Date: Thu, 12 Oct 1995 06:25:00 -0700 From: jessea@uclink2.berkeley.edu (Jessea NR Greenman) Subject: 3 UPCOMING EAST COAST CONFERENCES OF INTEREST Advocates for Youth 15th Anniversary Conference Theme -- Teen Sexuality: Realistic Approaches, Positive Messages Friday Dec. 8 - Sunday Dec. 10 Washington DC (Omni Shoreham Hotel) Early bird registration by Nov. 7 $200 Registration after Nov. 7 $250 Presenters $125 Youth $125 Post Conference Institute $89 To receive a brochure, write immediately to Advocates for Youth 15th Anniversary Conference 1025 Vermont Ave. NW Suite 200 Washington DC 20005 No phone registration (early bird rate until November 7) ======================================== Children From the Shadows II: A Multicultural Perspective on LGBT Youth Conference Friday March 22 and Saturday March 23, 1996 University of Connecticut, School of Social Work, 1799 Asylum Rd. (!) West Hartford CT There will be workshops on coming out to family or friends; family dynamics; issues of orientation and sexuality; the impact of multiple oppression; issues of curriculum from grammar school through college; the impact of the orientation of the therapist; and more. For teenagers and young adults, teachers, families, youth workers, everybody who works with or cares about kids! Registration runs from $35 per day for adults to $15 per day for students (work exchanges and scholarships available). CALL 203-344-1777 FOR MORE INFORMATION ======================================== >Jessea, >Can you distribute this to your extensive list, and ask those you distribute >it to to do the same? >Thanks, >John Spear, GLSTN@aol.com Dear Fellow Educators and Community Members, We are pleased to invite you to the Second Annual GLSTN Mid-Atlantic Conference, "Teaching Respect For All," a conference on gay, lesbian, and bisexual issues in education at the Hine Junior High School in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, November 4, 1995. GLSTN brings together educators and community members of all sexual orientations and occupations concerned with homophobia in schools, and equips them with concrete strategies to make a difference. We welcome all who wish to take part in this work. We have included seven tracks of workshops for teachers, administrators, parents, community members, and youth. We urge you to bring friends and allies from your school and community so that your "team" can support each other when you return home to begin the struggle that change requires. The program is a full one with over 25 workshops in three sessions covering a diverse range of topics. We are proud of the range of presentations and are sure that there is "something for everyone" in the day's program. We look forward to seeing you on November 4! *Matt Burton Conference Coordinator, GLSTN/DC *Jill Karpf Conference Coordinator, GLSTN/DC *Kevin Jennings, Executive Director, GLSTN The Second Annual GLSTN Mid-Atlantic Conference "Teaching Respect For ALL" Sponsored by GLSTN / DC The Washington, D.C. Chapter of The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Teachers Network Saturday, November 4, 1995 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Hine Junior High School 7th & Pennsylvania Ave, SE, Washington, DC PROGRAM 8:00 am Registration, coffee, exhibit booths open 9:00 am Keynote: "Real Family Values" Bob Bernstein, Vice President, PFLAG 10:00-11:15 am Session I Workshops 11:30-12:45 pm Session II Workshops 12:24-1:30 pm Lunch, affinity groups, and videos 1:45-3:00 pm Session III Workshops 3:15-4:30 pm Closing remarks by GLSTN Executive Director Kevin Jennings and Reception A Note on the Schedule The number of workshops being offered can seem overwhelming. To help you, we have designated seven "tracks" for you to consider when planning your day. The tracks include: Straight Allies (1, 4, 8, 10, 13, 14, 17, 22, 24) Youth (3, 10, 12, 14, 22, 24, 28) Teachers (1, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 27) Administrators (2, 3, 5, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 20, 27, 25) Family (1, 2, 4, 10, 13, 17, 22, 19, 24, 28) Curriculum/Programs (8, 9, 10, 14, 16, 26, 27) Community (6, 7, 10, 12, 14, 17, 18, 22, 21, 19, 23, 28) The workshops grouped into each track should be particularly appealing to the target audience, but you should feel free to go to any workshop you wish. Simply use these as a quick reference as you plan your day. PROGRAM 8:00 am Registration & Coffee, Booths Open 9:00 am Keynote "Real Family Values" Bob Bernstein Bob Bernstein is the author of Straight Parents/Gay Kids: Keeping Families Together and National Vice-President of Parents, Friends and Families of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). Typically, when parents learn they have a gay child, they struggle with this news. But ultimately many times this begins a process that leads to, among other things, tightened and warmer family bonds. In his talk, Mr. Bernstein will share stories of parents who feel their lives have been enriched by having gay children, and who have been moved to extraordinary and dramatic achievements on behalf of their gay loved ones. 10:00 am - 11:15 pm: Session I Workshops 1. The Importance of Straight Allies Presenter: Anne Simon, teacher and Gay-Straight Alliance advisor, Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, Sudbury, MA; Member of the GLSTN National Board This workshop will focus on the importance of "straight allies" in working with gay and lesbian youth. It will allow these allies and other interested participants to discuss the joys and difficulties of working to help combat homophobia and heterosexism in schools and the community. We will address common questions such as: Why is this an issue for you? What is the role of heterosexuals in helping gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth? How do I deal with assumptions people make? What can we do to be better allies? What role can straight allies play in organizations such as GLSTN? 