17-PA) p: 202-225-4315 f: 202-225-8440 ============================================================ B. Interfaith Working Group establishes religion@critpath.org by Chris and Barbara Purdom, Interfaith Working Group 215.389/1400 On March 5, 1996, Philadelphia's Interfaith Working Group (IWG) established a nationwide Internet discussion group to provide information which will help the advancement of queer-friendly religion in North America. The purpose of the religion@critpath.org list is: 1) to advance equality for sexual minorities within the religious community 2) to publicize the existence of queer-friendly religious organizations to the general public in order to counter the message of the Radical Religious Right and 3) to publicize the existence of queer-friendly religious organizations to those in the LGBT community. We hope, through the list, to extend the model of the Interfaith Working Group into other parts of North America, to bring existing groups with similar models into contact with each other, and to bring individuals into contact with those groups. A national network of such organizations is the best chance we have for counteracting the message of the Radical Religious Right and bringing change within existing religious organizations. For more information, send a message to religion-request@critpath.org, Put a one-line command in the body: info religion --- The IWG routinely posts letter writing opportunities and model letters to the Internet. Last week, IWG letters went to: *the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News pointing out that while they had quoted people in Ecru Mississipi as saying that the woman advocating the elimination of school prayer was a devil worshipping athiest, they had not mentioned that she is really Lutheran. *Debbie Woodell and the Philadelphia Daily News thanking them for Ms. Woodell's excellent column on gay clergy members. The archive for IWG letters is accessible through http://www.libertynet.org/~iwg/ ==================================================================== C. Calendar Mar. 13 - 6:30 PM Town Meeting: Philadelphia Freedom to Marry Coalition. GLBT Community Center, So. Camac St. 215.893.0968 March 13 - 7:00 PM Pro-Choice Update & Action Meeting, Sponsored by NARAL-PA, 6th Presbyterian Church, Forbes & Murray Streets. Call to reserve space, limited child care available, 215.545.4666 or 412.269.0936 Mar. 14 - 7:30 PM "Fighting Words: An Open Letter to Queers and Radicals" at Giovanni's Room, 345 S. 12th St at Pine, Phila. Scott Tucker - booking reading and discussion. March 16, 1:00-5:30pm, "Implementing Beijing", A Call to action after the UN Fourth World Conference on Women. Germantown Friends Meeting, 47 W. Coulter St. Accessible, 215.843.8747 March 19 - 11:00 AM, Women and Welfare Lobby Day & Rally Sponsored by the Coalition for the Welfare of Women & Children State House Capital Rotunda, Harrisburg for info or transportation call: 215.735.2850 Mar. 23 1:00-3:00 PM - "Change, Let it Begin with Me" GLSTN Workshop. Friends Center, 1501 Cherry St., register with SailJP@aol.com, 610.489.3473, or 610.431.7491. March 25 - Demonstration against Congressman Jon Fox, re: Medicare Sponsored by Citizen Action, Ardmore Senior Center For more info call: Citizen Action, 215.592.4474 March 26 - 5:30 PM, Forum: "Police Accountability: Problems, Solutions, and the Role of Special Commissions", Co-Sponsored by ACLU-PA The Wanamaker Conference Center, Wanamaker Bldg., Suite 1010 Juniper St, Philadelphia ================================================================= Pennsylvania Expose is a project of the Fight the Right Network (FTRN) and People For the American Way (PFAW). It is for sharing information which will help the advancement of progressive values in the Commonweath of Pennsylvania and across the nation. The FTRN and PFAW do not have positions on every issue presented through Pennsylvania Expose. For information about the Pennsylvania Expose Internet lists, send a message to: pa-expose-request@critpath.org put a one-line command in the body: info pa-expose To inquire about faxletter distribution, to contribute articles, or to post your group's event, contact ---FTRN Communications Working Group (FTRN) --- 215.389.1400 http://www.critpath.org/ftrn/ ---People for the American Way (PFAW) --- 800-326-7329 http://www.pfaw.org/