2. What is Sexual Orientation? Presenter: Chandler Burr, a Washington D.C.-based journalist whose cover story, 'Homosexuality and Biology,' appeared in the March 1993 Atlantic Monthly, and whose book on the subject will be published this spring from Hyperion. The most basic and most obvious question in the debate about homosexuality is perhaps the most ignored: What IS sexual orientation? Researchers have now gathered clinical data that for the first time paints a clear "phenotypic profile," a profile of the trait sexual orientation, which is surprisingly concrete and detailed. This talk will lay out the profiles of the traits homosexuality and heterosexuality. 3. Gay and Lesbian Students Speak Out Panel Discussion: Youth from the Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League A panel of high school students from the Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League in Washington, D.C., discuss the problems they face as young members of the gay community. Students will attempt answer questions from participants regarding the ways in which educators can make their lives better. 4. Reconciling Religion and Homosexuality Melany Burrill, sexuality educator with a master's degree in religious education from Wesley Theological Seminary. Homosexuality is one of the few topics on which the Bible gets quoted not just in churches but in the secular press, on radio and TV, at political conventions, and in courts of law. This workshop will 1) briefly explore the role and authority of the Bible, 2) examine the most often quoted "homosex-uality" biblical passages in light of their context and language usage, and 3) address common questions people have about the Bible and homosexuality. 5. Addressing Homophobia:What's an Administrator to Do? Presenter: Charley Todd, President, GLSTN Board of Directors, and Headmaster of Watkinson School, Hartford, CT The workshop will present a school principal's/school head's view on how administrators can lead "and be encouraged to lead" the way toward changing the climate of a school. Practical advice will be given about ten specific steps every school can take. 6. Lobbying Tips To Create Safer Schools Presenter: Nancy Buermeyer, Lobbyist for the Human Rights Campaign Fund Whether in a meeting with a member of the US Congress, your school board, principal or department head, conversation can be an effective way to create change. This workshop will help you decide what to say, how to say it, what to bring and even what to wear. 7. The Massachusetts Model: Learning from the First State-Wide Effort to Address Gay and Lesbian Issues in Public Schools Kevin Jennings, former Education Committee Co-Chair, The Massachusetts Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth and GLSTN Executive Director Following the appointment of a Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth by Governor William Weld in 1992, Massachusetts has taken the lead in the fight against school-based homophobia, with the State Board of Education passing sweeping new policies in May 1993, and the state legislature passing a first-in-the-nation law banning discrimination against K-12 public schools in December 1993. In 1993-94, the State Department of Education initiated a program entitled "Safe Schools for Gay and Lesbian Students," designed to offer a comprehensive approach to ending homophobia in schools. Today, over 20 percent of the state's schools have Gay-Straight Alliances, and over 70 percent of them have participated in anti-homophobia training programs. How did this happen? In this session, both the history, content, and strategy of this effort will be reviewed. Ample time for discussion will allow participants to explore how to bring this work back to their own communities. 8. Combatting Prejudice in Elementary School Presenter: Margie Tolchin and Jill Karpf, Montgomery County Public Schools and GLSTN/DC Problems of gay and lesbian elementary educators and their students are frequently unrecognized or acknowledged. Resources, ideas and personal stories for sensitizing teachers, administrators, and students about the destructive nature of this overt and covert prejudice will be shared. 9. Out in the Library Presenter: Susan Adland, librarian, Georgetown Day School A high school librarian shares her resources for glbtq students and faculty, as well as resources that sensitize the school community. 11:30 am - 12:45 pm Session II Workshops 10. Homophobia 101: Why Schools Need to Address Homophobia and Heterosexism Presenter: Kevin Jennings, GLSTN Executive Director This session will focus on how homophobia limits educational opportunity for both gay and straight students. Topics will include: the particular problems faced by gay and lesbian youth; how homophobia and heterosexism affect all students; and effective ways of creating change in schools. Concrete strategies and resources for combating homophobia will be shared. 11. Bisexuality and the Classroom Presenters: BiNet USA, Washington, DC This workshop will provide information on bisexuality, provide assistance to educators, students, and community members in improving the quality and sensitivity of services and outreach to bisexual youth, family members and educators. 12. SMYAL Working Toward Change Presenters: Craig Bowman and Julie Morisey, The Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League Directors from the Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League discuss how their organization has made a difference in the lives of gay and lesbian young people. Background information about SMYAL and the programs they offer will be covered. 13. A PFLAG Tale: A Mother's Story Anne Thomas, PFLAG One mother shares her experience about the misinformation and lack of resources available to her and her husband as they grew to suspect, from a very early age, that their son was gay. P-FLAG's role in helping them to realize that they were not the only ones will be discussed. 14. The Gay/Straight Alliance in High School Presenters: Norrine Mack and Charles Psychos, Georgetown Day High School; and Gil Thompson and Bo Lauder, Sidwell Friends School Students and teachers from two private schools in Washington, D.C., Georgetown Day and Sidwell Friends, discuss how their organizations were formed and the effects of the alliances on both individual students and the school communities. 15. The Rights of Gay and Lesbian Teachers Presenter: David Buckle, Litigator, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund This session will focus on the legal rights of gay, lesbian, and bisexual teachers in order to acquaint them with the protections they have and how to use those should such action become necessary. 16. Sex Education for the Secondary School Classroom Carol Dobbs and a panel composed of sexuality educators and medical professionals Three educators and specialists in the field of sexuality education will discuss the need for inclusion of HIV, AIDS, disease, multiculturalism, and human sexuality information in the sex education curriculum. 17. What You Can Do: Being a Change Agent in Your School Matthew Burton and Catherine Taylor, Leonardtown High School, St. Mary's County Public Schools (MD) This session will focus on practical advice for teachers and counselors, who are eager to change the homophobic attitudes in their schools but are unsure where to begin. Specific program ideas and strategies designed to help win over timid administrators will be discussed. 18. Are We About To Re-Live the Scopes Trial? Presenter: Valerie Eastwood, Director, Northern Virginia Citizens Against Censorship Censorship and book banning are as common now as ever in American History. A seasoned ally will provide easy and effective steps for you to use in fighting homophobia in your schools, libraries, and local governments 12:45 - 1:30 pm LUNCH and Affinity Groups These groups will give participants a chance to come together around common backgrounds, concerns, or experiences. Participants can volunteer ideas for groups at registration, and locations for specific groups will be posted by lunch-time. Groups that have formed at previous conferences have included: Community Activists; Gay Parents; People of Color; Heterosexual Allies; "Out" teachers; Elementary School Educators; and similar groupings. An important chance for networking and sharing, affinity groups are often cited as a highlight of conferences by participants. Participants may indicate at registration time which affinity groups they would like to form: a list of locations and topics will be posted by lunch time. 12:45 - 3:00 pm Workshops Session III 19. Using Your Allies to Create Change Presenters: Sharon A.F. Miken and Joan Burick, English teachers at Lower Merron High School (NJ) Sharon and Joan are symbolic of what GLSTN is: a lesbian and a straight teacher, from vastly different backgrounds, working together to end homophobia in schools. Each teacher will tell their story of how they successfully came out or addressed sexual orientation in the classroom. The lesson to be learned: use your allies and network. Specific resources will be shared. 20. Multicultural Issues and Sexual Orientation Presenter: Dr. Daryl Freeman, Center for Excellence in Education For glbt students, school is often difficult. But when the student is of color, school becomes even more complicated. This workshop will focus on the unique difficulties many gay, lesbian and bisexual people of color face, and help educators make their classrooms more welcoming. 21. Creating Change Working within Your Union Presenter: Bonnie Cullison, Co-chair of the NEA Gay and Lesbian Caucus This workshop will give examples of how groups within an educational union structure can organize around issues to affect change in policy and, hopefully, attitudes. This will include acknowledgment of a multi-level organization, such as local, state and national levels. The ultimate importance of having the political and legal support of union leadership will be addressed. 22. The Bridges Project: An Important Resource Presenter: Jenie Hall, Director of the Bridges Project of the American Friends Service Committee The Bridges Project is a national service supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered youth. This workshop will provide participants with information about the project and discuss their well-know book of resources, Creating Support for Lesbian and Gay Youth 23. The Pennsylvania Legislative Non-Discrimination Model Presenter: Rita Addessa, The Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Task Force Like Massachusetts, Pennsylvania has made legal headway in making school safer for lesbian and gay students and staff. Ms. Addessa will discuss the progress the state has already made as well as where they need to go from here. 24. Growing Up In A "Non-Traditional" Family Panel of students from elementary to college-level and their parents. Students and their gay or lesbian parents share what it has meant to their own lives to grow up in non-traditional families, as these students are frequently an ignored or hidden constituency in our classrooms. Panelists will discuss what administrative and classroom experiences have been the most supportive, and what changes they would like to see educators make. 25. Legal Issues Faced by Administrators Attempting to Implement Gay and Lesbian Programs Presenter: David Buckle (see workshop 15) This session will focus on the legal situations that administrators might encounter when attempting to implement gay and lesbian support programs in their own schools. The workshop will provide some basic information that will help acquaint participants with the protections they have and how to use those should such action become necessary. 26. Leveling the Playing Field: Confronting Homophobia in Athletics Presenter: John Spear, Assistant Director, GLSTN/National and panel Adult athletes will share their personal experiences on issues facing lgbt athletes and coaches. Following their stories, a discussion will focus on what we can do to make school athletics more accessible for all students, regardless of sexual orientation. Resources for assessing your athletic department or team will be distributed. 27. Gay and Lesbian History for High School Students Presenter: Kevin Jennings, author of Becoming Visible: A Reader in Gay and Lesbian History for High School and College Students, and GLSTN Executive Director Participants in this session will be given a basic introduction to recent scholarship in gay and lesbian studies through a narrated slide show covering American gay and lesbian history from Pre-Columbian times to present day. Specific factual information as well as ideas on how to incorporate it into mainstream high school history classes will be shared. 28. Advocating for Youth in Your Community Presenters: Zoe Hudson, Communications Associate, PFLAG and Rea Carey, Coordinator, National Advocacy Coalition on Youth and Sexual Orientation It seems like every session of Congress yields proposed legislation that serves to attack youth and youth programs. With the proposed anti-gay hearings set for this fall, lgbt youth have been under extreme attack in recent history. This workshop will look back at what has occurred recently will also provide specific action items you can take to better serve youth. Time will be allotted for discussion and strategizing REGISTRATION To register, return the form below with a check to: GLSTN/DC, P.O. Box 363 Cabin John, MD 20818. Please feel free to make copies of the form for friends. For more information, call the GLSTN National Office at 212-727-0135 or send e-mail to GLSTN@glstn.org; to contact GLSTN/D.C., call Matt Burton at 202-546-5355 or Jill Karpf at 301-229-0496, or send e-mail to GLSTNDC@aol.com. ======================================================= NAME:_________________________________________ School/Organization:______________________________ ADDRESS:_________________________________________ PHONE:_________________________________________ E-MAIL:_________________________________________ Pre-Registration (by 10/30) _____GLSTN member ($25) _____Non-member ($35) _____Registration & membership ($45) note: includes lunch Late/On-Site Registration _____GLSTN Member ($40) _____Non-member ($50) _____Registration & membership ($60) note: we cannot guarantee lunch for late registrants I would like to make an additional gift to support GLSTN's work. Enclosed is a donation of: ____$25 ____$50 ____$100 ____$250 ____$500 ____$1000 Total Enclosed: Please list the number of your probable choice of workshop in Session I _____Session II _____Session III _____ Directions to Hine Jr. High School: >From the North: * Take I-95 South to the Capital Beltway (I-95/495 toward Richmond). * Take Pennsylvania Avenue Exit toward Washington. * Hine is located on the right at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 7th Streets, SE (7 blocks from the Capitol). From the South: * Take I-95 North to the Capital Beltway (I-95/495 toward Baltimore). * Take Pennsylvania Avenue Exit toward Washington. * Hine is located on the right at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 7th Streets, SE (7 blocks from the Capitol). Public Transportation, from the Metro * Take the Orange or Blue Line to the Eastern Market Station * Hine is located on the right at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 7th Streets, SE (7 blocks from the Capitol). By Air * American Airlines is the official airlines of The Second Annual GLSTN Mid-Atlantic Conference. Discount fares of 5-10% may be accessed by calling Fran Whitlock at Holbrook Travel (1-800-451-7111) and identifying yourself as a GLSTN member. Housing * Two local hotels are offering special rates to conference participants. The Capital Hill Suites (200 C Street, S.E., at the corner of 2nd Street, S.E.) is offering single occupancy rooms at $99.50 and double occupancy rooms at $114.50. Reservations may be made by calling 202-543-6000. The Dupont Plaza Hotel (19th Street and Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., at Dupont Circle) is also offering special GLSTN rates. Reservations may be made at 202-483-6000. * Some local GLSTN members have offered to let out-of-town participants stay in their homes. For more information on availability, contact Margie Tolchin at 301-445-4637 Exciting Program Note! For the first time, GLSTN will be previewing videos throughout the conference in a special video facility. Throughout the conference, participants will be able to preview some of the best and most recent videos dealing with issues of sexual orientation. In addition, information about how to order the videos will be provided. Titles to be shown include (partial list): Gay Youth, Who's Affraid of Project 10?, Tevor, Disco Years, Both My Mom's Names Are Judy, Straight From the Heart, A Question of Equality, and Queer Son *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ 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.